FIRST FLIGHT, WHAT TO EXPECT?
02-09-2008 | 05:42 AM
#1
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From: BLOEMFONTEIN, , SOUTH AFRICA
FIRST FLIGHT, WHAT TO EXPECT?
So I have been flying for awhile now and just bought my first floatplane (trainer 60 with os 90)
Bought it second hand from a friend who does not have a place to fly it anymore.
Some pointers please on take of and landing from the pros would be welcome please.
What should I expect,the previous owner said it flew well.
Bought it second hand from a friend who does not have a place to fly it anymore.
Some pointers please on take of and landing from the pros would be welcome please.
What should I expect,the previous owner said it flew well.
02-09-2008 | 06:07 AM
#2
RE: FIRST FLIGHT, WHAT TO EXPECT?
Looks nice. You should expect it to fly like a trainer.... The only recomendation is to take off into the wind, I know this is normal but on floats it's more important as you'll also be going into the prevailing chop or waves... Once you fly it you'll wonder why you asked.
I typically pick out a place to fly that has the wind blowing towards shore, not directly but usually at an angle, enough where if the engine dies it blows to shore and not out to sea but at an angle where my approach to land is over water not trees. Have some form of retrieval device ready.
I typically pick out a place to fly that has the wind blowing towards shore, not directly but usually at an angle, enough where if the engine dies it blows to shore and not out to sea but at an angle where my approach to land is over water not trees. Have some form of retrieval device ready.
02-09-2008 | 07:33 AM
#3
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RE: FIRST FLIGHT, WHAT TO EXPECT?
It'll still fly like an airplane.
Like Evan said, take off into the wind. That's pretty easy. Chop throttle to idle and the plane will weathervane into the wind.
Start your takeoff with full UP. The nose of the plane will rise as you add power and wnen it pops up on the step (1-2 sec) you can release the elevator. Let it build a little speed then eeeease back on the stick to lift off. Maiden flight, be ready for re-trimming.
When you land, watch for the reflection of the plane on the water. Try to keep the floats an inch away from their reflection and it will settle in nicely. See the pic of the AstroHog below. Lakes tend to be bigger than runways, so take your time and make a gentle landing. That's the beauty of floatplanes.
Taxiing: You WILL be moving unless the plane runs into something. I have never found that blipping the throttle helps to steer. Hold full UP and taxi at the point where the water disturbance is maximum and you will go downwind (Plow taxi-see the picture). Idle power will make you point upwind. If you go crosswind use the ailerons to hold the upwind wing down, but you will eventually be sorry. Full UP and a little less throttle than a downwind taxi works for me. Steer with the throttle. A water rudder is a good thing and it does not need to be big: Water is about 1000 times denser than air, so a small WR has a big effect. Likewise the WR should not stick down more than 1/2" lower than the transom of the float unless it kicks up.
Like Evan said, take off into the wind. That's pretty easy. Chop throttle to idle and the plane will weathervane into the wind.
Start your takeoff with full UP. The nose of the plane will rise as you add power and wnen it pops up on the step (1-2 sec) you can release the elevator. Let it build a little speed then eeeease back on the stick to lift off. Maiden flight, be ready for re-trimming.
When you land, watch for the reflection of the plane on the water. Try to keep the floats an inch away from their reflection and it will settle in nicely. See the pic of the AstroHog below. Lakes tend to be bigger than runways, so take your time and make a gentle landing. That's the beauty of floatplanes.
Taxiing: You WILL be moving unless the plane runs into something. I have never found that blipping the throttle helps to steer. Hold full UP and taxi at the point where the water disturbance is maximum and you will go downwind (Plow taxi-see the picture). Idle power will make you point upwind. If you go crosswind use the ailerons to hold the upwind wing down, but you will eventually be sorry. Full UP and a little less throttle than a downwind taxi works for me. Steer with the throttle. A water rudder is a good thing and it does not need to be big: Water is about 1000 times denser than air, so a small WR has a big effect. Likewise the WR should not stick down more than 1/2" lower than the transom of the float unless it kicks up.
