Question/poll to all potential seaplane/amphib pilots and wannabees.
If you had a land plane that can cruise at 180 mph on 180 hp, (RV-6 for example), what maximum cruise speed loss would accept to get the seaplane performance?
Most seaplanes cruise around 70-80% of a landplane on the same HP. I have found that most people will not opt for a seaplane if the loss in comparable speed (same useful load, hp etc,) is more than 10% of that of a land plane. In this case (180 mph) few would go with a seaplane if it flew slower than 160-165 mph. For example, an RV-6 on floats flys around 145 mph (20% loos) from what I understand. Most pilots will not opt for such a large loss in speed, not to mention the loss of useful load.
I believe that pilots will opt for a seaplane with all else equal, only if the cruise speed is at least 90-95% of a comparable land plane of equal useful load, places, stol etc.
The costs cannot be greater than 10% over the land plane also. Most float equipment adds 20-40% more to the price and then the insurance goes crazy, leaving most pilots to opt out of seaplanes.
Many car drivers will opt for 4 wheel drive if the cost is within 10% of a 2 wheel car. I would suspect this parallel analogy applies to seaplanes.
What say you?
5%, 10%, 15%, 20% more costs.
175 MPh?
170?
165?
160?
155?
150?
145?
135?
130?
125?
Please reply to the poll with a speed and cost increase limit...or some insights you may have. I realize that making a seaplane fly 90%+ of a landplane is difficult, but that is not the question. I believe the 10% standard must be met before seaplanes are commercially viable.
Holden
If you had a land plane that can cruise at 180 mph on 180 hp, (RV-6 for example), what maximum cruise speed loss would accept to get the seaplane performance?
Most seaplanes cruise around 70-80% of a landplane on the same HP. I have found that most people will not opt for a seaplane if the loss in comparable speed (same useful load, hp etc,) is more than 10% of that of a land plane. In this case (180 mph) few would go with a seaplane if it flew slower than 160-165 mph. For example, an RV-6 on floats flys around 145 mph (20% loos) from what I understand. Most pilots will not opt for such a large loss in speed, not to mention the loss of useful load.
I believe that pilots will opt for a seaplane with all else equal, only if the cruise speed is at least 90-95% of a comparable land plane of equal useful load, places, stol etc.
The costs cannot be greater than 10% over the land plane also. Most float equipment adds 20-40% more to the price and then the insurance goes crazy, leaving most pilots to opt out of seaplanes.
Many car drivers will opt for 4 wheel drive if the cost is within 10% of a 2 wheel car. I would suspect this parallel analogy applies to seaplanes.
What say you?
5%, 10%, 15%, 20% more costs.
175 MPh?
170?
165?
160?
155?
150?
145?
135?
130?
125?
Please reply to the poll with a speed and cost increase limit...or some insights you may have. I realize that making a seaplane fly 90%+ of a landplane is difficult, but that is not the question. I believe the 10% standard must be met before seaplanes are commercially viable.
Holden
