My new Desk top back ground

[Tom-D]

see the pic

 

[Shipoke]

Now That Flying Low over Water
Dave G

 

[Richard]

That's the formation step taxi wheel landing +0/-0 required in the new PTS.

Awesome pics, Tom.

 

[Henning]

see the pic

Neat. I wouldn't want to go slow doing that though.

 

[ScottM]

Neat. I wouldn't want to go slow doing that though.

I wouldn't want to sneeze and push a little foward on the stick

 

[gismo]

I wouldn't want to sneeze and push a little foward on the stick

I'm told that as long as you are going fast enough (like 100+ mph) the water will support much of the plane's weight (probably depends on weight vs tire size), but I've never tried this. At a little over 30 mph water will support the average 180 lb human on nothing but his/her own feet (total contact patch 8-10 in^2) and the "lift" goes up with the square of the speed. That would mean with 50 in^2 (two 4x6 patches) you could support almost 10,000 lbs at 100 mph (3x speed increase = 9x weight. 180x9x6=9720).

I would expect that there would be a noticeable increase in drag when the wheels touch so you'd probably want some extra speed and or power.

I wonder if there's anyone who actually trains pilots to do this or if they've all learned it on their own. In any case I'll bet my insurance doesn't cover a mishap during such an attempt.

 

[alaskaflyer]

Bush pilots do this to land on tight beaches, gravel bars, etc.

Touch down on water and glide onto beach/bar. Reverse to take off...

I'm told it is critical to apply brakes, as wheel loses much of "flotation" once it begins spinning.

Hmmm, manuevering taildragger in for tight landing, control rudder while simultaneously holding both brakes...can't let wheel spin while on water, can't have wheels locked when on land...

 

[Tom-D]

Anyone want to venture a guess on how to setup to do this?

 

[DeeG]

Anyone want to venture a guess on how to setup to do this?

First: find someone elses airplane.
Second: drinks lots of bravery enhancing booze.

 

[Tom-D]

First: find someone elses airplane.
Second: drinks lots of bravery enhancing booze.

I like the way you think, "some one elses airplane".. "bravery enhancing booze" yep that too.

 

[alaskaflyer]

First: find someone elses airplane.
Second: drinks lots of bravery enhancing booze.

LOL! I was thinking the same thing!

 

[Henning]

I'm told that as long as you are going fast enough (like 100+ mph) the water will support much of the plane's weight (probably depends on weight vs tire size), but I've never tried this.

Get it above hydoplaning speed and you're ok. I forget the exact calculation but it's based on tire pressure. It's in the Commercial Pilot written material. Personnally, I want a margine above that speed though.

 

[Henning]

Anyone want to venture a guess on how to setup to do this?

Sure, high enough airpeed to hydroplane, brakes locked and ease her on down on her itty bitty water skiis. I'd do a splash and go like that.

 

[rmciottijr]

How else do you clean the underside of your wheels?

 

[JHW]

Get it above hydoplaning speed and you're ok. I forget the exact calculation but it's based on tire pressure. It's in the Commercial Pilot written material. Personnally, I want a margine above that speed though.

needs to be faster than that, hydroplaning speed assumes a film over a hard surface.
I don't know what that speed is, but when we were kids we could skip across the creek on our honda three wheelers at about 30 mph

 

[Henning]

needs to be faster than that, hydroplaning speed assumes a film over a hard surface.
I don't know what that speed is, but when we were kids we could skip across the creek on our honda three wheelers at about 30 mph

If you keep the brakes locked, it should be near the same speed, won't require much faster.

 

[Tim]

I thought every body did that?

 

[Dave Siciliano]

A little T-6 water skiing

Whatda ya think Lance? An alternative to all that physical activity?

 

[Steve]

Speed (in knots) = 9 X the square root of the tire pressure (in psi.)

Get it above hydoplaning speed and you're ok. I forget the exact calculation but it's based on tire pressure. It's in the Commercial Pilot written material. Personnally, I want a margine above that speed though.

 

[AdamZ]

Ehh I'm with Ron on this one. I think its photo shopped. Look at the 'rooster tails' they are uneven in legnth. There is no water pushed out infront of the wheels. Far plane only has one wheel touching the water but appears to have no yaw.

Reminds me of what a pilot ( lost his medical, thankfully) asked me. He asked had I ever washed my prop. I told him I rent. He said no he used to fly cargo in TX and would fly real low over these lakes ( the wheels were not touching and the prop would froth up the water. He did that over cape cod bay got caught when he flew past a sailboat with owned by an FAA employee. Told him no never did that nor will I. Which leads to another reason I think its photoshopped. The props ain't turnin up any water.

 

[Frank Browne]

Notice how in this pic the spray from the tire doesn't appear to line up as you would think it would.

And in this this closeup of the right main gear of the far aircraft, the tire appears to be above the water yet still kicking up a roostertail.

Yep. Unless someone can point to someplace where this stunt can be verified, I'm betting on Photoshop.

 

[Greebo]

There is also some interesting pixelation around the tire, in those closeups.

 

[Frank Browne]

wha hoppened to the top one??? I know there was two there.

OK. Now I know it's time to go home. yikes!

 

[kath]

...and if you zoom in on the faces of the pilots, they are NOT screaming in terror, so it must be a fake.

--Kath

 

[Dave Krall CFII]

I think air pressure would do that as well as slight changes in an oscillating AoA.
They're definately real PIX.
And if they're not, then some formation team should get out there right away and do it for real.

Notice how in this pic the spray from the tire doesn't appear to line up as you would think it would.

And in this this closeup of the right main gear of the far aircraft, the tire appears to be above the water yet still kicking up a roostertail.

Yep. Unless someone can point to someplace where this stunt can be verified, I'm betting on Photoshop.

 

[ausrere]

Yep. Unless someone can point to someplace where this stunt can be verified, I'm betting on Photoshop.

Is this verification enough?

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Get it above hydoplaning speed and you're ok. I forget the exact calculation but it's based on tire pressure. It's in the Commercial Pilot written material. Personnally, I want a margine above that speed though.

I 'd like the margarine too, but ya gotta figure the friction of being in contact with the water will slow you down. Push a smidge too much and "Woahh!!", maybe you've lost that happy margin in a mere split sec.

 

[mikea]

If it's photshopped, whoever did it took the time to make 3 views of it.

I think it's fur real.

 

[Richard]

I 'd like the margarine too, but ya gotta figure the friction of being in contact with the water will slow you down. Push a smidge too much and "Woahh!!", maybe you've lost that happy margin in a mere split sec.

Like buttah.

I wonder if making a slight power reduction once the wheels are in contact would result in a slight nose high deck angle. Trending towards a plow but not quite. This would have the effect of widening that margin 'tween nosing over and sinking tail down. Maybe it's me who's all wet.

 

[Richard]

If it's photshopped, whoever did it took the time to make 3 views of it.

I think it's fur real.

I know nothing 'bout shopping a photo but it seems to me one would not have to do it 3 times. Instead, they'd simply reduce or enlarge the image and place it realistic looking on the screen. And then burn the 'seams'.

 

[ausrere]

I found a newspaper article that has another picture and a quick blurb about them "water skiing". www.sundaytimes.co.za