Fun in a Goose.

There is no market for albatrosses, but I have seen a lot of interets for gooses. The one sitting on Watson Island is finally flying too. Two companies in the past 2 years have started flying them 135 and 121, A company in Croatia and one in the Solomons...

In general I have noticed a grow in seaplane operators and interest for them in general.
 
Pilotforhire587 said:
That was really cool. How much does a goose run these days? Adler, do you know the cost of ownership?
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It`s really not that crazy, things get expensive if you take it around salted water. We have a flyingboat operator in Vanuatu, he loves the Gooses but the amount of hours he could do in one a year don`t compensate the care the plane needs over time, give him 1000 hours a year and he would operate one, no question.
 
I think the lake looks weird with the engine mounted above, though I know it makes good sense for keeping water and spray off of it. I think flying boats are beautiful aircraft though. I wish I knew how much more an albatross cost to run than a goose as well.
 
Pilotforhire587 said:
I think the lake looks weird with the engine mounted above, though I know it makes good sense for keeping water and spray off of it. I think flying boats are beautiful aircraft though. I wish I knew how much more an albatross cost to run than a goose as well.
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The lakes are amazing, they will land you on paved surface as good as they do on water, from a non seaplane pilot point of view they look a lot safer, maybe not so practical for lakes, river ops with docks. Anthing that was born to be in the water will always be better then something with floats bolted on later.

That Lake in Vanuatu was operated in Fiji, then rebuilt and flew 3 years in Vanuatu now, this Jan it got a bit of an overhaul done, it was amazing to see how well they are built, our new C206 has more corrosion after one year of flying.
 
swisspilot said:
The lakes are amazing, they will land you on paved surface as good as they do on water, from a non seaplane pilot point of view they look a lot safer, maybe not so practical for lakes, river ops with docks. Anthing that was born to be in the water will always be better then something with floats bolted on later.

That Lake in Vanuatu was operated in Fiji, then rebuilt and flew 3 years in Vanuatu now, this Jan it got a bit of an overhaul done, it was amazing to see how well they are built, our new C206 has more corrosion after one year of flying.
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There are a couple of guys around here with Lakes. I will have to see if I can get a ride soon.
 
I would love to ride in a Lake. I helped repaint a Seawind kit plane a couple years back. It's an all composite tractor-propeller amphibian (I want to say his kit was all fiberglass though). Doesn't suffer the same salt-water corrosion issues that you'd find in an aluminum amphib. Very roomy four seat cabin, full IFR instrument panel, etc. I never got to ride in it but I was impressed by what I saw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawind_300C

Seawind_Fleet.jpg
 
inigo88 said:
I would love to ride in a Lake. I helped repaint a Seawind kit plane a couple years back. It's an all composite tractor-propeller amphibian (I want to say his kit was all fiberglass though). Doesn't suffer the same salt-water corrosion issues that you'd find in an aluminum amphib. Very roomy four seat cabin, full IFR instrument panel, etc. I never got to ride in it but I was impressed by what I saw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawind_300C

Seawind_Fleet.jpg
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wow that thing is fast!
 
Cool video and great shots.

The first two minutes-ish of that drum beat were nails across a chalkboard.
 
I thought about posting an Aircam video/picture in response to the ME seaplane discussion, but I'll refrain because the Goose is just awesome. I don't want to spoil it.
 
Pilotforhire587 said:
That was really cool. How much does a goose run these days? Adler, do you know the cost of ownership?
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No idea. I try not to pay attention to the $$ discussions, I just know I'll never afford one.

Pilotforhire587 said:
Its interesting to me that most of the nice looking albatrosses for sale are less than half the cost of a goose. I don't really understand that.
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Albatrosses seem like a pain - way more fuel burn, wing issues, requires two pilots... and not to mention most are experimental exhibition or restricted category since majority of them are surplus military.


Really neat video. Before my friend had the turbine goose, he owned this
0271448.jpg
Makes me wish I

I was younger, flew in it a few timres, but this video really makes me wish I remembered of the piston goose. I pretty much only remember the sound...and it was great. Nothing like eating a family dinner with the windows open, and hearing the twin radials growl down the lake for a good pass.
 
Awful lot of nose on that bird. Is that usable space up there (baggage, fuel, etc.) or is it strictly for buoyancy?
 
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