![]() A turbine-powered behemoth, it stands fully 12’9″ above ground on amphibious wheels-it looks like 20′- and is a wonder to behold. This particular early-model twin, dressed to the nines with a gorgeous paint job, draws admiring spectators every time I glance its way-which is often.Īnother certified attention grabber is the Fire Boss, a modified Air Tractor AT-802A, single-cockpit AG (agricultural) plane rigged for water drop on fires. Something wonderful happens to the overall visual appeal of most airplanes when they strap on pontoons. On my walkaround, I find classics like an immaculately restored SeaBee in Canadian livery, a DC-3 (which often flies on floats), and aviation historical and art exhibits.Īnd parked right in front of the Greenville FBO is the only Piper Apache on floats in the world. ![]() One recommendation from the school: “It’s a good idea to be current with your flying when you arrive to train.” ‘Nuff said. Brown’s has two designated examiners on staff. FAA practical test standards are adhered to, and students take an FAA practical flight test at the end of the school.The flying also includes basic air work, including slow flight and stalls, to get a feel for how planes with that pendulum of float mass behaves. Brown’s offers the ground, preflight (1.5 hours) and dual flight (around five hours) instruction needed.Docking and “sailing” (working with the wind-the airplane keeps moving after engine shutdown!).Training includes normal takeoffs and landings from water and advanced maneuvers: crosswind, rough water and glassy water techniques maximum performance procedures emergency operations.The SES rating takes two days and involves basic water handling, including idle, plow and step taxi procedures.They gather at the event for the same general reasons birds of a feather always flock together-camaraderie, flying in or watching the fun events, hardware eyeballing, which of course includes checking out the latest floats from vendors, along with enjoying various ancillary activities the region is noted for, like boating, biking, motorcycle tours, hiking and scenic flights over the magnificent, wild Maine countryside. Its mission is “to promote fellowship, personal contact and unification among seaplane pilots, and to hold recreational and competitive events.”įloat flyers are a gregarious bunch. The first floatplane fly-in kicked off here in 1973, thanks to efforts from local seaplane pilots Telford Allen, Dave Quinn, Duane Lander, Dick Folsom, Chip Taylor and Charlie Coe. Number 40 takes place from September 9 to 12, 2012, placing Greenville, once a sleepy Down East village (population-1840 median age-53), firmly on the “must do in New England” map. The International Seaplane Fly-In is held annually the weekend after Labor Day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |