How safe is this?

[BC04]

Is it just me or does this seem EXTREMELY dangerous? I understand that they have big tundra tires on there, I assume this would help, but it seems that the margin for error is very thin. Looks terrifyingly beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QwXKviRork

[Cat Driver]

A better question would be how stupid is this.

[Tail-Chaser]

I can only imagine how carefully they'd have to manage their power, and how it could get progressively harder if they start to bog down. Risky business.

[Cat Driver]

If you water ski a wheel airplane and you wreck it and live how do you justify your decision to have tried it in the first place.

I find it interesting that so many people think the pilot taking off under the bridge in Ottawa was dangerous......how about what these pilots are doing?

[BC04]

All I could imagine was the consequences of one small downdraft. It would happen so fast with such little margins that there would be no chance to react. Much different scenario from the Ottawa incident.

[Big Pistons Forever]

Good pilot: Somebody who can regularly water ski their airplane and not crash

Great pilot: Somebody who can regularly water ski their airplane and not crash, but decides the risks are not justified and therefore will never do this manoever.

[xsbank]

Physics. We all had to learn the principle behind aguaplaning/hydroplaning. As long as you keep the speed up you can't penetrate the water. As an ex-float pilot, the glassy water part gives me the collywobbles but there is no long keel to dig in while waterskiing.

[TG]

Speed up and brakes on I believe.

Not that I will ever try it, for all the reasons mentionned by cat.

[Pop n Fresh]

Good pilot: Somebody who can regularly water ski their airplane and not crash

Great pilot: Somebody who can regularly water ski their airplane and not crash, but decides the risks are not justified and therefore will never do this manoever.

Best Pilot: Somebody who eliminates flight risk 100% by not flying.

[ragbagflyer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeeAI1wTMiA

[ahramin]

My guess is it's safer than surface level aerobatics, and we seem to think that's a great idea. The only way to know for sure is look at the data. How many of these pilots crash each year water skiing?

[Cat Driver]

The difference between low level aerobatics done legally and water skiing a wheel airplane is training and licensing is available for low level aerobatics.

Can you get legal training and licensing for water skiing?

[ahramin]

Is there anything illegal about this?

[I_Drive_Planes]

A quick search of Youtube reveals plenty of videos of the Supercub/Maule crowd successfully water skiing for fun or to increase their landing run on to a gravel bar in a river. A non-exhaustive search of google only revealed 1 crash. This crash involved a non-licensed "pilot" (who had racked up an impressive 4 DUIs at the advanced age of 26) who borrowed his father's airplane to show off by water skiing. After flipping said airplane he had some buddies come out, used a 4x4 to right the airplane, then took off again before authorities could arrive and flew home (tough bird!). I also found this exciting video of a Maule almost biting it while using water to extend his landing run


I would imagine that his underwear matched the paint scheme on his wings after that one.

Given the number of people that are water skiing their airplanes and the scarcity of crashes this strikes me as something that seems more dangerous than it actually is. Not something I would try personally (especially not in a Cherokee with wheel pants ) but I wouldn't condemn those who do it.

[looproll]

what about an aerobatic team water-skiing Harvards:


http://youtu.be/ROKv87GjDWU?t=46s

[cgzro]

The difference between low level aerobatics done legally and water skiing a wheel airplane is training and licensing is available for low level aerobatics.

Just to be a nit picker I am not aware of any training for low level aerobatics, as far as I know an instructor and student cannot work below 2,000 ft so you are on your own to learn up high where the experience is totally different. I always wished it were possible to get such instruction.

There is also no licence for low kevel acro, just an SFOC to allow it but no test etc. Airshows do require licencing via ICAS ace exam and the SAC card.

[Cat Driver]

There is also no licence for low kevel acro, just an SFOC to allow it but no test etc. Airshows do require licencing via ICAS ace exam and the SAC card.

Yes, there really is no actual training courses that I know of either.

And you are correct there is not a " license " for low level aerobatics.

I have no idea how you Canadians get your cards as I have been banned from flying for a living in Canada for a long time and could care less what T.C. thinks or what they want because I wouldn't urinate on one if they were on fire.

In Europe however where I went to earn a living we had to pass a flight test every year for the European Airdisplay Authority which of course is not a " license ", however without that piece of paper you can not do low level airdisplays at air shows where you get paid to fly.


*******************************************************

Back to water skiing a wheel airplane, maybe it is not " illegal " but if you did wreck your airplane water skiing who pays for the airplane and would it be considered as careless operation of the machine?

[182-SS]

I am actually blown away that so few have seen this maneuver before. This is nothing new, and as one of the posts says just look it up on youtube. Cub drivers is a great place to start.
This maneuver is sometimes used in the bush when landing on gravel bars, beaches etc, it can extend your runway.
Is it safe? depends on a multitude of factors, but it Can and is done safely by these bush pilots, and others in the videos on youtube.

Glassy water,breaks on hard, hand on throttle, keep speed up.

[niss]

Not something I would try personally (especially not in a Cherokee with wheel pants ) but I wouldn't condemn those who do it.

You just gave me a great idea.

BRB, gonna take UBC skiing.

[Broken Slinky]

There was some videos of David Glen Riggs skimming the water in planes. Last time he did it, it was his last. Killed himself and his passenger. Maybe if he had monster truck sized tires under his bird, he would have fared better.

[trampbike]

Last time he did it, it was his last.

[Cat Driver]

Pilots have been water skiing wheel airplanes for as long as I can remember, the first time I saw it done was around 1960 when I was flying Cubs and Stearmans crop dusting.......one of our guys water skied a Stearman on glassy water......I never had the nerve to try it because I am afraid of what would happen if it dug in and went end over end.....I'm a coward.

There is a video on the internet of a Cessna amphibian touching down on glassy water with the wheels down.

Go look at it and watch what happened even though the approach and touch down was flown in the classic glassy water manner.

Yup I'm a coward.

[B-rad]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-48V1m_MZxE

is this the one you're talking about Cat?

I think he did a great job except for trying to waterski on the nose gear too and then flipping over. Strange thing to try and waterski an amphibian plane tho. Why do you think he tried to do that?

[Cat Driver]

is this the one you're talking about Cat?

Yes.

I think he did a great job except for trying to waterski on the nose gear too and then flipping over. Strange thing to try and waterski an amphibian plane tho. Why do you think he tried to do that?

Are you being facetious?

Or do you not understand the connection between that accident and water skiing a wheel airplane..

...By the way the nose wheels were in the air when the mains touched down.

[Pop n Fresh]

Yup I'm a coward.

Well sometimes I say, "I'd rather be a live chicken than a dead turkey." I suspect it was JJ. Walker who said it originally on Good Times. The writer is likely unknown. You ever watch Good Times Cat?