Wing Across the Water

8/3/2019 Wing Across the Water

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hen we decided to put together an arti-cle on flying of water, it was only com-mon sense to take a look at one o Streamlnc.'s products; this manufacturer olsport planes carries a kit line that's ded-icated to the sport of lying of water.Owner Tom Strom generously sent usa loaner Aqua Sport 40 for review.The review kit came equipped withan ASP. .32 engine-a powerplantStream lnc., has come to recommend(even in its .40-size design) because ofits exceptional perormance and lightweight. David Baron lew the planeextensively and prepared the flightreview set out below. At our float fly, wervere all favorably impressed with theperformance of the Aqua Sport; we rec-ommend it as an excellent seaplanetrainer for the sport flier. hat it lew sowell with a .32 is a testamenl to itssound design.

Stream lnc, has developed the followingspecifications or the floats tha are used on itsAqua Sport 40 and 60 trainers. These statis-

Above: the Aqua port 40 churns the water on a takeol run.

tics, which reflecl the experience of "experts,"are further points o reference for aspiringwater liers.Length: 75 to 80 percent of thefuselage lengthWidth: 15 percent o loat lengthFineness ratio (length/width): 6.8'Botlom shape: slight vee(for appearance)Step location: 53 percent offloat lengthStep heighti 3/s in.Ramp angle: 2.5 degreesDraft angle:6 degreesWeightl 11.6 oz. eachStep location on model:at the CG (fuel tank empty)Step location tolerance:(never orward of CG, up to 3/a in. all)Distance between floats: 44 percento loat length

STtlEAtllll INC. AQUA $PoPT 4(,

by DAVE BARONFIRST IMPRESSIONSI must admit that I was pes-simistic about the test light othis floatplane going into thisproject. My irst impression wasthat it was overweight andunderpowered. To my surprise-and to the credit o the design-ers at Stream lnc.-it lies verywell with only a .32 or power.

FLYINGThe first lotation test of thisplane was very impressive. TheStream lnc. loats ae wider thanothers on the market; this oersmore displacement, and there-ore, more buoyancy than com-parable 40-size loats. Thisensures that the ptane really

gets onto its step ast and neversits with its tail in the waierwhen it isn't moving.Taxiing is remarkably goodor a coniguration that lacks awater rudder, Ou evaluationtook place at a lak, so we hadextra space to drit. ln a narrow-er body o water, a wale ruddercould become a necessity.The plane tracks vey well,and it's in the air ater only 100to 125 eet. I let it accelerate inground eect for a ew momentsbeore initiating a climb. Theplane tracks very well, and iteels very stable in all axes.Although it wasn't necessary totrim, I eel that it would havebn easy to correct i it had

been necessary. The plane lieswith the authority o a larger-size model.The Aqua Sport is very nim-ble; it rolls and loops with ease.The ASP 32 engine proved itsel

in proplling this plane throughall the maneuvers that could bedone by any comparable low-wing sport plane. This isadmirable because o the addeddag and weight o the loats!

letting the model do a long, on-the-step run-out iust like full-scaleseaplanes do. Was I ever hooked! To this day, my float-flying ses-sions contain very many landings, takeoffs and touch-and-goes-aes-#j:::i preasing, sprav-generatingAlmost any model can be modified tooperate successfully off water, as long asits wing loading doesn't approach thedanger zone for that particular design.High-wing or shoulder-wing trainers,low-wing sport/pattem designs and evenbiplanes are all contenders. In the lattercase, just be prepared to keep enginespeed up on final, because the combineddrag of two wings, two floats and allthose struts definitely bleeds off air speedin a real hurry!

A means o retileval is an important ingredienl ot a unday a.t q loat fly. Ship captain Bob llastings dutiuilyounded the siren on his helnet at the oulset-o each rcs-cue mission. Here, Dave Miles lits the giant NiU 06-inchwingspan, 0.5. 120 Surpass 4-stroke) rom the tlrnk. Thisplane sp0rts Balsa UA- gian{lloats.

