Skiing in Europe (and tailwheels near Southampton)

[Capn Bug Smasher]

Boys and girls,

Two questions, please:

Does anybody know where I can do some skiplane flying in Europe? Preferably with an instructor so I can put it towards a rating, but I'm happy to cost share with an owner. There's loads of skis in America and Canada, I'm just wondering if I can have a go closer to home.

Then can anybody recommend a tailwheel outfit near Southampton, UK? Got bitten in August and became allergic to nosewheels :E

Cheerio

Capn Bugsmasher

[piperboy84]

Is skiplaning a rating or just an logbook endorsement ?

[Johnm]

I flew a Maule on skis out of Saanen in Switzerland with an instructor, great day's flying:)

[Jan Olieslagers]

Best opportunities would be in France - but there might be language issues, just like in Italy. Not even to think of Spain. Of course there may be exceptions everywhere.
That said, your best chances seem to be in Switzerland and Austria. Perhaps even Southern Germany.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I don't know anything very near Southampton, but the track record and quality of instruction on tailwheel at Thruxton has always been good, which is probably about an hour's drive from the city. That's probably your best bet.

G

[semmern]

Lots to be had here in Norway, combined with some nice mountain flying experience. Mostly Super Cubs. PM me, and I'll see if I can connect you up with someone, if interested.

[Capn Bug Smasher]

Chaps,

Thank you so much to all that replied! Plenty to think about that I never would've found on my own. So cheers :)

piperboy,

Don't know. I know it's an endorsement in the States but given our European red tape bet it's a rating in the UK. Will look closer as I never realised it might not be.

semmern,

Thank you so much! Expect that PM soon :ok:

Cheerio

Capn Bugsmasher

[destinationsky]

Try Old Sarum for tail wheel - Gofly.

[stickandrudderman]

With regard to mountain flying on skis, I did this from BEX LSGB a few years back and wrote on here about it.
Perhaps a search will yield the report.

[Jude098]

Checkout Aeroclub de Courcheval-Dauphine

[Capn Bug Smasher]

Once more - thank you all.

stick, did you mean this riveting post?

http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/315871-fate-luck.html

Gotta rush for a train so I'll finish this off later :ok:

[stickandrudderman]

That's the one!


She did marry me eventually!!

[Capn Bug Smasher]

Now then, stick, congratulations! And thank you.

For piperboy: I just got this lovely bit of enlightenment from the CAA:-

"There is no ski-plane rating, to be cleared for skis, you would be required to complete differences training, which would be signed off by an Instructor in your logbook. The Mountain Rating (FCL.805) includes the ability for the rating to be endorsed with skis as the method of landing on a mountain."

Armed with this knowledge - that I need instruction for a MOUNTAIN rating, not a ski rating, essentially - three aeroclubs in France spring from the woods (or hills, as it were):

Aeroclub de Couchevel-Dauphine (thanks Jude!)

Club Aeronautique d'Annemasse

Aeroclub des Trois Vallees

And I haven't started looking at Switzerland!

You can also do the mountain rating in Spain. They have a Tecnam Sierra. I'd like to try one of those, I heard you can slide the canopy open in flight, like a fighter. Pretty cool. Of course it's on wheels, though, which isn't the point of this thread :E