No amphib? No problem!

[gkainz]

Now here's a novel approach to launching a landlocked floatplane ...

 

[Tom-D]

We do it every time the floats are installed, and we land floats on grass to remove them to go to wheels.

 

[AdamZ]

We do it every time the floats are installed, and we land floats on grass to remove them to go to wheels.

Wow how do you go about landing floats on grass? Is it really deep grass?

 

[mikea]

Wow how do you go about landing floats on grass? Is it really deep grass?

You have a really short ground roll.

 

[NC Pilot]

You have a really short ground roll.

Would that be a ground slide instead...

This method of getting a float plane is done as a matter of routine from what I understand.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

wow at what point do you apply full power; wouldn't be too pretty if you did it early and slid forward into the truck. Too late and you are airborne before you could have a handful, too.

 

[Tom-D]

Would that be a ground slide instead...

This method of getting a float plane is done as a matter of routine from what I understand.

Many of the facilities have a trailor that fits the bottom of the floats and has a brake system that applies the brakes after the aircraft lifts off. when that trailor is used its just like taking off with anphibs. only you are towed to "in position and hold"

 

[Tom-D]

Wow how do you go about landing floats on grass? Is it really deep grass?

No it's just ankle deep grass, we wet it if it has not rained in the last couple days.

The bottom of floats are pretty strong.

 

[gkainz]

That's cool stuff. Thanks! BTW, Tom, I was in your neighborhood a couple of weeks ago - I waved across the bay to you when I was at my brother's in La Conner. We went to Barkley Sound for salmon fishing. My brother oggled the boats and I oggled the float planes that dropped in to Bamfield every day!

 

[Tom-D]

That's cool stuff. Thanks! BTW, Tom, I was in your neighborhood a couple of weeks ago - I waved across the bay to you when I was at my brother's in La Conner. We went to Barkley Sound for salmon fishing. My brother oggled the boats and I oggled the float planes that dropped in to Bamfield every day!

You are bound by law to tell every one you see that it rained every day you were here.. shoulda stopped by.

 

[gkainz]

next time I'll plan a little more slack time and stop by to say Hi. This trip was a a "quick turn" at each stop... flew into SEA, drove to La Conner, loaded the boat and grabbed a bite to eat, early the next morning drove to catch the ferry at Tsawwassen to Port Alberni, boated down to Tzartus Island, fished all week and reversed the route home.

My brother already adminstered the "PNW visitor's oath" to me a few years ago. The secret's safe with me!