Pictures of aircraft water-skiing? Genuine or not?
 

Opinions seem to be divided.
Thought it would be interesting to turn it into a Poll.


Genuine? Fake?


Please post your reasons / any comments


(Note - Over 1200 people had viewed the thread before the Poll started so the total number of votes will be low in proportion to the number of views.)





Heliport

Could have been taken with a digital camera, the wheels are probably in motion from the water friction, therefore the pixels are not smooth.
I've seen this in a BCC documentary (see post above)
I've also seen plenty of video of snow scooters racing across a non frozen lake. Works if they have enough speed when they hit the water with enough speed, if they slow down they sink.
My vote: they're real...:ok:

Although my opinion is that the photos are REAL, I'm suspicious that the backs of the wheels seem to be stationary. I wonder if the pilots are applying toe-brakes (adding to the control difficulty) as, presumably the drag would rotate the wheels? The shutter speed wasn't fast enough to freeze the props, but it IS possible that it might freeze the slower-rotating wheels, allowing the studs to be seen clearly.

Annen Gineer (and photographer).

Website:-
http://www.flyinglions.co.za

And aerial photos (pity the editor can't read 'Nissan' ! I know that 'car-line' photos are more pleasing, but ! ! ! ):-
http://www.flyinglions.co.za/team_in_action.htm

Here's another funny thing. What is this shadow doing here? as indicated by the arrow.

http://www.csharpprogrammer.com/pictures/shadow.jpg

If you look closely you can see an awful lot of touching up which has been done with a graphics package, even the company name on the side of each aircraft looks as though it's been applied this way.

I can just about accept that a single a/c could do this, but not a formation. In any case, the whole thing has a photshop look about it - it's just too perfect.

I reckon it's a fake.

Aircraft pasted over a shot of water skiing, with some clever retouching later!

Happy to be proved wrong though.

I agree with BEagle. I could buy off on a single airplane, but in formation?

I also would be happy to be proven wrong.

Well, that could be explained. There's no reason why the shadow can't be where it is. Sun would be from observer's left.

The reflection from the observer's point of view has to be where it is, though.

Physically, I'm sure that it is possible. The lack of pixillation mentioned outside of the wheel area is explained by the vertical nature of the gear edge: the image doesn't cross a pixel boundary.

On balance, a genuine shot. Thank heavens there are people out there with these skills. (But not with me on board!)

I wish I could perform either operation!:)

Ripline

Edited merely to do a U-turn or whether it was real or not!

I think they are real.

Barnes Wallis knew how it's done. You can't actually backspin the wheels but having the brakes on would have a similar effect. Brakes OFF would allow the wheels to rotate forwards and dig in.

And in Beagle's day - we would have flown underneath them - upside down, don't you know, herumph! :E

It is real, there is a thread in the avcom forum about it. It was for some commercial that was being filmed in South Africa. Had to get special permission from the SACAA to do it (low flying rules etc).

Here is the link :-

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6924

:)

Hopefully genuine. Here's another picture of a similar stunt. If 2 Jodels can do it, I'm sure 4 Harvards can too. (2Donkeys - contrary to what you may be thinking, these are not more "disposable" aircraft. They're D140's! ;) )
http://jodel.com/Images/river.jpg
(Image from www.jodel.com )

http://www.claytor.com/photographs/i...aterskiing.jpg

Found another one on Google...

And here is another one:
http://www.trip-n-tour.com/micronesia_2003/main_s33.jpg

Looking at the wakes of these aircraft, I would have to say the pictures are real! A water skiier certainly does not leave that kind of wake, either on 1 or 2 skis. Secondly in the first picture, the 2 middle aircraft wakes are not symmetrical, suggesting varying tensions as the wheels make slight deviations up and down.

Cheers, HH.:ok:

A few more for your consideration....
http://www.dubtrub.freeuk.com/image001.jpg

http://www.dubtrub.freeuk.com/image002.jpg

http://www.dubtrub.freeuk.com/image003.jpg

http://www.dubtrub.freeuk.com/image004.jpg

I was not involved in any of these (apart from the L2:cool: )

I'm staying with genuine.
Not saying I could do it, but I've flown with several exceptionally talented pilots I believe could.

FL

Once the water in my country turns back to a liquid. I may just try it.
I’m not going to ask you to admit to having done this but if you “know” anyone that could shed some light on the braking issue. To hold brakes or not?
If I ever post a photo you must be aware now that photoshop and I get along well (just for the record).

I think it'd be harder to fake it than do it, not that I'm about to try either.

Don't know about the Harvard photos but I have seen the Sudan cropdusting video of "watersking" on a big irrigation canal - and talked to one of the Sudan pilots who claimed that they also did it on the Nile under the Kosti road bridge - They received a polite note from the local Governor asking them to desist!

But if you're an Agricultural pilot you're mad by definition :sad: :ok:

I still say genuine too. And it's reminded me that I missed out on the entire display season last year! (With the exception of the practises I've seen from the tower at Duxford).

Summat doesn't look right. Back in the dark ages, Polish Spitfire pilots boasted of "dipping" their wing tips in the Severn. I saw something like it when I was very small. I don't remember what the aircraft was save that it had rondrells on it. The wing tip did not seem touch the water and the wake started a foot or so behind. This is remembered through the filter of fifty odd years so don't bash me too much.

It's real!:) :)