RC float planes
If you have easy access to a lake, rc float planes are an excellent way to enjoy some radio control flying from the water.
There aren't a huge number of float planes widely available at the current time, but there are several good ones available. Notably, HobbyZone's Super Cub LP has the luxury of a pair of floats as an optional extra. This particular electric rc airplane is the li-po powered successor to the hugely popular HobbyZone Super Cub, and the LP looks great on its optional floats...
The floats, pictured right, are made from tough and lightweight foam, with pre-bent wire struts that slot straight into the landing gear slots on the underside of the fuselage.
If you're an original Super Cub owner then you'll be please to know that these floats also fit that airplane too.
A larger prop is supplied with the float set, because when rc float planes take off from water they have to overcome more drag - much more than tires experience rolling along a runway! Because of this increase in drag, a larger prop gives the extra performance that the plane needs to break free of the water surface.
RC float planes: take off & landing
The primary difference between rc float planes and land planes comes in the take off and landing procedures.
On take off, land planes encounter very little of the aforementioned drag when rolling along a runway. Float planes encounter lots of drag as the floats try and cut their way through the water surface tension, and this calls for a slightly different method of take off.
Like land planes, an rc float plane should be taken off into wind whenever possible. But the trick is to hold in a small amount of up elevator during the take off run; this holds the nose of the airplane up and helps prevent the floats from digging into any chop that might be on the water. As the speed increases, you should be able to reduce up elevator slightly and let the plane ride the waves, so to speak. Once take off speed is reached, let the plane lift gently off the water with a small amount of up elevator, and maintain a smooth and gentle climb out from the lake.
Landing an rc float plane on water isn't something you want to get wrong, unless you want to end up like this poor guy to the right.
The trick to landing on water is to land parallel to any chop ie along the lines of the waves, and not perpendicular to them. This minimizes the chance of a float digging in to a wave and the plane flipping over. The downside to this is that it usually means landing crosswind, but that's not such a big difficulty because the chances are that the wind won't be strong anyway; if it is, then you probably shouldn't have taken off in the first place!
Above, you should try and land parallel to any wave troughs
When landing a float plane, you should come in as slowly as possible and flare as much as possible, so that the floats touch the water as gently as possible. Because of this, being aware of your rc airplane's stalling speed is very important; having your plane stall while on landing approach over water isn't much fun!..
RC float planes are a lot of fun, and if you have easy access to a lake or good size pond then take advantage of it! Wide rivers can of course also be used for float flying; indeed, any large expanse of calm water makes for a suitable float plane flying venue.
Just practice those landings on land and get them perfect before you attempt any water landings!
See the Super Cub LP rc float plane in more detail.
Shop for rc float planes on eBay.
Related pages
Electric rc airplanes - an overview of land-based electric planes.
HobbyZone Super Cub LP - read more about this rc airplane.
