Milviz DHC-2 Beaver Ski Plane
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LZScout
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2020 2:10 pm
Milviz DHC-2 Beaver Ski Plane
I have a question about the DHC-2 Beaver. This is what the manual says:
“The de Havilland combination wheel-ski installation permits normal operation on wheels or skis at the discretion of the pilot. It is possible to taxi immediately from snow covered ground onto cleared runways or dispersal areas and vice versa since the skis can be raised or lowered while the aircraft is being taxied.
The skis are raised by selecting UP on the selector lever then operating the hydraulic handpump which supplies hydraulic pressure to extend an actuator and cause the ski linkage to swivel on the axle attachments. The hydraulic pressure works in opposition to a compressed air charge, in the upper portion of the actuator housing, which is used as a pneumatic spring to cushion the landing. To lower the skis, select DOWN on the ski selector lever which will release the hydraulic pressure and allow the pneumatic pressure in the upper portion of the actuator housing, to return the skis to the DOWN position as shown on the indicator in the selector unit.”
In the external view in flight, I never see the skis move regardless of the Up/Down position. More importantly, the aircraft will land on snow or asphalt only in the “skis down” position. If I select “skis up”, it always crashes. This doesn’t seem right on asphalt.
“The de Havilland combination wheel-ski installation permits normal operation on wheels or skis at the discretion of the pilot. It is possible to taxi immediately from snow covered ground onto cleared runways or dispersal areas and vice versa since the skis can be raised or lowered while the aircraft is being taxied.
The skis are raised by selecting UP on the selector lever then operating the hydraulic handpump which supplies hydraulic pressure to extend an actuator and cause the ski linkage to swivel on the axle attachments. The hydraulic pressure works in opposition to a compressed air charge, in the upper portion of the actuator housing, which is used as a pneumatic spring to cushion the landing. To lower the skis, select DOWN on the ski selector lever which will release the hydraulic pressure and allow the pneumatic pressure in the upper portion of the actuator housing, to return the skis to the DOWN position as shown on the indicator in the selector unit.”
In the external view in flight, I never see the skis move regardless of the Up/Down position. More importantly, the aircraft will land on snow or asphalt only in the “skis down” position. If I select “skis up”, it always crashes. This doesn’t seem right on asphalt.