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Old 21 December 2007, 08:36 AM   #20 (permalink)
Joe Perkel
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Miami / Sebring, Florida
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Float Plane Issues

Quote:
Originally Posted by j ferguson View Post
Joe,
be sure to get one with a starter. Can you imagine trying to prop your Sopwith while standing on a float? it might be interesting to know how it was done at the time. I suspect that getting a rotary ready to start involved priming each cylinder, another tricky affair while standing on a float.

john

at a mooring in Marathon for the winter
John,

Funny you should mention that, I had been giving the issues of departure and arrivals a bit of thought. Departures can be set up with some degree of control and as you note, a starter is required.

But arrivals at a different destination in this particular float plane would be tricky. A soft sand beach or grass shoreline is required wherever I would need to take on fuel, or at a minimum, a floating dock with handlers at the ready. There is no place for the pilot to get out and stand on the float.

Incidentally, I joined the Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA) and I'm starting to learn where I can and cannot go in Florida. Biscayne Park is out so there goes Boca Chita and the Anchorage! I do however have lot's of lake access and Keys destinations (outside of the park), including my intended test ground, Lake Jackson in Sebring.

Enjoy your stay in Marathon John, Happy Holiday's!
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