{ SPECIFICATIONSType: sport seaplaneList price: $169.95 (direct rom Stream lnc.-9135.95)Span: 52 in.Area: 475 sq. in.Weight: 6.25 lb. (wi floats)Airoil : semisymmetricalEngine recommended: ASP .32 to any commercial .40 2-strokeEngine/prop used: ASP .32 spinning an APC 8x6u Comments: Stream lnc. floats are included with the kit. The ; design does not use a water rudder. :******="*-. FTOATS Al{D RUDDERSWe have included a diagram to help you properly set up your model.There are many companies, such as Ace*, Goldberg*, Stream Inc.*Swenson Specialties* and Sig*, that sellgood floats kits in various sizes (as domany other companies). Some peopledon't use water rudders, and that's per-fectly OK. I feel, however, that while theydo require a bit of extra building, water-rudders add very little weight, and theydrastically improve water-handling-especially in cross- and down-wind taxi-ing conditions. Piloting a model that pos-sesses positive water-handling character-istics-even in breezy conditions-notonly reduces the possibility of frustratingweather-vaning, but it greatly increasesthe fun factor. After all, taxiing a model

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seaplane is far more exctt-ing than taxiing a land-hased model. and waterrudders help out tremen-dously.HE CHATLEI{GEWith a good model that'sproperly set up, flying offwater isn't difficult at all;it simply requires a fewtechniques that are differ-ent from those that areused with land models.

I had a business meeting that tookI me from Caliornia to Connecticut.Since I was in the neighborhood, editorTom Atwood invited me to a un flY heand some friends hold everY otheryear. I had never lown a floatplane,and so can tell you irsthand what it'slike the irst time out.

usual lying event for all o us.First, we watched the guys with years ofwaterborne experience make efortless take-offs and landings-except when hey madeequally efortless dunks. These did ar less

"horse" the plane off the water before it's up to flyingspeed, and obviously that can end in disaster. Speakingof disaster, crashing into water often ends in little or nodamage when compared with a high-speed rendezvouswith terra firma. Notice I said often, but not always,Anyway, after your model is up on step during a takeofrun, let the model gain speed and fly itseif off the waterat a safe, low rate of climb. Nothing looks worse than aplane 'Jumping" off the water. A nice, gentle "separa-tion"-with water dripping off the floats-followed by ascale-like rate of ascent is a beautiful modeling sight tobehold. I'm telling you, float flying is a treat; you should try it.

EASY OOES ITIf there's any part of float flying that the landlubber pilot has to geused to, it's the landing sequence. I often hear, "Land slowly!" Themore accurate termis gently, meaning to gently lower the floats down

damage than I expected, and the parts alfloated nicely until a boat picked them up. Acovered surace seems to take on very littlewater; the engines given only the briefest omouth-to-moulh resuscitation came quicklyback to life, and, since this was a fresh-waterlake, a quick draining o the uselage'.left theradio gear undamaged. I had expected to seeall kinds o watertight contrapions, but asiderom some sponges and papertowel packingthere was none.While we ellow fliers talked, the kidssplashed in the water nearby and watchedthe shenanigans. A large blue plane was wayup in the air, and pilot Bob Hastings, standingnearby, handed me the transmitter. Unortunately, he then walked away. I had plannedto ask all kinds o questions, but there wasnobody around to ask. I flew the plane forwhile and then decided to try a landing. Withan unamiliar land plane, I usually bring it iflat and a bit ast the irst few times until I amsure o its low-speed handling. l it's a tai

Depending on the float design, taxiing is usually better when full up-elevator is applied. This helps keep the float bows out of the water(some designs tend to plow more than others). The up-elevator canalso help get the floats up on the step during a take-off run. It's veryimportant, however, to remember to immediately neutralize the eleva-tor as soon as the model does get up on step, otherwise you might'::r;:,.Biil?lr:i:qiiri,P.ill;l i:r*;1lf:r..PJf;r,.ihB:r;.!::.,::,,;i;- *,:;,:,,. ; :.::riiiii:i;;,-;1;;;E11le;,B,.i,i;,i;riie.l,;P;:,;i;:r;&,8:l?i:lB,i'ia#1

he meeting of water and airplanesusually takes place at a pond, lake, or '':::;;quiet inlet of the ocean. These are justthe kind of places you might choose fora vacaton, so I took my whole amily.By good luck, they were visiting my in-laws, who also happened to live near-by. So I arrived a Candlewood Lakewith three children 1, 6, and 9 years oldand my wife, who loves canoeing. Iknow that this sounds like a lot o lucky coin-cidences, but it happened. Since my amilysometimes find lying sessions boring, thiswould be a perect test o my guess that afloatplane event would be more un than the68 RIC SPORT FLYING


