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That is a very nice installation and obviously depends on aerodynamics to keep the ski at the correct angle of attack which means a LOT of time was spent on those aerodynamics.
Compare that with the Canadian version with a complex mickey motion hydraulic trim system to achieve the same results or even the DC-3/C47 with its wing that was a pure bitch to set up and the cables to limit the angles that the ski could move when the gear was extended. And if you think that is a lot of stray cables then you are correct but all are needed.
The upside is that the Dakota skis could be retracted in flight to reduce drag and also had a raise/lower mechanism so that you could operate off both snow and gravel/tarmac/concrete on the same flight. When you land on snow you MUST lift the ski off the snow when you park (to the position shown on the near side in the photo) or the hot ski can melt the ice - and that is when your problems really start if the ice freezes again. Note the far side ski has drooped and would probably stick on ice/snow. Often the oil cooler is moved up the side of the cowling on the inboard side and and I never saw one with that box thing attached. Each Dak ski weighed over 200kg from memory and installing them was not fun. Removal was easy though.
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A-20A #40-139. Assigned to 8th BS, 3rd BG(L) 8/21/1942. First combat mission 9/3/1942. Transferred to 89th BS, 3rd BG(L) 12/10/1942. Continued to fly combat missions until October 1943. Transferred to Air Depot Group for refit 10/24/1943. Later assigned to 22 Squadron RAAF as A28-38.I'd have thought the giant U.S. ARMY under the wings would have been painted over in early '42 though
A-20A #40-139. Assigned to 8th BS, 3rd BG(L) 8/21/1942. First combat mission 9/3/1942. Transferred to 89th BS, 3rd BG(L) 12/10/1942. Continued to fly combat missions until October 1943. Transferred to Air Depot Group for refit 10/24/1943. Later assigned to 22 Squadron RAAF as A28-38.
It was not unusual for units in forward areas to not be up to date with the latest marking schemes.
In the Canadian NWT there was virtually no corrosion on the skis so the C-130 ones must be a corrosion prone alloy like 7075 or something else must be acting as a catalyst.
Years ago, my company worked on those skisThe corrosion in the skis comes from ice accumulating after take off, freezing at altitude, then defrosting as the aircraft descend into Christchurch and the aircraft sitting about the Deep Freeze Ramp for days until their next sortie to the Ice. Christchurch is also quite damp and it rains a lot. The skis are quite substantial and water pools inside them. I haven't got any images of them in the hangar, but they require a considerable amount of work. Heavy maintenance checks on Hercs in general take a couple of months. I did a heavy check on this aircraft many years ago.
A fella doing work on the APU providing scale to the skis fitted to the main gear.
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I imagine they got rid of the red meatball in the middle of the white star in a bit of a hurry though......They were too busy doing ops and essential repairs and both approved and unapproved mods to ensure crew safety to have the time to stuff around doing non urgent work like marking changes.
That went as soon as they got to Australia.I imagine they got rid of the red meatball in the middle of the whit star in a bit of a hurry though......
FYI. If elected President, my first official act would be to repaint Air Force One with a blue fuselage, yellow wings, red and white stripes on the rudder and red dot stars.I imagine they got rid of the red meatball in the middle of the white star in a bit of a hurry though......
... only if you flew around with the gear down, opened the cockpit, and did all your navigation using dead reckoning and flying the A/N beam!FYI. If elected President, my first official act would be to repaint Air Force One with a blue fuselage, yellow wings, red and white stripes on the rudder and red dot stars.
I apologize if I offended anyone's political sensitivities.
And ashtrays in the cockpit.... only if you flew around with the gear down, opened the cockpit, and did all your navigation using dead reckoning and flying the A/N beam!
FYI. If elected President, my first official act would be to repaint Air Force One with a blue fuselage, yellow wings, red and white stripes on the rudder and red dot stars.
I apologize if I offended anyone's political sensitivities.
Where's my wallet?!!!