Met the DPE at the lake, went back to his place got the initial IACRA paperwork out of the way. Then started the Oral, very detailed oriented. Checked the aircraft logs, AROW, weight and balance. discussed the how easy it is to get out of CG with some float planes. Then I had to explain the different types of taxi, power off sail control inputs, power on sail. Idle taxi, plow taxi, step taxi. When each technique would be appropriate. Proper water rudder usage. Covered normal takeoff, glass, and rough. How to pick an abort point. What factors change the takeoff run, wind, density altitude, water condition. Discussed the center of buoyancy, and how a porpoise can end with the wrong side of the plane in the water. Talked about peoples reaction to a float plane approaching a beach or dock and how they like to walk right into a spinning prop. Then we packed it up and headed back to the lake.
The aircraft was a J-3 with a 90 horse, no electricity. My instructor propped it and stepped of the float into some deep water, I think it went over his waders. Run up, checklists, and departure. Went to about four different lakes. Did a few landings at each one. Never above 1000' agl. Couldn't Find any rough water so I just talked my way through that one. Almost found some glass but by the time I got down to the water it was rippled. Simulated glass landing with a small pitch excursion. Did quite a bit of step taxi, this was one of the hardest tasks of the entire ride. I fell off step on a couple turns but I took it in stride and plowed my way back up and kept going. I aborted two takeoffs, ran out of lake on one run, and the next time I lined up in the wrong channel. Instead of doing a sharp step turn at 30 mph I just pulled the power and taxied back. No problem. aborted take offs are somewhat common it turns out in water ops.
Start heading back to the house, He pulls the power. I do the emergency flow and line up for a lake that is directly ahead, start to decent and the engine comes back to life. Line up for the final glassy water landing, approach is rock solid till about 10 feet, tells me to go around. One more lap and taxi to the beach. “Congratulations”
I Started my training on friday night, after a four hour drive and a full days work. Flew till about 11:00 PM. Back at it 8:00 am, four hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon, most of it in the mountains. Even landed in a glacier lake dodging icebergs. Saw about 10 bears, 2 goats, lots of moose. Sunday we did a X-C up to the DPE house about 60 mile north. Stopped and did some river landings along the way. It was an absolute adventure the entire weekend. I have lived in alaska most of my life and I was still in awe of the scenery and the places we beached in the mountains. Over ten hours logged, $1500. DPE fee is $350. Substantial discounts for Military and CAP. http://dragonflyaero.net/
The aircraft was a J-3 with a 90 horse, no electricity. My instructor propped it and stepped of the float into some deep water, I think it went over his waders. Run up, checklists, and departure. Went to about four different lakes. Did a few landings at each one. Never above 1000' agl. Couldn't Find any rough water so I just talked my way through that one. Almost found some glass but by the time I got down to the water it was rippled. Simulated glass landing with a small pitch excursion. Did quite a bit of step taxi, this was one of the hardest tasks of the entire ride. I fell off step on a couple turns but I took it in stride and plowed my way back up and kept going. I aborted two takeoffs, ran out of lake on one run, and the next time I lined up in the wrong channel. Instead of doing a sharp step turn at 30 mph I just pulled the power and taxied back. No problem. aborted take offs are somewhat common it turns out in water ops.
Start heading back to the house, He pulls the power. I do the emergency flow and line up for a lake that is directly ahead, start to decent and the engine comes back to life. Line up for the final glassy water landing, approach is rock solid till about 10 feet, tells me to go around. One more lap and taxi to the beach. “Congratulations”
I Started my training on friday night, after a four hour drive and a full days work. Flew till about 11:00 PM. Back at it 8:00 am, four hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon, most of it in the mountains. Even landed in a glacier lake dodging icebergs. Saw about 10 bears, 2 goats, lots of moose. Sunday we did a X-C up to the DPE house about 60 mile north. Stopped and did some river landings along the way. It was an absolute adventure the entire weekend. I have lived in alaska most of my life and I was still in awe of the scenery and the places we beached in the mountains. Over ten hours logged, $1500. DPE fee is $350. Substantial discounts for Military and CAP. http://dragonflyaero.net/
