Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Ran a Chief on skis for years. They are not that hard to turn on skis.I've even landed on wet grass in the spring when the sun burned off thelight snow covering. As for sticking to the snow; if you land in the bushjust rip off a couple of pine branches and stick them under the skis. Sincethe lakes were great for doing touch and goes and chasing sleds you wouldneed to carry a couple of pieces of firewood with you to prop the airplaneup on so it didn't stick to the snow if it was parked for a while (like whenyou taxied up to a winter fair in Barrie or Penatang)One other point to consider. If it's one of those dead cold (-40) sunnydays and you shut down in the middle on no place miles from another humanbeing, make sure you know how to get it started in that kind of temperature.It can be disconcerting to watch the sun setting while you are desperatelypropping an old plane in the middle of a frozen lake. It would be a damncold night.Bob -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: HVandervoo(at)aol.com
I am also flying a Chief on skis in the snowy weather. I have a pair ofwood Call-Air skis. You set the wheel into a metal tube frame on top of theski and clamp it down.. It takes about ten minutes to change with the helpof the wife. I hope to incorporate something similar for the Piet.(thirteen years down, about ready to cover the wings). If you land in snowin a field, always circle around and park in you own tracks. It reallyhelps to not have to break trail when first starting to move. I always grabthe ski tip and lift up before starting up the engine. That breaks looseany freeze down that might occur.Carol and RalphRaymond________________________________________________________________________________