Here's a good one I took last week up in Oregon.

sweet pic. I like it

denalipilot wrote:Anyone recall that video of five or six T-6's water skiing in formation on a reservoir in South Africa? I would think those were stock-size tires, and probably not too big, since I believe they are retractable gear (not entirely familiar with T-6's (unfortunately), so not certain of this last point.)

Seen the vid (neat stuff). The T-6 uses a 27" diameter tire
(pretty common for the trainers/fighters back in that day...).
The BT-13, P-40, P-51, and no doubt several others used the
same size/diameter tire.

Coyote,
They made you watch that from the RV? Torture I say. You guys always have all the fun.

great picture

Your absalutily right, lowflyin'G3. Those guys (IdahoBushCo pilots) are always having all the fun. Bums me out when I see them leave Caldwell together, knowing that there headed for the Owyhee's to play!! Maybe someday when I get some time in the 182 (and pay off the house), hopefully I can upgrade to a Scout or Super Cub .

This looks like the Pic for this thread.

A Super Cub practicing on 31s: (click on pic)

gerryjet wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01E_6oxvlQA&NR=1

That's got to be the coolest thing to see and hear in person!!

If you have to use water to slow down enough to land on something. I have to wonder is that something big enough to let you take off again? Water sure won't help with the take off.

svanarts wrote:If you have to use water to slow down enough to land on something. I have to wonder is that something big enough to let you take off again? Water sure won't help with the take off.

Ground effect works over water. So sayeth CloudDancer.

svanarts wrote:If you have to use water to slow down enough to land on something. I have to wonder is that something big enough to let you take off again? Water sure won't help with the take off.

Why wouldn't it?


You might start your take off roll on land, then transition water above hydroplaning speed but before flying speed is reached.

bumper

Bumper,

You could put another arc on your airspeed indicator for hydroplaning speed range. It will only work for still water though. If you are taking off downstream relying on hydro lift and enter swift current, you may find yourself asking "how do I hydroplaning the wheels?" while nosing over.

Scolopax

I just got back from a trip up to Portland, OR. I talked to some pilots while there and I heard of two planes that wrecked trying to put there wheels on the water. One was a Piper super cub, and the other was a 180 with the conard conversion. I think there is a picture on this forum of another plane laying on it's top that crashed on the same gravel bar as the 180. Bob

I finally signed up, been checking it out for months but I'm the cautious type. Had to see if you guys are a bunch of nuts and it appears that you are so I figured I should fit in pretty well!
From my own personal experience I would definitely NOT recommend relying on water as an extended runway for take off. I will go out onto the water just for fun sometimes but only if I have enough speed to easily lift off before getting to the water.
One time I messed up and couldn't fly when I got to the water and I went about 300 yards out towards the middle of the lake trying to lift off and the water would not let go of my tires. I had my camera running. It was the longest 8 seconds of my life. I water ski all the time because to me it is so much fun, but this was not fun. It was really scary.
I really do enjoy skiing to a landing onto a gradual beach, but I won't go anywhere that I have to use the water for take off. I would feel much safer doing something like a dead-stick take off from some big hilltop!

Hey Capt Stinsoner. Don't do it yourself. Watch a real professional on :www.cubdriver749er.com

Stinsoner: I think you show a good start by asking about how to do it! You see by the answers there are many different opinions. Why should you try it, I don't know. I suppose if you had an engine failure over water it would prolong your life for another eight seconds. I think washing your bird off with a hose may not be as flashy, but it doesn't involve swimming either. You can take Coyote Ugly word to heart tho, cause I was there when He first attempted it. One of the things he left out was we were doing it on a dry lake that had about five to seven inches of surface water on it. It did remove the threat of drowning, but there is always the risk of ending up on your back. (and bending your aircraft) But WHY? I don't know. Why does the kid show to date my daughter with a bone in his nose? Why do they try to climb Mt. Everest, where your brain swells up and you die? It becomes relative to who your are as a person and as a pilot. There are many ways to ruin a beautiful day and a nice airplane at the same time. Mechanicaly, I think it comes down to velocity, footprint, verses drag. I remember being stunned when people started water skiing barefooted!! So the smaller the footprint, the faster you need to be going. So good luck with the decision you make. (I too, think there is a cool factor)

taildrgfun
...well we are waiting for that 8 second video clip?? PG

So, a lot of talk going on lately about water skiing, and this thread has been quoted as a good place to go for how to do it. From what I read, besides coyote uglys explanation, no one really has any actual advice. A few specific questions I have to ask are as follows:
Does upstream or downstream matter. I realize that wheels hydroplane at different speeds, but your wings create lift by airspeed and not ground speed.
Brakes or no? Lots of people with different opinions here. One good comment was that without brakes it throws water everywhere, which helps clean the plane, but could also take away some elevator authority I'm thinking...
Flaps or no flaps? I would think flaps to keep more lift.
I, for some dumb reason, really want to try it. I guess if I'm flying, I wanna have every bit of fun while doing it. Same reason I fly a plane that can do aerobatics and have 31" abws so I can land on sandbars I suppose.
Or I'm just stupid...

David
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

A1Skinner wrote:Does upstream or downstream matter. I realize that wheels hydroplane at different speeds, but your wings create lift by airspeed and not ground speed.

I dont know how to hydroplaning the wheels personally, but I understand water current is a factor. Which makes sense, as it's the relative speed of wheel to water which counts - without that interaction you are just flying low!