The Inside Loop - 2008/07
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.
Laddie Mikulasko and the Spectra II
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.
Seawind Reviews and Electric Version
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 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!
Final Thoughts
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 lake 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 model 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
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
