Why are there not more flying boats?
Discussion
They are thinking about doing seaplanes from Cardiff to Swansea (not really sure why as wouldn't be a very long flight), but would be lovely to see them:-
Wales first commercial seaplane
Wales first commercial seaplane
ecsrobin said:
What we need is more ekranoplan's
how do ekranoplans deal with sea traffic when they're ploughing along at 400mph? I imagine you'd seriously ps off any small vessels you couldn't see until you'd given them a free express carwash and sailboats/10 storey container vessels would pose a serious risk?hairyben said:
ecsrobin said:
What we need is more ekranoplan's
how do ekranoplans deal with sea traffic when they're ploughing along at 400mph? I imagine you'd seriously ps off any small vessels you couldn't see until you'd given them a free express carwash and sailboats/10 storey container vessels would pose a serious risk?We do have one in the UK - actually reasonably priced and seemingly successful. Although I never used it when I lived on the west coast I know plenty of people who did - it was/is a very efficient way to get from Glasgow up to Oban. See link :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Lomond_Seaplanes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Lomond_Seaplanes
Good Flying Boat documentary on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y22F9O3A0EM
Seems the Martin Mars no longer fly ;-(
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y22F9O3A0EM
Seems the Martin Mars no longer fly ;-(
ecsrobin said:
hairyben said:
ecsrobin said:
What we need is more ekranoplan's
how do ekranoplans deal with sea traffic when they're ploughing along at 400mph? I imagine you'd seriously ps off any small vessels you couldn't see until you'd given them a free express carwash and sailboats/10 storey container vessels would pose a serious risk?I don't think it's practical. You'd still need terminals with check-in, security, baggage handling etc. Plus how do you maintain a secure landing area. And how many planes could be accomodated even on a big river - would you have contact stands to load passengers, or boat them out to the planes. What about plannng permission and noise in built up areas. All you're saving is the cost of a runway.
I was going to take there was a Catalina flying on the south coast until a few years ago, when it crashed, killing two passengers, one of whom was the Mayor of Southampton at the time. But it was actually in 1998
Brief report: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=...
Apparently scrapped in ireland about 3 years ago: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?1178...
Brief report: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=...
Apparently scrapped in ireland about 3 years ago: http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?1178...
otherman said:
And how many planes could be accomodated even on a big river - would you have contact stands to load passengers, or boat them out to the planes. What about plannng permission and noise in built up areas. All you're saving is the cost of a runway.
But when flying boats were in the ascendant, there were few airports. Sea was cheaper and in the 1930s they had a place. Now things are different. 'Commercial evolution' if you like.Found the participants of the sea wings airshow at Southampton I mentioned earlier. It was held in 2000, 2 years after the mayors death in the crash mentioned above that was to drum up publicity for the event.
Grumman Albatross
Grumman Goose
Piaggio Royal Gull
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Twin Bee
Lake Renegade
BE-12 & BE200 were meant to display but didn't get CAA permission.
British Hovercraft Corporation AP1-88
Then you had flying:
Hurricane - BBMF
Canberra - WK163
Swordfish - RNHF
Tornado F3
EH101 Merlin
Sea Fury WH588 - later crashed with a fatality.
Harrier GR7
9 Tiger Moths
Nimrod MR2P
S61N - HMCG
Sea King HAS6 - RN
FM2 Wildcat
F6F Hellcat
F7F Tigercat
F8F Bearcat
Red Arrows
Jaguar GR3
Lynx HAS3
Not a bad line up for a free airshow. A shame it only happened once.
Grumman Albatross
Grumman Goose
Piaggio Royal Gull
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Twin Bee
Lake Renegade
BE-12 & BE200 were meant to display but didn't get CAA permission.
British Hovercraft Corporation AP1-88
Then you had flying:
Hurricane - BBMF
Canberra - WK163
Swordfish - RNHF
Tornado F3
EH101 Merlin
Sea Fury WH588 - later crashed with a fatality.
Harrier GR7
9 Tiger Moths
Nimrod MR2P
S61N - HMCG
Sea King HAS6 - RN
FM2 Wildcat
F6F Hellcat
F7F Tigercat
F8F Bearcat
Red Arrows
Jaguar GR3
Lynx HAS3
Not a bad line up for a free airshow. A shame it only happened once.
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