Floatplane Handling Question

L

LTCSZ

Charter Member
This might be a really elementary question, but what the heck; In landing a floatplane, do you lower the water rudders before or after touchdown?
Thanks,

Steve in Kansas
 
After slowing to taxi speed. High speed use will usually destroy them in real life. At high speed the air rudder has enough effectiveness to turn the aircraft the slight amount necessay to stay into the wind.
 
ALWAYS have the rudder up when landing or taking off. The reason is, you can hit floating debris and take off the rudders and never know it.

Hitting a cropping of underwater weeds will do it easily. They can be like rope.



Bill
 
Yes indeed you are supposed to have the water rudders up for takeoff and landing, but sometimes this is forgotten. I haven't seen any damaged as yet from this lapse, though it is certainly possible and potentially expensive.

Cheers; tom
 
Thanks for the information...I suspected as much, but wanted to be sure...

Steve in Kansas
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top