Pontoons on Trainer?
 

With summer coming up, I have beocme interested in rigging my plane with pontoons. I have a Hobbico Superstar with a .46 FX which I'm assuming should be enough power to handle the extra drag of the floats.

I don't plan to do this for another month or so but figured I should start findingh out now what I could expect, what I need to learn from the guys at the field before doing it, and if this is a good idea for a fairly new pilot. I've got my basic manuvers down and am going to be graduating from my trainer soon, but I'm not sure exactly how "qualified" you need to be at landing before making one on water. For all I know it could very well be easier. Information will be greatly appreciated. ;)

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Well, I've never flown off water, although I'm dying to try. By the way, use "floats" instead of pontoons. Not sure why, but it's the common term. ;)

From all I've seen, heard and read, there's nothing terribly difficult about it, and some DO consider it easier because you can land pretty much in any direction, so there's no crosswinds to deal with. It seems that a light surface chop is preferable to a mirror flat surface on the water. If it's too flat and calm, the floats tend to "stick" to the surface making take offs more difficult.

You'll want the "step" on the bottom of the float to be pretty much right under the center of gravity, and the floats need to be approximately 2/3rd's the length of the fuselage.

Not a lot of info, but I hope it helps.

Have fun, I'm hoping to get something on floats this year too.

(Oh yeah, make sure you have a boat handy, just in case. ;))
Dennis-

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Or the wind blowing in your face. ( Little airboat trick )

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

DB has it pretty much in hand. Only a coupla things to add. You will need to add some plywood mounts in the fusalage to mount the floats. Some 1/4" aircraft grade at the front of the cabin and back of the cabin should do. You should also run a water rudder. A small moveable tab at the back of the floats should do. As to size and how deep I do not know. I do know that a lot is not needed. You could rig a flexible nyrod or a braded wire type to control the rudders.

You also need to prop for power. APC makes a 12.5x3.75 as I recall. It is a popular funfly prop this would be a good start. And lastly you need to waterproof the electrics. Plastic bags for the battery and reciever. This should be most of the modifications necessary. Maybe someone with more specific knowledge can chime in. This is info from reading lots of articles on this.

Mark Shuman

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

You can also fly off snow with floats.

Someone on RCU mentioned that floats actually work better on snow than skis!

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Get yourself a float set from www.falcon-trading.com
They make a ARF set just for a standard trainer with trike gear, the installation is real easy and the floats are one of the best available.

Remove your main gear wheels and your nose strut, a new nose strut is in the kit, it's all bolt-on installation and comes with "water rudder".

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Dennis, anytime you feel like coming to MN, I'll be happy to give you your water wings. :)

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Not having to worry about wind direction only works for a few float flyers. It is true if on a big lake and in the middle of it. If you're on a river or canal you have to worry. Our club has occasional access to a small strip of water a guy built to land his cub on. It is actually narrower than our field - and not a lot longer.
KW_Counter

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Mike,
I'd like to take you up on that! Unfortunately, the real world prevents it. [&o]

I have a friend with a house on a lake though, and I think he might easily get interested in RC, so....

Think I can get him addicted. [sm=drowning.gif] :D

(I know, I know, I'm still thinking about an avatar. :eek:)
Dennis-

Pontoons on Trainer?
 

My brother lives near Glenwood, Minnesota, and sure enough, he's got a lake in his backyard. I've got the "big lake" near me, though.

Or the ocean. If the floats were good enough, they might retrieve my plane in Africa.

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Just an idea, never flown with floats or seen anyone do it for that matter, but with a trike gear could you just attach a piece of wood to the nose gear and use it as a rudder? would a rudder work in front? i dunno, it probably wouldn't work

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Its also typical to need ot add a bit of a "sub-fin" to an airplane when you put the floats on. (calling them pontoons is fine too...)

The floats add side area that is ahead of the nose of the aircraft... you need to aerodynamically balance this. Most trainers have a bit more fin/rudder area than necessary, but to maintain the same yaw characteristics you'll need more. A section of fin added under the fuselage appx 10% to 20% the area of the fin/rudder will help.

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

the problem with this is it would tend to "trip" the aircraft. you could all too easily flip the plane.

You can make a linkage that is driven by the nosewheel strut to turn the "water rudder" though. (the little rdder (or rudders) on the back of the floats.)

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

I'v seen this before

What about a dowel coming off the rudder all the way to the water with a little rudder attached to turn off the rudder?

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

Personally, I wouldn't trust this system. Water creates a LOT of drag. That dowel would act as a lever, and the longer it is, the easier it could rip your rudder off. You can surely count on SOMETHING breaking if that rudder hits a piece of seaweed.

One of the simplest methods, is to run a flexible pushrod from the rudder horn (Or nose wheel) to the water rudder.

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

I suggest that you go to the Seaplane site. There are a great bunch of float fliers there, all the questions you have they will gladly answer for you. I know they sure helped me.

RE: Pontoons on Trainer?
 

the superstar with a .40 la is under powered for floats....i tried it.... took along time to get in air then it barely flew. what an experience. i have since then replaced the 40 la with a 65 4 stroke. and replaced the flat bottom airfoil with a fully symmetrical airfoil from a v-mar hotrod. heh heh its not a trainer anymore but it still sports the homemade floats and flies off the water. i alson added wing struts made from leftover pull-pull cable to help support the extra weight of the floats. my floats are made of pink insulation board (foam) and fiberglassed they weigh in at 4lbs 10 oz. complete with gear. length 36 in. step is at 18in. and 1/2 in. in front of cg. good luck & enjoy the experience.

the water rudder is very effective once up to speed (planed out).