Comments on: Photo of the Day — An Expensive Sled with Wings https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings/ Exposing Real Alaska Sun, 23 Nov 2025 20:38:14 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: art zimmer (Kodiak) https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings/#comment-321 https://blueiceaviation.com/blog/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings#comment-321 Well Matt, I still think my idea of a brake apparatus built into your skis would work, even if you have them fitted to wheels. The skis are obviously wider than the tires; so why not design  a drop-through braking arm alongside the wheels?  It would need only a slot about 1" in width, and however long to accomodate the device. I have  thought more on it a bit more since I first wrote about it.  The device would have a spring attached to the lever, so as to return it to the normal "up" position. When needed, a brake lever inside the plane would activate the brake by the use of a thin cable attached to the upper part of the brake device–at the same point that the spring is attached.  I may need to draw a picture and scan it to you, though I think you get the mental picture.  How deep down would such a device need to extend to brake the plane on snow or ice?  Is the snow usually hard where you land? It may need to be broader if to be effective on soft snow. 
 
Of course a tail hook might be safer, but also not as easily able to contact the snow surface as through the skis, since they are already in direct contact after you have landed.  I really think this idea could work well, but would take a little doing.
 
Art
I called Rick Reed this afternoon; he already had your phone number from some people he said had once introduced him to you.  I mentioned his need for help to a friend of mine at church this evening, who said his son might want to go with him, as he has had some experience with fishing. 
 
O, I really like your design for the porch on your new house. I especially like the sloping alpine ridge line you are building.  If you ever return to Kodiak, I'd like you to see a diagonal A-frame house I built here some years ago. It had a 48 foot long ridge of 4×12 beams, and incrementally shorter beam purlins down the 12/12 slope to a 0 ft eave. This meant that the four walls were four right angles, with the long sides set to each other at right angles on the square floor, and the lower tips of the angles meeting at right angles on opposite corners of the floor.  It was difficult to do the roof, but allowed for an interesting house design. I then built a "contemporary" 5-point star deck inside, suspended by 6 chains  above the living room below. This deck was railed around, providing a neat lounge adjoining the top floor, where there was another bedroom. 
 
I also built a 5 point star roof house on the third level, with five folded gables across each of which were sloping glue lams leading to a central focal point, which was a diamond-shaped fireplace chase.  That house is 1617 Mission Road, long since sold. It was on that one I had an 8" Black and Decker saw run up through my left cheek.  Trade marks!!!
 
Art

]]> By: Matthew Keller https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings/#comment-320 https://blueiceaviation.com/blog/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings#comment-320 I like the anchor idea and I think it would be totally original :o) There are actually some missionary planes (cessna 185s) overseas that have tail hooks for slippery grass, but they are seldom used. My friend out in Port Alsworth just developed a brake for straight skis that supposedly works really well. My problem is that I run wheel skis so the brake apparatus is still in use for the tires. Sooooooo, I guess that brings me back to the anchor :o)

]]> By: art zimmer (Kodiak) https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings/#comment-319 https://blueiceaviation.com/blog/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings#comment-319 Hi Matt, I think Rion above had a good idea : an anchor or tail hook; I think the kind that the fighter pilots use on the aircraft carriers!! Only problem is you need a stretched line to catch the hook! Well, you could do what you do when you need electricity in the woods: you just plug into a current bush!!
Silly I guess. I think you are most daring and innovative; for this I give you high marks. But it is also on the edge of being dangerous I think.
I wonder if you could rig drop-through stops on your skis? You could rig a dual cable from the spring-loaded stops up to your cabin, secured to a lockable lever you could set or release at will. Only, don’t pull it on while stopping in normal landing. By the way, no charge for the patent rights–your friend Art

]]> By: Rion https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings/#comment-318 https://blueiceaviation.com/blog/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings#comment-318 hehe, that’s hilarious. An anchor, or a tailhook!

]]> By: Mike Normandeau https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings/#comment-317 https://blueiceaviation.com/blog/photo-of-the-day-an-expensive-sled-with-wings#comment-317 Great story Matt – sounds like you need an anchor! 🙂

Mike

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