Why didn't Amelia, Jerrie Mock, and Lindbergh use floatplanes?

txflyer

txflyer

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I'm wondering why these aviation giants did not use amphibians or flying boats on a mostly over water trek?

Mock could have used a Cessna 180 on floats, and I assume a Lockheed Electra could be set up on floats. I don't know enough about Lindbergh's era what he could have used.

Curious minds want to know ... :dunno:
 
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Duh! The drag would have made the fuel run out early enough to need floats....
 
flyingriki said:
Duh! The drag would have made the fuel run out early enough to need floats....
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So you're saying you couldn't pack enough fuel and get off the ground with a float plane to cross the oceans with the engines they had.

I get it and simple enough and the only reason I can think of why they didn't use floats.

But it seem's like they could have designed a flying boat or something amphibious that was streamlined enough to pack the fuel though ... maybe not. :dunno:
 
Jim Logajan said:
The first circumnavigation of the globe by any aircraft was done with pontoon planes.

And from 1933 to 1939 a seaplane was the fastest plane of ANY type in the world.

And there were the famous Pan Am clippers, among other flying boats, that flew long distance routes for a time.

Given all that, it was likely just a case of no suitable "off the shelf" float planes of appropriate capability being available at a price any of those cash-strapped individuals could afford.
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Those are good links and fascinating facts about those flights. They flew float gear and main gear Douglas planes and gave them 644 gallons usable. Wow!

Cash always is a huge limiting factor no doubt.:rolleyes:

So I was sitting around just thinking 'why didn't they use something that could land on water too?'.. Not thread worthy most likely, .. I'm just pretty sure if I had a choice back then, I would have opted for something amphibious. If there was one to be found that could do the job. :redface:
 
I overlooked this flight, from a Wikipedia page with a long list of historic circumnavigations:
In 1932, Wolfgang von Gronau flew around the world in a twin-engine Dornier seaplane, Gronland-Wal D-2053, in nearly four months, making 44 stops en route. He was accompanied by co-pilot Gerth von Roth, mechanic Franzl Hack, and radio operator Frtiz Albrecht.[12]​
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_circumnavigations#Aircraft
 
txflyer said:
So you're saying you couldn't pack enough fuel and get off the ground with a float plane to cross the oceans with the engines they had.

I get it and simple enough and the only reason I can think of why they didn't use floats.

But it seem's like they could have designed a flying boat or something amphibious that was streamlined enough to pack the fuel though ... maybe not. :dunno:
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Because the records they were going for required land planes, sea planes had already done most all of it.
 
Every flying boat that tried the NY to Paris flight, crashed.
Also cost for an amphib or flying boat with the legs needed to fly around the world would put it out of the price range for nearly everyone.
 
Lindburgh and his wife did use a floatplane when pioneering the route to China.
 
Lindbergh did use a float plane. There's the great story back home -- I'm from Cushing, Maine; and South Warren, Maine is the adjacent town on U.S. Route #1. Just before the Warren/Thomaston town line, at the top of the hill was Spear's Garage. It was a typical roadside garage with the Flying A Tydol/Veedol gasoline sign out front. The town line is adjacent to a narrow section of the St. George River.

After Lindbergh had become famous he was on one of his many flights to North Haven Island to visit his hosts, the U.S. Ambassador Dwight Morrow whose daughter Anne was the apple of Charles' eye and later became Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

It seemed that fuel was running low in the Lindbergh plane. Being familiar with the terrain he set her down on the stretch of St. George River. Now Cliffuhd Speahh was a slow-tokkin' fella known for miles around, and was sittin' in the garage with his feet up on his desk. C. L. had walked up the grassy hill and appeared through the door of the garage.

"Excuse me Sir, but my name is Charles Lindbergh and I'm on my way to visit friends on North Haven Island. My aeroplane has run low on fuel and I've landed on the river. Could I bother you to get some fuel and could I perhaps use your telly to call my hosts to let them know I'll be slightly delayed?"

The above was 14 or 15 years before I was born, but I can still hear the gaiety in the voices of relatives(and their friends of that generation) relate the story. "Cliff" wasn't a fast mover -- or speaker -- and as the story goes he hesitated a bit, then looked from under his visor-ed cap and said, "Who'd you say you was?" To which the response came, "I'm Mr. Charles Lindbergh."

There was a pronounced delay until "Cliff" drawled, "And I'm George Washnton; telly's in the cornuh." Several trips across the field with gas cans satisfied the need and Lindbergh was again on his way.

My Dad grew up with the younger generation Spear and I grew up with his three offspring. Every one of them had the same speech pattern, including Clifford's
brother Alvah who managed the local roller skating rink I used during my teen years.

HR

[EDIT] http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/607-Cushing-Rd-Warren-ME-04864/112659911_zpid/

Bring up the "Map" illustration. Then scroll the map to see more at the top of it. Spear's Garage was -- still is but has been falling down for years -- inside the junction of Atlantic Highway and Cushing Road. Where the river is shown, the landing was on the north side of the bridge.
 
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In 1927 there were several aviators attempting to cross the Atlantic. One contender was a floatplane piloted by someone from Europe. Don't recall who the pilots were. Probably they weren't after the Orteig prize, but some other glory. The floatplane allowed them to cross in several stops. I think it was a safer undertaking than the ones by land planes.
 
I think a better question might be why the 1903 Wright Flyer didn't have wheels -- especially considering its builders' day job.

-Rich
 
If you've ever flown in a Cessna 180 on wheels, then one on floats, you'll know exactly why Lindbergh did not have floats. It's pretty simple. The drag is tremendous. Not to mention the weight. No way he could have made it. Also during this time, constant improvements , (almost monthly) were being made in engines and horsepower. The spitfire evolved from a seaplane. When you read lindberghs book, " we" , you'll see how fanatical he was about weight and what he took with him.
 
The amphib seaplanes that I fly lose about 15 knots of cruise speed and hundreds of pounds in weight penalty when compared to their straight wheel siblings.

The simple answer is the penalty in weight/ fuel burn/ range was enough to eliminate amphibians.
 
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