Landplanes on floats

I am sure I have seen a picture of a DC3 on floats somewhere.

Have also seen an Antonov 2 on floats (Datangshan Museum thread from 2005)

A strange and unique waterbird, a DH-104 Dove on floats.

As far as the Beaver and Otter go, I don’t think it is really fair to regard these as landplanes retrofitted as float planes.

Right from the start de Havilland Canada intended the Beaver as a “flying pickup truck” capable of operating from land or water, or for that matter, snow or ice on skis in the winter. Floats were not an after thought. Many were delivered right from the factory with floats installed. The company even designed a special cart to allow one time only take-off of these Beavers from the factory. The Otter built on the success of the Beaver and was designed from the ground up with the same uses in mind.

These are quintessential “bush planes” designed to be operated in remote areas, from whatever landing surface is available – dry land, water, or snow. True, their fusalages are not shaped like boats like say a Walrus or other “true” seaplanes. That would not have fit with what the designers had in mind. Not to mention that fact that I have a hard time picturing a Walrus or an Albatros fitted with skis and landing on a frozen lake! Perhaps the original intent of the designers of these aircraft has been forgotten by some since so many were purchased by the US military and others, including the UK, and rarely operated on floats. But the Beaver and Otter are not simply “landplanes” that someone stuck floats on later.

Not trying to pick an arguement – just providing a little background on a great Canadian design that is still sought after decades after the production line shut down.

Charles

p.s. the most amazing flight I have ever had was in a Beaver. It was a calm evening, and the pilot had been flying the same plane for something like 15 years. It was amazingly smooth, despite the fact that we had a fair bit of gear loaded inside. I couldn’t tell when the floats had left the water, nor, amazingly, could I tell when we had landed. I had to look out and see the wake to realize we had touched down. An unforgettable flight. Credit to the pilot, wherever he might be.

WW1

Sopwith Camel??????????????????:confused:

The vast majority of floatplanes or a seaplanes built were/are conversions of landlplanes. Certainly that is the case today as most modern seaplanes are Cessnas of various sorts, Beavers, Otters and other such conversions.

Before and during WW2 there were quite a few “pure” floatplanes, such as the Blohm and Voss BV139 and the Short Mercury. Nowadays, floatplanes are mainly conversions.

Vickers Vildebeest.

Mark

See here for photo

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Braas/4177.htm

I know it’s not a landplane on floats but…

…I never tire of watching this Arado 196 footage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blYJer0wDr0

WA$.

Perhaps the smallest candidate – the Wet Wot 🙂

Roger Smith

JU52

And the Ford Trimotor…

and a few others that you don’t think of :

Beech 17 Staggerwing

Cessna Bobcat/Crane (UC-78/AT-17, Commercial designation T-50 )

A Canadian built Blenheim (Bolingbroke) serial number 717 was fitted with floats and tested in this configuration, but the engines collected too much spray so it reverted back to a wheeled undercarriage.

Floats were fitted to a SAAF Anson, although it never flew with them on.

Best wishes
Steve P

Just looking at that Spit floatplane page – the text says that trials of the MkI conversion were not successful. So far as I’m aware, the MkI never flew and was deconverted back to a landplane. Feel free to correct me.

Vickers Vildebeest.

Mark

Nakajima A6M2 “Rufe” – floatplane Zero.

Of course, there’s the Spitfire floatplane – this page has a bit about them:
http://www.supermarine-spitfire.co.uk/spitfire_floatplane.htm

Beech 18

The Blackburn Roc was tested on floats, too.

(from http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/APS/2116.htm)

Hi,

Some good responses. I found this Hawk II on floats on my Hard Drive.

Alex

Grumman F4F Wildcat

From my bookshelves (largely G R Duval’s “British Floatplanes”):
Some Tiger Moths were float equipped, radio controlled gunnery targets for the RN, renamed Queen Bee.
The Blackburn Shark
Vought-Sikorsky Kingfisher
Hawker Nimrod
Auster
DH89 Dragon Rapide – by de Havilland Canada
Bristol Bolingbroke – one tested on floats but not used operationally.

Swordfish was i think. Did the Japenese not put the Zero on a float?