Our club has been asked to provide entertainment at an event by flying off of a pond they have.
I'm thinking of buying floats and trying it out.
If nothing else I'm sure my attempt would be entertaining but what are my chances of my plane surviving?

What would be the best choice for floats?
Cherokee with a OS 46LA
World Models high wing trainer with a TTPro .36 ( that doesnt run that well)
Tiger 60 with a TTPro .61 ( I'm not taking a chance with this one )

So, I think I answered my own question. It would be the cherokee. but it is kinda slow with the 46 LA engine on it. It lifts off the grass fine but will the water be a problem.

Anything I should know about water take offs?

Not sure I'm going to do it but I would like to try something new...


Pop

If it were me, I'd put the TT 61 on the high-wing trainer and put floats on it. It's a bit more power than you need, but when it comes to float flying, having extra power is a good thing.

As long as the plane and floats are set up properly, it's not too much more difficult. The main thing is to have floats that are aproximately 75% of the Fuse length (from Firewall to to rear of fuse) and have the step at or 1/2" behind the CG - also, don't forget to re-balance once you add the floats, any weight needed should be added to the floats so that when you take them off, you don't need to re-balance when you put the wheels back on.

The biggest differences are that you need to keep the wings level during takeoff and landing so you're not digging one float deeper into the water than the other float. In the air, you'll feel the extra drag, so the plane will be a little sluggish, so keep plenty of altitude if you want to try a loop or roll.

+1, The trainer wing will make landing and taking off easier. It happens to be the same set up I have! You will be surprised how easy it actually is, atleast IMO.

One more very important part of setup...

With the tops of the floats level, the wing should sit about  2 degrees positive.

Lots of good info here. I used it to set up mine and they work great. http://www.smilesandwags.com/Floatsite/FAQ.html

Here is mine doing some flying.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9t3-mgryhs[/youtube]

No hard, just different.

.40 sized airplane floats work well for rotary winged flight ... this was a lot of fun.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwVKpelxjAo[/youtube]

OK, one of the guys gave me these floats.
I've removed the landing gear and have to figure the best position to mount the floats.
The Floats are about 5 times heavier than the landing gear.

One of the posted links says when the tops of the floats are level the wing incedence is 3 degrees...
should I adjust the mounting position (forward or backward) to get the proper wing incedence?

I also have to fabricate some sort of rudder on one float. Thinking of running a cable from the rudder servo to a home made rudder on the float.
How big should the rudder be..

I'm short on time as this oportunity just came up. A local town is having a celebration on Saturday and they asked us to fly off the town pond for entertainment.
I dont see myself flying off water much but have this chance and want to give it a try..
might use them in the snow though!


Pop

Your floats are WAY too far forward in that second picture. The step, the notch on the bottom of the float should be no more than one inch BEHIND the CG of the plane. As you have it there you're going to have a very soggy tail.

T

I hope you haven't mounted the floats that far forward. The step of the float is mounted near the model's CG. What does the instructions say?

You position the float front to back with the step under the CG when the plane is in a takeoff attitude. Sitting level, that will be about 1/2 inch back from the CG if you draw a line straight down. Then you get the wing incidence set to the top of the floats by adjusting the mount.

Havent mounted anything yet. pic is with he plane just sitting on the floats to judge the size..

These floats are about 4" short if they should be 75% - 80% of the fuselage.

So I should use the step on the bottom of the floats to determine the mounting position?

Pop

Yes, locate the step properly and get the incidence right with the mount. You may need to go down a prop pitch size and up in diameter, depending on what you're running now. Taking off on water requires more thrust.

No instructions, just what you see in the picture.... Pop

With the step under the CG the prop will be at or extend past the front of the floats.
I understand putting the step at the CG, is there any issues with the position of the prop and the front of the floats? or just go for the step on the CG and it is what it is?


Does this also indicate the floats are a little small?

pop

Floats should be 75% of fuselage length. Those floats are just too small.

This looks about right on the water.?...Step is on the CG. Floats are a bit small but its this or nothing!
Nothings attached yet so havent test balance yet.?


next I'll brace the fuse for the mounts.

I don't know if I would try to make that work. If those floats are too small, you'll have a tough time getting off the water. And if they are too short up front, you could tip over. I doubt that's what you are going for in the demonstration. At least test it before flying in front of people.

I would like to try this out before the show..
I wish I had more time... I'll try and find somewhere to test it out one night this week..

pop