View Poll Results: Pictures of aircraft water-skiing
Voters: 152. This poll is closed
Pictures of aircraft water-skiing? Genuine or not?
i reason
There's a much simpler way - you give me your aeroplane and I tell everyone that you did it.
That way you have as many servicable aeroplanes as you would have had, everybody thinks you did it and nobody has to die.
There's a much simpler way - you give me your aeroplane and I tell everyone that you did it.
That way you have as many servicable aeroplanes as you would have had, everybody thinks you did it and nobody has to die.
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No prop wash, shouldn't there be? And a more mundane thought - which insurance agency would underwrite the risk of an expensive aircraft, possibly x4, of becoming a submarine?
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Stay a good margin above your acquaplaning speed.
This will be close to nine times the square root of the tyre pressure in psi with the answer in MPH.
For your car with 36 psi you will lose control on sheet water at about 54 MPH with the car completely supported on the water.
This will be close to nine times the square root of the tyre pressure in psi with the answer in MPH.
For your car with 36 psi you will lose control on sheet water at about 54 MPH with the car completely supported on the water.
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Interesting discussion - and voting.
Poll result -
Genuine: 68.42%
Fake: 25.66%
Don't know: 5.92%
The pictures are genuine - not clever photoshop technique.
Since starting the thread, I've found out that the flight took place early in the morning of Sunday, 19th February 2006 at Klipdrift Dam in South Africa.
Superb handling skill.
Tudor Owen
Poll result -
Genuine: 68.42%
Fake: 25.66%
Don't know: 5.92%
The pictures are genuine - not clever photoshop technique.
Since starting the thread, I've found out that the flight took place early in the morning of Sunday, 19th February 2006 at Klipdrift Dam in South Africa.
Superb handling skill.
Tudor Owen
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 1st Mar 2006 at 10:31.
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Originally Posted by XL5
which insurance agency would underwrite the risk of an expensive aircraft, possibly x4, of becoming a submarine?
This is not more dangerous than all the other stunts display pilots do day after day, in fact it is a lot less dangerous than inverted ribbon cutting 20 feet above the runway, which you always see at airshows.
The dynamic pressure of water at 80 - 90 kts, which these guys seem to be doing, judging by the nose attitude, is immense. Any water skier would tell you that. You are in ground effect, which pushes you away from the water and these are guys who fly formation aeros in these aircraft. they know them very well.
If you are still wondering, look at picture of the singleton on page 1 of this thread. He is looking at the leader - flying formation in other words. He is obviously not worried about going in the drink.
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Since starting the thread, I've found out that the flight took place early in the morning of Sunday, 19th February 2006 at Klipdrift Dam in South Africa.
I'm still struggling to believe it because.... display pilots or not, the risk to life and machine is phenomenal.... a slight, sudden cross wind, an unexpected wake or a floating log (Donald Campbell) could all be disastrous... instantly. Surely it would be difficult to find an expanse of water big enough that would be calm enough?
I want to believe it, it looks amazing.
Grandpa Aerotart
I reason....sorry dude...you want to then fill your boots..seriously... do you think anyone will climb in the back for the ride
?
I won't even attempt to say 'just don't' because that would be hypocritical...but some thoughts;
If you really think you are good enough,
Put bigger tyres on your cub...850/6 probably....practice wheelers with the big tyres on land for a while.
Buy a helmut so if you flip you are less likely to be knocked out and drown,
Don't invite mates to watch....to much peer pressure....the very last thing you want is the 'watch this' pressure.
If you decide not to at the last moment be proud of yourself.
Weigh up very carefully the balance between a few seconds of thrill against wrecking your aeroplane...delete this if you can afford to replace/repair it from petty cash
Or here's an idea!
Over on supercub.org someone talks about an instructor teaching it in his cub...surely if you can afford to own an aircraft you can afford to pax to the states and spend a long weekend learning how in someone elses aircraft...it will either sate your desire or lessen the chances of wrecking YOUR aeroplane hugely. Why not peruse that thread...I am sure you have..and PM the person and ask?
As I said, it is no more silly or irresponsible than many extreme sports...rock crawling in 4WD for instance...or a mate of mine who's into extreme paragliding(aerobating the bloody things)...or single handed around the world yacht racing....high diving...deep diving...race car driving....rally car driving...unlimited aerobatics...zooming across water on a jet ski
But I would be doing a fair bit of research before I tried if I was you...I recomend the 'do it on holidays in the states' route...if there is someone over their who teaches it.
?I won't even attempt to say 'just don't' because that would be hypocritical...but some thoughts;
If you really think you are good enough,
Put bigger tyres on your cub...850/6 probably....practice wheelers with the big tyres on land for a while.
