Show Me Your Water

[pondflyer]

Where do YOU fly your waterplane(s)? Depends on size of the plane, I'm sure, but it would be cool to see some of the flying sites used for your planes. And maybe a few details like having to drop down over that 70 foot row of pine trees when the wind is wrong.
Dick

[Ironsides]

Aerial Photo of Port Perry Float Flyers site (45 minutes NE of Toronto).

Shot taken from a Slow Stick carrying a Mustek GSmart Mini 3 digital camera.

Port Perry Float Flyers (http://webhome.idirect.com/~ironsidz)

We fly a mix of glow and electric.

David

[pondflyer]

That looks like BIG water. A river? Any boats coming by to mess up the landing site? Is it always that calm?
Dick:confused:

[Ironsides]

Port Perry, in left of frame, sits on Lake Scugog. Scugog is an artificial lake created to permit steamship operations from the railhead (Port Perry) to the Trent-Severn Canal System (1870s)

By the time it was all complete, the railroads had expanded and killed the canal system as a commercial operation.

Local boaters stay clear as they know about the club. We have permission from the Town Council and maintain the site as a general recreation area for the public = win-win situation.

Yes, it is big water. Club site just visible top right corner.
David

[reills]

Green Mountain Lake has been purchased by the Town of Pawling this spring. It's 36 acres surrounded by trees and a trail (ask me how I know about the trail...). This photo is of my inaugural float flight in May.

[fumblethumbs]

I'll bite. How do you know about the trail? -thumbs

[reills]

On my second attempt to fly off the lake I dorked the plane in. I was cockey and did not have a rescue craft.

So, I watched as the plane was literally steered by the wind across the very middle of the lake. I hiked around the lake to get my plane back. It ended up with a case of "swamp rash."

[fumblethumbs]

Reills, figured it was something like that:) . 'Course, had it been me flying, the caption would have read "It's 36 acres surrounded by trees, one of which is 120 ft. tall, covered in poison ivy, and home to rabid raccoons. Ask me how I know":D . Glad you got her back okay. -thumbs

[pondflyer]

What a beautiful site - and a great story! I think we ought to see the Moth too.
Dick:D

[reills]

In one of the threads about GWS planes there was a mod that recommended drilling through the gearbox and stick (VERY small hole) and passing a machine screw through tightened with a nut to hold the motor onto the stick.

This mod appeared too late. On my fourth attempt to fly the plane on Green Mountain Lake, at the grand opening of the new waterfront... The plane had to be rescued by a lifeguard :eek: .

The Tigger Moth now sports a PJS-300 off of the nose. In a word "Woohoo!!! :D . I still have to work up the courage to ROW with the new powerplant.

[pondflyer]

Maybe you should just hold the tail down and apply power - should go straight up!
Dick:D

[pondflyer]

Got a good pic of my proposed flying site this morning. Its a 10 acre lake right behind my house that is long and narrow and surrounded by houses and trees (it also has a "path", a road that leads to all the houses). I don't think it'll be very good if there's much of a breeze - you can see the line between smooth and "choppy" water in this morning's very light breeze. I also don't know what to expect if I go higher than the trees so flying will be done in calm conditions only for a while. Fortunately, I have my neighbor's Jon boat available for search and rescue.
Dick:)

[pondflyer]

Forgot the pic!:(

[Fredrik W]

Originally posted by reills
The Tigger Moth now sports a PJS-300 off of the nose. Slipping a little of topic here, but - there is no chance that the PJS will fit under the original cowling, right? :(


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[Martin Hunter]

Well, I'll have to post a few pics as I fly at a few sites. Here's one that I particularly loved but it's about 6 hours away by sailboat at the end of the Shuswap lake. It only happened by chance that the water was at the right height to leave this little pool which was perfectly Tiger Moth sized.

[Martin Hunter]

Here's Kamloops Lake, about a 30 minute drive from where we live. The wind is always coming straight down the lake, so I do my approaches over the loooooooong beach and touch down just at the edge of the water.

