The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Does anyone have experience with the 170 on skis? We have straight 2500's mounted and it takes all it's got to get up and go. We do not have UHMW on the bottoms. We are turning about 2250 on the tach when we start our roll. Hard packed snow. Would the UHMW make a difference? If so, how thick and how far apart would the mounting rivets have to be? Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Besides our own 170 forum, http://www.skiplane.org is a useful thing to know about. If you haven't already, ask your question there, too.

Aero Ski in Brooten, MN, (320) 346-2285, is a good source of ski parts and materials. They can sell you plastic if you want to laminate your ski bottoms, and they can recommend rivet spacing. It takes large flush rivets that are hard to squeeze if they're not softened, so it's good to have access to a kiln or high-temperature oven for that.

Plastic bottoms probably help, but there's really no substitute for power. You're already turning 2550, so it sounds like you may already have a climb prop. You can search this site for "seaplane prop" and find all kinds of information on props.

Have you got a tail ski? I think most 170 ski fliers find that helps.

What kind of 2500's? Do you have frost on the bottom of them? I have been flying 170's on skis for a couple decades and have only put the tail ski on when snow conditions warranted. That has been less than a handful of years.

John,
Thanks for the Aero Ski phone number. We are turning 2250 rpm, not 2550. We are not using a tail ski.

Tim,
We have the straight 2500's, not the wheel penetration type. It could be frost or snow build up. We have an unheated hangar. We found that if we stop after taxiing, even for 10 seconds, we became stuck. Seems like we get frozen to the snow. It looks like the UHMW bottoms is the way to go.

Kurt Aichele wrote:John,
Thanks for the Aero Ski phone number. We are turning 2250 rpm, not 2550. We are not using a tail ski.

Tim,
We have the straight 2500's, not the wheel penetration type. It could be frost or snow build up. We have an unheated hangar. We found that if we stop after taxiing, even for 10 seconds, we became stuck. Seems like we get frozen to the snow. It looks like the UHMW bottoms is the way to go.

Yes the UHMW is the way to go, what manufacture of ski.

Kurt,
I just got on federal 2500's this year on my 170A. I had 3/16 plastic and 7651 prop installed before I got the skis on. I dealt with Aeroski suggested by jrenwick. They are nice to deal with and will give you all the advice you need. Performance on packed snow seems close to being on wheels on frozen turf. I don't have a tail ski as conditions I fly in "usually" don't call for one. Good Luck! Mark