Earthstar Forums

Hi Mark.

Just trying to get the word out on PuddleJumpers kind offer. All they require is a ready customer and some assist with the design factors relevant to the unique Earthstar nose gear.

The result...Earthstar aircraft expand their operations hugely.

Cost and weight factors were already addressed in this thread. Details are -10mph off cruise and ~115 pounds load.

PuddleJumper Floats are on Titan, Challenger, FlightStar, Kitfox, Rans, Kolb, etc. --- and now a good opportunity to add the Odyssey.

BTW..Beach Landings?? Some months back, I read where one young buck with his new PPL tried to impress his friends with a beach landing and found himself defending his right to fly before the FAA. "500 feet"--"So as not to endanger any property or person"? One person a half mile away complains - same result may happen. Just sayin'.

My purpose is simply letting folks know. I am sure that if an Odyssey owner needs some help to fit a set of PuddleJumper Floats, Earthstar will be there.

Best regards
RMM

Hi Mark..

While some may not have much interest in water landings, I am hoping
others will.
What we have here is an opportunity to expand the useful application of
the Odyssey and Gull aircraft.

Not watersports, but water landings. Unless, I am missing something,
beach landings in inhabited locations don't comply with FAR rules....We
all know the 500 Foot limit and the phrase "not to endanger any person
or property". I read some months ago of one young buck, with a new
PPL, who did a beach landing to impress some friends and promptly got a
call to meet with the FAA to defend his right to fly. One complaint
from some one person a half mile away and the same result might follow.

We do have here a most generous response by a respected company who has
been making floats for similar aircraft for over 20 years.
Have a quick glance at the list of aircraft flying with their floats,
all with a ready-made bolt on solution.
http://www.puddlejumper.com/eindex.html
Quicksilver, Flightstar, Challenger, Titan, Kolb....all there except
Earthstar.

Indeed, I opened this thread by commenting that floats are not cheap.
The point of added weight and drag is nicely covered by Patrick at
PuddleJumper Floats. Expect a loss of 10mph off cruise and to give up
~115 pounds of load. He wrote:
> Keep in mind that you are basically adding 2 docks under the aircraft
which add weight and drag but you have a lot more fun! Float flying on
ultra light aircrafts is made of compromises but the flying experience
sure makes it worth it.<

Hoping that PuddleJumper's offer won't go unanswered.
All they require is a ready customer and some support to resolve the
design to fit the Earthstar nosegear.

Just wanted to get the word out.
RMM




--- In Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, thundergul@... wrote:
>
> Hi
> This should work well but add a lot of weight and drag. And expense, I
like
> the way I deal with the water sports issue. I take along a little
> inflatable raft, land on the beach and blow it up and jump in and go
play in the
> water, but I am a cheep skate.
> Happy Swimming
> Mark
>
> In a message dated 6/25/2013 8:36:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> ananda@... writes:
>
>
>
>
> MARK...
>
> What is the situation regarding fitting floats to the Odyssey
aircraft.
> I found this site (just below) that builds amphibious floats for a
> similiar tandem aircraft. Surely they are not cheap. Any resource for
this in
> place? Any design already done?
> Thanks
> RMM
>
> http://www.ultralight.ca/amphib_gear.htm
>

Hi
Floats are really cool, and floats that can land on land are even better.
The reason that we like light airplanes is that they fly like birds,
light, nimble and fun. When you hook up your 18 foot fishing boat on to your
Porsche it changes its characteristics and is only something you would do
occasionally to get your boat to the water. I see attaching a boat to the bottom
of my plane as a means to an end. All the amphibians that I have flown are
real slugs! Big engines and low cruse speeds and not much leftover payload
and pore climb performance. On top of that it is an extreme knitch
industry populated by the wealthy and the extremely determined. Having said all
that, I make what costumers want, If they ask for electric airplanes, I make
that, if they ask for anfibs I make that, Not to many people ask for anfibs
and most of those have not yet thought it through. Than there is the
occasional determined aerial yatsman who can both afford it and is willing to
give up some of what flying a light inexpensive and efficient planes all
about.
I am not against the idea and will help you make attachments, But I don't
have a body of water big enough to fly from to test it out.
Happy Flying
Mark


In a message dated 6/27/2013 4:08:46 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
ananda@guam.net writes:




Hi Mark.

Just trying to get the word out on PuddleJumpers kind offer. All they
require is a ready customer and some assist with the design factors relevant to
the unique Earthstar nose gear.

The result...Earthstar aircraft expand their operations hugely.

Cost and weight factors were already addressed in this thread. Details are
-10mph off cruise and ~115 pounds load.

PuddleJumper Floats are on Titan, Challenger, FlightStar, Kitfox, Rans,
Kolb, etc. --- and now a good opportunity to add the Odyssey.

BTW..Beach Landings?? Some months back, I read where one young buck with
his new PPL tried to impress his friends with a beach landing and found
himself defending his right to fly before the FAA. "500 feet"--"So as not to
endanger any property or person"? One person a half mile away complains -
same result may happen. Just sayin'.

My purpose is simply letting folks know. I am sure that if an Odyssey
owner needs some help to fit a set of PuddleJumper Floats, Earthstar will be
there.

Best regards
RMM

--- In _Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) , thundergul@... wrote:
>
> Hi
> This should work well but add a lot of weight and drag. And expense, I
like
> the way I deal with the water sports issue. I take along a little
> inflatable raft, land on the beach and blow it up and jump in and go
play in the
> water, but I am a cheep skate.
> Happy Swimming
> Mark
>
> In a message dated 6/25/2013 8:36:29 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> ananda@... writes:
>
>
>
>
> MARK...
>
> What is the situation regarding fitting floats to the Odyssey aircraft.
> I found this site (just below) that builds amphibious floats for a
> similiar tandem aircraft. Surely they are not cheap. Any resource for
this in
> place? Any design already done?
> Thanks
> RMM
>
> http://www.ultralight.ca/amphib_gear.htm
>