Buy a helmut so if you flip you are less likely to be knocked out and drown,
Don't invite mates to watch....to much peer pressure....the very last thing you want is the 'watch this' pressure.
If you decide not to at the last moment be proud of yourself.
Weigh up very carefully the balance between a few seconds of thrill against wrecking your aeroplane...delete this if you can afford to replace/repair it from petty cash
Or here's an idea!
Over on supercub.org someone talks about an instructor teaching it in his cub...surely if you can afford to own an aircraft you can afford to pax to the states and spend a long weekend learning how in someone elses aircraft...it will either sate your desire or lessen the chances of wrecking YOUR aeroplane hugely. Why not peruse that thread...I am sure you have..and PM the person and ask?
As I said, it is no more silly or irresponsible than many extreme sports...rock crawling in 4WD for instance...or a mate of mine who's into extreme paragliding(aerobating the bloody things)...or single handed around the world yacht racing....high diving...deep diving...race car driving....rally car driving...unlimited aerobatics...zooming across water on a jet ski
But I would be doing a fair bit of research before I tried if I was you...I recomend the 'do it on holidays in the states' route...if there is someone over their who teaches it.
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Originally Posted by XL5
No prop wash, shouldn't there be?
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Speedpig,
Just because this stunt involves things you personally do not do regularly, do not confuse that with those things being inherently dangerous.
As I said, this attitude is regularly practiced by every tail-dragger pilot, every single time they take off, and quite often when they land. With practice, tail-dragger pilots learn to handle gusty crosswinds.
Again, not something you personally experience regularly, but the same risks that a float-plane pilot makes every time he picks a landing site. Except that I'd guess that the stunt pilots review their choice of water very carefully first....
FFF
---------------
Just because this stunt involves things you personally do not do regularly, do not confuse that with those things being inherently dangerous.
a slight, sudden cross wind
an unexpected wake or a floating log
FFF
---------------
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speedpig
Yes - links below.
When people suggested the pics were or might be fake, I decided to do some digging. (Sponsor's name in Google.)
The photographer's site has a sequence of pictures showing approach, 'water-skiing' and climbing away.
Here's the link: www.aviationdimension.com
You need to register to see the pictures but it's free.
I e-mailed the team to ask for details and they gave me date and place of the flight.
Link to the team's website: Flying Lions
Some good tight formation shots at the moment, but they said they'll have some pics of the event on their site in a couple of weeks.
I suppose it's possible it's a spoof involving quite a few people, but I don't think it is.
I wouldn't try it myself, even as a former Harvard owner, because I haven't got the necessary skill, but I've been lucky to fly with several pilots in various parts of the world over the years whom I have no doubt could do it.
Tudor
Yes - links below.
When people suggested the pics were or might be fake, I decided to do some digging. (Sponsor's name in Google.)
The photographer's site has a sequence of pictures showing approach, 'water-skiing' and climbing away.
Here's the link: www.aviationdimension.com
You need to register to see the pictures but it's free.
Early morning anglers are treated to the spectacle of four T6 Harvard Aircraft from The Flying Lions Aerobatic Team waterskiing across the Klipdrift Dam near Johannesburg South Africa.
Lead by Scully Levin, with wingman Arnie Meneghelli, Stewart Lithgow and Ellis Levin, this renown airshow display team rehearse a sequence for the newly launched "Aviation Action" television program on Supersport.
Arnie Meneghelli from Academy Brushware, owner of the aircraft had this to say, "What we did today I believe is a world first. It illustrates that South African airshow pilots are amongst the best in the world".
This unusual act, approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and supported by Castrol Aviation, was meticulously planned and took place under the watchfull eye of divers and paramedics that were on site.
Lead by Scully Levin, with wingman Arnie Meneghelli, Stewart Lithgow and Ellis Levin, this renown airshow display team rehearse a sequence for the newly launched "Aviation Action" television program on Supersport.
Arnie Meneghelli from Academy Brushware, owner of the aircraft had this to say, "What we did today I believe is a world first. It illustrates that South African airshow pilots are amongst the best in the world".
This unusual act, approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and supported by Castrol Aviation, was meticulously planned and took place under the watchfull eye of divers and paramedics that were on site.
Link to the team's website: Flying Lions
Some good tight formation shots at the moment, but they said they'll have some pics of the event on their site in a couple of weeks.
I suppose it's possible it's a spoof involving quite a few people, but I don't think it is.
I wouldn't try it myself, even as a former Harvard owner, because I haven't got the necessary skill, but I've been lucky to fly with several pilots in various parts of the world over the years whom I have no doubt could do it.
Tudor
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 1st Mar 2006 at 17:36.
