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Welcome to the Canada on Floats / Bush Tour official webpage 2012 edition.
Canada is the land of lakes, rivers, sounds, and bays. What better way to explore the country, than by seaplane? You now get the chance to do so. You are hired by a seaplane operator in Vancouver. They operate their fleet of amphibious aircraft out of Coal Harbour, CYHC. Your job is to explore new routes for the company. On your journey through British Columbia you will meet brave Mounties, careless divers and stupid anglers. You will have to deliver passengers, mail, beer and fish. You will also go swimming and be joining a beach party.
However, it won’t be a walk in the park. You will also meet some challenges that require all your pilot’s skills. So make yourself familiar again with some basics of radio navigation and always have your charts at hand - you will get lost without them for sure. A look at Wikipedia and Google might come handy from time to time as well.
Note, that some legs have altitude restrictions that flying beeline won’t work. In this case, it would be a good idea to look for rivers, inlets, or the like. They always follow the lowest terrain. A direct GPS routing won’t get you anywhere. Be creative! You even may have to fly some miles in an opposite direction to reach a valley or a sound that leads you to your destination.
All airfields on this tour are situated in the vicinity of a river, lake, or by the sea. So you are encouraged to land on water. Still, you might as well use the runways, if you so wish (and your plane is equipped with wheels). Still, water takeoff and landing is mandatory on legs 1, 4, and 32 (CYHC and CAZ5).
Remember: this is not a race! Bush flying means (s)low flying. Feel free to touch down and take a bathe or catch a fish whenever you like. Or circle around a snow-covered mountain top.
Now, pack your tent, some ropes, paddle and anchor in the back of your plane and have fun!
Please read very carefully the section below for all legs restrictions and precious information. The restrictions must be respected otherwise your leg will not be validated.
Click here to start flying! Tour Name: FLOATS12 |
In the air, floats create their own lift, however when on the water floats act like suction cups and want to "stick" to the surface.
Taking-off
On take-off, pull the yoke full back, apply power. Once the nose starts to rise, apply full power, accelerate, then pitch forward to put the aircraft "on step". This will put about half the float (from the notch in the hull aft) out of the water, reducing the "suction" and allow the aircraft to further accelerate toward rotation speed Vr. "Pop" the aircraft off the water, then pitch forward to accelerate further to Vy or Vx (Best rate or Best Angle). If the take-off run is short, try "prying" one float off early with aileron, or when "on step" drop another notch of Flap to "pop" off the water. Remember to retract that notch once airborne. Small waves or ripples help take-off by putting bubbles under the floats which helps break the suction. If the water is calm you can make your own waves by taxiing in circles while you let your engine(s) warm up, then take off across your own wake. In single engine float planes turning on the water is aided by water rudders lowered when the floats are settled in the water. Once lined up for take-off, the water rudders are retracted. With airspeed, the aircraft rudder provides steering until airborne. Many legs have long stretches of water so you can practice "step taxi" and "splash and goes" (float plane circuits). Remember, Low Flying is the norm in bush flying, enjoy!
Landing
Landing a float plane requires good control of your airspeed. Plan to arrive above your landing zone 10-15 knots above stall speed, flaps extended, in a "nose high" attitude. Control the rate of descent with "power" not "pitch", and allow the aft half of the floats to settle onto the water. (Touching down too fast or too flat could cause a float to "scoop" resulting in a bent airplane and wet pilot!) Reduce power, pull back to keep the nose high and the propeller out of the spray from the floats. Once the floats have settled into the water lower the water rudders, raise the flaps, and taxi to shore.
For additional information on Float Flying, follow the links below (courtesy Dan Poelman):