ORIGINAL: 2slow2matter
eaglelope,
that's only part of the story. Water has a density of ~1 g/ml. Anything with a density less than that will also float--whether or not it displaces it's weight in water. Balsa has a density of much less than one, therefore it will float. However, airplanes aren't entirely balsa, now are they? There's the landing gear, motor, covering, etc. Problem is, if the density of the balsa can't float the ship by itself, then you have to go to the displacement theory. The only way it will float using that principle is if the bird is sank up to the wing--there is probably enough wing surface to float the airplane. by this time, however, the electronics are probably filled with water. I would do what a lot of people have suggested--wrap them in a baggie and seal them up real good. In this case, simple works. It's the KISS principle--keep it simple, stupid! (no offense).
Correct me if im wrong, but isnt that the same thing? If it has a density of less than 1g/ml, then it will still displace its weight in water, just the lower density means that it will take up less space in the water. In other words a 1 pound block of wood displaces the same amount of water that a one pound block of foam would displace, specicly a volume equivalent to one pound of water. The difference being, the less dense foam will be larger in volume at the same weight, and since they are displacing the same amount of water, will consequently ride higher in the water.