1/2a Float Flying

1/2a Float Flying
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1/2a Float Flying - 6/24/2008 4:58:17 PM

Jburry

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Joined: 7/12/2006
From: Cape Spencer, NB, CANADA
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Ah, what fun. This weekend saw our club's annual Dr. Ed's Float Fly on the Saint John river at Cody's. We had a relatively small turn-out this year, under a dozen planes, due to hazy, overcast conditions. It was foggy in Saint John itself, but an hour away it was simply hazy.

I'm one of only 3 people in my club that fly any 1/2a at all. Definately the only one that flies 1/2a seaplane. The trusty Aquastar enjoyed 3 beautiful flights, motivated by the song of its Norvel BM .061. Did a few slow passes, a couple touch'n'goes, and a buncha basic aerobatics. With ailerons and reduced dihedral, this is a nice flying nimble little plane. And with some upthrust and some chine rails, it ROW's without difficulty.

I did have one near incident, on landing after my second flight. I had touched down and throttled back up immediately to play with high-speed taxiing. The aquastar skidded along as I fed in rudder, just shy of flying speed. Then the outside float caught a ripple wrong. In an instant, the right wing was underwater up to near the root, the nose of the plane was busy converting forward speed to depth. I pinned the Norvel wide open so the prop whipping water wouldn't stall'er out, and slowly the boat popped back to the surface. Displacement taxi back to shore.... And the motor quits 10' off shore. That was OK, the breeze blew her most of the rest of the way back in (Whew, didn't wanna wrestle the rescue boat out!), and was easily retrieved for another go.

Here's a photo for all those who, in the past, have had trouble ROWing with the Aquastar. This one doesn't stay on the water very long, and flies really nicely even at a portly 22oz dry weight.

J

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 6/24/2008 8:16:19 PM

KidEpoxy

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Good job bringing back the aquastar/Uboat

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 6:59:15 PM

jetpack

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From: Portage, IN, USA
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I was hoping to see a pontoon setup but i guess not! I would love to experiment with float flying but would like to stay with pontoon gear like a super cub would have. Does anyone think it would work ok?

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 7:55:41 PM

flyinrog

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From: Burlington, NC, USA
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I was thinking pontoon too, I bet the Skydrill and a couple of styrofoam toons" would work with a good running .061...Rog
but there's no water near my fields...Rog

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 8:23:28 PM

WEDJ

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From: East Haddam, CT, USA
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"the nose of the plane was busy converting forward speed to depth"

Great quote!!!

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 8:58:37 PM

skaliwag

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From: santa cruz, CA, USA
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Skydrill on floats.... Now there's an idea

http://www.gwsus.com/english/product/other/float.htm

Little on the heavy side though. Hard to make light-weight floats.

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 9:59:24 PM

BTerry

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From: Silverdale, WA, USA
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THIS COMPANY makes light weight floats...

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 10:01:37 PM

BTerry

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From: Silverdale, WA, USA
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Sorry, I guess that should have said "MADE" floats. They appear to be out of business.

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 10:04:08 PM

BTerry

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quote:

ORIGINAL: skaliwag

Skydrill on floats.... Now there's an idea

http://www.gwsus.com/english/product/other/float.htm

Little on the heavy side though. Hard to make light-weight floats.

The Skydrill would work with a single float and tip floats like the old Top Flite Kittiwake.

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/3/2008 10:45:03 PM

jetpack

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From: Portage, IN, USA
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LOL they looked like they were nice floats! I seen they even had one on a park flyer electric job.

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RE: 1/2a Float Flying - 7/4/2008 4:07:11 AM

fritzke

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From: Saint Paul, MN, USA
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J3 Cub, March '83 Model Aviation by the 1/2a master, Fred Reese.
Corky by Ted Strader, RCM March 1977
Willard Simple Sunday Seaplane (RCM)
Ed Westwood Heinkel (RCM)
Twin Speed 400, a Possible twin .049 (also, RCM)
Dave

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