Performance on 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!

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[Chris in Idaho]

Re: Performance on Floats

Lots of good info 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

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

No electric, Chris. 801 pounds empty weight on wheels and 885 pounds empty weight on floats. On floats the empty weight C.G. range is (15.8) to (17.6) at 1351 pounds gross weight. My aircraft has an empty weight C.G. of 17.1 inches aft of datum...very close to the aft limit.

With two guys at 170 pounds each( yeah...Right) and 50 pounds of baggage and 11 gallons of fuel(Close) I am at gross weight. When I fly at gross I make shallow turns and use full power in steep turns and the ball is centered.

Many people in this country use their aircraft like a truck. They load them up with out doing any weight and balance computations and every year several meet their demise because of loading their airplane to over gross,flying uncoordinated,stalling and spinning in. Unfortunately most flight training is done with the aircraft lightly loaded and flight characteristics are quite different from those of an aircraft loaded to gross weight...or greater.

Jim

[flykenken]

Re: Performance on Floats

Well Chris if you are asking what a tcraft on floats is like with 2 people think of how your tcraft performs on wheels with 2 people, then add 100 lbs and alot of drag to that and you have your answer. As for comparing a lite Tcraft to a lite Supercub or PA12...well that is the same as saying a greyhound is faster than a husky in a race... which dog is gonna pull your sled? A Kitfox on floats will takeoff way quicker than a tcraft, cruise 10 mph faster and seats 2 small people in extreme discomfort and not good in turbulence. A ridgerunner (small cub single seat) will get off the water even quicker but cruises at 65mph - with a slight tailwind. A taylorcraft on floats has to be flown. It ain't jam the throttle pull the stick. So you pick your days, you pick your lakes and you pick your spot to land on those lakes. There are lots of days that the lake you want to go to isn't a one person option let alone 2 - so find a lake that is an option or mow the lawn. The question you have to ask yourself is what is your mission and what can you afford. Absolutely hands down the Supercub is the best 2 seat float plane but it with the high lift wing you are always struggling to keep wings level on hot days. For me Tcraft is the best way to go and I like it.

[Chris in Idaho]

Re: Performance on Floats

Thanks guys.

[AKbrew]

Re: Performance on Floats

Hi Chris,

I'm fairly new to the float game...but I completely agree with all of the previous comments. With one person the T-Craft is a great performer on water. With a passenger you have to pick your spots and pay attention! It still does fine for me...just not AWESOME as it does with a solo pilot. This is my first summer on floats and I'm having a blast. As noted previously, pay attention to airspeed and coordination, and check your weight and balance. Do what you have been trained to do and you will have a whole lot of fun!

Jim

[MNJoe]

Re: Performance on Floats

Chris,

I'm sure Dano will post his performance also. I have a 100hp with the Baumann floats one 185lb guy and 15 gallons of gas I can get off the water in 11-12 seconds the airplane has an electrical system. Two guys and 20 gallons of gas about 20-24 seconds. I had an 85hp T-craft with Edo 1320 and wouldn't even be on step by the time this t-craft is flying.

Joe

[Dano"T"]

Re: Performance on Floats

I have a 46 BC12D with a C-90-12F and Sensenich 76AK-2-40 prop...about 8-10 seconds to takeoff solo....2-200# people and the nose tank full about 14-16 seconds...I have Baumann 1500 floats and my plane is around 840 E.W. on floats. I also have a 46 BC12D with a C-85....16 seconds solo, 24 seconds with 2-200# guys....the C-90 with the 76AK-2-40 is a lot better performer....same floats...C-85 version is 20lbs heavier though.

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/f...t=100_1151.flv

[Chris in Idaho]

Re: Performance on Floats

I have a 46 BC12D with a C-90-12F and Sensenich 76AK-2-40 prop...about 8-10 seconds to takeoff solo....2-200# people and the nose tank full about 14-16 seconds...I have Baumann 1500 floats and my plane is around 840 E.W. on floats. I also have a 46 BC12D with a C-85....16 seconds solo, 24 seconds with 2-200# guys....the C-90 with the 76AK-2-40 is a lot better performer....same floats...C-85 version is 20lbs heavier though.

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/f...t=100_1151.flv

That's a pretty impressive video! Thanks for the numbers, the 90 horse seems like quite a performer. Is a 76AK-2-40 actually 76 inches long? What did you have to do to get the C90 approved on the BC12D?

MNJoe, is your 100hp Tcraft a F-19 or a modified B?

Thanks again
Chris