Springtime float changeover yesterday(actual time, approx 2:30)



Bad lighting by launch time. Here's a dolly takeoff from a previous year:

There couldn't have been many moves wasted there! I always thought a half day was fair. Thanks for making the effort to record and share it.

maybe this is a silly question, but where do the "hang" the plane from? looks like the firewall area?

Spdcrazy wrote:maybe this is a silly question, but where do the "hang" the plane from? looks like the firewall area?

Typically Seaplane 'lifting eyes' are at the wing spar carry through. So, top of the fuselage/cabin where the wings mount to the plane. Also, must use a spreader bar to prevent fuselage damage.

Also a silly question... I've seen dolly's towed by pickups for takeoff, but this is the first I've seen where it's 'powered' by the plane itself. How do you keep it on the runway? Does the rudder have the power to keep 4 wheels going straight?

awesome! thanks for the info. makes much better sense in my mind now

noodles wrote:Also a silly question... I've seen dolly's towed by pickups for takeoff, but this is the first I've seen where it's 'powered' by the plane itself. How do you keep it on the runway? Does the rudder have the power to keep 4 wheels going straight?

And more importantly, can you stick the landing on a dolly at the end of the season when it is time to go back to wheels?

There are three wheels on this dolly. (The front wheel is an aircraft tailwheel)

There is no steering initially, therefore the airplane is pointed to the right before takeoff. We park on centerline abeam a runway light, aim the nose at the next light. When you're sitting there it looks like way too much angle; when you apply the power it seems like too little.

Around 20-30 you get enough flow over the rudder to steer. The "tailwheel" has enough slop for minor corrections.

A thin rope tied to the float strut trips a brake on the dolly at liftoff. (A heel brake from a Champ or something)

Landing on it? Good idea, would save a lot of time come fall!

Spdcrazy wrote:maybe this is a silly question, but where do the "hang" the plane from? looks like the firewall area?

Alternatively, you can lift from the engine mount, close to the firewall, with a spreader bar of course. You'd need another hoist (or manpower) at the tail to keep things level and/or adjust the angle so you can slip the bolts in.

I do the change-over from skis to floats single-handed. It takes me a full weekend to do it right. I don't move as fast as I used to!