440MPH on floats, in the 1930's. Highly impressive. This thing would destroy itself in a lengthy dive.
The Macchi held the world speed record for a while before being beaten by a far from production He-100 (463 mph) and then the Me-209 (469 mph). Production He-100 is kind of a joke and that aircraft was a huge propaganda victory for Germany. Pilots were still declaring they had shot down a He-100 in 1945 even though only 19 or so were built early in the war. Much better aircraft than the Bf-109, but.... Much prettier, too. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yah but the HE100 or ME 209 never floated, took off, and landed on water. The Macchi is just darned impressive
Bob- I believe they set the record after the Brits won the trophy (unopposed) with the S.6B when the Macchi was not ready in time. Those floatplane racers were definitely attractive and, yes, they did indeed take off and land on water. Unlike amphibians, no capability to land on terra firma.
Not sure where that is, but the F-15E and F-15C are both from RAF Lakenheath, so possibly RAF Mildenhall.
That's not necessarily true. The majority of floatplanes' floats are designed to withstand a landing on grass fields (preferably damp - but not needed). I know of operations, today, where this is done, specifically, to get non-amphib floatplanes into maintenance bases.
The early Schneider Cup racers were astonishing airplanes and possibly could have been landed on grass by a good pilot but why? They were unequaled in what they did and they were beautiful when they did it. I have witnessed a single-float plane land on grass several times and it always amazed me that there was no damage to the structure. They simply brought out a backhoe with a cable and lifted the Grumman onto a flatbed and took it back to the hangar.
Yes, I'm very well aware of what was being discussed. That doesn't change the FACT that your statement that these specific aircraft had "no capability to land on terra firma" is almost certainly FALSE. I didn't say that they all could, that most could, that more than one could - I said the statement wasn't necessarily true - and I know for a fact, being among other things a seaplane instructor, that stating a dedicated floatplane has no capability of landing on land - and I mean safely - is, in many cases, completely untrue. So, if you would like to stand by your statement that not a single aircraft that ever entered the Schneider Cup races was capable of landing on land, safely and not due to an emergency, then I'll accept the fact that your understanding of this specific subject matter - not your clearly demonstrated and extensive knowledge of other aircraft/aviation subjects - has been mislead.
I do realize that my rebuttal was firm. I want to make it clear that I thoroughly enjoy reading TazandJan's, and most everyone's, well-informed and interesting posts. As it is for you all, aviation is a deep passion of mine. My first post on this topic was simply to make the point that landing on land with a floatplane/seaplane sans gear (wheels) is nothing new. When then challenged, I stepped-up to the plate, as most any Alpha Male does in this aviation world, and made my point even clearer. It was stated with ZERO disrespect for TazandJan, for whom I have a great deal of respect (as much that can be found through this type of forum).
Since I seldom contribute, and now have done so extensively in one page attempting to clarify the capabilities of floatplanes, let me relate some info that should be fun to read. The Golden Age of Aviation is something for which we all can wax-on, romantically. I love that period, and as I get older, is something I tend to find even more interesting. That being said, I was delighted to find myself in a position to get to know, and fly with, someone directly connected to that period: Roscoe Brinton, Jr. His father, Roscoe Sr., was a barnstormer in the late 20's and early 30's with Lowell Bayles. Roscoe Sr. helped finance the Granville Brothers Gee Bee operations, and performed in air shows in the Gee Bee Sportster. Lowell Bayles, who lived with Sr. and Jr., was the pilot of the race winning Gee Bee Z, and, unfortunately, was the one who was killed in the Z attempting to set a world speed record. We've seen the video of his wing folding and Z rolling wildly toward the ground. Before his untimely death, he was instructing 11-year-old Roscoe Jr. in an Aeronca C-2. One day when Lowell made a quick run off the airport, leaving the young Roscoe with the plane, Jr. decided for himself that it was time to solo! And he did! It was witnessed by the returning Lowell Bayles and the airport staff, and it made Roscoe Jr. the youngest solo pilot in history! He appeared in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Roscoe Jr. went on to be an instructor pilot to RAF pilots during WWII (in Florida, no less), and then had a full career at Eastern Air Lines. I took him flying for his 90th birthday in my Citabria and my Cub. Kermit Weeks and I were arranging to have him come down to visit Fantasy of Flight to see the replica Gee Bee Z (Kermit had his guys getting it airworthy - he wanted to fly it for Roscoe), but sadly, Roscoe Jr. passed away shortly before the trip. I gave his eulogy, and have several of his momentos from that Golden Age. His family has a Sporster prop and his father's Wright Brothers - signed logbook! Amazing history!
SAT4RE- Show me images or evidence of a Schneider Cup aircraft landing on land and I will concede the point. Until then, I will stick to my story regardless of my experience (none) with floatplanes.
I was able to trace the status of this aircraft by deciphering the N number, N 69043. I had a hunch that it was the one that had a terrible ending after an illustrative life and indeed, I was correct. It was a Catalina that was the ultimate executive luxury vehicle that ended its life abandoned on a reef in the middle east.
You are correct. I got this photo about the plane from the story written about it. But I liked this photo!
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Here's a picture of me last Friday with the neighbor kid. I used to say hi to him in the mornings as he rode his skateboard down the alley, with his cello strapped to his back, while on his way to school. Now he's a Marine test pilot based at China Lake. His dad called me Friday morning to say, "Go out on the front porch at 12:30, he's flying over Boulder from south to north." I heard them way before they went over, EA-18 Growlers 500 and 501. #500 was the first Growler produced.They landed at Centennial Airport. They stayed until Sunday, then flew over Boulder to say goodbye on the way back to China Lake. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login