Plane to start with.
 

I've seen a lot of different planes w/ floats on them. Is there a type of plane that is best suited to have floats attached? Can you buy a plane that comes with the floats already in the kit. Thanks

Best float plane
 

The best plane to start float flying with is probably the plane you already have. Use the landing gear mount for one of the float attachments (for a trike gear it would be for the rear mount, a taildragger landing gear would be the front float mount). You would need to put in a hard point for the other mount. The easiest mount to use is a preformed aluminum landing gear. My first float plane was a Goldberg Freedom 20. I could change from wheels to floats or vice versa in 3 minutes. Any trainer type aircraft make excellent float planes, although if it's 40 size plane you would probably want a 46 to get it off the water quicker. Contrary to what some have said, you will need a water rudder. As for ARF type planes, I've heard that the Ready on Floats works well. Another tip is to wire your engine to something solid inside the plane so that it doesn't go to the bottom in the event of a mis-hap. Good luck to you, float flying is great fun.

Cheers!

Jollidude

Plane to start with.
 

how big should the body of water be? i suppose it would depend on the type of plane you would have and how fast it gets off the water. thats my number 1 fear is that if a mis-hap does occur, i might lose the plane. at least on land if you crash you can salvage some of the plane. but i guess that's just a risk you take when float flying right!

Plane to start with.
 

dont worry about loosing the plane it has floats even if you crash
it will still float!!!!floats are easy to build lots of info on the net

Plane to start with.
 

Screamindemon69 brings up a valid point:
the first three rules of float-flying are:
(1) you need a boat
(2) really
(3) I'm not kidding

If you make a dead-stick landing on the lake, you are exposed. Usually, you can reap the benefits of the kindness of strangers and a passer-by will retrieve your plane. Sometimes they have been witnessed to snatch it and run with it. Sometimes there are no passers-by, and the plane just drifts off downwind, and it always seems to drift into the most godforsaken swampy snake-infested briarpatch that the lake has to offer.

If you have a boat, you can go get it.
If you have a long pole, fishing pole, radio-control boat, or a well-trained Labrador retriever, you MIGHT be able to get it.
If you have a BOAT, you CAN go get it.

Plane to start with.
 

Just don't try and swim for it. That's when bad things happen.


As far as a good float plane, a lot of people up here are using the CG Protege. Basically a 60 size trainer with a semi-symetrical wing.

You need a pretty big lake to fly off mainly just for the room. Your local pond will be too small.

Plane to start with.
 

--"Another tip is to wire your engine to something solid inside the plane so that it doesn't go to the bottom in the event of a mis-hap."

Like to the throttle servo with a control rod?

Anyone have tips for adding floats to a Big Stik? This will be my first attempt at waterworks and it looks straightforward. Is it necessary to waterproof the exposed aileron servos? I was planning on sealing the wing opening around the cases with silicone (and bedding the sing saddle with silicone, too).

Have my 17' Mud Hen sailboat/rowboat/outboard ready for sea rescue.

Plane to start with.
 

The big stik will be fine. A high wing is good for a floatplane since it will float on the wing if you have it blown over.

Silicone RTV on the wing saddle is probably a good idea even for a plane that flies off dry land. Seal the servos if you want to, but sealing an airplane really tight just keeps the water in after it gets in. Put the receiver/electronics so it is neither resting against the bottom or the top of the fuselage, so it won't get dunked with the airplane either upright or inverted.

Plane to start with.
 

Lake / Pond size

The lake or pond size that you can fly from is governed a lot by how clear the approaches are on ether side. A 600' pond with trees on all side will be a problem but that same 600' pond with a clear approach on ether side will be no different then flying from your local field given a reasonably powered float-plane.
As Jim said it is best to have a boat especially in FL. where the water life bites back.

Doug

Plane to start with.
 

Jim Casey writes:
Going with PlanB, using an R/C model boat: realizing that there are "surface frequencies" and "air frequencies" which are not technically interchangable, I wonder if one could not have an electric-powered tug boat for the express use of emergency retrieval of a stalled floatplane that would operate on the SAME channel as the plane, using the plane's TX?

Flying with a floatplane group at a club lake, this would not be necessary. But flying solo on a public lake, this might not create a problem since you "own" that channel you are flying on. It would save the expense of buying a dedicated surface/boat TX.

Just a thought...

Plane to start with.
 

BillHarris,

Jim is right about the boat. It doesn't have to be anything fancy of a boat. Our club has used a canoe at many of our float flys.

I would urge you to reconsider your RC Boat option and try float flying with your RC plane. It is a blast and one of my favorite dimensions of the hobby. Seeing a plane come in and just grease the water on landing is one of the coolest sites in the world. High wing trainers with pontoon style floats are the best to start with - IMHO. It's a blast!

Plane to start with.
 

