Hardware
Make sure the skis are waxed at the beginning of the season.
Rudder stop screws are in all the way to give you max rudder deflection
Tailski is installed unless snow is less than 10" deep
Taxi
Depending on snow conditions, there is a brake loose moment. Reduce power immediatly after braking loose if low speed taxi is required
You do not have brakes. on Icy snow it may be required to cut the engine to get the plane stopped
Left turns go easier then right turns
Always taxi stick back, only for turns unload the tail by pushing forward.
Turns with flaps full down go easyer and get tighter cause the tail is lighter
Full flaps and full foward stick when in human running speed develop a tight turn, add power and after 1/4 turn it enters in a groundspin, very fast and tight. To recover, opposite rudder stick back and leave some power on to have slipstream over the rudder . 1/2 turn min needed to recover. Try this in a wide open area first, no ditches or trees close by.
Landing
Always use the 3 point landing. Especially in unknown terrain & snow
If landing uphill, use the kinetic energy and power to make a U turn and park the plane as much pointing downhill as possible. But it should not run down on its own. Before shutting the engine, give some power shots to check for secure parking.
Snow conditions are very different and can be challenging. I once that the entire plane sink till the wings in very fresh powder snow. Such powder will sit in a day or two and is very seldom. If this ever happens to you pull the carbheat and take off immediatly to develop lift. When airborne keep the carb heat pulled till next landing. remove all the snow from the engine intake.
If snow tracks from other planes are present in powder, use them for landing. If not, make a track, go around and use your own track.
If these tracks melt during noon and freeze overnight, stay away from them under all circumstances. If you enter a frozen track you will go where the track goes, whatever you do. Exiting is verydifficult and results oftern in ripped off gears.
Light
Do your first flights on a sunny day. Without a single point lightsource, you have no depth reception and will most likely fly into the ground without rounding out. Try to land in your takeoff tracks they give you a reference how high you are. If your landing surface is uphill and the sun behind you, you may get a whiteout. No depth reception at all. So look for tracks. If a landing in flat light is absolutly necessary, trow a black trashbag out the window over the designated landing area. This will give you a reference on final. Collect the bag after landing.
Ski transition
I operate the RF8001 from ski to wheels at 90 mph. During the transition the skis create a pitch down moment. Not so if you hold on to the stick.
Parking
if you intend to park on melted snow overnight, have trashbags with you and slide them under the ski to prevent freezing. Alwasy have a snow shovel and snowboots with you.
Equipment
Snow shovel
Rope
Snow boots
Snow shoes
warm cloth
Food
Black trashbags
Phone
Let someone at the airport know where you are going and by when they should start looking after you. Check with him / her after landing
NEVER LAND IN SNOW WITH WHEELS DOWN :
enjoy ski flying
TomD