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Ski-equipped aircraft

O.K. Forumites, just for a laugh – If the current weather in the U.K. doesn’t improve between now and the first Duxford show, what aircraft from the present and from history (i.e. those aircraft that have actually used/are using ski undercarriges) would you like to see participating ? – pics if possible please

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By: Tin Triangle - 31st March 2025 at 15:25

Off the top of my head:

Norwegian DC-3 (or maybe the floatplane DC-3 when the snow all melts!)
Auster T7 Antarctic as per Fuchs expedition
Ford Trimotor as used on that earlier exploration trip (was that Peary?)
Norwegian Gloster Gladiator (both, in formation)
Finnish: Bulldog IVA
Gauntlet (could actually do this one with some effort and planning!)
Radial Hart
Twin Otter, I suppose, if you have to.

How about P-38 “Glacier Girl” (OK, no skis, but counts anyway, no?)

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By: Flanker_man - 31st March 2025 at 15:25

An-2…..

http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/moscow_2004_files/day03_11.jpg

…..and skis……

http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/moscow_2004_files/day03_13.jpg

Ken

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By: Rlangham - 31st March 2025 at 15:24

Not just the pretty orange Auster T7’s – Auster had previous experience with ski aircraft, when conditions in WW2 meant that within 2 weeks of a request being made, skiis were designed, tested, built and sent to Europe for use on Auster squadrons in NW Europe

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk256/RobLangham/a2-23.jpg

Here’s a photo of the T7 at Cosford anyway. Pretty!

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By: contrailjj - 31st March 2025 at 15:24

lets have a Hurricane too!!!… http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/databases/image_bank/images/24468.jpg

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By: Mark12 - 31st March 2025 at 15:24

Tasman Glacier on the way down to Wanaka in 2006.

Mark

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Img_2186-1.jpg

..and Mount Cook, NZ, 2008.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/Img_2946a.jpg

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By: Fleet16b - 31st March 2025 at 15:24

I have a mint condition set of Auster MK 6 skis if anyone is interested
now that England has more snow than much of Canada:)

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By: VX927 - 31st March 2025 at 15:24

I have a mint condition set of Auster MK 6 skis if anyone is interested
now that England has more snow than much of Canada:)

I’m still interested fleet, if the price were right…
Any chance of some photos when you get a minute…

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By: ...starfire - 31st March 2025 at 15:24

How about a Tiger Moth on skis?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/WCAM_Tiger_Moth.jpg/800px-WCAM_Tiger_Moth.jpg

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By: WV-903. - 31st March 2025 at 15:22

Or This PA-12 CF-TSY.

Brings back great memories of RAF time at Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada at the time of V-bombers Visits. This is April 1972 and as a member of Goose Bay Flying Club, got to fly PA-12 CF-TSY ( Piper Super Cruiser ) a lot.

Yee-ow !! Wonder where she is now ? this aircraft featured in some epic activities at the time. Then owner Howard Mercer digging out a downed Cessna 150 Cf-UEF.

Who could go trout fishing through the ice here in UK ??? If you are quick this month, you might —lol :D:D

Bill T.

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By: Sonderman - 31st March 2025 at 15:22

Hi,

Don’t forget the Finnish airforce!
Fokker D.XXI
Fokker C.V
Fokker C.X
Blenheim
and a few more I guess.

Regards,

Mathieu.

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By: AMB - 31st March 2025 at 15:22

LC-130R Hercules. Possibly the largest aircraft to be fitted with skis, unless someone knows better?

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By: Mk1 - 31st March 2025 at 15:20

Ski-equipped aircraft

Gents:
The late Don Luscombe developed a an ingenious set of retractable/fully faired skis for the P-51 which I have a photo of somewhere. They were tested in Alaska I believe and worked well. I will post a photo if I can find it on my other computer.
Mk1

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By: Arabella-Cox - 31st March 2025 at 15:20

I seem to recall the Tiger Club have operated one or two of their aircraft on skis, particularly remember seeing photos of a Turbulent on skis……maybe in Popular Flying ???

Planemike

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By: antoni - 31st March 2025 at 15:19

Lots of photos here, including a P.38 and P.51.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aircraft-markings-camouflage/aircraft-skis-12149.html

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By: Fleet16b - 31st March 2025 at 15:19

Gents:
The late Don Luscombe developed a an ingenious set of retractable/fully faired skis for the P-51 which I have a photo of somewhere. They were tested in Alaska I believe and worked well. I will post a photo if I can find it on my other computer.
Mk1

I would be interested in seeing pictures of the P-51 skis as I have a set of skis in my ski collection that I am told are from a P51

My ski collection

1918 Curtis JN4 with tail ski
1920’s Fairchild
1928 Waco 10
Norseman
Tigermoth
1940 wooden J3 Canadian cub ( 2 sets)
Tigermoth 1 set mains 5 sets tail skis plus a set of “nos” pedastals never used yet
Heath skis
TUBE Skis for landing on slushy lakes
P51 Skis ?
15 sets of Federal metal skis
Various wood or metal skis that I don’t know the history of.

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By: G-ASEA - 31st March 2025 at 15:18

I have seen photos of Polikarpov I-15/ I-53 and I-15.

Dave

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By: pagen01 - 31st March 2025 at 15:18

For me it has to be the Lockheed LP-2J Neptune on skis.
Though a ski equiped Grumman Albatross (only type to easily operate from water, land and ice?) would run a close second

Photo credited to Jay Slagle and from the P2VNEPTUNEORG site

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By: VoyTech - 31st March 2025 at 15:16

Can’t believe nobody (Mark 12 in particular) mentioned the Spitfire! Especially so, as TZ138 (the ski-equipped Spitfire) is a survivor.

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By: Mark12 - 31st March 2025 at 15:16

Can’t believe nobody (Mark 12 in particular) mentioned the Spitfire! Especially so, as TZ138 (the ski-equipped Spitfire) is a survivor.

🙂 I am saving the images for the book!

Mark

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