Performance on Floats

[Chris in Idaho]

Re: Performance on Floats

Thanks for the info Jim, I was hoping to get a comparison like this of empty with one guy vs. loaded with two guys. Sounds like the Tcrafts make a really good one person float plane?
Does your 85 horse BC12D have an electrical system?

Thanks

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Performance on Floats

Interesting Perry... and close to the numbers I see with my light BC-12D C-85with Myself @ 175 pounds, six gallons fuel in the nose and no bagggage and no wind...fifteen seconds if If I am paying attention. 5-8 knots of wind and I shave up to few seconds off. I have to be careful about dragging the sterns of the floats as it will definetly delay the take-off, however, with 8-10 knots of wind, lift will over come drag and I can "horse it off".

If I depart at gross take-off weight... My self and a guy with a big belly and close to a full nose tank...the take-off numbers will double. It can be very difficult and frustrating getting on the step. First of all the yoke compresses the belly on the big guy and you wait for the second rise of the floats on to the step and then full forward on the yoke and wait for the floats to rise on to the step and plane and pick up speed...UNDERPOWERED...is the word here!

A light T-Craft with one person on floats is a very capable utilty machine. Two people of average or more weight this is no longer the case. Beware and plan accordingly.

I fly in a relatively cool environment in the summer. The numbers and performance I speak of would not be possible in many parts of the world be cause of density altitude.


Jim

Last year at Greenville I was Clocked at 12 Seconds! beat out another 100 t_Craft and 2 Super Cubs and a PA12 in the next class
That was FUN!!!!!!!!
PV

[Chris in Idaho]

Re: Performance on Floats

Lots of good info thanks.

[flykenken]

Re: Performance on Floats

I should add basically the plane performs best with a 7kt wind when heavy. Over 12kts the performance when heavy degrades rapidly due to the big waves and floats low in water. When lite and over 15 kts you are almost thrown into the air very quickly - so quickly its nose down or watch out for a stall when airborne. Over 3500ASL or temps over 80 degrees when heavy make for long t/o runs if no wind. Once at 200ASL - almost sea level on a hot summer day 85+ and humid with no wind glassy water and near gross was just about the longest T/O run I've had with the tcraft and that was before the 0200 crank was put in. I'd have more hard numbers for you but weather really has been poor lately.

[flykenken]

Re: Performance on Floats

At 2100asl alt 29.80 temp 59F wnd not more than 3 kts, not quite glassy, and taking off in my own ripple 18-19 seconds on 1320s with C85/0200 crank and 7141 prop. T/O wgt 1260 lbs. Been lots of wet weather and or strong winds this summer so not flying too much.

[perryv1]

Re: Performance on Floats

Last year at Greenville I was Clocked at 12 Seconds! beat out another 100 t_Craft and 2 Super Cubs and a PA12 in the next class
That was FUN!!!!!!!!
PV

[supercub185]

Re: Performance on Floats

How long are your average takeoffs?
If possible please include engine/prop/float info, and if you have numbers for light weight solo, and also loaded/heavy with a passenger.

Thanks!

Hopefully perry virgin will reply. He has an extremely well performing tcraft. I owned a tcraft and now cub owner. I hate to admit it, he beats up on the cubs pretty good at greenville. He grew up flying them as well, so that plays apart. The dunn boys in maine do well also with their tcraft. Seems like perry and the dunn boys get off in good conditions in a few lengths of the floats.

[Chris in Idaho]

How long are your average takeoffs?
If possible please include engine/prop/float info, and if you have numbers for light weight solo, and also loaded/heavy with a passenger.

Thanks!