Microlight on Floats

[Madman]

What is the reason we do not have this setup...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_-z_Ns6frQ

Must say it really looks like a lot of fun, plus you will never be afraid to fly over water again

Good for land and water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMst2ekjQlk

[Blue Max]

Lekker.
Lyk nie baie ingewikkeld.
Hulle kom redelik vinnig in vir die landing.?
Die floats ( skids) lyk na baie drag.?
Lyk gevaarlik wanneer hy vasmeer met die engine wat kort kort weer aangeskakel word terwyl iemand die aerie vasmaak.
Nobody has tried that,? really?
Sal daarvan hou om so stel floats te he wat n ou aan en af kan skroef. Imagine al die red-tape by CAA as jy dit wil doen.

[Dish]

I believe it has to do with the SA parks board / water board, being a little iffy about contaminating dams. For example the gunge that hangs around on hartebeespoort dam. The thick green slime.... if one was to have that stuff stuck to the floats, the thinking is that if you were then to land on buffelspoort for example, you would be transferring the crap from hartees to buffelspoort. That would then eventually start growing and the problem would escalate itself.

I think they think its a pretty good way of trying to keep the dams clean. They may not be too far wrong. Think about taking off from hartees to numbi, landing on kwena, then landing on de gama... you would be transferring all sorts of water borne junk to different dams.. ?/

I think im right in saying that... anyone else.?? Kloot Pilot ??

[kloot piloot]

Quite right Dish. It was however never promulgated into law. Only an advisory was issued by the, then, Dept of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) somewhere in the '60s when Harties became infested with Hyacinth. Concerns were that if it could somehow spread to the Vaal Dam, it would be disastrous for our fresh water resources. During the late '90s a hang glider instructor used an amphibious trike to aerotow students at Harties. Water Affairs tried to stop this but when no laws could be found, they used public noise and nuisance as a way to stop the operation.

However, both the CAR's (SACAA) and the Recreational Water Use manual (DWAF) have sections covering the requirements for amphibious aircraft (type of nav beacons, anchors, designated areas to be used on water etc). So it's not so much of a no-no other than getting written permission from the Minister (DWAF). But this is where it becomes tricky and complicated for our current regulators. SACAA would want DWAF to regulate the waters and DWAF would want SACAA to regulate amphibious operations, and I do not see this happening within the next month or decade

It would take somebody like AOPA to push this, but I do not think the demand for amphibs will justify it as yet.

PS : Madman, in the first clip at the start I do not see the PIC fastening a seatbelt. Deliberate for water ops or just an oversight by the pilot?

[Bayliner]

What about watercraft/boats/jet skiis etc. They are launched at different dams all the time and could actually contain more contaminants (especially jet skiis).

Amphibious aircraft are more 'self cleaning' by way of the wind blowing the green stuff away.

[kloot piloot]

What about watercraft/boats/jet skiis etc. They are launched at different dams all the time and could actually contain more contaminants (especially jet skiis).

Indeed Bayliner, but back then the these craft were less popular. Hence the myth of "no amphibians allowed in SA" has become somewhat draconian today. Jet-ski's, boat trailers and even bulge tanks in boats transfer more contaminants than any amphibian would ever do. Not to mention bird - and hippo migration or even the effluent from squatter camps illegally occupying more and more of Public Works - and DWAF properties along every available piece of State owned land.

The answer lies in pushing the subject like quadcopters (drones) are doing. Nobody will stop the sales of these any more and it is a matter of time before they will be accepted and regulated (as is happening as we speak). Dam and water ops with trikes should be encouraged and it will follow the same route as quadcopters. I am not saying that you start amphibian ops on Harties, Vaal Dam or Bronkhorstbaai, but I do advocate operations on lesser known dams in order to attract attention to the demand and want of waterborne ops. Comply with the CAR's and no-one can legally stop you.

Can you imagine the fun and advantages water ops can bring to our world? SkyReach'S BushCat is an example. Rainer Friebose's Seagle at Brits Flying Club is another.

Bring aviation to our nation!

[Madman]

Morning all

I reckon it could be a lot of fun I enjoy being on a speed boat,now having the best of both worlds, a speed boat and being able to fly...

Does not make sense, as Bayliner said, the boats and jet ski's transfers a lot more cr@p then what an aerie would

One can pack his fold up fishing rod, land at the dam of your choice, chill and cast a line..takeoff and have a cold bierrie when you packing up at the airfield

Like you said Kloot, it would be awesome to see all the different aircraft manufacturers bringing out the float version of their babies, I know I would love to see the Explorer on floats

As for the dude with the seat belt, perhaps he reckon it would be quicker to get out when sh!t hits the fan

Have an awesome one, love this topic

[Induna]

Hi,

just out of interest, there is a trike in Saldanha that is attached to a rubberduck and has made a number of successful takeoffs and landings in the bay.

You can have a look at our club's gallery to see what it looks like...

www.westcoastflyingclub.co.za

Jacques

[Madman]

Wow Induna

That really looks cool, do you perhaps have pics of the trike in/on water

[Madman]

Another beauty

[Blue Max]

Dis nie n aerie nie en dis ook nie n boot nie.
As n ou in Kanada bly sal skids of floats lekker wees om te he.
Maar hier is dit n waste.
Sorry ek piepie op julle vuur.

[rcbgreen]

There is an article the first edition of the Trike magazine on the Cygnet, which is a clip on system so you can have the best of both worlds. Designed in Canada which is not surprising as that is where the float planes are also popular. Trike online magazine is Aussie based so the article is on flying it there. Also on wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_and_Sky_Cygnet

[Madman]

The clip on looks cool, would really love to do a water landing

Spoke to Trevor Davies and he has built a couple of Thunderbirds with Floats and tested plenty at Hartees.

I guess it is demand...like Oom Paul said, this side it would probably be a waste

Would be alot of fun though

Cool vid of the Cygnet in action

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVY94rIIvUI