Michigan Winter

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Includes: Highlander, Escapade, Summit and SuperSTOL.
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gkremers
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Michigan Winter

Post by gkremers »

It sure has been cold and snowy here along the lakeshore in western Michigan. I got to fly this past Thursday with my son who was visiting. It was 2 degrees when we took off and pretty cloudy. Yesterday wasn't supposed to be that nice but the sun was out and temps warmed up to 9 degrees. The snow was perfect for the skis. I don't trust the lakes yet but ice is building fast. 4 more months before the floats can go back on so you have to make the best of what the weather brings.

Hope everyone had a great holiday.

Gary
Black Dirt Farm.jpg
Farm.jpg
Lake Michigan.jpg
Park Township.jpg
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BucF16
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by BucF16 »

NICE! Hey Gary, What are the brand of Skies? And are your tires 6:8.5s
Thanks!
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
Builder web site:
http://www.bruceshighlander.blogspot.com
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gkremers
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by gkremers »

Bruce,
They are Summit Skis, Mike is a great guy and does beautiful work. My friend has a pair of TrickAir's on his Carbon Cub. They are also very nice but much heavier and over twice the price.

The tires are 8.5 x 6.

Take care
Gary

http://www.summitaircraft.com/products/aircraft-skis
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BucF16
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by BucF16 »

Thanks Gary, I thought I remembered that form a previous thread. My plan is to fly my Highlander on 26" or 29" tires for a year or two and then build your style floats over a winter, while using skies for that season. Providing we get snow. Ohio is slowly opening up our state reservoirs of SeaPlanes. I think we have 6 now. Of course I can come up to MI for both Skis and Floats, but being a Buckeye, there may be a bounty on me. :twisted:

Cheers,
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
Builder web site:
http://www.bruceshighlander.blogspot.com
av8rps
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by av8rps »

Great pictures Gary!
AV8R Paul
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by AV8R Paul »

Great pictures! However, it’s 54 degrees here and I’m miserably cold!
AV8R Paul
Certified Light Sport Repairman LSRM-A
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gkremers
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by gkremers »

I’ve lived in the northern states my entire life. Loved the cold weather and change of seasons. It is true most of us start to get a little tiered of it. My son lives just south of Austin so we bought a lot on an Airpark just south of Lockhart. Plan on a hangar with a nice 2 bedroom apartment for the winter months whenI get closer to retirement. I know it still gets chilly but it’s all relative. I did check and floatplanes are allowed on Canyon Lake with some minor restrictions. Several other lakes within a nice 40 min flight.

Bruce,
If you get up to MI let me know, don’t mind flying with a Buckeye....

Gary
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BucF16
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by BucF16 »

Thanks Gary! I've promised my wife, Susan, that I'd give her a weekend in Holland when the weather warms. We'd love to see your operation.

Cheers,
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
Builder web site:
http://www.bruceshighlander.blogspot.com
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gkremers
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by gkremers »

Yesterday was a great day for flying, especially if you have skis. The lower half of Michigan picked up 4-14" of snow depending were you live. Met up with some friends and put 4 hours on the plane. I only got stuck once on a pretty narrow grass strip, couldn't quite make the turn.

For those not flying yet get back out in the shop and "get her done"

Gary
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av8rps
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by av8rps »

Gary,

I'm just curious, how much cruise speed loss did you get with your skis?

Compared to your floats?

Paul
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gkremers
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by gkremers »

Paul,
None, actually I don't notice any speed penalty compared to only wheels. When the floats are on I need to push the RPM's up 75-100 to maintain the same speed as wheels only. I normally cruise at 97MPH at 5200 RPM.

Gary
av8rps
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by av8rps »

Those are good numbers and a bit better than I've experienced with my Highlander. Mine runs similar speeds but i need to run higher rpms. But I have wheel skis that are open tube with platic bottoms. The Summits you have look a few mph cleaner. And your Clamar floats compared to my Cz1300 amphibs also look a bit cleaner (my wheels are larger and I have 10,000 rivets in aluminum vs yours being smooth fibreglass).

Interesting to hear about your airpark lot purchase. I bought a lot at Mount Royal Airpark in Crescent City Florida a couple years ago with a similar plan as yours. Being right on the 360 mile long St Johns River which is also attached to a 43,000 acre lake, and surrounded by literally thousands of open-to-seaplanes Florida lakes, it will be an awesome place to fly seaplanes. Ironically, a bunch of my seaplane pals from here in Wisconsin all bought lots near me at the airpark. So once me and my friends retire one day it will likely be a great place to spend winters. Of course, ski flying there will suck :lol: But that's ok as we all agreed we will continue to spend summers here in Wisconsin. This part of the world is great when everywhere else is uncomfortably hot.
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BucF16
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by BucF16 »

Hey Gary, How do you determine when it is safe to land on a lake? Also where do think the line is (North / South) where there is usually a chance at least part of the winter it is safe to land. I know that here is central Ohio we had maybe had 3 or 4 days on the reservoirs that we might have landed.

Thanks
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
Builder web site:
http://www.bruceshighlander.blogspot.com
bluemax
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by bluemax »

BucF16 wrote:Hey Gary, How do you determine when it is safe to land on a lake? Also where do think the line is (North / South) where there is usually a chance at least part of the winter it is safe to land. I know that here is central Ohio we had maybe had 3 or 4 days on the reservoirs that we might have landed.

Thanks
Bruce
Hey Bruce,
I always figured if you can look down and view snow machine tracks on the lake ice, it would be fine for a light plane. Here is a photo of me and my first ultralight, an Aerolite 103. I was on the middle of Apple Valley Lake. The house in the background belongs to a 777 captain..... who loves ultralights.
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Max Rentz
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BucF16
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Re: Michigan Winter

Post by BucF16 »

Max, I didn't know you played for the Penguins! where's your stick?

I thought the same, If there were sled tracks, Then it should be good.
Bruce
Bruce Johnson Highlander # 393
"Because I fly, I envy no man on Earth"
Builder web site:
http://www.bruceshighlander.blogspot.com
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