Beaver Aircraft Loses Power, Floats Take the Abuse
I would like to relate a recent incident to you in which your Full Lotus floats prevented potentially serious injuries.
I am an experienced commercial and ultralight pilot. I have a two place Beaver ultralight fitted with Full Lotus inflatable floats.
In June '85 I took off with a passenger from a man made canal at our ultralight facility. Visibility was good, winds were 10 mph. With negligible turbulence.
Within 30 seconds after takeoff, I had climbed to approximately 100 feet when without warning, my engine failed. Due to the sudden loss of power I had only enough momentum to attempt a landing on a rough field.
Because of my angle of descent it became obvious that I would have to perform a side slip landing. Upon touchdown on the rocky terrain, my inflatable floats absorbed the impact just like two large shock absorbers.
Later, upon examination, I was very much surprised that no damage was incurred beyond two deflated air bladders in the floats and a bent strut. Neither myself nor my passenger sustained any injuries. A potentially dangerous situation was turned into a relatively safe landing. I can't imagine what may have happened if my plane was equipped with my old fiberglass floats.
I can now appreciate that your floats are engineered in such a way as to remain fully functional when some air bladders are no longer functioning. The inflatable bladders simply migrated into and filled the compartments of the two ruptured bladders.
Since equipping my aircraft with your new floats I've found they really take the abuse. On numerous training flights students have without incident taxied over submerged logs, bounced off rocks and bumped into wharves. In every situation your floats have readily absorbed the impact.
I think my experiences will prove typical for many pilots. Full Lotus floats have made float flying a lot safer. Congratulations on a great product.
Fred Glasbergen, President
AIRFLOW ULTRALIGHTS AVIATION LTD
I would like to relate a recent incident to you in which your Full Lotus floats prevented potentially serious injuries.
I am an experienced commercial and ultralight pilot. I have a two place Beaver ultralight fitted with Full Lotus inflatable floats.
In June '85 I took off with a passenger from a man made canal at our ultralight facility. Visibility was good, winds were 10 mph. With negligible turbulence.
Within 30 seconds after takeoff, I had climbed to approximately 100 feet when without warning, my engine failed. Due to the sudden loss of power I had only enough momentum to attempt a landing on a rough field.
Because of my angle of descent it became obvious that I would have to perform a side slip landing. Upon touchdown on the rocky terrain, my inflatable floats absorbed the impact just like two large shock absorbers.
Later, upon examination, I was very much surprised that no damage was incurred beyond two deflated air bladders in the floats and a bent strut. Neither myself nor my passenger sustained any injuries. A potentially dangerous situation was turned into a relatively safe landing. I can't imagine what may have happened if my plane was equipped with my old fiberglass floats.
I can now appreciate that your floats are engineered in such a way as to remain fully functional when some air bladders are no longer functioning. The inflatable bladders simply migrated into and filled the compartments of the two ruptured bladders.
Since equipping my aircraft with your new floats I've found they really take the abuse. On numerous training flights students have without incident taxied over submerged logs, bounced off rocks and bumped into wharves. In every situation your floats have readily absorbed the impact.
I think my experiences will prove typical for many pilots. Full Lotus floats have made float flying a lot safer. Congratulations on a great product.
Fred Glasbergen, President
AIRFLOW ULTRALIGHTS AVIATION LTD