Alaska_Phil

Cool, you in Anchorage or Fairbanks ?

Thanks, I'm in Fairbanks.

looks like a blast

so basically what I'm watching is that you take off and land on your street?

that's #~!%^@^!#^!@%# awesome :-P

Take off was from Fairbanks International, they have a separate runway for ski planes. Landing is on the runway at the airpark where I live. It's not plowed, so November through April is skis only. Streets tend to have those pesky wires running across them that are invisible from the air.

that looks cold!

what kind of altitude was that? and is that a 2 or 4 stroke engine?

That is truly the closest thing to actual freedom. How long was that actual flight from Fairbanks to your airpark? How many miles was it?

It sounds like a toy. What's it feel like? How long until you trusted it to keep you in the sky safely? Is it easier / better to take off and land with skis vs doing so with tires? What's the maximum flight distance/time you can travel on a single tank of fuel? What does a kit plane like that typically run? Thanks for sharing your maiden ski-bearing flight with us.

zmacenzie: Yes, it's cold out, but I know how to dress for it so I was completely comfortable.

Midnight: The altitude at my home airport is 475 ft. I was cruising at 2400 since I was doing stalls and dutch rolls between airports. The engine is a Rotax 503 2 stroke aircraft engine with a belt drive reduction unit.

Siterlimonpot: The total film length was 26 min. I cut out a lot of boring flight and my playing around trying to get used to this plane. It's about 25 miles between airports, my cruise speed was about 75mph.

Melev: "the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys". I trust it now, or I'd never leave the ground. Skis depend on the surface. A nice groomed runway is really no different from a paved runway on wheels. Off airport, in deep snow or slick ice, is of course more difficult. I haven't flown this plane enough to really calculate the range yet, but it looks like 2 hours at 65 mph is about what I can expect with a 30 min. reserve (seems to be a bit faster on skis than wheels). I plan to add an aux tank in the passenger seat before summer that will double my fuel capacity. And my pleasure, I love showing off my hobbies, and can't wait to start posting my 150 build as well.

Glad you all enjoyed it.
Phil

Marc, it actually feels more stable than my Cessna did. and since i don't make any money off it, all flying is just toys to me.

I'm guessing the skis have less wind drag than wheels do during flight, lending to a smoother flight. Could you handle a 4 hour flight in the cold like that, or is it warmer in the summer to where it wouldn't be a big deal? I've never been to Alaska, and only know what I've seen in documentaries.

Thanks for sharing Phil, I see you're flying IFR, which was one was the R .............. a Road or Railroad track . Your video really makes me miss flying after accruing almost 12000 hours military time, heres hoping to get into the air soon.

Marc: Normally skis have more drag than wheels, but I'm using big soft wheels for landing on dirt/grass runways, so that may make the difference. Alaska is wonderful, a taste of what America was 100 years ago, but with all the modern comforts if you choose them. I live on a private air park, here for less than a 3 bedroom ranch in the suburbs would cost. A similar place in the lower 48 would only be affordable to doctors, lawyers and celebrities. Yeah, the winters are cold and dark. I have a 4x54W happy light I sit under each day in the winter, but if the weather was nice it'd look like LA around here. The compensation is that winter days are like in the video above, 5mph wind is excepotional. And when it's clear, you can see for 100's of miles.

Jaxom: The "R" stands for Rivers. far more of them than roads or railroads up here. And as long as you're going down river you never have to worry about the terrain out climbing you. Hoping to be in the air again this weekend. If not, I'll be getting ready for the 150 reef. Either way is a good weekend.

Marc, i guess I missed the main part of your question. Yes, I can dress warm enough to be comfortable for hours of winter flying. I just dress like a musher or snowmachiner. Summer temperatures here in interior Alaksa are typically in the 70's and even 80's.

It sounds like a nice place to visit.

Thousands of people think so every year. Chena hot springs is even doing a thriving winter tourism business now. If you feel the urge, I've got a spare bed you're welcome to use. I could probably even scare up a bottle of Crown.

Quit tempting me. I want to get my life on track, work harder on Reef Addicts and get SCUBA certified. My article on that topic will come out in a timely fashion, unlike Jessy who has been dragging out the final chapter of her NAUI certification for months now.

wow, I thought scuba cert was a pre-req for being here?

Not many reefs here, but bring your SCUBA gear and we'll go prospecting.