Norseman Ski

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NWONT
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by NWONT »

This past summer our local museum had a display about bush pilots so I volunteered to help anyway I could. They asked if I could find an old ski for the center display. With some help I got these old Norseman boards. They have been out in the elements for 25 or 30 years. Too rotten to do much with and full of ants and other bugs. I wanted to make one presentable but no easy to work with rotten wood. I replaced the part that held the pedestal and ground off as much deteriorated wood as I could. Sprayed it with bug killer and wrapped it in plastic for a day until bugs gone. Then put the stain to it, paint stripped and repainted the pedestal.
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NWONT
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by NWONT »

I haven't worked on Norseman skis for about 40 years so I did enjoy the memory this brought back. I found the tag under layers of rust and old paint and it read "Saskatchewan Government Airways, Model No PAE 8200, Insp Date 23-12-50" So I figure that this Engineer certified these skis just before going off for Christmas in 1950.
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by NWONT »

Digging around on the net I found this photo of a Saskatchewan Government Airways Norseman taken in Stony Rapids in 1951. It's possible that these same skis are on this plane.
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NWONT
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by NWONT »

Here is the ski on display at the museum. It seems a lot of people were interested enough to take time to come to the museum to see all the artifacts on display. There is a huge amount of aviation history in the Red Lake/Pickle Lake area and very few know about it. Little was ever recorded and many would like to see it forgotten. There have been more crashes in this area than you can imagine but due to liabilities the accident reports were altered to protect those involved including Transport Canada. There was a thread about DC-3's on here a few years ago and that caused some panic so it was quickly shit-canned!! Oh well, maybe best that way.
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valleyboy
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by valleyboy »

I have flown both "Sask" gov skis and Elliot boards. The ones I flew both had the M&C pedestals. The design was very different. The Elliot skies were laminated which was the secret to their success because of the ability to flex. The Sask gov design was a solid board design (at least the ones I flew) which was very thick and much stubbier. Everyone much preferred the Elliots. Much better performance on sticky snow and breaking free.
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by NWONT »

Totally agree with you Valleyboy. Elliot boards were far superior. They were flexible and bottoms were copper so repairs could be cover with a torch, some acid and solder. They say when the Elliot Bros were working if anyone entered the shop they would throw a tarp over what they were doing so no-body could steal their design secrets.
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Antique Pilot
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by Antique Pilot »

I have a set of wooden skis with teflon bottoms. They were built by the Saskatchewan Government Airways.in Prince Albert in 1965. They are model 2700's made for a Cessna 180.

AP
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NWONT
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by NWONT »

Those are excellent AP. Never seen nor heard of skis like that for a C180. The one I tried to salvage had fiberglass bottoms with galvanized metal around the edge. Not near as classy as copper on Elliot skis.
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by Antique Pilot »

If you happen to have a copy of the book called "Wings Beyond Road's End" on page 122 is a photo of a couple of Cessna 180's with those skis.

AP
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DougRonan
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Re: Norseman Ski

Post by DougRonan »

I have a bunch of wood skis - including some that I think are from a Norseman- they are huge!
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