Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

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ChrisCool
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Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by ChrisCool »

Just wondering if an aircraft such as a Cessna 182 equipped with skis (or maybe a Pilatus PC-6 - word's best STOL plane..)) can land on soft sand like that in the Sahara desert...

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icosco
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by icosco »

I think taking off on sand might be a bit more difficult than landing on sand... especially in the Sahara Desert
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by Liquid Charlie »

It could happen but not before we learn how to walk on water --

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longjon
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by longjon »

NO
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Heliian
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by Heliian »

This would've done er.
sandplane.gif
sandplane.gif (124.21 KiB) Viewed 5386 times
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by black hole »

Yes............Once!

BH
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ChrisCool
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by ChrisCool »

So what's the best option, if you have to land in a desert environment?

Regular Wheels? Big Tundra Wheels? or Skis?
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by fish4life »

I'd imagine big Alaskan super cub tundra tires would work well where they are only at 3-5 PSI. I have no experience in the field of sarahan desert landings though.
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longjon
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by longjon »

all replies are saying NO skis won't work now you ask if wheels, tundra tires or SKIS will work. jeez man can't you read??

In the desert strips are built for PC-6 Porters and DHC-6s to land on. You just don't land in sand,
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ChrisCool
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by ChrisCool »

longjon wrote:all replies are saying NO skis won't work now you ask if wheels, tundra tires or SKIS will work. jeez man can't you read??

In the desert strips are built for PC-6 Porters and DHC-6s to land on. You just don't land in sand,
I just want to land here, ok??
and without flipping over or breaking the aircraft's wheels. It probably can be done


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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by icosco »

Straight floats :wink:
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by JungleMonkey »

The road the camels are walking on looks good. Their "camel toes" are mostly visible. I'd recommend a tailwheel aircraft loaded slightly tail heavy. I took off in 12" deep snow once with a C180 on straight wheels. My cousin and his buddy were in the back and the baggage was behind them. It worked but I wouldn't say it was pretty. (We hadn't planned this but half-way through 3 bottles of dark rum it began to snow heavily) :shock:
I've also landed a 90 HP Champ on sand. No passenger and one passenger. It was a beach at the south end of Lake Winnipeg and I'd land on the damp stuff not the wet or dry stuff. Chances are the only moisture in your desert will come from the camels..
Skis? No way. I once landed skis down on a gravel strip in an empty C180. It was an "oversight". I stopped shorter than seems possible and the only thing that kept me from tipping over was the big pile of poop in the back seat. :rolleyes:
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longjon
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by longjon »

Australia or Africa/Middle East?

If Africa or Middle East you might look into getting permission to land before you make further plans. If you want to land on terrain like in the picture then numerous machines will do the job. Companies that operate in those climates will have the ac for the job. If you want to take your own ac there then look close at the logistics, fuel, bullet proof vests etc.
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by ChrisCool »

JungleMonkey wrote:The road the camels are walking on looks good. Their "camel toes" are mostly visible. I'd recommend a tailwheel aircraft loaded slightly tail heavy. I took off in 12" deep snow once with a C180 on straight wheels. My cousin and his buddy were in the back and the baggage was behind them. It worked but I wouldn't say it was pretty. (We hadn't planned this but half-way through 3 bottles of dark rum it began to snow heavily) :shock:
I've also landed a 90 HP Champ on sand. No passenger and one passenger. It was a beach at the south end of Lake Winnipeg and I'd land on the damp stuff not the wet or dry stuff. Chances are the only moisture in your desert will come from the camels..
Skis? No way. I once landed skis down on a gravel strip in an empty C180. It was an "oversight". I stopped shorter than seems possible and the only thing that kept me from tipping over was the big pile of poop in the back seat. :rolleyes:
:) Yes finally! some useful information
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Last edited by ChrisCool on Sat May 23, 2015 5:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
longjon
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by longjon »

better finish grade school first
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by ChrisCool »

longjon wrote:better finish grade school first
what do you mean by that?
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by trey kule »

edited for content, as apparently this was a serious question.
:mrgreen:
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Last edited by trey kule on Sat May 23, 2015 6:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Accident speculation:
Those that post don’t know. Those that know don’t post
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ChrisCool
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by ChrisCool »

trey kule wrote:Are you the same ChrisCool,that posted a thread about an Aussie wanting to come to Canads. And Ausdie who was current on the TFW situation in Canada?
I think some people should do a bit of searching your previous postd
Don't know what you're talking about.
trey kule wrote: As to you lastest troll, find a ski equipped plane near one of the deserts. Try it out. Let us know how it goes.
for the life of me I will never understand what a troll thinks .
If you can't offer a good solution to the above problem, or make a useful contribution to this forum ~ then I'm not interested in your 'opinions'.
Opinions are like as$holes - everybody's got one.
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by Shiny Side Up »

Once upon a time when I was younger and a lot stupider, I had the brainwave that skis and sand would be a good idea - not in an airplane mind you. I as water skiing and when I figured I was done I'd let go of the rope and coast up onto the beach. Nice sandy beach, would look cool in front of the girls too. You know, skis should just slide on sand nicely right? Nope. Even as slow as I had timed things just right, soon as those skis hit the sand, they stopped and I kept going. Thankfully this was before the days of everyone having a phone to post immediately to youtube. I have no doubts that skis and sand don't mix.
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Re: Can a plane on Skis land on Sand?

Post by JungleMonkey »

I suspect that you too were looking at the "camel toes"..
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