I took the plane out today cause it was great weather, a little cool, but great. Got everything set and ready, and was just gonna taxi it at first to see if she would plane up on the water correctly. At about 1/2 throttle it was planing so I went ahead and gave her full throttle. It took off as easily as it would with wheels. I was afraid of the extra weight, but it still flew fine at half throttle, would roll fine, and still had great slow flight characteristics. When I landed her, it was much easier than I thought. The skyraider is so smooth, and the ground effect really made for a soft touchdown. I'll get video nextime, and we may try to cruize along side her with the boat!

Nice! Did you recover that Skyraider?

Pop

That's great Brett. What did you end up doing with the float re: the step position. Did you leave it ahead of the cg or move it back.
Glad to hear that all went well. It is such a blast to fly off of water (frozen or liquid).
Curtis

sweet looking float plane, i would love to see some video of it in action

Yes poriv I recovered the wing and used auto pinstripe on it. I don't like the checkered job they come with[:'(]. Beau, I found the FAQ sticky in the seaplanes forum and figured out that I really needed to go ahead and move it. It was a good thing too, cause I didn't know anything about putting wing incidence in it until reading the FAQ. The step is now 7/8" behind the cg. It planed very nicely and lifted nicely at that position. It definitely needed the water rudder as well. It looks so nice landing on water, I can tell I'm going to frequent the lake often now. I need to find a nice protected cove though, it was kinda difficult taxiing downwind with the waves.

Brett,
Good job. Where do you fly floats??? Wasn't it a bit chilly today??? I've been wrapped up writing a review today and haven't even stuck my head outside.

Ken

We actually went out to Lake Hefner today, my dad has a sailboat out there. If the worst case scenario happened, we could use it to retrieve the plane. It was jacket weather, but alot nicer than yesterday. Very light winds, which was my main concern being the first time out on water. I am going to look for a nice calm cove at Draper, I think where I used to ride my waverunner will be a good spot.

I wish we had something down here that I coud fly float planes off of. Haven't come across anything yet that we can use. Minnflyer says he's gonna take me out float flying next time I head up there to Minnesota.

Ken

I knew it would be fun, but I didn't know it would be that fun. Watching it touch down was just the coolest thing! I almost want to take it with me to work tomorrow, I work 5 minutes from Hefner.

Brett,
I am a Mach I and Mach II fan.
What motor do you have in that bird?
Thanks,
KW_Counter

I have had my TT46 in both, it is now permanently in my Mach II. To me, that is the best engine for the money in its size. The Mach I now has a magnum 46, and it flys really well with it and a 12x4 prop.

Ken,
That is a must. When you are in the land of 10,000 lakes, you might as well get aquainted with one.
You'll have to make Mike let me and the other MN members know and we will make a day of it.
Curtis

You can count on it. I think Mike is thinking of doing another unoffical RCU fly-in. However, this year I'm going to do a bit differently. If I come up this summer I think that I am going to drive up so that I can bring some planes along to fly. Last time I was up there I had to rely on generosity of others for a plane to fly.

Ken