Ah. See, that's why newbies should never be afraid to ask. I hadn't thought of that. I Balsarite all my planes on the ribs and spars surrounding the aileron bays because I fly off the snow in all weather conditions and get plenty of sleet/snow/splatter in there. The servos are upside-down anyway so they should survive 'casual' water.

Saltwater?
 

After a lot of research, I decided to order a Seamaster 40 to fly from my pier on the South River near Annapolis (yes I do have a Boston Whaler retrieval vehicle on a lift at the same pier).

This forum has been very helpful in learning about what I need to know to get started. One thing I have not seen discussed is any discussion of the effects of saltwater and/or spray on the electronics. My guess is they will have a shorter life, and if dunked are probably throw-aways. Are my suppositions correct?

Thanks.....

Plane to start with.
 

The R/C boat idea is just a contingency. Later this year I plan to fly my BTE Flyin' King off the water (it's been backburnered and should be finished in a month or two). There is a large-ish public fishing lake nearby that rents boats; I need to see if R/C flying would be permitted. I don't own a boat, although I'm toying with the idea of getting a canoe/kyak.

The other option is a large power company reservoir with LOTS of power boats and traffic. And waves.

I'm looking foward to float flying.

Plane to start with.
 

i went to my local hobby store and he suggested a trainer to start with, he said that the only real difference between float flying and just regular flying is the takeoffs and landings. that and a small difference in the construction.

Plane to start with.
 

Saltwater?
There is a product called "Corrosion-X". It will help if you spray your electronics and connectors before you ever get them wet. Then, be positively obsessive-compulsive about water sealing. I started to say anal-retentive, but somebody might be offended.
Anyway, be severely meticulous.

Otherwise, the electronics are a throwaway after approximately each use.

And as much as it pains me to recommend against a Seamaster: Seaplanes get more water inside than floatplanes. For salt water, you're gonna be happier with something like a stik on floats.
__________________________________________________ __


Flying in a TVA lake?
No problem except on weekends. During the week after work you're still unlikely to see a boat every 10 minutes, and bass-boat wake probably helps your takeoffs more than it hurts. My first float-flying was in a TVA lake in Knoxville. I find the river traffic stops to watch more often than not. Sound carries forever across the water and you hear "Dad! Look!!" so much you come to expect it.

"There is a large-ish public fishing lake nearby that rents boats; I need to see if R/C flying would be permitted. "
Forgiveness is easier to get than permission. If they don't know if it's OK, they'll probably tell you "No". If it's not OK, somebody will tell you. Land the plane, thank them for their concern, beg their forgiveness, and load up your car. THen let the air out of their tires and peel out of the parking lot, slinging gravel all over their paint. HeeHee.

Oops, I seem to have lost my mind for a moment. I feel much better now.

Plane to start with.
 

Hey i'd be like "Hey Look" too if i saw a little plane take off from the water. every thing about seeing a float plane fly is neat. That's what got me into them. i really love watching them land. I have no idea why but it's really neat. Any one out there have pictures of their planes?

Plane to start with.
 

Jim Casey relates:
Smith Lake (betw Jasper/Cullman, AL) is quite active and I'd fret over the traffic, at least whilst in the toe of the learning curve.

LOL! Now that is an idea. Worst they could do is to tell me to go.

Another idea is to fly down on the Black Warrior River. It's impounded for brage traffic; think of it was lake 500 feet wide and 20 miles long. ;) There are marinas and docks and sloughs, so it would be do-able.

Plane to start with.
 

White River float flying!!! now there's an idea!!!! talk about INSANE. the rapids would throw your plane up about 20 feet in the air before you could even get the engine started. That would be fun to try!!!!!!!hahahaha!!!

Plane to start with.
 

>>the rapids would throw your plane up about 20 feet in the air before you could even get the engine started. <<

It's how we launch seaplane gliders. Wait for the wind to be blowing against the slope, then sail over the falls. ;-/

Plane to start with.
 

cool, where would you go to do something like that? just a place with plenty of rapids? i don't know if it'd be something i'd want to try but it'd be fun to watch.

Plane to start with.
 

Back in the good ol' days when I was on Modelnet on Compuserve, we would call this "Thread drift".

Plane to start with.
 

that sounds great to watch!!! where would you fly a plane like that?

Any one out there have pictures of their planes?
 

Here is a pic of my Kadet Senior with Sig 48" floats. It has two servo's for the ailerons and with a mixer gives me flaperons!
Works great for short takeoffs and landings! Add a little wind and it will even hover!!! :D

Have fun!!!
Bud

Plane to start with.
 

A bunch of guys in the Florida Float Flyers have Kadet Seniors. Like full-size Beavers, they were BORN to be floatplanes.

http://jcasey02.home.gate.net/glassy.JPG
http://jcasey02.home.gate.net/oneskip.JPG