Unusual float planes
09-03-2003 | 05:39 PM
#1
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From: Albuquerque, NM,
Unusual float planes
hi,
i am an experienced flier, but met my match with a Kittiwake which may have had too much elevator throw, it was a disaster. I also tried a carefully built and set-up Modeltech Extra 300 with Zeadoo floats. Water handling superb, in the air, a disaster. I checked and rechecked CGs, float angles and step location, and still wrecked each plane. I accelerated each one to what looked like good airspeed, got each one off the water, and they both "wallowed around" as i fought to keep them airborne. Neither plane survived. They acted tailheavy despite CGs being perfect by the book. My friends all want me to get flat bottom trainers like them, but i really need to be different. any suggestions? does adding a float (or two) just destroy the flyability of planes not intended for this purpose? Do floatflyers deliberately make their planes noseheavy according to the factory-recommended CGs? all suggestions appreciated!
thanks
miles
i am an experienced flier, but met my match with a Kittiwake which may have had too much elevator throw, it was a disaster. I also tried a carefully built and set-up Modeltech Extra 300 with Zeadoo floats. Water handling superb, in the air, a disaster. I checked and rechecked CGs, float angles and step location, and still wrecked each plane. I accelerated each one to what looked like good airspeed, got each one off the water, and they both "wallowed around" as i fought to keep them airborne. Neither plane survived. They acted tailheavy despite CGs being perfect by the book. My friends all want me to get flat bottom trainers like them, but i really need to be different. any suggestions? does adding a float (or two) just destroy the flyability of planes not intended for this purpose? Do floatflyers deliberately make their planes noseheavy according to the factory-recommended CGs? all suggestions appreciated!
thanks
miles
09-03-2003 | 06:21 PM
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From: Meadow Lake,
SK, CANADA
Unusual float planes
More Info please:
Did you yank them out of the water or did they come out on their own?
Did they crash as soon as you we're airborn?
Did you fly for a bit and then crash when landing?
Trying to diagnose this off of your letter, is tough.
Do you have any Pics of your plane float set-up?
Basically flying off floats is LITTLE different than wheels, EXCEPT!
The Plane is now heavier, bulkier, and a lot more weight is below the wings. So Minimise your Acrobatics until your used to the new handling.
Also make sure it doesn't try to lift off the water too soon! (too much AOA) and (heavier remember). So with out sufficient air speed you will tip stall and or wallow around in the air like a sick duck.
Use Full up elevator to get it on step when you 1st crack the throttle, about a second or 2. then relax the elevator until it has
sufficient speed. (You have to steer with the rudder here).
IF your set-up is right? it should "lift itself" off the water, or if power is low then you may have to give it a little up elevator. Be sure to be ready to relax this as soon as it breaks free of the water or it will climb too quick, and may stall. and a stall at 2- 5 feet up is not good. it would probably either drop straight down, or tipstall, roll over and drop in wingtip 1st. either one is bad.
Hope this helps. It is all I can give with receiving more details.
Smoky.
Did you yank them out of the water or did they come out on their own?
Did they crash as soon as you we're airborn?
Did you fly for a bit and then crash when landing?
Trying to diagnose this off of your letter, is tough.
Do you have any Pics of your plane float set-up?
Basically flying off floats is LITTLE different than wheels, EXCEPT!
The Plane is now heavier, bulkier, and a lot more weight is below the wings. So Minimise your Acrobatics until your used to the new handling.
Also make sure it doesn't try to lift off the water too soon! (too much AOA) and (heavier remember). So with out sufficient air speed you will tip stall and or wallow around in the air like a sick duck.
Use Full up elevator to get it on step when you 1st crack the throttle, about a second or 2. then relax the elevator until it has
sufficient speed. (You have to steer with the rudder here).
IF your set-up is right? it should "lift itself" off the water, or if power is low then you may have to give it a little up elevator. Be sure to be ready to relax this as soon as it breaks free of the water or it will climb too quick, and may stall. and a stall at 2- 5 feet up is not good. it would probably either drop straight down, or tipstall, roll over and drop in wingtip 1st. either one is bad.
Hope this helps. It is all I can give with receiving more details.
Smoky.
09-11-2003 | 08:49 PM
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From: My place, MI,
RE: Unusual float planes
Good day!
I have that Modeltech 300 extra w/a .35os. I can tell you for me it is a very difficult plane to fly ANYWAY. Let alone Floats? I realize my capabilities probably arent up to some of these professional standards that you read about. BUT, that plane has a VERY recognizable high speed tip stall. To me the plane would be to unstable for floats. My buddy has the seamaster w/a .40 magnum. It has got to be one of the most stable things to fly even considering the airfoil. I fly a little puddle master converted to a .15 os. (WAY to much power). The heavy dihedral and flat bottom make it a blast in a heavy wind. These are boat style. My $0.02
Spanky
I have that Modeltech 300 extra w/a .35os. I can tell you for me it is a very difficult plane to fly ANYWAY. Let alone Floats? I realize my capabilities probably arent up to some of these professional standards that you read about. BUT, that plane has a VERY recognizable high speed tip stall. To me the plane would be to unstable for floats. My buddy has the seamaster w/a .40 magnum. It has got to be one of the most stable things to fly even considering the airfoil. I fly a little puddle master converted to a .15 os. (WAY to much power). The heavy dihedral and flat bottom make it a blast in a heavy wind. These are boat style. My $0.02
Spanky
09-12-2003 | 02:43 PM
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RE: Unusual float planes
If you don't want to fly a trainer, lots of planes work well on floats. Astrohogs are great. Ugly Sticks of whatever variation you want. I have been flying a Morris Jerry's Little Boy. The Moris Profile planes work well.....and the power-to-weight is so great that they take off easily even with Gee-Bee (ptooey) floats.
If you want to be brave, and crave scale, there were Spitfires mounted on floats, and at least one Wildcat. No Mustangs. THere was even a prototype P-38 on floats, but the modifications required were so great it was deemed not worth the trouble.
Grab your most comfortable sportplane, slap on some floats, and have fun.
If you want to be brave, and crave scale, there were Spitfires mounted on floats, and at least one Wildcat. No Mustangs. THere was even a prototype P-38 on floats, but the modifications required were so great it was deemed not worth the trouble.
Grab your most comfortable sportplane, slap on some floats, and have fun.
