Questions tagged [seaplane]
An airplane designed to take off and land on water. This include floatplanes and flying boats.
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Does a single-engine-land license plus a multi-engine-sea license allow you to fly multi-engine-land and single-engine-sea?
I have a single-engine land PPL. I'm looking at getting training in a multi-engine seaplane. Does the fact that I already have a land airplane rating allow me to fly a multi-engine land plane?
(I did ...
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What class are amphibious aircraft? [duplicate]
Are amphibious airplanes considered land or sea planes for pilot certification? Can an ASEL-only pilot fly an amphibious single-engine plane if (s)he only takes off and lands on land? Can an ASEL-only ...
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How are floatplanes deiced?
If a floatplane, seaplane, or flying boat has ice on the wings, how is the ice removed before takeoff? Can it be done while keeping the plane in the water?
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Sea-Going Ground-Effect Vehicle
Is a Ground-effect vehicle (a.k.a. ekranoplan) practical in seas near the coast (e.g. the US East Coast, West Coast, and Gulf of Mexico)?
I'm looking for a practicality answer, like, nope, cannot be ...
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What is this old seaplane floating on its wing?
I found this picture today in an old set of drawers that bought at an estate sale over 40 years ago.
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Why doesn't the US Navy utilize seaplanes?
I understand that seaplanes are usually prop planes but for cargo planes it would be beneficial in times where large cargo supply operations need to be carried out on non-carrier operations.
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What is this seaplane shown in this photo?
While searching I noticed a seaplane page and found a particular seaplane photo that I have never seen before. While the other images showing other seaplanes do have the name, the description of this ...
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Why does the Cessna 208 Amphibian have extra tail surfaces?
Mark Harkin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
I've seen extra tail surfaces that look like additional vertical stabilizers on the C208 Amphibian. Why is there a need for this? I can't imagine that ...
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Would it be practical that nuclear-powered seaplane (only flying low over the sea) or hovercraft can be an alternative to cargo plane or ship? [duplicate]
Would it be feasible that nuclear-powered seaplane (only flying very low over the sea) or nuclear-powered hovercraft can be an alternative to cargo planes or ships? The aircraft speed can reach 200 mi/...
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Can anyone Identify this FLY FAIR seaplane?
This photograph, from my family's collection, of a high-winged, dual rotary engine, amphibious airplane, probably in the 1930's, appears to be an excursion plane at a fair since it has "FLY FAIR&...
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Why did flying boats in the '30s and '40s have a longer range than land based aircraft?
I just learned that until shortly after world war 2, flying boats had a longer range than land based aircraft
In the 1930s, a flying boat route was the only practical means of transatlantic air ...
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Is there a modern day "replacement" for the de Havilland Beaver?
Is there a modern day equivalent or replacement for the Beaver's Payload, STOL and floats capabilities? By replacement, I mean that it can fly into the same airstrips under the same weather with the ...
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Do you need to have a raft if you're in a seaplane?
One of the basic rules of flying over water is that you need some kind of raft if you're out of power-off glide range from land. Does that also apply to seaplanes or amphibious planes?
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What were the common crew ranks on WWII US Navy flying boats and bombers?
I have been trying to figure this out for some time, but have not had much luck elsewhere. I have found info on USAAF bombers, and what ranks the crewmembers often had, but nothing for larger navy ...
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During WWII, what did internal bomb bays and turret layout look like on flying boats?
I am writing an alternate WWII story, and I was wondering if you fine fellows on this site could help me. I am trying to make a fantasy bomber version of the USN Boeing C-98 Clipper, AKA the Boeing ...
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Why do tail dragging seaplanes not exist?
I am in the process of starting to build an ultralight that will be a tail dragger with floats, and in my conversations with the fellows I'm building it with, we've realized we've never seen a plane ...
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Is it possible to increase available take-off distance for a seaplane by turning?
In the video below an A5 had an accident after takeoff. The final cause of the accident seems to be a sharp increase of AOA above stall.
Do sea planes have an ...
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Are there all terrain landing gears for planes?
Is there a landing gear set up that will allow a single engine plane (also, allowing for tundra tires than what is not available for current water skids) to land on rough grass and water?
The wheels ...
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Are there any remaining flying boat or seaplane airliners in operation?
Is there anywhere in the world that still offers scheduled air carrier service using flying boat / seaplane types of aircraft - something akin to a proper airliner? Or are they all limited to charters ...
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Where are the seaport conventions for VFR charts explained?
VRF charts contain information about seaports. For example, 00 - 50 in the formation block for HNL seems to be for a waterway:
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Do any aircraft carry boats?
A small boat could be part of general cargo, but that would typically just mean it's unloaded at an airport and transported to the nearest body of water by land infrastructure. This is not what I'm ...
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What advantage might interplane-strut mounting offer to ailerons, on the Curtiss Model F?
Glenn Curtiss's 1912-1918 Model F biplane flying boat has large ailerons on the struts between the wings, not contiguous with any other flying surface. Did this aileron position have any advantage ...
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Does an uncovered naval aircraft suffer any weathering affects?
This question is for WW2-era naval aircraft.
I noticed that some cruisers and battleships carried a couple seaplanes, launched by catapult and recovered with cranes.
Obviously these are unprotected ...
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Do seaplanes need to get clearance for takeoff?
Do seaplanes need to get clearance for takeoff? Do they have ATC? How do seaplanes get clearance to takeoff?
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Do I need a license to flight test a homebuilt seaplane at very low altitude?
I am asking this because me and my friends are building a homemade seaplane or boat whatever you want to call it. It's not designed for long-range or high-altitude flights. We're not going to fly at a ...
