Wheel/Skis...of course it is Winter

[Flying Trucker]

Good evening all...

Well, think I have some work cut out for me and not sure I am up to it.

Purchased the Carenado C172N on Floats and on Wheel/Skis

Both simulated aircraft need to have updated cockpits like the FSX Default Cessna 172 with Autopilot...etc...

I have FS Panel Studio but not sure I am up to replacing the entire radio section in both the Float and Wheel/Ski aircraft models...perhaps it might be simpler than I think

Here are several shots of the C172 on wheel/skis departing from Vashon Mun. "2S1"
















Comments and Advice most Welcome

[OldAirmail]

Great pictures. You're getting very artistic as you move along.


Question - wheeled skis - What do you have to know about then in real life? Do they tend to dig into snow drifts? Do they wear out fast on hard runways, etc.

Thinks in advance.

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning ....

Here is an excellent site which will answer many of your questions on Aircraft Skis, Aircraft Wheel/Skis...

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/knowle ... ski-flying

ALSO

Check out the US Army DHC-3 Otter on Wheel/Skis doing a Water Beaching... ...some excellent reading in that Link...

http://flythebush.blogspot.ca/2007_12_01_archive.html

Most aircraft I flew had Wheel and Retractable Skis which could be raised and lowered to several different settings in the cockpit. There was a use and reason for each different ski setting.

Ski Settings on Wheel/Ski equipped aeroplanes I flew:

-Ski...Full DOWN
-Ski...3/4 Down
-Ski...1/2 Down
-Ski...1/4 Down
-Ski...Full UP

There are several Military and Commercial Courses available to the aviator on the proper techniques to operate an aircraft with skis or wheel/skis...well worth the taking...

One thing to remember about landing on any water surface covered by snow is to do several precautionary approaches and touch and goes.

Full Ski for the touch and go...keep power on...on second precautionary approach look to see if the ski trail is dark...that usually indicates water under the snow...go find another landing spot.

Like Seaplane and Float Flying, Ski Flying can open a whole new world to the Aviator...it is well worth the time, money and effort to take a course, fly a few flights with an experienced aviator/Flying Instructor on type and ask questions...there are no stupid questions and most Aviators will be glad to offer some advice and tips...

[Alex-1968]

Great shots and great use of frame composition

I'd only adjust the brightness and the contrast to to get rid of that grey layer. You can make it with the image curves, like in my example below:



I used Gimp 2.0 (freeware)

[papituwall]

Bad news concerning a modernisation of the panel:

The VC is not possible because the 3D buttons of the radios are in the model of the aircraft, you can install the Bendix of the C172 but these buttons are messed with the new radios. Also no place for autopilot here.

In the 2D panel it is possible. Is up to you have different VC and 2d panels. If you want that:

1. Backup panel.cfg and/or panel1.cfg

2. Open each cfg and go to [Window00]:

2.1 Delete or lock gauge14, gauge15, gauge16. Lock can be done deleting 14, 15, 16 or writing // before gauge.

2.2 Copy and paste this at the end:
... ...
gauge40=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio Audio, 1038,308,240, 45
gauge41=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio Nav-Comm 1, 1038,353,240, 95
gauge42=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio Nav-Comm 2, 1038,448,240, 95
gauge43=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio ADF, 1038,543,240, 66
gauge44=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio DME, 1038,609,240, 66
gauge45=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio Xpndr, 1038,675,240, 66
gauge46=Bendix_King_Radio!Bendix-King Radio AP, 1038,741,240, 78

[Flying Trucker]

Thanks Alex...much appreciated...

[Flying Trucker]

Good Evening papituwall...

Thanks ever so much for taking the time to do that...very much appreciated...

[OldAirmail]

Thanks for the links, Doug.

They answered all my questions & more.

[Flying Trucker]

You are welcome...

[pegger]

Although the sim does not model this problem, don't forget after landing on skis to wait 30 seconds or so...and then nudge the aircraft forward a foot or two.

This is to break the freeze bond that is created between the skis and the snow, which is caused by the heat generated from friction between the fast moving skis and the snow.

I've stood and watched, laughing the whole time, as a turbo otter pilot fought to break his plane loose after dropping me and my crew on a frozen lake in northern manitoba. He had the power up at around 80%, tail of the ground, kicking the rudders back and forth trying to wiggle free from the icy clutches of the lake.

I' ve also had to participate in doing this manually after the aircraft sat on the "apron" overnight in camp. Trying to free up a frozen otter with 4 men push on the wing struts is not an easy task. Logs under the skis work wonders for long term parking of skis on snow.

Bush flying off skis is a true pleasure.

[Flying Trucker]

Well wrote pegger...much appreciated...

It is always nice when someone adds information to a post.

Like you have seen many a Ski only aeroplane stuck to the frozen surface...Otters both single and twin are big aeroplanes to try and man handle once the skis are frozen to the surface.

Back in the early 60s I landed a Dak/C47/DC3 on a remote lake to camp overnight with some Surveyors.
Had to wait to do an Oil Dilution prior to putting on engine and wing covers, forgot the skis were down and when we went to raise them and taxi the aircraft forward on its wheels we were stuck, it took quite awhile with a hand held propane torch we carried to remedy the situation, AND, right there in plane sight on the Ski Card (next to the Aircraft Check List) was when parking on Wheel/Skis where practical raise Skis to Full Up Position before Shut Down or READ Operation Instructions Below...

I could tell a few stories about those Herman Nelson Heaters also...

http://www.hermannelson.com/Pages.aspx?p=4

If one lives long enough...practice and experience will make them a good Aviator...