[Martin Hunter]

This is a park which is about a 10 minute walk from our house. I've been flying here most often lately.

This is a cool idea for a thread :)

Martin

[jimsp]

I fly from a pond that is located in the center of the small town I live in. The pond is less than a 1/2mile from my house and is about 400’ X 600’ in size. Because of it’s size I’m able to fly keeping the plane over the surface of the pond. Generally I fly standing on the deck shown in the photo as the sun is on my back when flying there in the evening.

The photo was taken early in the year and doesn’t show the large floating mats of weeds I have to contend with late in the summer. Fortunately there is generally a clear strip about 20’ wide by 50’ long in front of the deck on which I can do my touch and goes. The borough received a grant to install a biofilter on the pond so I’m hoping that will clear the weed problem up in the future.

[Fredrik W]

Originally posted by Martin Hunter
The wind is always coming straight down the lake, Great, that means no need of a retrieval boat then! :)


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[Karl B²]

I fly off a little lake in Burnett County, WI, where we have a cabin. The lake is "waisted" in the middle, and the southern half where our cabin sits is approximately 1/4 mile in diameter. We seldom have any large boats, and there is no public access.

This shot is looking south, flown from wheels near the north end of the lake:

[Karl B²]

I have a shot of my uncle piloting a .10 powered 2m glider on floats, but it's gone missing, so I'll check the other computer later for it.

Here's our dock from the air. The south part of the lake is completely wooded, and the winds become very squirrely at the tree line. We have a canoe for retrieval, though I'm usually in my trunks and I just jump in if it's close.

Karl

[Mel Duval]

Will get a wider angle this weekend if I get a chance.... Check out the post in Parkflyers on "Bad day for the Budget" for more.

later!
Mel D.

[Ironsides]

Martin:

I love your sunset shot of the bridge. Is that the rail line from Merritt crossing the South Thompson?

BTW, a fellow Kamlooper posted aerials of that bridge on the Aerial Photography forum some months ago.

Sorry about all your wild fires.

David

[Martin Hunter]

David, it is indeed the rail line, and the fellow Loop-head was me :D I flew the slow stick with the pencam on board from that beach a number of months back.

Thanks for the thoughts about the fires. We've had some family members that are threatened by them, so while some fires are under control, others are still of prime concern.

Martin

[Ironsides]

Christie Lake is an artificial lake within a conservation area near Hamilton. Laddie Mikulasko organizes a float flying event each spring and fall before the beach area is open to the public.

It is a mixed glow and electric event. Laddie, who is a well known designer (Balsa USA North Star etc), is moving to multi-engine electric models.

I got this 35mm shot from a six foot Unionville Beaver on floats powered by a Thunder Tiger 46 glow engine.

David

[Ironsides]

The Oshawa club float flies at the Darlington Provincial Park.

Oshawa is the hub of GM auto manufacturing and is located about 50 kms east of Toronto.

David

[Corky Boyd]

Here I am flying my Wingo from a lake at the nearby golf course. I fly in the early evening in deference to the golfers who have usually finished by then.

There are some other handicaps in the lake which I will put on the next post.

[Corky Boyd]

This 11 footer visits the lake and hides. Don't normally see him until I fly from the lake, when he surfaces and looks straight at me. Don't think he is after my Wingo. Think he likes meat better.

[Fredrik W]

HOLY SMOKE ! :eek:

Actually, how dangerous are those animals? I have never seen crocodiles IRL and I know nothing about them. But if I saw one I whould shure as nothing else run a mile in the opposite direction!!

BTW, how do you retrieve your plane if you dunk it? Wade? :D


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[fumblethumbs]

This is my friend Gus. Gus owns the lake and everything on it. Gus points fish. No really, that's what he's doing here! -thumbs

[Corky Boyd]

Actually alligators are relatively passive. What they like to do most is to bask in the sun. Crocodiles, found in Asia, Africa and Australia (especially the salt water variety) are much more aggresive.

