Pulling up to his ramp in back of a Piper two summers ago, the front-seater asked if the energetic kid who had raced up to pull the floats onto the slippery wood could be trusted around the prop. That “kid” was 92-year-old Bill Brooks, looking and acting youthful as a seaplaner. I convinced the pilot […]
seaplanes
Ben Wiplinger Memorial Seaplane Rating Scholarship established
SOUTH SAINT PAUL, Minn. — In celebration of 55 years of continuous float production, Wipaire has created the Ben Wiplinger Memorial Seaplane Rating Scholarship, which will be awarded in July at EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. “As a longtime and active member of the seaplane community, we continually invest in people and products to better serve […]
Flying the Searey
I’m retired, so officially every day is a day off. But I do a lot of writing and lately, I’ve been looking for a little more fun in my new home state of Florida. Last week, I kicked around some boat clubs and breezed through the sailboat ads. Then, my EAA chapter emailed that Searey […]
Why you should be a seaplane pilot
By STEVEN McCAUGHEY Looking for a new flying adventure? Need a Flight Review? Trying to decide what is the best way to take your flying to the next skill level or what rating to pursue next? Well, I have the answer to all of these questions: It is time for you to get a seaplane […]
The fun rating
By JONI M. FISHER Known as the fun rating, seaplane flying has an adventurous allure. Seaplane pilots venture into hard-to-reach places, such as villages in Alaska, fishing spots in Canada, Florida swamps, Amazon rivers, small bays, and Caribbean islands. The 22nd Annual SUN ‘n FUN Seabirds Splash-In today on Lake Agnes near Fantasy of Flight […]
Seaplane LSAs take off
Many have now heard that the Light-Sport Aircraft industry achieved an impressive benchmark in its first decade. As the newest aviation segment approaches its 10th birthday in the summer of 2014, airplane designers have created and gained FAA acceptance for 134 models, a pace of more than one new design every month for 10 years […]
Upgrades slated for KPTN seaway
Upgrades to the 4,500 foot seaway at the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport (KPTN) in Patterson, Louisiana, are set to begin Nov. 4. The upgrades begin with the construction of a new, additional concrete ramp for launching and retrieval of straight float aircraft, which will be overlaid by wood for use by amphibious aircraft. In […]
Campground reopened at LRG
LINCOLN, Maine — The Town of Lincoln has reopened the former private aviation campground on the banks of the Penobscot River at the Lincoln Regional Airport (LRG) in Maine. David Lloyd, the town’s public works director and airport manager, was instrumental in convincing the town council that the property should stay intact to offer recreational […]
Texas airport looks to become seaplane haven
Joey Baker says he never met a pilot who didn’t want a seaplane rating. Working off that premise, he’s hoping that Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport (SLR) in Texas will become a destination for seaplane pilots across the United States. “There’s a big gap in the middle of the United States,” he says he’s been told […]