whats it like?
06-25-2003, 09:07 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: In front of the computer, UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
whats it like?
I will be new to flying float planes (hopefully) but was wondering;
are there any differences to flying with floats compared to wheels?
will it make the plane handle differently in the air and on water? what would i need to watch out for during takeoff and landing?
Cant think of any other questions but feel free to add anything else
thanks
are there any differences to flying with floats compared to wheels?
will it make the plane handle differently in the air and on water? what would i need to watch out for during takeoff and landing?
Cant think of any other questions but feel free to add anything else
thanks
06-26-2003, 10:53 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: e, ZIMBABWE
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
whats it like?
If your floats are properly sized and adjusted, it might be easy as pie 
It might in fact be easier to land on water than on land (depending on behavior of the model in question of course).
If you make a hard landing, your model might not pop up as high as it might during a conventional landing.
Avoid nosing over though
The newbie seaplane I got, can be landed almost in a Laurel & Hardy fashion without nose-over or anything.
The water is soft and forgiving but it is also wet unfortunately.
Cheers,
Ikaros
PS
As Mr. Casey says, landing is best performed with slightly greater speed than normally.
I would not recommend trying to land with great angle of attack like you do when making a three-pointer with a tail dragger, this could easily lead to a nose-over.
DS
It might in fact be easier to land on water than on land (depending on behavior of the model in question of course).
If you make a hard landing, your model might not pop up as high as it might during a conventional landing.
Avoid nosing over though
The newbie seaplane I got, can be landed almost in a Laurel & Hardy fashion without nose-over or anything.
The water is soft and forgiving but it is also wet unfortunately.
Cheers,
Ikaros
PS
As Mr. Casey says, landing is best performed with slightly greater speed than normally.
I would not recommend trying to land with great angle of attack like you do when making a three-pointer with a tail dragger, this could easily lead to a nose-over.
DS
06-26-2003, 11:35 PM
#5
whats it like?
The real single biggest difference in float flying is:
It's harder to walk out and get your plane if the engine quits.
Everything else is really not much different, and there are no potholes or cowflops on the runway to avoid.
Just fly the plane. THe wheel does not need re-invention. Go fast, pull up, fly around, land, taxi in. Just like on wheels.
The second biggest thing is: Runway grit does not collect on the oily goo on your airplane.
It's harder to walk out and get your plane if the engine quits.
Everything else is really not much different, and there are no potholes or cowflops on the runway to avoid.
Just fly the plane. THe wheel does not need re-invention. Go fast, pull up, fly around, land, taxi in. Just like on wheels.
The second biggest thing is: Runway grit does not collect on the oily goo on your airplane.
06-27-2003, 12:38 AM
#6
My Feedback: (2)
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Strathcona county,
AB, CANADA
Posts: 5,394
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
whats it like?
..Couple of other things...the floats add both weight and drag to your plane.....because the weight is down low, the increased pendulum effect can add more stability ....more noticeable on high wing planes. The increased weight and drag also show up when you idle back for landing. On most planes this translates into an increased sink rate. This can be alleviated by a couple of clicks of throttle as the model approaches the surface of the water...
