I flew without wheel pants all winter last year as they were not ready yet.
Last Tuesday had beautiful weather, -5°C, light winds.
Had to go for a spin.
The airport's apron, taxiways and runway were nicely plowed with only a light dusting of dry, powdered snow. See photos.
Outside of hard braking, this small amount of snow normally doesn't significantly influence ground handling. Except that the wheel pants were on this time.
After taxi and run-up, I noticed one very light, brief bind from the left wheel while back-tracking to the threshold.
Take-off and following flight were non-issues and wonderful as always.
On touch-down, again a light, brief one shot bind from both wheels this time.
Like landing with feet lightly on brakes.
Snow had most probably entered the wheel pants, melted on warm brakes and froze up.
The light binding events were barely noticeable and did not cause concern this time but it did make me reflect on a probable stonger binding causing an unpleasant incident.
24 hours after that flight, I removed the wheel pants.
The airplane is hangared and the temperature in there is 5°C.
Some of the snow melted overnight but there was still some left in the wheel pants. I was surprised how much snow got in there in a 5000 ish feet taxi/take-off/landing roll.
Winter time, I will fly without them now.
Last Tuesday had beautiful weather, -5°C, light winds.
Had to go for a spin.
The airport's apron, taxiways and runway were nicely plowed with only a light dusting of dry, powdered snow. See photos.
Outside of hard braking, this small amount of snow normally doesn't significantly influence ground handling. Except that the wheel pants were on this time.
After taxi and run-up, I noticed one very light, brief bind from the left wheel while back-tracking to the threshold.
Take-off and following flight were non-issues and wonderful as always.
On touch-down, again a light, brief one shot bind from both wheels this time.
Like landing with feet lightly on brakes.
Snow had most probably entered the wheel pants, melted on warm brakes and froze up.
The light binding events were barely noticeable and did not cause concern this time but it did make me reflect on a probable stonger binding causing an unpleasant incident.
24 hours after that flight, I removed the wheel pants.
The airplane is hangared and the temperature in there is 5°C.
Some of the snow melted overnight but there was still some left in the wheel pants. I was surprised how much snow got in there in a 5000 ish feet taxi/take-off/landing roll.
Winter time, I will fly without them now.