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Phil |
December 18, 2018, 12:10am |
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Located in a group of islands country with 28hp 2 stroke maxplane should have to think about ditching just in case. I' m still sorting out how to save this little plane most likely with floatation device. Any thought? I'll be open for any idea that might viable.
Regards,
Phil V |
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Cy V |
December 18, 2018, 12:26am |
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A flotation device for the entire airplane? |
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Phil |
December 18, 2018, 1:07am |
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A flotation device for the entire airplane?
Absolutely..since minimax wood/ fabric airframe is bouyant engine weight should need bouyancy device that is light and compact to carry. Phil |
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Stilson |
December 18, 2018, 3:19am |
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If your just thinking keeping it from sinking to aid recovery maybe throw some "packaging pillows" (essentially6"x4"x3" bubble wrap cells) in the wings and behind the seat. Very light and would displace alot of water for very little weight. |
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Stilson |
December 18, 2018, 3:26am |
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If trying to keep the engine out of the water, mylar ballon material can be bought by the yard and heat sealed to shape, combined with a light air tank (or large paintball style co2 canister and valve you could make a custom "airbag." Heck a STRONG magnet on the end of a pipe with a ball bearing ball in it and a contactor style plug on the other end and you could make it auto deploy on an impact. |
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cdlwingnut |
December 18, 2018, 3:58am |
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I have seen pictures of minimaxes on floats. |
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aeronut |
December 18, 2018, 4:11am |
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blue sky and tail winds to everyone Ace
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Time Online: 28 days 22 hours 31 minutes
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See Cabela's ZX4000 auto PFD. But the bubble wrap sounds like a winner to me. Maybe ping pong balls in the wings. |
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joe.scalet |
December 18, 2018, 8:53pm |
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The Spruce Goose used ping pong balls, albeit a lot of them!!!! Joe |
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tomshep |
December 18, 2018, 9:15pm |
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soft drink bottles. 2 litre bottle provides more than four pounds of buoyancy. Fill the wings with them. Forget the engine. If you ditch, the aeroplane is scrap anyway. Survival is the priority. Good lifejacket and a location transmitter will pay better odds. |
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radfordc |
December 18, 2018, 10:28pm |
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There was a guy who flew an UL from South America to Oshkosh. He had to cross the Caribbean ocean, island hopping. He filled his wings with blown up condoms for floatation. Nothing like having "protection". |
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The Termite |
December 20, 2018, 2:00pm |
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If you ditch, the aeroplane is scrap anyway. Survival is the priority. Good lifejacket and a location transmitter will pay better odds.
That's what I'm thinking. However, see pic below. Just a thought.......
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Phil |
December 20, 2018, 8:50pm |
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My 28hp landplane minimax has no way for a float type gear. Ditching could have no power at all its lightweight and mushy attitude might also lead and hopefully with an intact airframe. In boat mode, this could easily be seen in open water. And definitely Type-5 life vest is ready to save this lonebuzzard. Appreciated your ideas/comments guys and considering the latest 'high tech floatation device' the BUBBLE WRAP!
Phil V. |
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Stilson |
December 21, 2018, 1:00am |
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It does have a lot going for it, cheap, readily available, in the event of structural damage causing a rupture it only effects the damaged cell, light enough to put in a huge safety factor without much impact on normal flight performance, and might even provide some energy absorbtion in a higher energy impact depending on angle of contact
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Ricardo |
December 22, 2018, 5:16am |
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Videos in UTube: ral1951 Ace
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Phil, I would be more concerned about going upside down than anything else. Without any floating devices for water landing the plane most likely will do a nose over, unless the water surface is real flat. If you fly over water always wear a life saver jacket. As far as the plane is concerned, don’t have worry too much, it will never sink. Long time ago, a very young member from this group had his plane ditched (by his dad) in a lake. If I can recall, it had a 28HP engine. On sea waters it will even float much better. |
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The Termite |
December 23, 2018, 5:25pm |
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If you fly over water always wear a life saver jacket.
Correct; however, the type of personal floatation device chosen is also important. The proper type to wear is an inflatable style, such as the one at this link: https://www.academy.com/shop/p.....epChildCatid=5944477Disable the auto-inflation feature, because you DO NOT want to inflate the vest while in the cockpit, it may prevent you from egressing the plane. Always egress the plane first, then inflate your vest. |
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cliff |
December 23, 2018, 7:39pm |
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Used to be able to find the old "Mae West" life preservers at the surplus stores for cheap, same idea as the last post but no auto-inflate. |
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Phil |
December 24, 2018, 1:27am |
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I still have unused 'mae west' purchased in 90's. The latest is automatic Type 5 jacket. (But made in china). Emergency procedure in water landing vest inflation should always clear from a/c cabin. As with minimax it makes sense due to nose over tendency.
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aeronut |
December 24, 2018, 2:58am |
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blue sky and tail winds to everyone Ace
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Time Online: 28 days 22 hours 31 minutes
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Good grief Phil are yuo not worried about the SHARKS. Have you ever seen the movie "JAWS"? |
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Phil |
December 24, 2018, 5:16am |
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Good grief Phil are yuo not worried about the SHARKS. Have you ever seen the movie "JAWS"?
Big sharks and shark attack very rare here but coast guard rescue in most remote areas are impossible on third world..make drinking water first in the list for survival with marine handheld radio to relay passing vessels and ferry boats.
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Kevin |
December 27, 2018, 3:38am |
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