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Favorite Sea Plane

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  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by rangerj on Thursday, December 18, 2003 11:55 AM
While I love the HU-16-Albatros, and its little brothers the Goose and the Gander, the Martin Mars is the ultimate "Clipper". Two of the Mars are still "working" in Canada as fire bombers. I think there were only three built. If this is correct, then 2/3 of the entire aircraft production is still flying 50+ years later!

Didn't Sikorski build a "Clipper"? As I recall it is a nice looking airplane. Then there is the Spruce Goose. The "white elephant" of aviation! rangerj
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 8:26 AM
Ok I'll join the fray.
Mine Would have to be the Short S.25 Sunderland this thing is just massive!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 7:54 AM
New favorite seaplane: The Dornier Seastar.
Nice looking bird, too bad it never reached production it had a lot of potential .
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 18, 2003 7:09 AM
Sheesh, am I the only one with real taste here?? (Kidding)
How can you go past the fantastic looking Macchi-Castoldi MC-72 it is truly to the float plane, as the merlin is to the spitfire!
BUT.................. I love the cats! I am just a sucker for a Black cat! I dropped by the HARS compound in Albion Park (NSW Australia) not long ago, they recently got hold of a flying PBY. They dont mess around! its already painted up as an Aussie Black Cat!!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 9:31 PM
Does the XF2Y Sea Dart count?
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 7:41 AM
Not as easy as I first thought...........

.........however I have to go for the Sunderland, what other aircraft would fight off 6 Ju88 fighters, knocking 4 of them into the Bay Of Biscay?

In a similar vein, I also like the BV222, that was one very big plane!

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 4:40 AM
Tough one...I like the PBY but I'd have to go with the J2F6 Duck. Remember "Murphy's War" and the series "Black Sheep Squadron"?
But I gotta tell ya that a DHC-2 Beaver on floats eppitimizes Alaska (where I currently call home)
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Pominville, NY
Posted by BlackWolf3945 on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 4:22 AM
Okay, I've changed my mind since I last posted to this thread...

Currently, my fave sea-bird is the Hall PH-2/3.











I used this for the ID Quiz over at SHF recently and have since fallen in love with it. Just a neat lookin' little bird. Speaking of quizzes... hmmm...


Fade to Black...
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by nkm1416@info.com.ph on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 2:22 AM


I can't make up my mind between the Kingfisher and the Duck.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 9, 2003 10:49 AM
Mine would have to be a toss up between the Kawanishi H8K and the Aichi M6A1 Seiran. Both awsome seaplanes.
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan
Posted by bilbirk on Sunday, September 28, 2003 6:59 PM
My pick would have to be the kawanishi h6k. i like it
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 28, 2003 6:57 PM


Got to be the SARO Princess

http://www.seawings.co.uk/photogallery.htm
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 28, 2003 4:49 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by scooter_roo

BTW - Jimmy Buffet wiped out his Albatross several years back. Dipped a pontoon into a swell on take-off I believe. He was flying solo at the time and got out with minor injuries. There is a bit on this misadventure in his book 'A Pirate Looks at Fifty'.

I know he had the a/c recovered, but does anyone know if he got it back in the air?


As a rabid Parrothead, I gotta say close, but no cigar. It wasn't the Albatross "Hemisphere Dancer" that he flipped, but a Grumman Widgeon.

The Albatross has been used as a flying billboard for the last few years. Recently, he made it part of the Margaritaville Cafe at Universal Studios CityWalk in Orlando. When they put it in, Jimmy said that she could fly away right now "if you put a little gas in her."

