My First Float Plane
 

What does everyone think? Will She Fly? Just a little ego note, the pictures came out terrible. The third color is red not orange. Weighed in this am and 10 lbs. This has me a little nervous. Powered by a Super Tigre 75. May have to change the prop from a 12/8 to a 13/6. Pick away and let me know what I can do to make it better. Still have to paint and prime the floats.

RE: My First Float Plane
 

Looks Awesome Dan!!!

RE: My First Float Plane
 

Looks good to me! There is no law that floats can't be natural balsa color. 'course if I paint mine they get painted "aluminum".

RE: My First Float Plane
 

definitely going to paint them. Does anyone think 10 lbs is extremely heavy?

Thanks for all the responses

Dan

RE: My First Float Plane
 

That would depend on the wing loading. As long as the wing loading is under 30 ounces per sq. ft. you should be ok. (25 would be nicer.) At 10 1/2 pounds (after you paint the floats) you wing area needs to be at least 806 sq. in. If it isn't, find a lighter airplane for those floats and a lighter set of floats for that airplane.

I don't think you will enjoy the way an ST 75 flies 10.5 pounds either.

Jim

RE: My First Float Plane
 

secret squirrel....I am in the same positon as you ,just finishing off my first float plane....jrf makes a comment about your weight I have a piper tomahawk that is 9 lb with a wing loading of 33 oz per sq ft flying with a OS 46 engine.It flys very nicely and handles the wind fine.I used to build light but have since started to put a bit of weight into my models and they handle a lot better.I cant see why a ST 75 wont handle 10 lbs. A mate of mine flys a scale DC 3 with two 25s on and it weighs 10.5lb. he had an engine out and flew two complete circuits on one engine.It just proved to us at the strip that even a small amount of power when handled right will keep an aircraft flying.
water does seem to add a little extra drag...try it and see ......... Mintie.