Lake Amphibian Glassy Water Landings

Landing a seaplane on the mirror-surface of a calm lake can present a problem: The pilot can't see it. So the plane is put in a stable, gradual descent until it touches the water. The exact moment of contact often comes as a surprise.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Lake
• Amphibian
• seaplane
• plane
• airplane
• aircraft
• flying
• aviat

[Callabris]

is the La-4-200 considered a light sport aircraft?

[wasko41]

@Callabris No, It is nearly twice as heavy as the LSA rules allow and is a four place craft ( not two).

[cpnstav]

have they stopped making these then

[wasko41]

I believe the last one was made about five years ago, purchased by the US government as a gift to the Galapagos Islands.

There have been attempts to sell the company, with one pending now, but at $800,000 US per plane, only governments could afford one.

[MetaView7]

beautiful

thanks for sharing

how did you mount the camera?

[wasko41]

The camcorder itself was mounted about where a passenger's head would be. Then, for the external views, video from small surveilance-type pickups embedded in the wingtip and horizontal-tail tip was brought in to the camcorder. Audio from the pilot's mike was brought in also.

[IdleGod]

Masterful flying. I know a guy with one of these plans. They are quite fascinating and exceptional aircraft.

[Shubba2529]

Nice, very nice ! Even the one you didn't like, didn't look all that bad from outside the plane. Of course sitting in the plane, you sense the feeling that the camera doesn't capture. Nice aircraft too.

[wildwilly87]

these lake videos are awesome. excellent exterior shots and stunning scenery.

[Mardasee]

My uncle owned a Lake. He purchased either a proto or a first design model "for that year I guess?". This was in the late 1970s. It was a six seater.

My uncle told me that landing or taking off on water that has potential floating ice 1/4 inch or thicker can be dangerous because the ice can penetrate the plexi windshield. He told me that he would not use a lake that had ice on the shorebank because ice pieces can break off and float around and you can't see them.