« Sticking Together
Look Here for New Photos »

Ski Season

Gary’s E-Starter cavorts in the air with a pair of skis.

Gary’s E-Starter cavorts in the air with a pair of skis.

Mike Nadler writes:

Pete, looks like snow AGAIN is forecast for Baylands. We are putting skis on our planes. Could be a good story for your blog. Maybe “Photoshopping” snow and a snow man on the Great Meadow.
See you tomorrow. Better bring your parka.
Mike of the North

Mike vastly overestimates my Photoshop skills and the amount of energy I’m willing to expend to bring his image to life.

Besides, the temperature hovered near 100° degrees Wednesday.

Better than Wheels. Gary Morgan, who oversees a gang of robots at his Morgan Mill machine shop, has designed a nice set of skis which work better than wheels on our tough Great Meadow grass.

The silky smooth Baylands Grasslander-9 is his primary model, a pair of 9-inch skis formed from ABS plastic featuring torsion bar front suspension to keep the skis at the correct angle during flight.

I’ve seen the Grasslander-9 mounted on airplanes with wingspans ranging from about 30 to 48 inches, weighing up to 3 lbs., and it works beautifully to smooth landings and takeoffs on a grass field. Touch & Goes? No problem.

Need for Speed. Mike reports that he needs to give his ski-equipped Piper Cub plenty of speed. For takeoffs, he applies up elevator, increases throttle, then levels the elevator immediately after the plane leaves the ground. Smooth landings demand speed and nimble elevator management.

Gary also sells a 3-inch ski for use as a tail or nose skid.

Go here to learn more about his products, including the skis.

Gary’s speckled E-Starter uses a set of clear ABS skis. Gary’s speckled E-Starter uses a set of clear ABS skis.
The yellow plane flies in front of the Alviso construction project. The yellow plane flies in front of the Alviso construction project.

Gary uses long landing gear to clear the propeller. Gary uses long landing gear to clear the propeller.
The trainer flies gracefully with its new footgear. The trainer flies gracefully with its new footgear.

The plane shows perfect form on its landing approach. The plane shows perfect form on its landing approach.
Gary lands, watched by George Kulcher, Doug Traub and Mike Nadler. Gary lands, watched by George Kulcher, Doug Traub and Mike Nadler.

Mike gets his ski-equipped Piper Cub ready for flight. Mike gets his ski-equipped Piper Cub ready for flight.
With Gary to his left, Mike preps his plane. With Gary to his left, Mike preps his plane.

Mike’s Cub flies high over the northeast end of the Great Meadow. Mike’s Cub flies high over the northeast end of the Great Meadow.
The Cub approaches a landing. The Cub approaches a landing.

Who needs snow, anyway? Who needs snow, anyway?
Dennis Castleman shows Gary his tricycle-ski setup. Dennis Castleman shows Gary his tricycle-ski setup.

Powered by a motor that rotates up and down, the Stryker flies smoothly. Powered by a motor that rotates up and down, the Stryker flies smoothly.
These are Gary’s 3-inch skis, suitable for tail and nose wheels. These are Gary’s 3-inch skis, suitable for tail and nose wheels.


Tags: , , , .

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 7:33 pm and is filed under Baylands. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

7 Responses to “Ski Season”

  1. Gary Says:
    August 27th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    Wow Pete!!!

    What a fantastic article if I do say so myself…

    Great pictures and copy.

    I especially like the picture where you asked me to fly between us with the glare on the windshield.

    Hopefully everyone that uses them will enjoy a smooth touch and go as much as I do.

    Thanks Again!

    Gary

  2. Mike Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 8:48 am

    You laugh now, but wait until we have that blizzard. There will be the guys who sit at home in front of the fire, and the guys who have skis on their planes. I’ll be out there flying in 20 below zero at Baylands, Sunnyvale. Hey, come to think of it, save me a seat by the fire!
    Mike from Upchuck, Alaska

  3. Dave Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 8:03 pm

    Wonder if I should put skis on my CAP?

  4. harold Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    I remember when I only had Tower skis, string, and hot glue to help take off from the grass.

    Wait a minute! I still do!!!!!
    The Gary Ski is a much more improved product.
    People thought walking on the grass was safe.
    No More!!

  5. Gary Says:
    August 28th, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Well of course!

    I can even pull a light set for you out of .040″ instead of .060″ if you like. We can trade for something. I now have a BLGL6 (6″version) for a trike/nose gear setup or a small plane.

    Gary

  6. harold Says:
    August 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am

    The hot glue and string that I put on the ski’s remind me of the old days when pilots used bailing wire to keep their planes together

  7. Dave Says:
    September 6th, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    Old days, huh? Well, I couldn’t resist so I got myself a new Funny Park to cobble together for Ski Fun. It’s right after the “real” combat wing for Ak.

Leave a Reply