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into the water-not jam them into thewater. The key here is rate oI descenl.You want the loats to come into contactwith the water gently. I'm talking aboutthe downward movement of the float-not the forward movement. If you plopthe model down on the water "carrier-landing" style, it will do one of twothings: the floats will dig in and flip themodel over. or the model will bounceback up into the air. We've ali done the"skipping-stone" type of landings. If youhave a real "floater" model, the rate ofdescent even at slow air speeds will stillbe sufficiently gradual to allow gentlefloat contact with the water, If, on theother hand, your model is a non-floating,sport-pattern type, then to obtain the nec-

dragger, I usually do wheel landings before Itry three-pointers. I made a good, cleanapproach, wings level, everything under con-trol. Sorry, Charlie. Faster than you could say"Oops," the plane flipped as i a giant crabhad come up and grabbed the pontoons. Ihad made a big splash at the event.The giant crab is water resistance, ofcourse. lt is much greater than the drag oflanding gear on pavement or even on grass.That, combined with my too-fast landingspeed and the act that the loats had beenbent so that they were a bit nose-down didme in. After I had committed "planeicide," Iwas given lots o helpful hints as to how toland a loatplane.A bit of CA and some metal bending later,I managed two takeofs and landings with thebeast, bringing it down slowly so that the rearof the loats wanted to touch first. I practicedmy low-and-slow flight high up beore I triedthese landings. Now that I knew what I wasdoing, it wasn't too hard. I was even able to

essary low rate of descent, higher landingspeeds must be maintained so as to lower thefloats gently onto the water. The only otherwaming I can give concerning landing proce-dures is nicely depicted in the ill-fated land-ing in the photo sequence at the beginning othis article. Keep those floats level! Othefamiliar techniques, such as flaring, are per-formed in a similar fashion as land flying.JUST OI{E MORE IHIiIG OR TWOHere's some more advice: wrap your receiveand battery in plastic; don't fly off sait wateteven iI only a drop gets on your receiver. itselectrolytic properties will wreak havoc)don't use wooden props (constant "spray-slicing" softens the wood, making the propodel Airplane News columnist and test pilot Dave

Baron gives his daughter Emily a chance at the sticks.Hey, loat tlying is un or the entire family!

;I by JEF RASKINtaxi the beast, bringing it around with blastso propwash on the rudder (it did not have awaler rudder).My last flight with it is one that I will longemember, and it is an experience that I hopeevery flier will try at least once: I got to fly afloatplane from a moving boat! Ater DavidBaron (who writes the "Simple Programming"column on computer radios tor ModelAirplane News) got the plane o the water,we took of after it in a motor boat. With mytwo older children, Bob Hastings, wearing aunny ha with a built-in siren, and David onboard, we were pounding across the waveschasing the model that took o lust in front ofUS. I was handed the transmitter and felt a bitof trepidation at first. But the plane flew nor-mally even though ihe pilot was bouncingalong. With an increasing sense o fun, Istarted lying in circles around the boat, occa-sionally bringing the plane alongside or lowpasses. I found it hard to keep my thumb on

the throttle as the boat went through a wakeor some chop: I was using my typical two-in-ger grip on the right stick and had no problemthee. A transmitter strap like the one I useon my transmitters at home would have givenrne better control.Soon we headed back, and for the ihirdtime, I made a good landing. I started taxiingthe plane toward the dock, but instructorDave decided to take off and make anotherhop. lt was the last little light of the day asthe plane soon went in with a sharp slap. lthit hard enough so that the loats tore awayfrom the uselage. Nothing major: it will takean hour or less to repair.Floatplane lying is not as difficult, not ashard on equipment, and not as tricky as I hadthought. I am sure there is a lot more for meto learn about flying loatplanes, but after jusone day on the water, the basics are well inhand. And they will be for you, too. Just don'land fast.