Avoid imitations
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It should be borne in mind that the aircraft is actually flying so only a tiny proportion of its weight actually is being put on the surface of the water.
Presumably the wheels are best kept locked so that the relative "aquaplaning speed" of 9 x Root P is maintained. If I recall correctly from my RAF training, I was told that said magic figure was calculated for a non-rotating tyre, as if it had just touched the surface. I also recall being told that official aquaplaning trials were carried out on a flooded runway after a "scalded" tyres phenomenon was discovered on large aircraft (V bombers?) with a fast touchdown speed.
However, some flyers have been doing this, even landing and taking off like this for years..........
The Harvard photos have reminded me that thirty years ago there used to be a male (cob) Mute Swan on the river where I grew up. At the weekend, when he had an audience, he used to get airborne from the water and then he would fly repeated ultra low passes, clapping his feet very loudly on the water for a hundred yards at a time. He was quite famous in the local area and people used to bring their children just to see him.
However, he used to be very aggressive to boaters. When his mate was nesting on a small island close to the boating jetty, he actually launched full frontal attacks on rowers, resulting in a few boats going over and a written notice being put up to warn people of the danger! We learned very quickly how far away we had to be to be safe from his beak and wings
Presumably the wheels are best kept locked so that the relative "aquaplaning speed" of 9 x Root P is maintained. If I recall correctly from my RAF training, I was told that said magic figure was calculated for a non-rotating tyre, as if it had just touched the surface. I also recall being told that official aquaplaning trials were carried out on a flooded runway after a "scalded" tyres phenomenon was discovered on large aircraft (V bombers?) with a fast touchdown speed.
However, some flyers have been doing this, even landing and taking off like this for years..........
The Harvard photos have reminded me that thirty years ago there used to be a male (cob) Mute Swan on the river where I grew up. At the weekend, when he had an audience, he used to get airborne from the water and then he would fly repeated ultra low passes, clapping his feet very loudly on the water for a hundred yards at a time. He was quite famous in the local area and people used to bring their children just to see him.
However, he used to be very aggressive to boaters. When his mate was nesting on a small island close to the boating jetty, he actually launched full frontal attacks on rowers, resulting in a few boats going over and a written notice being put up to warn people of the danger! We learned very quickly how far away we had to be to be safe from his beak and wings
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Shy Torque Your photo shows a departure...in that the powered trailing link undercarriage is working merry wizardry to provide propulsion prior to the thrust of the wings taking over. But a lovely photo, nonetheless.
I knew a bloke once who had a Quickie on floats (!). At rest, the outer third of the prop blades were in the water, so upon start-up, the whole machine disappeared into a spray until it got on the step. Inital acceleration was brisk, but after it got on the step, the prop emerged from the water and acceleration from then was somewhat subdued, but it did fly! Required a new prop for each flight, of course.
Upon landing, your swan would have the undercarriage forwardly swept to cushion the landing a la ski (to prevent "digging in" as per the Harvards?).
I knew a bloke once who had a Quickie on floats (!). At rest, the outer third of the prop blades were in the water, so upon start-up, the whole machine disappeared into a spray until it got on the step. Inital acceleration was brisk, but after it got on the step, the prop emerged from the water and acceleration from then was somewhat subdued, but it did fly! Required a new prop for each flight, of course.
Upon landing, your swan would have the undercarriage forwardly swept to cushion the landing a la ski (to prevent "digging in" as per the Harvards?).
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Originally Posted by Tarnished
Sorry to burst the bubble, or is it surface tension on this but I think this is a good bit of photoshop magic.
Tarnished
Tarnished
I thought it was genuine as I saw a picture in pre-PhotoShop days of a crop sprayer Piper Pawnee splashing a wheel in a Dutch canal to give the same effect as somebody skimming stones.
Avoid imitations
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"Shy Torque Your photo shows a departure..."
Yes, I know, Dubs, but I couldn't find a decent landing swan photo.
BTW, an attacking swan also looks like that; trust me I've seen it from just above water level in a rowing boat, during a broadside attack!
When showing off (or attacking), they also "run" across the water.
Yes, I know, Dubs, but I couldn't find a decent landing swan photo.
BTW, an attacking swan also looks like that; trust me I've seen it from just above water level in a rowing boat, during a broadside attack!
When showing off (or attacking), they also "run" across the water.
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DEFINITELY real - taken by a friend of mine called Frans Dely (who formed Avaiation Dimension).
He is possible one of the best aviation photographers on the planet.... and we can now see why!
There is no way he would risk his great name by pulling a fast one.
He is possible one of the best aviation photographers on the planet.... and we can now see why!
There is no way he would risk his great name by pulling a fast one.
