I can’t drive to work without checking out
all the open fields along the way for
ground conditions and prevailing winds.
Many times I’ll take the long way to a
destination for the change of scenery, of
course, but also to see what other potential
flying sites might be around the neighborhood.
If you appreciate the environment, you can fly
from just about anywhere.
Ponds and lakes are examined the same
way. Since I’m a float-flier, when I happen
upon a beautiful picturesque site, I’ll imagine
the possibility of building a house and retiring
on a nice plot of land along the lakeside
because I know full well that I’ll be able to fly
my float model any day of the year for the rest
of my years. Not a bad thought.
If you haven’t tried flying from water, I
highly recommend that you build, buy, or beg
for a floatable model and have a go at it. Given
that the planet we live on is covered mostly
with water, appreciating the grace and
romance associated with airplanes that swim
adds a deeper connection to the hobby/sport
and connects the pilot of that model seaplane
with the pioneers who saw the bigger ponds as
havens—runways that always pointed into the
wind, that were practically impervious to
damage.
One person who gave float-flying a try is
Laddie Mikulasko, and ever since he has been
known as a skilled and inventive designer of
all things to do with a model airplane. Where
some would see an airplane that looks nearly
impossible to build or fly, he sees a challenge.
And from what I’ve seen, he’s realized more
possibilities than impossibilities.
Laddie’s Spectra II is the focus of this
month’s construction feature, and whether
you’re a fan of electric or glow power, this
model will suit you; it’s an easy swap anytime.
I like the sleek scale lines and its canted
wingtips. It reminds me of a lot of home-built
amphibious designs making speed and distance
records, like the Seawind.
Since I started here at MA, Jim Feldmann
and I haven’t been able to talk or E-mail about
an airplane without one of us telling the other,
“Boy, I’ll bet that would look good on floats.”
We both have the bug about flying from the
water.
When the Great Planes Seawind .60 ARF
came for review, I really wanted it for myself.
But with winter in Indiana looming, my
thoughts turned to Jim, who lives in Southern
California, and his extensive experience with
models that float. So he got the project, and
I’m glad because he turned in some great
advice for those who have this special model.
He had the article all finished by about the
time the ElectriFly EP version of the Seawind
came. Again, I wanted to keep this one for
myself, but my friend, Shawn Rubush, saw the
model and expressed a familiar “I have got to
try that!” delight I knew all too well from my
own experience.
I gave him the project with the agreement
that he had to let me fly it sometime. He not
Editor Michael Ramsey
[email protected]
I
only gave me a flight, he gave me the first
flight. We live for test flights. If you don’t
have a friend like Shawn, you need to get one.
Knowing fully Jim’s recommendations on
the performance of the Seawind .60, we
prepared the smaller EP version thinking that
it would perform in a similar manner. What
we quickly realized was that the Seawind EP
was really a refinement. I haven’t had the
pleasure of flying the .60-size model, but
since my experience with the EP version, I
now would love to have the bigger one.
After Shawn and I spent a few batteries
flying his model, I brought out my E-flite J-3
Cub 25. This model is purpose-built to fly
from the water. The Cub performs much
differently than the Seawind because of the
contrasts in drag and weight. Both are elegant
models to fly; I think the Cub is the king of
splash-and-gos. We had a ball!
To express the fun of flying from the
water as Shawn and I did, again I turned to
Jim Feldmann and asked him to put together a
State of the Sport article. What his article
expresses best is the entertaining and fulfilling
value splashing about offers the aeromodeling
enthusiast. A day at the water can be fun for
the whole family.
As Jim said, “If it will fly from land, it
will probably fly from water.” Jim’s wise
advice will help you find the mood to get
your models wet—and since it’s summertime,
what better way is there to spend a beautiful
day?
We’ve only touched on the topic of flying
from water. If you’d like to see more about
this topic in future issues, send me a note and
we’ll see what we can do. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/07
Page Numbers: 6