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 27, 2003 10:13 PM
Too hard of a task. Too many good aircraft to adore equally, like the PBY-5/6, any twin engined Grumman, any single radial engined DeHavilland on floats and the J2F Duck. The Arado AR-196 and the Shorts Sunderland were pretty cool as well. And what about a Gooney Bird on EDO floats? Hmmmmm...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 27, 2003 8:48 PM
PBY Catalina for me...
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 27, 2003 11:19 AM
Dornier Do-22, Arado 196, CL-215, Catalina, Grumman Goose
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Sandusky Ohio, USA
Posted by Swanny on Saturday, September 27, 2003 9:33 AM
My favorite sea plane varies depending on my mood. At the moment I am torn between the BV-138 Flying Clog and the Fiat RS.14 fast maritime reconnaissance seaplane. I always thought the Do.26 was a very cool seaplane also.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Saturday, September 27, 2003 5:37 AM
My fave is the Kawanishi H8K "Emily."
It's a fat, good-lookin', 4-engined flying boat!
~Brian
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by reluctant_wanderer on Saturday, September 27, 2003 5:27 AM
Oooh! This is a toughie! I just love seaplanes.
My favorite is the PBY series of seaplanes, especially the PBY-6A. It is basically the C-130 of the seaplane world. Done it all seen it all. After that it is a toss up between the SA-16 and the Bv-138, but there are so many out there. It is hard to choose.
Life is a Trainer , and God is the back seat instructor. He's their to let your spirit soar, and keep you flying straight. After you've passed, you earn earn your wings.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 2, 2003 7:35 AM
I think that this topic came up a short (ho ho an accidental pun) time ago.
So to repeat. Short Sunderland/Sandringham, Short Sealand, Walrus, CL 217/417 (the whteer bomber thingy) and the Stranraer.
I have flown in the Sunderland and the Sandringham (VH-BRF).
Dai.
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Canada / Czech Republic
Posted by upnorth on Friday, August 1, 2003 5:04 PM
I have a soft spot for the Beriev Be-12 Chaika (or "mail" as NATO called it).

I'd really like to see a model of the Mayo Composite. I couldn't believe the image of one seaplane riding on top of a larger one when I first saw a picture of it but I just loved the odd look of them together.

The Martin Seamaster was a real beauty, unfortunately she never saw service.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 1, 2003 3:33 PM
Revell made an Orlyonok kit in 1/144, I'm on the lookout for it, it's an awesome looking aeroplane, if it actually counts as an aircraft - the ICAO definition of "aircraft" excludes anything that can only fly in ground effect, so maybe I shouldn't buy one as I don't make ship models!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Huntington, WV
Posted by Kugai on Friday, August 1, 2003 2:33 PM
I'm stuck choosing between the Catalina and the Ekranoplans. I like both so much, I just can't decide.

BTW, Anyone know of Ekranoplan kits out there?


I couldn't even find my way back to "normal" with the Hubble!

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww122/randysmodels/No%20After%20Market%20Build%20Group/Group%20Badge/GBbadge2.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 1, 2003 2:13 PM
I'm with you on the Seamaster, it really appeals to my taste for the unusual. They took the flying boat to its logical extreme while also persevering with it long after the idea of the military flying boat really became obsolete (ok nobody told the russians)

Also got a thing for landplanes with floats attached, favourites have to be the Norseman, Beaver and Otter. This forum has struck a chord with my current obsession - I'm training for my PPL right now, when I've got it I'm planning to go to Canada and learn to fly floatplanes.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 1, 2003 9:36 AM
Seamaster, then the Catalinas. But there are many choices and it really is hard to pick one. Those Clippers are great also.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 13, 2003 8:50 PM
There are a lot of nice seaplanes. Then there are a lot of nice flying boats. My favorite seaplane is the Supermarine Spitfire on floats and my favorite Flying boat is the Canso.
Cheers
Bob S.
  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by lpolpo22 on Sunday, July 13, 2003 6:37 AM
Curtiss NC-4. Wire, wood and guts. A really classic aeroplane.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 13, 2003 4:02 AM
I would opt for the Spruce Goose.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 11, 2003 9:46 AM
BTW - Jimmy Buffet wiped out his Albatross several years back. Dipped a pontoon into a swell on take-off I believe. He was flying solo at the time and got out with minor injuries. There is a bit on this misadventure in his book 'A Pirate Looks at Fifty'.

I know he had the a/c recovered, but does anyone know if he got it back in the air?
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