Seaplane Paul

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Posts posted by Seaplane Paul

  1. Posted

    The sounds are a great place to fly. I have landed at Grevill  Harbour a few times .

    Calm weather only, Got severely spanked a few years ago in a southerly.

    An avid amphibian would be so much fun. 3 friends are  building restoring amphibs so we may catch up sometime.

    Great to hear from you Dusty!

    Yes Greville Harbour is a well protected beautiful anchorage.

    We have all been spanked before as conditions worsen, I have a great ceremonial pig story about that, but hey we're all much wiser now right?

    Would love very much to catch up! I'm here in Blenheim, working here and in Picton. Where are you guys?

    The Sounds are calling my friend... 

  2. Posted

    I don't think one has to be a builder to thrive with experimental aircraft, but it sure helps if you have a big dose of curiosity, are mechanically and electrically inclined and like fixing and tinkering.

    Thanks Chris. 

    Am very curious and have always respected engineers. 

  3. Posted

    Hello everybody......I am wondering if W&B is a secret thing......nobody to chime in???? What is your empty weight, C of G and configuration????

    Also the book says the fwd and aft limit are 11.185 and 16.5 but my Catalina was approved at 11.0 / 17.0.....any thoughts? In my manual a handwritten statement says Dean Wilson states 11.0 / 17.5

    Avid Amphibian

    ZK-NGU

    Rotax 582

    EW of 648lbs when constructed

    EW of 742lbs after salt water overhaul and strengthening

    1 person likes this

  4. Posted

    Hi guys.

    We will be using the Avid Amphibian primarily in a extensive network of sheltered sea-drowned valleys at the northern end of the South Island of New Zealand known as The Marlborough Sounds. Is anyone else operating in salt water thank you :)

    Marlborough_Sounds_topographic_map-en.svg.png

  5. Posted

    Those are ones built for the Back Country Super Cub.  The ones I use for my Avid are made of wood and use four inch cargo straps for slings, sorry I don’t have any pictures of mine but pretty easy to build. Made them to come apart for easy storage.

    Yes thought they looked flash :)

    Do you have wing tanks?

    Have found an old specifications page which lists 

    Width Wings Folded as 8'6"

    Length Wings Folded as 24'5"

    https://www.angelfire.com/nd/tcyes/tech.html

     

     

     

  7. Posted

    It looks pretty clean to me. Is there any damage from the forced landing? If not try and get it cheap and have fun making fly again!

    Gidday Gidday Chris,

    Love your positive answer, especially the "have fun making it fly again!".

    I'm more a pilot than a builder though...Did you build yours?

  9. Posted

    IMO, if you want a new Catalina kit, buy a Sea Ray. 

     

    I talked to the original builder of my amphib.  He sold it and bought a sea ray thinking that very thing.  He did not like the sea ray at all and said he would much rather have the catalina back.  He sold the Sea ray.

    Damn, all this talk is getting me wanting to get back to work on my bird.

    :BC:

     

    Interesting Akflyer.

     

    Did he say why he preferred the Catlina over the Searay?

  10. Posted · Edited by Seaplane Paul

    Gidday GIdday guys,

    So was able to inspect New Zealand's only Avid Amphibian. Stored in a hangar she hasnt below flown for 19 years. The owner bought it from the original builder. The original builder flew it for ten years and logged  some 320 hours. The new owner flew it three times (all from land) before a propeller/engine issue resulted in a forced landing. Aircraft trailed to the hangar and never flown again. Engine and propeller sent for over haul, no problems found, but never reinstalled.

    Was impressed with the build quality and really like the concept. Have 1,987 alights and flown seaplanes commercially for years but am now looking for a recreational one.

    At 6'1" I found almost zero leg room between my knees and the panel, and when sitting in the pax seat, as I will when instructing from her, the undercarriage level dug most painfully into my left thigh. Due to 

    Here are some pictures...Alone here at the end of the world would appreciate the groups thoughts on purchasing her thank you.

    295716746_460423875935803_4117576936982266079_n.jpg

    295306953_363379662653565_942480799238448295_n.jpg

    296188254_608302177306517_8111869661614790737_n.jpg

    296288176_1528174410934245_7486942031525792799_n.jpg

    296711862_771171630894928_4474825411395570401_n.jpg

    295857186_386039913673316_8728594874404280730_n.jpg

    294500559_1262548854553618_6101967199094727240_n.jpg

  11. Posted

    Hi Sally!

     

    Just inspected a '92 Avid Amphibian for sale.

    Here is  the POH she had :)

     

     

    296428835_1072788126676628_3734181421368638170_n.jpg

    295774640_436810555014710_6278376835435162513_n.jpg

    295941009_1062059677767677_6115368911462853400_n.jpg

    2 people like this

  12. Posted

    If you go to... this forum, and look around January 29, 2020, you'll find a posting titled

    catalina magazine article   (circa 1986)

    I added another article to the bottom of that thread as a pdf which you might also enjoy.

