The C206 is a great airplane on floats or wheels.
It flies sweet and has a huge door to cram suff in.
It just has a nice feel and gets the job done.
It's kinna dubious on skiis though...takes almsost full #&$%*#%^^$# power just to taxi...

Just remember that if it floats, flys or giggles in bed, it is usually cheaper to rent.

I fly a U206 on wheels with all the float mods except the actual floats and it is a dream to fly; with a Sportsman STOL kit and 300HP. Very roomy and good for loading practically anything with the cargo doors.

However it does have it's weak points as well. Fully loaded on a hot day, it can be a real dog (our field is 2820ASL). I can't imagine how much worse it would be with amphibs. A 185 would do better.

The Continental engines require care in operation and most other 520s I take care of go through jugs like crazy. The 550s give you more power but I would stay away from these engines altogether.

Also I would be cautious about getting into an amphibious aircraft too early. I've seen a couple of the lesser 'whoopsies' (including a 185 that shut down the Penticton airport in the middle of the 2003 fire season) but would absolutely cringe at the thought of a wheels down landing on water. Insurance will probably be the deciding factor.

Think more than just the purchase price of the plane. Annuals, insurance, regular maintenance, hangarage/parking, and fuel all add up to quite a bit as well.

I would go with a Champ or partner on a 172 before going for something bigger.

Also I would be cautious about getting into an amphibious aircraft too early.

Why would you give that kind of advice, if anyone has a pilots license and a brain they can safely fly an amphibian.

Or is there some dark secret about amphibs you can share with us?

Re Insurance:

I talked to A guy the other day. He told me that the only way his insurance agent would consider a policy was if the Pilot phoned him just before landing to ensure the gear were in the right mode.

BH

Cat Driver wrote:

Also I would be cautious about getting into an amphibious aircraft too early.

Why would you give that kind of advice, if anyone has a pilots license and a brain they can safely fly an amphibian.

Or is there some dark secret about amphibs you can share with us?

The dark secret is remembering where you want your gear for a certain landing.. It's called a checklist!!!

I don't know why people think it's rocket science to do this but then again, what do I know... I've only got about 1500 hrs on amphibs....

What was I thinking?

I guess it would be ok for a 16 year old who has never flown anything else to jump into a 206 on amphib floats and there would be no problem with them getting behind the aircraft, distracted about something else, or just have a brain fart and forget the gear position while they are still learning to fly.

I'm sure that if you support this that you would support something as radical as say, putting a licensed commercial pilot with 50 hours of float time straight onto a 180 or 185 on straight floats without doing a few dock hand seasons.


I may not know too much about amphib flying but it sure was a sight seeing that 185 on the steps in the middle of the runway at Penticton with two float-rated pilots (one with several thousand hours of float time) stepping out of it and air tankers circling around wondering what they were going to do with themselves.

I'm sure that if you support this that you would support something as radical as say, putting a licensed commercial pilot with 50 hours of float time straight onto a 180 or 185 on straight floats without doing a few dock hand seasons

Depends on the pilot, there are many pilots with 50 hours of float time that I would put on a 180 or 185 and never worry about their safety.

What flying skills will a pilot learn working on the dock?

There is no reason to land any airplane anywhere with the wrong gear selection......if you check the gear position before landing how can you go wrong?

Cat Driver wrote: There is no reason to land any airplane anywhere with the wrong gear selection......if you check the gear position before landing how can you go wrong?

I agree 100% Cat. Yet things DO go wrong. Insurance companies have lost millions due to wheels down landings on water and companies have made millions (er, maybe only a few thousand) by designing, testing, certifying, and installing all kinds of gizmos to prevent these accidents from happening. And we haven't even got to the value of life lost yet.

Don't you think it would be better for our friend to buy a smaller plane on straight floats that is cheaper to buy, maintain, fly, and insure, and then move up to amphibs? When the hands and feet are working better, the decision making process is better, and all you are adding is one more lever, system, and method of landing?

y would they not put a both selection on the fuel on a 206, their design came after the 180/185/s that have both, its such an easy thing to add on and safe, i just find it wierd

I could never figure it out either. Especially when it says 'Both OFF' at the bottom and the OFF is covered by the selector.

I embarrassed my DOM when he was working on a 205. He was trying to start it and having no success. He yelled at me to change the battery when I suggested to him to turn the fuel on.

In 2007 a prop with longer blades was certified on the 206 . Too long for wheels even. This is the second year flying it and it nearly matches a 185 for take off performance with the same load. i wouldn't have believed it if I haden't tried it. For information phone Sealand.
As far as the young pilot goes, Why not? He just needs proper training, and a little respect for the water!
BB

Would any one know the current rates per hour (dual) and location for the C206 (land)?

Also, a bit off topic, but does the C210 add a complex aircraft rating to your license?

thanks and would greatly appreciate any replies/Pm's

A 210 weighs less than 12,500, has a piston engine, has a crew of one, does not have a Vne of 250, and has a stall speed of less than 85. You'd be hard pressed to call it complex. A 210 is a speedy little single with retractable gear but that's it.

yeah I was wondering about the Vne and Vso...if it's below 250/80, can't really call it high performance...thanks

thats a nice picture sleephunter

Hi everyone. My first post here, so please treat me well and BTW, my screen name is not just a nick, so if you see some weird word or English, wonder no more, you have the reason in that name.

I can understand how one could be better starting with a share on a 172:

- You´d come to see the real costs of owning.
- You´d share them!
- You´d probably be flying the same kind of plane you had at school, so the part of "how the heck do I crank it up!?" part is already covered.
- You´d get a cheaper insurance (cheap and insurance together?) since you at least have touched a similar plane before, not to mention that it´s a BASIC plane.
- There´s not any lever you could forget about, needing then TO power to taxi.
- Etc...

But then, anyone can fly a 747... with the proper training and the proper brain. Yes, we talk about a 16yo boy and we immediately picture the one that passed by five minutes ago, making the wheels of his truck scream on the asphalt, we can still hear the "DOOOM!! DOOOM!!" of his stereo... or can even picture ourselves! But that said, I´m sure we all also know some 16 yo that we´d love having as a son in law: responsible, smart, focused; and I´m also sure we all can think about any 45 yo that is a lost case for society. Sure that tendencies have it that 16 yo´s are more on the "dark side" than 45´ers, but there are many out of it. Flight training from an early age seems like a good proof of being out of that dark side to me, as well as getting into a forum to ASK questions is too (dunno, I haven´t had the chance to read any of his other posts, but those I´ve seen in this thread seemed quite reasonable).

In other words, if:

- his instructor feels good with him and isn´t just a time builder willing to jump into the aforementioned 747,
- he passes his checkride,
- he gets good training on the plane and the operation,
- he´s as "scared" about landing with the wrong setting as most smart low-timers are,
- his parents fund him,
- etc...

why not going for an amphib 206? If you come to think of it, that could be a nice plane to start some business too, so maybe the proper parents are thinking about that too: not only buying "a toy to the boy", but a tool that will teach him quite a few more things than initially may seem.

As for you, Jamezy, I didn´t even had those "right parents", but I managed to pay for my licenses at 16 and scale in the food chain till I bought my plane, which I operated commercially (a fiasco, BTW ), so don´t worry if you don´t either. Just work, study, work some more, get the right relationships... and you can too. If you have those wonderful parents, needless to mention, go for it too! but don´t forget about the studying/working/good-relationships part (doesn´t seem to me that you are to forget anyway).

Go for it!!!

Cheers everyone.