Advice for putting floats on a F19

[eslboat]

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Can anybody give me some advice on installing floats on an F19 ? What modifications to the airframe are required ? What size and make of floats should I use ? Does the gross weight increase from 1500lb or does it stay the same ? What kind of performance can I expect ?Thanks any information from the pros would be very much appreciated !

[Dano"T"]

Re: Advice for putting floats on a F19

I'm certainly not a pro....but I recently had a new set of Baumann 1500's built for my BC12D-85 and they are real nice. 1536# bouyency per float up to 2 hatches per float, pump outs, fluted bottoms, 189# total installed weight, and they have all of the mounting harware you need on hand. He has the clamp on fuselage fittings for the rear struts which seem to work nicely and the price NEW is $15,500. That may sound like a lot....but a GOOD set of used EDO's will cost you $12K or more. Some can be found for less but they will not be pristine condition. Baumann floats is over in New Richmond, WI and is run by Joe Birkemeyer. He flew my plane quite a bit...and he will have first hand knowledge of what to expect. I got 95mph cruise and 10 second takeoff runs solo.....and 22 seconds loaded to 1450# or so. PM me and we can discuss it further...I will be going to Baumann this week sometime to pick up my plane which is back on wheels.

[eslboat]

Re: Advice for putting floats on a F19

Thanks Dan , I was over at Joe's place about a month ago and I seen your plane do a couple take offs and landings it was very impressive . Yours is a BC12 85 with no electrics and a lower gross then the F19 ? You also got a better deal on the floats because he used your plane for certification of the new 1500's ? Last I heard the price for those floats were 15K plus 2K for install. I can't find any STC's for floats for the F19 . I will call Joe today to see if they are certified on that plane . Thanks

[Dano"T"]

Re: Advice for putting floats on a F19

They are not certified on that plane. They in fact, are not certified on any T-craft yet. The FAA scheduled the flight test too late and the pond froze over. We will be doing it in the spring. If you have an F-19 Joe will probably entertain using your plane for certification up to 1500#. The F-19 is on a different data sheet. He is out of town until Wednesday....so call him after that. I think since all of the testing was done to find the right set up, you could just have him build a set and put them on yourself. It's really not too complicated...just getting the plane hanging, and being near water is the key. Also, Aqua 1500 are approved on F-19's...there is a set for sale on barnstormers.com or more specifically dedrekon.com $10,900 with Taylorcraft rigging

[dedrekon]

Re: Advice for putting floats on a F19

I do indeed have a set of Aqua "Capre" 1500 floats with Taylorcraft rigging. You can find them on my website:http://www.dedrekon.com/
There in exceptional condition and came off an F19. That's the only plane they've ever been on. They have very few hours on them and were never in salt water.
Aqua's are great floats, very quick off the water. Complete weight on them is only 254 pounds...and that includes all the rigging. If I had more room I'd keep them, but I'm trying to go from 2 hangars to one.
I believe converting a Taylorcraft to floats is very easy.....you'll have to weld on float fittings, but that's pretty much it. I think we got them from Wag-Aero. Of course, your plane should be as corrosion proof as possible. There are probably more knowledgeable people on this list about that aspect of it.