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I've never flown on floats, but I plan to one day. As I work on my project, I want to make sure I have accommodations for it. One of the things that I've seen on many float planes is the addition of vertical stab area, whether it be a dorsal arrangement or some extra finnage on the horizontal stab. Here are a few examples:
OSH13_7-31-13_-Seaplane-Base-Cessna-195-On-Floats.jpg beaver_floats_1.jpg beaver_floats_2.jpg howard_floats_1.jpg
One Bearhawk builder has created a mounting system so that a ventral fin (under the tail) can be fitted, like in the yellow Beaver above. Although I recall one builder (who escapes me) described that the Bearhawk had more than enough vertical area, and that additional help wasn't necessary when on floats. Perhaps alaskabearhawk Paul would have a better idea who that would have been. So, thinking ahead, I want to at least make sure I have a way to fasten them in case the need is there.
The ventral fin is no problem. I've got that one figured out. But the fins on the horizontal stab have me thinking. The Beaver, Moose, and similar aircraft with balanced elevators have a space between the elevator and the horizontal stab that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plane. That makes finding a place to fasten the fins fairly straightforward. However, the space between the elevator and horizontal stab on the Bearhawk is on an angle. I considered the possibility of straightening out that angle, as in this ruthlessly plagiarized photo from whee posted a couple days ago:
float_fins.png
But I'm debating whether or not this is a good idea, given the balance is so near perfect on the original Bearhawk design. Perhaps a fin design option more akin to the C-195 is an option, with the fastening point actually being on the red line above, leaving the angle as-is.
The ventral fin is certainly the easiest to accomplish. Opinions are welcomed!
OSH13_7-31-13_-Seaplane-Base-Cessna-195-On-Floats.jpg beaver_floats_1.jpg beaver_floats_2.jpg howard_floats_1.jpg
One Bearhawk builder has created a mounting system so that a ventral fin (under the tail) can be fitted, like in the yellow Beaver above. Although I recall one builder (who escapes me) described that the Bearhawk had more than enough vertical area, and that additional help wasn't necessary when on floats. Perhaps alaskabearhawk Paul would have a better idea who that would have been. So, thinking ahead, I want to at least make sure I have a way to fasten them in case the need is there.
The ventral fin is no problem. I've got that one figured out. But the fins on the horizontal stab have me thinking. The Beaver, Moose, and similar aircraft with balanced elevators have a space between the elevator and the horizontal stab that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plane. That makes finding a place to fasten the fins fairly straightforward. However, the space between the elevator and horizontal stab on the Bearhawk is on an angle. I considered the possibility of straightening out that angle, as in this ruthlessly plagiarized photo from whee posted a couple days ago:
float_fins.png
But I'm debating whether or not this is a good idea, given the balance is so near perfect on the original Bearhawk design. Perhaps a fin design option more akin to the C-195 is an option, with the fastening point actually being on the red line above, leaving the angle as-is.
The ventral fin is certainly the easiest to accomplish. Opinions are welcomed!
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