You do play it safe and keep a respectable distance from them. I have seen them go after unaware birds standing near the shorline. There are many stories of dogs swimming in the lakes that become alligator food. Usually alligators are as afraid of humans as we are of them. The problem arises when well meaning people feed them. Then they lose thir fear of man and become aggressive. Unfortunately this is usually their death warrant.

Here on Sanibel Island, which has 2/3rds of its land set aside for nature preserves and other non-development purposes, we have a desire to maintain the natural balance as much as possible. There are no high rises, and all buildings are limited to 34 feet tall or less. No street lights and no traffic lights.

We did have one human fatality about two years ago when an 82 year old man tried to rescue his dog that had gotten into a fight with an alligator. The alligator won, temporarily. Throughout the state of Florida however, fatalities are rare.

On retreiving my plane, I just let the wind take it to shore.

[Corky Boyd]

Alligator Hazard

Wow, I had quite an experience tonight. I went to fly my Wingo on floats. Up to now, one alligator would rise from the bottom of the lake and sort of keep an eye on things. Mainly me.

This time, my wife spotted one on shore near the spot I usually launch from. No problem, there is another lake about 30 yards away, no alligators there. Not until I put the Wingo in the water and taxied out. When I put the power on, the rear strut which is held by a rubber band, inverted and allowed the elevator assembly to drag in the water. I had to abort my takeoff. Then about 15 yards away a nose and two beady eyes surfaced. Another alligator. He was heading to my precious Wingo. The plane didn't want to respond and weathervaned so any power just took it away from me.

I managed to get it under control, and to shore. Guess what? Another alligator surfaced nearby. By this time I was convinced that one of them was going to have a pink and blue dinner. I yelled and the nearest gator (fairly small) dove. I was able to rescue my plane.

What's interesting, or more accurately scary, is that you don't see these things much during the day.

Anyway, when I get things sorted out with the Wingo, I think I'll go fly at Dick Campbell's (Pondflyer) place about 6 miles away. He says he hasn't seen alligators in his lake.

[jrsnow]

Michigan's motto. Just posted a pic in the retrieval craft thread and will stick it in here as well. The lake we live on is only five acres, but is 80' deep. At the end of our dock it is about 10 - 12' and the swim float is in 30' The water bike I'm on is an "Aqua Cycle" and is the second one we have owned. The first one lasted 20 years, and we bought this one used for $300. Also fly off the ice in the winter, skis on my Slow Stick and Soar Star.

[jrsnow]

Sorry, should have added this in reply above. Anyone in the area interested in flying on our lake, contact me and we will set something up. Summer or winter. jrsnow@earthlink.net

[oded mazor]

here is the lake I fly from. it's in the largest park in the middle of Tel Aviv. no aligators here (I hope...).

you can see my Pondside in the photo, somewhere above the bridge.

[oded mazor]

my Pondside before touchdown

[Corky Boyd]

jrsnow

Where in Michigan is your lake?

[jrsnow]

Dunleavy Lake is in Nortwest Oakland County, 10 minutes from M-59 and US-23. Lots of lakes, can see two other lakes from our house. Next weekend a club is having a float fly at the Island Lake, just South of Kensington Park.

[pondflyer]

JR,

You will see to it that someone reports on that Float Fly on the Waterplane Forum, won't you? With pics, if possible.:)

Dick

[jrsnow]

Dick, Sure will. Taking my digital camera so I can post pics on Ezone.

[reills]

Well, last week I had a change of venue. Instead of a 68-acre pond to fly off of, I had roughly 50 square miles of water on Lake George to play with. I did have some trouble with the plane trying to pull to the right while in flight. I think the floats were the cause.

Here is a picture of a successful landing. The seventh touch-down splashed some water into the motor/ESC and my day was finished.

[Fredrik W]

Here is my water. I had my first ever take off from water here a few days a go. Flying a MPX Pico Cub. Great time!


