ATA – Beaver crossing

Been quite some times since I have posted a plane pic here. I dunno why. But I couldn’t help but get one while driving near my house today. Beaver about to cross the road.

This entry was posted on April 1, 2014, 7:00 pm and is filed under aircraft, around the airport. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Comments (9)

#1 by famillysyncro on April 1, 2014 - 7:46 pm

Oups, I am not use to plane, I though I’ll see wildlife on this post…..;-)

So, for someone not use to planes, is this guy really gonna cross the road? Cannot fly the other side?

Jerome

Reply
- #2 by albell on April 1, 2014 - 7:54 pm
  
  Jerome,
  
  some float planes have little wheels on the floats so they can land on firm ground, but this beaver doesnt (I dont think) . Just across the road is a ramp down to the ocean, Patricia Bay, and that is where it is heading.
  
  cheers
  
  ab
  
  Reply
#3 by Angus on April 2, 2014 - 9:48 pm

Hooray for airplane pictures! The terminology is ‘straight floats’ vs amphibious floats.

Reply
- #4 by albell on April 2, 2014 - 10:05 pm
  
  Thanks for the terminology Angus.
  
  So, I see these wee wheels on the underside of the floats on some planes around here. I never have seen one touch down. But it appears to me that you have to be somewhat more exact in your attitude when making contract with the asphalt. Am I right?
  
  Cheers
  
  Ab
  
  >
  
  Reply
  - #5 by Angus on April 2, 2014 - 10:24 pm
    
    Nope, amphibs have two wheels per float – touchdown occurs initially on the mainwheels and the nosewheels follow, so there is still a range of pitch attitudes acceptable. No more difficult than a tricycle gear airplane, easier than a tailwheel aircraft.
  - #6 by albell on April 2, 2014 - 10:30 pm
    
    So you, as the pilot, just forget that you have floats and land as if it was regular tricycle?
    
    They just look so strange to the casual (me) observer.
    
    Ab
    
    >
  - #7 by Angus on April 2, 2014 - 10:38 pm
    
    The only important aspect is to ensure the landing gear is retracted for water landings. That is very important. 🙂
#8 by Michael Wendell on May 24, 2016 - 9:46 am

Why is there half a car behind that airplane?

Reply
- #9 by albell on May 24, 2016 - 11:37 am
  
  Hi,
  
  It’s a tug. Used to move the planes around on land.
  
  I have more pics of them here
  
  https://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/ata-float-plane-tugs/
  
  Cheers
  
  Alistair
  
  Reply