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What is the offset in a seaplane's hull?
I noticed there is a little offset in a seaplane's hull (highlighted in the following picture). I suppose this is useful as it exists in all the seaplanes I know.
It appears to be neither a ...
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What flying boat has the highest maximum takeoff/landing sea state?
I assume that flying boats have limits on the sea states they’re certificated to take off and/or land in (for instance, hitting a ten-meter wave head-on in a five-meter wooden plane is probably ...
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How can I recognize Taylorcraft BCS-12D-4-85?
I'm perfecting my logbook and can't name the subtype of the aircraft I've flown. Some directories says it was built in 1946 and is a BCS-12D on floats. Others say it is a BCS-12D-4-85 which according ...
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Do seaplane bases ever have marked "runways" or approach lighting?
Some seaplane bases have prescribed areas for landing, but are the landing areas marked by buoys or lights? If so are "runways" outlined in the water or just a general area?
Do they have IFR ...
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Do floatplanes land on rivers?
I'm sitting here in a coffee shop on the local river and I noticed it was just wide enough to facilitate a landing. There is no chop on the river, but it does move pretty switfly, and there are ...
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What are the drawbacks for manufacturing a large airliner capable of water landing?
Emergencies are rare but still occur. Apart from weight and extra fuel costs, What are the drawbacks for manufacturing a large airliner capable of water landing in case of an emergency?
Assuming the ...
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Why choose a seaplane for crew rotation at sea, supply of spares to ships, long-range search and rescue and surveillance?
The Indian government has been discussing with Japan since on buying Shinmaywa US-2 aircraft which would be used for various roles such as crew rotation at sea, supply of spares to ships, long-range ...
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What's a similar looking aircraft to this illustration?
There is this crazy picture of a plane or a boat or both...?
This is just a drawing, I know, but if this aircraft does not exist, is there perhaps a similar looking one in reality?
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Why was the boat mounted this way on the underside of the wing on the "Landseaire" flying yacht?
After seeing the below image of the "Landseaire" flying yacht here I was curious to know why the small boat mounted to the underside of the plane was mounted the way it was. At least to me (and @Dave ...
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What is the optimal time to get from ASEL to ASES certification?
I am currently a ASEL pilot, in process of studying for IR, and will then be proceeding to AMEL. I know that if one holds ASEL & IR, and takes AMEL with instrument maneuvers included in the ...
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How to slow down a seaplane on water?
A seaplane cannot use brakes to slow down, like a land-based aircraft. So how does one slow it down?
I am asking this in the context of landing, taxiing, aborted takeoff etc., as long as the plane is ...
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Can a seaplane make a long distance sea voyage on the sea?
In general, if a seaplane can fly X distance, can it travel that distance on the surface of the water as if it was a boat or ship? In other words, this would be equivalent to taxiing all the way to a ...
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How does a jet fighter with water-skis land safely?
I just read about the Convair F2Y on the obvious encyclopedic site. It's a delta wing jet fighter from the 1950's, with hydroskis so it can take off and land on water.
Can such a landing be made ...
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Has there ever been a seaplane with inflatable airbags rather than traditional pontoons?
Traditional pontoons are big and cause a lot of drag. It would be nice to retract them like normal landing gear but they are just too big.
Has there ever been a seaplane with inflatable airbags ...
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What is this flying boat being restored at the Udvar Hazy Center?
I am fortunate to live ~20 minutes from the Smithsonian Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. At the back of the Museum is there restoration hangar, surrounded on two sides by a second level glass enclosed ...
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Do flying boats carry anchors?
Inspired by the first comment here, and considering they are called "boats", do flying boats (or seaplanes) carry anchors?
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How do seaplanes do run-up checks without brakes?
Usually on run-up you want to check the response of the motor when changing for example the carb-heat (if existent). At least we did so on my intro flight (yey!). To prevent us from rolling onto the ...
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Where is the landing distance for seaplanes specified?
I need to know, is there a specified distance for the landing areas of seaplanes? In airports, we have generally distances are defined according to the flight requirements. I need to know whether ...
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Were stub wings on early flying boats designed or able to exploit ground-effect lift?
I came across a link to the Dornier Do X, and the Boeing 314 Clipper in another question, both aircraft have similar short wings/floats low on the fuselage, described in one wikipedia article as "stub ...
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Why were the speed records set by seaplanes in the early thirties?
For nearly all of the 1930'ies, the fastest aeroplanes were all of the seaplane category (as opposed to landplanes, to use the terminology of FAI).
Presumably, the designers of the two categories had ...
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Are seaplanes allowed to taxi in residential areas?
There's a small pond/lake behind my house. A sea plane was just going around it. It was very loud and got like 10 feet from the shore. It's just going in circles and won't take off and leave.
This is ...
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Can any land-based plane be made to land on water?
Can any land-based plane be converted to a seaplane by installing skids? For example, is it possible to convert a Boeing 747 to one that is capable of landing and taking off on water using pontoons or ...
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Can you land IFR at sea?
I've heard that some seaplane bases have IFR approaches, but what about landing at sea?
If you flew out into international airspace, could you land at sea and then taxi back into US waters without ...
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How is the glide ratio affected when converting a wheeled plane to floats?
I'm looking for published data that describe the effect on glide ratio when an aircraft is converted from wheeled to float configuration. I suspect that the glide ratio goes down considerably due to ...
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Has there ever been a seaplane with retractable pontoons?
I would like to know if there's ever been a seaplane in which all of its pontoons or sponsoons are retractable after takeoff.
This could be a seaplane with 1 or 2 main pontoons that somehow retract. ...
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