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[Ironsides]

Frederik:

Very nice site. You are very lucky.

David

[Fredrik W]

Originally posted by Ironsides
Very nice site. You are very lucky. If we disregard the weather, but the guy in the photo seems to like it. :D


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[pondflyer]

Well, we've decided to move - back to Williamsbug, VA. Going up there to look for house/property. Since I'm loosing my "Pond" AND my neighbor's Jon Boat, #1 on the list has to be proximity to WATER and I'll be looking for a new search and rescue craft as well! Wish me luck.

Dick:confused:

[Ironsides]

Good luck.

David

[kapos45]

One of many of these lakes in the cascade range.

Before the fire one month ago....:eek:
going back in a few days. After photos (bilder) to
follow.... ( I think some flying hazards were removed
:rolleyes: )

[Ironsides]

Kapos:

Sehr schoen.

David

[kapos45]

My German is not very good but <Sehr schoen> means
very beautiful... ;) Yes, very lucky to live here..

[reills]

Yes, Purdy!

[BillH]

Heres the links to my pictures of my lake. Sehr Shoen indeed.

Skaneateles Lake (http://home.comcast.net/~billh308/Skaneateles/)

[joao]

The following photo was taken by my girlfriend while yours truly and my friend Pedro were palying with the HU-16 and the Cat from HVP. We found that the full size Canadairs also use the same water. The pilots spoted us, and spent all day flying overhead! Fantastic sound that of the big radial engines.
João

[Fredrik W]

Thepope, can´t view your picture. Top 1/3 is OK, the rest is all grey. Can you try to upload it again? Maybe you could open it with a picture editor and save it again first, that could fix errors like this one.

Anyone else having problem with this pic? :confused:


// Fredrik Wergeland
Sweden
www.flyingmodels.org (http://www.flyingmodels.org)
The Great Electric Motor Test (http://www.flyingmodels.org/motortest/Link_e.htm)

[pondflyer]

Yep! Can't see more than top 1/3.:(

Dick

[BillH]

incase no one went to my link..

http://home.comcast.net/~billh308/Skaneateles/lakeview.jpg

[BillH]

And
http://home.comcast.net/~billh308/Skaneateles/lakesunset.jpg

As you can see, The lake is usually not calm enough to fly small electrics.

[pondflyer]

Ref. Pic # 2,

Well, that's one way to retieve a downed water plane. Must be a giant scale one based on the curve of the pole!!!

Dick:D

PS NICE Water!

[Karl B²]

Found a few old photo scans of my uncle flying from our lake. The plane is a custom fuse mated to a Piece of Cake 2m glider wing. Power is an OS .10.

[Karl B²]

Fly-by. With the woods, you either come down wet or in pieces. I've only "landed" in the woods once. :rolleyes:

I have more aerial pictures of our lake here (http://stcroixap.rchomepage.com/images/gallery/scenery/behr.html).

[thepope]

I can't get a picture to post so this is the link to my album www.aerialpics.funtigo.com
Bill

[4*60]

The view from home....

http://www.slams.ca

Then if you go to photos page and then to the float fly page of photos. The float fly pics are HUGE. Dialup heed the warning! :)

[Joel K. Scholz]

Here is my Nautilus on Lake LBJ in Kingsland Texas. A great place to fly.

[Climate]

We fly in front of the Barrie Yacth club in Barrie Ontario Canada.
Nice site with a private beach in the summer, and the wind is always along the shoreline. :D
Floats make excellent skis in the winter and work great in rough or uneven snow.

Here are some videos.

http://www.climateboatworks.com/video/picostikonfloats1.MOV
http://www.climateboatworks.com/video/picostikonfloats6.MOV

More video can be found here.

http://www.climateboatworks.com/video/videopage.htm

enjoy.

