Floats on snow?
 

We have heard that on snow floats work just as well as skis.
Any thoughts on that?

Thanks

Laurence

RE: Floats on snow?
 

In my case floats work much better when the snow is like powder. Ski's work better when the snow is hard. I fly my SeaDancer and SeaMaster off the snow and it works great.

RE: Floats on snow?
 

^^ Agreed. I've flown my Parkzone T-28 and Hangar 9 Piper Cub with floats and skis and found floats work best - for the reasons like Laurence-RCU mentioned. Through my experience I prefer floats since sometimes ski's will 'dig' into the snow if it's not packed down. As a bonus with floats, if you have nice powder your aircraft will track extremely straight on take-offs and landings.

Just ensure your floats aren't put on crooked or you'll be weaving around everywhere...LOL!:D

RE: Floats on snow?
 

Be sure to pull your float rudder off, though, if you have one!

RE: Floats on snow?
 

I put a set of skis on my Four Star 40 last year, dragged all my gear to the field, shoveled a path to one of the starting benches, got the plane fueled up and started, carried it to the runway....

and it sank like a rock, right up to the belly of the fuse. Luckily I had brought another little SPAD along that I could hand launch, or I would have been REALLY mad.

I flew a couple of planes on skis last year, once the snow crusted over. Floats would work much better on powder. You have to watch out for the footprints on the runway.

Good luck.

RE: Floats on snow?
 

Is that anything like footprints in the sand? I use floats most of the time. If I go to the lake then I will use ski's

RE: Floats on snow?
 

Skis at the lake? Frozen I guess?

RE: Floats on snow?
 

Guess I forgot to mention that.

RE: Floats on snow?
 

Skis work just fine on the water. Just don't slow down! Ever watch the snowmobiles skim across lakes at 70mph? The weather man has deprived us any "Real" snow here in South Jersey the past few years. I miss flying the Seamaster and others off the snow. Really enjoyed my Lou Andrews Aeromaster on skis.

RE: Floats on snow?
 

I'm gonna send you some snow!!!! How much do you want? When I fly my SeaDancer with a Mag. 91 4s and the snow is real powdery it kicks up a rooster tail, pretty. Also when you land it doesn't have a tendency to skip.

RE: Floats on snow?
 

Send lots of it! My son will call you and thank you himself! I guess you're getting pounded with the lake effect snow? I had actually planned on using a cheap snowboard cut in half to make skis for my Giant Stinger. Even bought some big Kyosho car shocks for it. Maybe this year.

RE: Floats on snow?
 

I use floats too...much more versatile than skis IMO. (for reasons mentioned above :D )

A flying boat (I've got a Sea Monster ) is great too...