     

    Hope this helps

    -Jack

     

     

     

     

    Sure is! Thanks Jack - thats the one I am looking at buying here in New Zealand:)

  14. Posted · Edited by Seaplane Paul

    Hi all.

     

    Reading through past posts, here are some of the points people advise to check carefully when doing a pre-purchase inspection on a Catalina...

    1. When did the aircraft last fly?

    2. What is the aircraft Total Time?

    3. What is the engine Total Time?

    4. What is its empty weight?

    5. Is the aircraft 'light'? 582s can weigh 520 to 680lbs, 912s can weigh 750 to 850lbs752lbs)?

    6. Is there any corrosion, especially in the bottom of the hull?

    7. Does the a/c have a Current, valid Airworthiness Certificate?

    8. Are the Maintenance Records complete?

    9. What equipment is included on the Weight & Balance Data?

    10. Does the engine mount have any cracks?

    11. Ïs a water rudder installed?

    12. Are there two after market fuel tanks in each wing?

    13. Is the firewall heavy galvanized steel or lighter aluminum?

     

  18. Posted

    Hey Alicia,

    I have a Catalina with a 912 engine. I would look at the weight of the aircraft (My cat was initially nearly 800Lbs empty before I restored it...). On the Cat weight is bad. Also have a good look at the empty aircraft C of G : it has a tendency to be tail heavy with a 912 making it mandatory to add weight in front for solo flights...weight is the enemy. I can fly without added weight ( I weigh 130Lbs)

    below you have a few pointers to my 912 cat specs...

    Empty weight 752Lbs
    Rate of climb: 1200Ft/min + at gross weight (1200Lbs)
    Vx : 52Mph  Vy : 60  ( these numbers are approximative ...what I am comfortable with)
    cruise speed: 92 Mph
    Stall speed: 38Mph
    Take off from water @ gross : 7-8 seconds
    Take off asphalt @ gross no wind : +- 650ft
     
    Now regarding the flying part / items I found stand out: the ground handling is not easy in windy conditions (+15Kts) as the wing has a large wingspan, has a high lift profile and the landing gear is narrow. Visibility is EXCELLENT like a heli. Cabin space is cozy / on the narrow side with 2 people up front ( I am quite small, 5ft4 - 130Lbs. Works great for me and have taken some 185 Lb pax no problem). This bird has very good handling characteristics on water. 
    On asphalt It is best NOT to have too strong brakes...being a pusher it can nose over. For example doing a high power run with brakes set it will most likely nose over above 4700Rpm even with elevator full nose up. Also for landing I hardly use any brakes...after touch down it slows very quickly with the bigger tires (already slow on landing)
     
    It climbs very well, easy flying, like a cub. The aerodynamics will not let you go beyond 95-100Mph. In the air it handles wind and gusts well as the wings are quite flexible absorbing turbulence. Elevator and rudder are very effective but flaperons are on the slower roll rate side (big wing). Regarding the 'high' mounted pusher configuration, I have hardly any pitch change when applying/cutting power. Also the Cat is perfectly controllable with engine off/ gliding.
     
    Landing on asphalt is the only time you have to pay attention..fly the thing until it's stopped (narrow gear). Dance with your feet to keep it straight . Also too much crosswind is problematic as the wing sponson on the lee side will easily hit/scrape the ground when using the low wing into the wind technique. Also the gear has no shock absorber and will bend/brake if subjected to a hard landing. The power is plenty and the cat has a tendency to correct any potential runway excursions with engine power application...and quickly, it will straighten and leap back into the air and that's a great feature. Rudder authority at low speed is good.
     
    Stalls are a non event, easy to feel and slow to turn/drop. 
     
    That is in a nutshell what I have experienced. Let me know if you have any other questions.

    C of G positions.jpg

    Really good advice thank you :)

     

  19. Posted

    PM me,I might be able to help

    Thank you very much, PMed as requested thanks.

    I didn’t get it ?

    Hi Sioux,

     

    Have sent the PM again. Any luck :)

  20. Posted

    As is the case with ANY amateur built experimental, besides just looking for good workmanship, I think weight and weight and balance are paramount importance. I do not know what an "as light as possible" Catalina would weigh with a 582, but I think you would want it as close to that weight as possible. And then be sure that weight and balance is within limits...that the weight is properly distributed. 

    I know this is obvious, but a lot of planes end up way over weight because people add bling or try to beef them up and they end up with no useful load.

    Good advice thanks Chris.

    Have asked for and am awaiting the W&B data.

  22. Posted

    Thanks Sed - kind of you to check thank you.

    Am a lapsed EAA member, must do something about that. Have asked a current member friend to check for me thanks :)

    Do you have any interesting articles you might be willing to share please?

  25. Posted

    Hi guys.

     

    Have found a 582 Avid Amphibian for sale. Will be inspecting in a month. 

    This will be our first Avid Amphibian and am unfamiliar with the type and any idiosyncrasies that should be checked.  

    What advise regarding a pre-purchase inspection or questions would you advise please?

    (Have previously owned a '89 Super Cub and an '84 Lake Buccaneer)

     

    Yours Faithfully

    SP