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Yoube the Judge.

POWER . PERFORMANGE . PR0TECTION. Aircraft . Motorcycles . Boats'JetSkis. Snowmobiles Compressors . ToolsChainsaws . Lawnmowers . SnowblowersRace Cars. Fan Jets . RoboticsMETALoN C2 is a solidJree, anti-wear ormulathat, when used continuously, helps to:

. Increase Engine Lie. Lower ldle Speeds. lncrease Power & RPM. Peak Engines Faster. Reduce Friction/Heat. Stafi Cold Engines. Stop Rust & Corrosion. Beouce Ater-run Service. Break-in New EnginesMETALoN C2 treats the melal chemically and willnot drain of. Fan jets and heli engines will runcooler, smoother at lower idle and respond t0 ullthrottle F/SfEP.Very Cost Eleclive-Suggested Retail Price: or8.5 02. (250m1) graduated bottle: $11.95 (U.S.) +$2.50 S&H. (Blends with 16 gallons of gas, glo ordiesel fuel!)

Ask your local dealer for the Product ofChampions: METALON C2.DEALEB NAUBESINVITED FOR PROFIT,

W|NGIS ACROSS THE WATER

.#\:6Boh Hastings takes the giant Nitty oshore to preparc or lakeof. He then passed the controls Io JelRaskin (see previous page).dangerous); always use an engine that's at the high end of the kit manufacturer's recom-mendations for the design; and obviously don't fly near swimmets or boats. Oh, yes, glowengines do fl.ame out; you'll need a retrieval method. A canoe, a rubber raft or the QE IIwill do. And one more thing. Neler use whiteglue. Many years ago, I did. and I ended up with abunch of balsa parts in a MonoKote "bag." Thestuff ain't waterproof IFor a new thrill, you've simply got to try flyingoff water. There are lots of undiscovered flyingsites, including lakeside fl,ving areas that the wholefamily wiil enjoy. Mixin-e the elements of windand wate will deliver a u'hole new world of R/Cfun that you'll enjoy for years to come.

+Here are the uddresses of the coupanies nentioned in thisAce RlC Inc., I 16 W. 19th St..64037.Carl Goklberg Models, 47-11 ll6065 LStream lnc., P.O. Bo.r lllJ. Nerptt.\eur. l',{ 2301; (801)59 t -0720.Swenson Specialties, P.O. Bol 663 . Pinole, CA 91561.Sig Mfg. Inc.,10l S. Front S.. Monte:unru. lA 50171.Florio Flyer Corp., P.O. Bot 88. 119 Scorland St.. Dagus Mines,PA 15831.Gee Bee, 113 E. Main St., Chcopee, MA 01020.Balsa USA, P.O. Bo-r I61. Mqrinene. Wl 5411-1.ASP Engines; distrbuted hy lSC Int' 1.. P .O. Box 101 I 6,Indianapolis,1N,46210. I

Bot 51 1C. Higgnsvlle, MO. Chita3o Ate., Chicago, IL

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Chris Chianelli claims to havebegun modeling at the age o18 months. His irst radio,which he purchased in 1969,allegedly worked about 50 per-cent of the time. Convinced hecould learn io ly R/C on hisown. he nonetheless experi-enced disaster in Fl/C until hejoined his irst club-theKingston Aero Modelers-in1 971. There he met andreceived help from lifelongbuddies Vick Olivette andFrankie Tiano. (Chris saysthey have all hated one anoth-er ever since, but they'veremained riendly out of guilt.)Chris has worked at Air AgePublishing since 1982. A con-summale Sunday sport flierwho has "no interest in compe-ition at all," Chris loves allthings mechanical, "especiallyglow and 427 Chevy engines."

PA]R,AT

Wing Across the Water

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