Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

[mike64]

I had noticed a sea plane docked at a house when I was going to the fishing spot I wanted to try. Then after I started fishing, I heard a LOUD engine kick up and thought, what kinda boat does THAT belong to? Turn around and see the seaplane leaving the dock. Well, I was curious to see it take off-- it amazes me that those things can get airborne from the water. I mean, I know boats can get airborne (usually not intentionally ) but a plane needs some real speed, and it's dragging these big pontoons through the water.

Anyway, I put down the fishing rod, crank up the motor and go over to where the plane is taxiing. Of course I stay a good distance away, not knowing the protocol for this (wasn't in my Michigan boater's manual ) Even keeping my distance, I get hit by the plane's wake, which is different than a boat wake-- the waves were slower and it wasn't as visible, kind of a stealth wake, and it really rocked my boat. Then the plane turned around, got up to speed and lifted off the water suprisingly quickly. I braced for a big wake when the plane took off, but once it got up to takeoff speed it didn't make a wake at all. Pretty cool seeing take off up close (relatively).

Made me wonder how he lands later-- when he took off around 8:30 am the lake was pretty empty, but how about later, when there's hundreds of boats out tubing and skiing?

Got a couple cellphone pics but they didn't turn out too great:

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

Something in me says its a Grumman Goose. If so that's an amphib, meaning it can land on land or water. He took off of water but landed anywhere a normal plane lands.

I can't really tell. But grumman goose would be my guess. More photos are here. Note that it lands on land or water.

http://images.google.com/images?q=g...ent=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

 

[heyttown]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

Ive seen the same take off at Wamplers lake in Irish hill MI...awesome to watch

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

Something in me says its a Grumman Goose. If so that's an amphib, meaning it can land on land or water. He took off of water but landed anywhere a normal plane lands.

I can't really tell. But grumman goose would be my guess. More photos are here. Note that it lands on land or water.

I think your are right. Its definately a Grumman, but could be a Mallard. I don't think so, though, because it looks like it is too small to be a Mallard. I have about a thousand hours of crew time in an Albatross, which is much larger than either the Goose or the Mallard, and am sure its not that airplane.

One clue for the OP - if the nose seemed pretty long on it, in proportion to the rest of the airplane, its a Goose. The Mallards and Albatrosses also tend to be extremely loud on takeoff, because the prop diameters are large enough for the tips to "go supersonic" at full rpm. This is a phenominon that can happen with smaller props too, but it is pronounced in these two airplanes.

The biggest problem with takeoff in a seaplane or float plane, is breaking the suction that is created by a hull moving through the water. This usually isn't a big deal if the water has at least a little chop present. When the water is smooth, however, sometimes you have takeoff through the wake that you made on the way to the turn-around point. In the Albatross, this problem is somewhat diminished, because it has a couple of vents in the hull, behind the step. They feed into the wheel wells, so that air can be sucked down under the remaining portion of the hull.

Landing in seaplane or float plane is pretty much like any other aircraft, except the touchdown is a bit harder. This is true because you have no shock absorption in a seaplane hull or in a floatplane sponson. Water is a lot less forgiving than you might imagine, when you stall the aircraft a little to high in the landing flare. Landing with the wheels down, as you would on pavement, also tends to "inhale," because you will flip the airplane on its nose in a heartbeat, if you do. As for boat traffic, you just do a low pass before landing.

Grumman seaplanes were/are tough as nails. There are many still flying and many have been converted to turboprop engines. As long as the wing spars have been replaced at appropriate intervals (they suffer from corrosion and abuse related to landing cycles), they can be very safe even now. If I were a rich man, I'd probably own either a Mallard or an Albatross!

USCG Grumman Albatross, AKA "Goat"
The Mallard looks very similar, but is about 1/2 the size.



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[xxxflhrci]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

There's a little one on the lake we use. I see it flying along the lake quite a bit. A couple of weeks ago, we came around a sharp bend in the lake and saw it coming at us nearly vertical and only a hundred feet or so off the water...pretty cool to see. It has wheels and pontoons. The owner lands it at his house on the water and then drives it up in his yard. He has a could of a other aviation friends. I've seen a party at his house that had two helicopoters sitting on the docks. One of the copter owners built his boat house with a flat roof. He lands the copter there.

 

[mike64]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

Yeah, I think you guys are right-- Grumman Goose, or similar model. Next time I'm on that lake if I see it docked I'll make a positive ID, and try to get a better pic. Jay_merrill, you constantly amaze me with your wide range of knowledge of different subjects.

I need to get a better camera for the boat! Later that day I saw a couple dozen sailboats (regatta?) and took a pic-- would have been a nice scenic shot with a better camera. On the cellphone you see some different color blobs on the water .

I have a Canon Digital Rebel, but I'd be afraid to take that on the boat. I need a compact camera that can take decent pics, but I won't cry too much if I drop it in the water. Maybe pick up a used Elph on ebay or something. Jay, I remember you saying you take pics from your boat...do you take any special precautions, like waterproofing your cameras or anything?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

Jay_merrill, you constantly amaze me with your wide range of knowledge of different subjects.

Jay, I remember you saying you take pics from your boat...do you take any special precautions, like waterproofing your cameras or anything?

LOL on the wide range. Some of it, I know because I am an "information junkie" and read a lot. In this case, however, its because I spent a significant amount of my life flying search and rescue in the good old Grumman Albatross. I also made my living in aviation for a long time, so I have always been kind of an "airplane junkie" too!

I carry my cameras in water resistent and shock resistent "ammo cans." Beyond that, all you can do is to be very careful. The camera/lens combination that I typically use is worth about $3,000, so I do get a little freaked at times, when keeping it safe gets a little dicey.



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[mike64]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

I carry my cameras in water resistent and shock resistent "ammo cans." Beyond that, all you can do is to be very careful. The camera/lens combination that I typically use is worth about $3,000, so I do get a little freaked at times, when keeping it safe gets a little dicey.



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Maybe I'll get brave and take the Rebel out if I get around to rigging up a waterproof (floating?) container to transport it. I'll just keep the expensive lenses at home-- got a 400mm that cost more than the camera did. My cheap 75-300mm zoom actually takes good pics. People on the Canon forums knock the "consumer grade" lenses, but I've had good luck with the couple I have. I've taken some great shots with the 18-55mm kit lens it came with.

 

[rbh]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

when the fires were going full guns in LA did any one see the martin mars bombers?
I think there is only two left, but what a sight, one step down from the spruce goose, when they land or take off hold on and put your fingers in your ears.

 

[mike64]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

when the fires were going full guns in LA did any one see the martin mars bombers?
I think there is only two left, but what a sight, one step down from the spruce goose, when they land or take off hold on and put your fingers in your ears.

That's funny you should mention the Spruce Goose rbh-- that's what I thought of when the Grumman was about to take off, and that's why I was amazed how quickly it lifted off the lake.

 

[rbh]

Re: Watched a seaplane take off from my boat

The neet thing about those amphibians is they have great lift as I think the body provides quit alot, as soon as it breaks the water.
google coleson air services? sprout lake/tofino bc or just martin mars.
do you know if there is any canso"sp" planes in your area, they are amphibs as well.
rob