Ski Plane Weekend | C-185 on Skis

Feb 19, 2018 | 7 Image Story Posts, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Cessna 185, Daily Image 2018, GA Aircraft, Nikon 1 V1, Ski Plane Weekend

Ski Plane Weekend | C-185 on Skis

Ski Plane Weekend | C-185 on Skis  This Cessna 185 made a beautiful landing on Lake Sapphire.  After some coffee, a warm up, and engaging hangar flying, I was fortunate to hitch a ride back with Steve, the pilot and owner.  He had recently completed an engine overhaul himself; aren’t all bush pilot’s also A&Ps as well as CFIIs.  Well, maybe not, but Steve let me fly a bit.  His C-185 wears skis in the winter, floats in the summer, and tires in between.  I tried to do some air-to-air photography from the copilot’s seat.  Next time, I’ll use the back seat and perhaps I’ll get better shots.  To see the entire story with all seven images, go to Ski Plane Weekend | a 7 Image Story.

Ski Plane Weekend | a 7 Image Story

Feb 18, 2018 | 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, 7 Image Stories, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Aviation, Cessna 185, Events, Nikon 1 V1, Nikon 1 V3, Nikon D3x, Piper J-3 Cub, Piper PA-18 Super Cub, Ski Plane Weekend

Ski Plane Weekend | Piper Cub on SkisSki Plane Weekend | a 7 Image Story  Usually, the lakes are frozen and there’s plenty of snow for the annual Ski Plane Weekend.  Some of the finest pilots from around the country take leave from their heavy iron and bush flying to gather together on this weekend to fly ski planes just for the fun of it.  This year, it’s a bit different.  Northern Michigan had a big flaw, which melted most of the snow.  The best we could fly was a Super Cub on tundra tires.  Let’s look back to earlier years.

Although some pilots bring their planes with skis, mostly we fly the Piper J-3 Cub on skis and the Piper PA-18 Super Cub on skis.  Most pilots love to fly both planes.  The skis add a bit of spice to life in the winter.  Add a snow shower and we pilots have dreams of being a bush pilot.  And, they have sticks, not a yokes.  They bring us back to the basics; no moving maps or no retractable gear; in fact, the J-3 does not even have a battery.  Yep, you have to hand prop it.  The Cub’s standard chrome yellow paint known as “Cub Yellow” identifies it as one of the best known aircraft of all time.

Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Ski Plane Weekend.

Click any image below for a slide show!