Lt40 on floats
 

I would like to put my LT-40 on floats but i have a few questions, im wondering if the 33" gee bee floats would do the job alright and if i would need a larger engine to fly with the floats, i have a 46la right now, also im wondering if they have to be mounted a certain way other then the step right on the c of g, would you need to mount them so that they are a certain number of degrees up or something???

thanks alot guys

Lt40 on floats
 

If your plane is comfortable taking off at 3/4 throttle on land it should be okay at full throttle on floats. I know I'm quoting sombody on this from a long time ago... I wonder who it was...

Float Installation
 

"Excess power is required for floatplanes" is a myth and an old wifes tail.

The LT-40 makes a fine floatplane and you LA certainly will do the job. The key to a good floatplane is in fact the float installation not gobs of extra power.

Yes the floats step and it relationship to the final CG is very importand, On that airplane the step should be either at the CG or just behind the CG (not more than a quarter inch).

The airplanes wing must be at a positive angle of incidence to the floats top deck of around 2 to 4 degrees. In other words sitting on a table if the floats are blocked level the airplanes tail will be sitting a bit low.

I would not reccomend Gee Bee they tend to be problamatical if the installation is not perfect. There are many fine better performing floats out there perhaps the Great Plaines 40 size among others. Go to the seaplane forum and do a search on LT-40, float installation and LA-40,46's.

John :)

Lt40 on floats
 

I'm just starting a pair of these, and they look good for the price.

http://www.foamcorefloats.com

I am building the "medium" size for an UltraStick 40 ARF.

Craig.

Lt40 on floats
 

I just want to add one thing to what J Bruckner said referring to the floats being level...

Floats are level, when the TOP of the float is level.

Lt40 on floats
 

Just got back from the float fly and there were trainers there on floats. They worked great. Don't worry about it. We put everything on floats. What a blast. Stay away from those cheap, or not so cheap plastic floats. They look nice, till you land in rough water, then all the seams explode. One guy had them and his kid made a not so bad landing and blew one wide open. I was surprized how little it took. Those foam floats look pretty nice, but the ad doesn't show good pictures so it is hard to tell 100%.

Lt40 on floats
 

If I remember correctly, the floats should also be about 75% of the fuselage length. Are you planning on using a water rudder?
Dennis-

Lt40 on floats
 

I flew today with the geebee floats, it worked pretty good... i did a bunch of high speed taxies untill i was comfortable and just lifted it off... first time the wind (about 20km/h the first time) got right under the wing and flipped it, so out in the paddle boat i went to get the now floating upside down plane. I was suprised nothing was broken. I tried it again and got it up with little to no problem... i did loops and rolls but my favourite are slow low passes right infront of me and about 10 feet off the ground :)

Thanks for your help, I think they are mounted pretty good and it almost seems like there is more lift when im in the air?? the loops seem to be tighter then with wheels :)

any way thanks alot

Lt40 on floats
 

Congratulations Spencer on your successful first outing and it sounds as though you got the float installation right.

Yes there really is something magical about a seaplane making a low slow pass, wet floats dripping that a wheeled ship just can,t emulate. :)

Floats by the way are never just dead weight and do contribute to lift in a good installation and of course drag. Certain manuvers can be improved by floats. In an airplane that is just not quite capable of knife edge for instance with floats suddenly can become capable. Also the floats lower the vertical center of gravity well below the center of lift (wing) and this will improve roll stability. Maybe not what you want for high roll rates but definately gives the airplane an entirely differant and pleasant character.

John