Taylorcraft versus Aeronca

[Art]

Can someone give me some idea of how Taylorcrafts on floats compare to Aeronca Chief seaplanes? I'm looking for a performance comparison, as I'd like to purchase a two seat (side by side) seaplane during the next year or so. I'm reasonably familiar with the former, as I was trained in a BC12D-85 on floats, and have flown several of them over the years. On the other hand, I know nothing about Cheifs on floats, but I'd like to broaden my resource base, and the Chief seems like a reasonable alternative. Any thoughts on this would be most welcome. Love this forum -- great reading.

Best, Art

[Robert Lees]

Art, you've come to the right place.

Taylorcrafts are best.

Need I say more?

Rob

[Dick Smith]

Taylorcraft vs Chief

Art, I trained in a BCS12D-85, on EDO 1320's and own one on floats...but got my SES rating in a 100 hp Chief on EDO 1400's, a very nicely- setup Chief...but now I know why I own a Taylorcraft! You just put the two side by side on a really hot day and let me know what you think. I'm not mean-mouthing the Chief...it was a nice flyer. Dick

[Jim Libenow]

Float Planes

Art

Little float planes are very dangerious. A little mishap like a ground loop on land will result in hurt feelings and some fabric repair. The same event on the water can be the end of you and your plane. I have a Taylorcraft F19 on floats and use to work as a professional seaplane pilot. I will not fly mine on floats anymore. It just isn't worth it. Besides It is hard to find a good place to keep it in Seattle.

Little seaplanes sink easily.

Jim Libenow

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Float Planes

Originally posted by Jim Libenow
Art

Little float planes are very dangerious. A little mishap like a ground loop on land will result in hurt feelings and some fabric repair. The same event on the water can be the end of you and your plane. I have a Taylorcraft F19 on floats and use to work as a professional seaplane pilot. I will not fly mine on floats anymore. It just isn't worth it. Besides It is hard to find a good place to keep it in Seattle.

Little seaplanes sink easily.

Jim Libenow

Watchu talkin bout Willis.....?!!!!!!

[matsuthunder200]

Flying floats I think that flying on floats is way safer and easyer than wheels. At least here in alaska. I think its 10 times as easy to ground loop on wheels than water. plus you almost always land into the wind on floats. Mabe its just that we have very few runways and millons of lakes and rivers to land on.

[matsuthunder200]

WAY SAFER

[Jim Libenow]

Little Float Planes

I use to live in Alaska and flew floats professionally out of Iliamna and Seattle. I also instructed in seaplanes a little, and I own an F19 and flew it for over 200 hours on EDO 1400's. Any seaplane has a higher degree of risk but, It is my opinion that airplanes smaller than a cessna 180 on floats are hazardous to a point that they shouldn't be messed with. Seaplane insurance is either impossible to get or very highly priced, because insurers understand the dangers. A reasonible approach might be to contain operations to small inland lakes within easy reach of home, and that is what most small seaplanes do. I've seen too many sad endings. It's just my opinion.


Jim Libenow

[Jim Libenow]

Take off and landing is not where most of the danger lies. High winds, large swells and submerged objects comprise the most danger. If floats were so safe then insurence costs would decline with the addition of a pair of floats. Instead most insurers would drop you at the first news of the addition of floats. All it takes is a loose float hatch near the tail to put you upsidedown.

Originally posted by matsuthunder200
Flying floats I think that flying on floats is way safer and easyer than wheels. At least here in alaska. I think its 10 times as easy to ground loop on wheels than water. plus you almost always land into the wind on floats. Mabe its just that we have very few runways and millons of lakes and rivers to land on.

[Dick Smith]

Iliamna float ops

Jim, who did you fly for? My wife and I operated Iliaska Lodge, out on The Point, in the early 70's. Interesting that you take such a dim view of floats on anything smaller than a 180. ("Shades of Slopbucket Lake" and Iliamna "East Wind"!) I agree that float flying is more risky, given that it involves the risks both of flying and boating. You need to be thinking much further ahead, as compared with operating just a plane or just a boat. And you will learn something on just about every flight!
Today, my wife and I were in ANC, to attend the funeral of Babe Alsworth, who just died at age 95...after flying in Alaska since from about 1931 until sometime in the early 80's. One of his best known planes was a BCS12D-85, on 1320's, operated all over the Iliamna and Bristol Bay areas. Numerous fellows, today, related how Babe taught them to fly in that old Taylorcraft, usually on floats, on Lake Clark. We always looked forward to him bringing us fresh goat's milk, for our baby...in that old floated Tcraft! Enough rambling...thanks for registering your slant on things...I still get a warm feeling when I look out the window and see my Taylorcraft heeled up on the beach. Dick

[Jim Libenow]

Dick Smith,

I worked for Tim La Porte at Iliamna Air Taxi for a few years and spent several years at Anchorage flight schools before that. As a CFI it sickend me to watch new pvt plts run right out and buy a plane on a home equity loan and promptly crash it. Seaplanes were a favorate and they litter the bottom of the inlet. Guys like old Alsworth can deal with a small seaplane because he was a professional who knew his limitations and the area that he flew in. I kept my Taylorcraft in slop bucket lake and flew the heck out of it. It was Tim who said " if you can fly that thing then you can handle a Beaver". The small ones are easily messed with by the elements and a serious challenge not to be taken lightly.

[Dick Smith]

Iliamna

Jim, Tim and Nancy lived next door to us on The Point...he hadn't started flying yet...a long time ago! I've heard he has over 20,000 hours of float time now...lot's of Beaver time...he knows something about float flying. Do you know Paul Crowley...flies for Kenmore(Beavers)? Or Dave Wiley, who flew for Rainbow King Lodge? Dick

[Dick Smith]

plane at Kenai floatpond

Lance, when are you planning to retrieve your plane? I checked on it a couple days ago...looked fine. Was up in the tower yesterday, also...the guys up there are betting on ice by the 27th of this month!! If you get a chance, stop by on the way home...we're on Douglas Lake, near the Nikiski end of the Escape Route. Fly the length of Arness Lake and head toward ANC. On the South side of the lake. Should be back from ANC sunday afternoon. Dick

[matsuthunder200]

Dick We will all miss Babe Alsworth. I have known him since i was very little. I have property on iliamna lake and am fixing to buy some more the lot right next to me is up for sale. Im going to build two or three cabins for a small guideing adventure. Ive fish guided all over western alaska. We had a exalant year on the nush for kings.. I flew the t-craft from kenai to willow yesterday was a very nice day for flying .after the fog lifted.

[Dick Smith]

One more trip

Lance, I'm hoping to make one more quick trip across the Inlet, to Wadell Lake, on Harriet Pt. Need to haul a metal detector over and try to find one corner monument that appears to have sunk in the muskeg! Are you still planning on VG's? Dick