Peter
www.climatemodels.com

[Capt'n Crash]

View of my flying field from the front lawn of my cottage on Lake Muskoka, Ontario Canada.......it doesn't get much better than this being only footsteps from the runway. :D

[Capt'n Crash]

Here is my latest cottage water toy :D

[John Hawkins]

We fly from the lake center right. It's fresh water cut off from the ocean by a bar. This is Meisners Lake in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, on the Atlantic Ocean. The photo was taken in eary spring before things began to green up. The bar has taken a severe beating in recent years from storms and hurricanes but so far remains intact. It is nearly always windy but you get used to it.

Johnhttp://rcgroups.com/gallery/data/500/205492ea.JPG?4697

[John Hawkins]

Maybe I can get the picture here and not linked?

[John Hawkins]

Here's another view:

[John Hawkins]

Storm lashing the bar:

[John Hawkins]

Same beach on a nicer day. The lake is over the bar on the right. After hurricane Juan it is much lower. I haven't tried the beach on wheels but it should be good as the sand is very firm and doesn't blow around.

[John Hawkins]

Lakeside. This area has been largely destroyed by the recent hurricane.

[John Hawkins]

One more showing the ocean and lake. I must get one from the same spot post hurricane Juan - well maybe not - the spot is washed inland.

[John Hawkins]

Some general float flying pictures can be found in here:http://rcalbum.rchomepage.com/Home.html

[Ironsides]

John:

Very glad to see this posting from you.

David

[realglow]

Our club, Tyler Modelers Club, has two sites to fly; one at the flying field, and this site about 15 miles south, on Lake Palestine.

See: http://www.tylermodelers.com

James

[MikeL72]

Great sites posted above. Here is where my son and I fly at a small lake in Maine. The pics were taken from a 172 -- first at 5,000 and next at 500 feet.
The e-flights are with a Moth and E-Starter.
Hope to finish a Twin Pond Master for next season since the place is closed up for the winter.

Mike

[MikeL72]

And the other pic

[flash14]

Beautiful day here today.....

[Rudderman98]

I fly my Martin Mars from my friends house in Lake Tapps Washington. 10 minutes from my house. :)

Perry

[Hwiffo]

Blimey you've all got some very nice places to fly.
I'm going back to uni in Wales next week, can't wait, if any of you know Wales, you'll know it's got a lot of that water stuff lying around everywhere.

Just need some floats now...:/

[pondflyer]

Not exactly "my" water but check out EAAs January calendar at

http://www.eaa.org/wallpaper/images/january05/prince_rupert_1024.jpg

Right click and set as wallpaper for a little daily inspiration.

Dick :D

[pondflyer]

EAAs calendar does it again! Check out December's edition at

http://www.eaa.org/wallpaper/images/december05/seaplane_base_1024.jpg

Dick

[Pat Daily]

This lake is next to the Flying Circus Aerodrome in Bealton, VA.

[Joel K. Scholz]

Here is a photo of one of my planes on Lake LBJ in Kingsland Texas. I live a bloock from here

[Joel K. Scholz]

Lets try the picture again.

[peterv]

My water runway, soon to be ice runway. Can't wait! :D

Pete

[sleep4]

Lake Martin, Alabama

[Vyceroy]

This is a small cove that Belongs to Camp Thunderbird .. a YMCA Camp .. weekends are open ...The kids are there during the week ..

We do shows for the kids during the summer months they really love the float planes ..

The picture does not do the site justice ..

[MikeL72]

Looking in at this re-vitalized thread, I noticed that I didn't include the pics above -- I'll try again -- this is the upper end of Torsey Pond in Maine and the cove we fly in -- from about 5,000 feet and about 500.
Mike

[ChrisS]

150 yards out my back door...lake Eldorado

Chris

[kineticartist]

I just had to add my pics to the mix. I live near the Columbia River, 3 miles in fact, and have discovered I really love water flying. I have made floats for many of my models and there will be more to do in the future.

A bonus is that floats work really well on snow and you don't need a skiff to get it back should you make a less than graceful landing.