I know I'm asking for the best of both worlds in one package. I'm thinking the CH-701 on their own design Zenith floats might work, as it retains the mono spring gear and single full size nose wheel.

Looking for feedback.







This one is presently on Barnstormers with the turbo Rotax 914 asking $62K.

Talking a lot of money and embarrassment if damaging my amphibs on a crappy runway. Better to switch gear in a nice warm hangar for the terrain you expect!

My "dirty" gear is 31" ABW or 8.5s. Never amphibs.

Aluminum Gantry Cranes are easy to use and portable:

Buy one and give it a shot. It all depends on what you call "off field", actually. There's no way I'd take those or any other floats into what I define as "off field".

Your mileage may vary.

MTV

mtv wrote:Buy one and give it a shot. It all depends on what you call "off field", actually. There's no way I'd take those or any other floats into what I define as "off field".

Your mileage may vary.

MTV

My idea of off field isn't the Steve Henry type of off field but rather the popular fly in destinations this forum's members have fun outings to, i.e., Johnson Creek, High Sierra, etc.

deckofficer wrote:

mtv wrote:Buy one and give it a shot. It all depends on what you call "off field", actually. There's no way I'd take those or any other floats into what I define as "off field".

Your mileage may vary.

MTV

My idea of off field isn't the Steve Henry type of off field but rather the popular fly in destinations this forum's members have fun outings to, i.e., Johnson Creek, High Sierra, etc.

Well, Johnson Creek is an airport, so specifically doesn't qualify as "off airport".....anything with a three letter identifier doesn't.

You probably wouldn't have any issues at somewhere like JC with that rig, but you're hauling around a lot of extra weight.

MTV

mtv wrote:

deckofficer wrote:

mtv wrote:Buy one and give it a shot. It all depends on what you call "off field", actually. There's no way I'd take those or any other floats into what I define as "off field".

Your mileage may vary.

MTV

My idea of off field isn't the Steve Henry type of off field but rather the popular fly in destinations this forum's members have fun outings to, i.e., Johnson Creek, High Sierra, etc.

Well, Johnson Creek is an airport, so specifically doesn't qualify as "off airport".....anything with a three letter identifier doesn't.

You probably wouldn't have any issues at somewhere like JC with that rig, but you're hauling around a lot of extra weight.

MTV

Can you think of some popular fly-ins that might be dicey for this landing gear?

This one was just built and is for sale at Cloverdale, CA. (O60) It made it's first flight, on land, and my buddy down there said it flys nice. None of those guys are float rated, so it hasn't been on water yet. If I get a chance I'm gonna head over the hill to get it wet.

Gump

Amphibs, even for an LSA, are mighty 'spensive, Lucy! If I had an airplane on amphibs, I doubt that I'd be flying it into anything but the smoothest of strips, either paved or good grass. Not even gravel--aluminum floats are too easy to puncture, and I doubt that composite floats are puncture proof.

Cary

That red and white one is friggin' cool looking! Want one....

Edit: wonder how much spray that nosewheel setup throws all over the place?

No experience with them yet, but I have a set of Full Lotus amphibs that I plan on mounting on the RANS. Too many irons in the fire and just haven't had the time to get them on. Probably the ugliest looking floats available but they seem quite durable.

You probably mean non 5000' paved airport operations. I flew a Beaver on amphib Wipline 6000 floats and did plenty of time on small bush strips, mainly gravel, some grass. Having dual mains was nice. Needed at least 1500' to get any kind of comfort.

What happens to the front wheel when the Zenith on floats hits the pond?? does it fold back or something?

Battson wrote:What happens to the front wheel when the Zenith on floats hits the pond?? does it fold back or something?

Looking closely at the pics, appears there is an extension/retraction cylinder mounted along front strut.

marcusofcotton wrote:

Battson wrote:What happens to the front wheel when the Zenith on floats hits the pond?? does it fold back or something?

Looking closely at the pics, appears there is an extension/retraction cylinder mounted along front strut.

That's just the shock strut. The nose gear is the stock nose gear installed on that airplane.

The nose tire does get in the water a bit during the initial takeoff run, and at the very end of the landing run, but keeping the nose up during both those evolutions keeps the nose tire out of the water for the most part.

But, with those airplanes, the weak link "off airport" would be the main wheels, and suspension, I'd think.

MTV

mtv wrote:

marcusofcotton wrote:

Battson wrote:What happens to the front wheel when the Zenith on floats hits the pond?? does it fold back or something?

Looking closely at the pics, appears there is an extension/retraction cylinder mounted along front strut.

That's just the shock strut. The nose gear is the stock nose gear installed on that airplane.

The nose tire does get in the water a bit during the initial takeoff run, and at the very end of the landing run, but keeping the nose up during both those evolutions keeps the nose tire out of the water for the most part.

But, with those airplanes, the weak link "off airport" would be the main wheels, and suspension, I'd think.

MTV

Well, there are hoses hooked to each end of the cylinder and they are not on the floatless planes...

I've seen a video on the gear retraction. It extends to clear a collar then folds back. Couldn't find that video but found another not as good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIAabjNMrSw

That would make sense to me. Otherwise the nose wheel is the lowest point of the whole float set-up, if not retractable.

I know most float aircraft get a high nose angle in the initial part of the take-off run run, but even when it's on the step it's closer to level although still on an angle, and that nose wheel is still the lowest point, as pictured when on the tarmac.

Still looks like it must drag in the water some, when it's retracted.

ANYWAY - my point was going to be, if it folded back (which it does apparently) then that hinge and drive mechanism would be a serious weak point for anything I would consider an off-field landing - where unexpected potholes or rocks etc are encountered from time to time.

I like the video. She flys pretty straight!

My float plane departing the Mississippi River (picture courtesy Wipaire). More flaps = less angel of attack to provide lift off (relative to inflight longitudinal axis). Off the water with slow TAS is safer (departure run length).

[quote="deckofficer"]I've seen a video on the gear retraction. It extends to clear a collar then folds back. Couldn't find that video but found another not as good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIAabjNMrSw[/quote

Interesting. My bad. I could swear I've seen one of those things some years ago that landed with the nose gear fixed.

In any case, that retraction mechanism looks like a pretty serious weak point in the nose gear. But, if it collapsed, looks like the floats would prevent a prop strike on land.....

I still doubt this setup would stand much "off airport" use.

MTV