SukhoiKid

My Feedback: (15)

Hey,
Over the summer I usually fly at a bigger lake about 30 min away from my home. When I start flying boats start coming all around me. I cant land because of two things. The waves and scared that I am going to hit someone. Have yawl had this same proble. lol. Now I just fly at my lake in my backyard.

jpg0529

Hello,
Yes, I fly at a lake in North Western Maine. Flagstaff Lake. This picture (if I can upload it) was taken early morning last fall. This represents a very small part of the lake. I spend 4 days a week during the summer at a campground just behind the right hand island.

Since I use electric seaplanes, I can go out early without disturbing anyone. Plus there are very few motor boats - mostly kayaks and canoes during the day. I have my kayak at the ready for the rescue efforts!

Quite a lot of fun. FYI - flying from snow is just as much fun and you can walk to rescue the plane!

Happy Flying,
Joe

SukhoiKid

My Feedback: (15)

Hey,
I like the picture. The pictures I showed above is my lake that is in my backyard. It is sooo nice. Only the geese make the waves lol.

Wayne22

My Feedback: (2)

It goes with the territory, you fly, and people come over to watch. The good thing is that it is a positive kind of attention you are getting...the bad thing - as you aluded to- is that they don't know what risks they are putting themselves into by boating in close to "your" flying area. Usually, at organized events, there is a PA system, and the CD asks/tells them to move away. Maybe rent a bull horn for the flying session and give it to your spotter......

exeter_acres

My Feedback: (2)

I haven't yet, but several people around here fly off of Lake Erie...

that big enough

I have heard stories of timing your take off and landings to use the waves!

richbran

Here in Holland there is lots of water, but crowded in summer with boats, swimmers, and those terribible waterscooters and what have You.
I limit my flying to spring & autumn. I have lotsa engineless stuff that like s to get out in summer...

Semi Retired Aviator

That`s a nice lake to have in your back yard Sukhoi. Is it on your property, or does your land back onto it?

Back home my property backs onto a small river, 80 meter frontage, but the steepness of the terrain and huge trees down each bank will preclude any float flying off it; well they will preclude any float flying without catastrophic results.

johnboyrc

Best time to fly is early in the mourning. Low winds if any, not many on the lake at the time, and peaceful (until the engine is fired!). Tried going out at the end of the day and drew crowds. If the sun isn't in your eyes in the mourning, I would shoot for that.
I hate to say it, but electrics are nice in the fact that the don't make noise like the nitros. Less noise=less crowds. But me, I'll stick to my four stroke.

seaplane

I fly on Lake Erie with no problems of crowds, but the condition of the water can be a problem. I've gone out early in the morning before the wind picks up, to find long rollers coming in. If you hit these rollers at the wrong time, they will launch you before you have enough air speed! I prefer to fly in ponds with a little chop, as the chop helps the floats break loose.

britbrat

I fly on the Ottawa River & Lake Huron. Waves can be a problem in both cases. I also avoid flying if the wind is off-shore.

Dan Taylor

My Feedback: (2)

We fly off the lake in front of Mendenhall Glacier ,usually the wind come down off the glacier in the morning and then goes the other way in the afternoon,
In the winter its frozen and is not a bad place to fly until about 11:00 when all the skaters, skiers, snowmobilers and what have you show up and want to play right where youv'e cleaned the snow off the ice.
Oh in the summer we have the commercial rafting companys to deal with.
there is a photo on my gallery, sorry i haven't figured out how to insert them
maybe I have

Neo02

Travelling for competition I had the chance to fly on a variety of lakes, from small to very big. Lake Lugano and Lake Constance (Switzerland) are among the biggest we've flown on, last year we had the chance to fly on Lac Du Bourget in France, a wonderful place! Some pics.

Regards,
-Fabrizio

Pics: #1 in France, #2 at Lake Constance, #3 in Lugano, where we usually fly.

SukhoiKid

My Feedback: (15)

yea that lake is my backyard.

Tommygun

My Feedback: (2)

Anyone with a full scale boat should try this at least once! I'd occasionally bring my Ace Seamaster ARF out on my skiboat when I lived in Washington state. It was a blast going on American Lake (About 1.5 miles long I think) I'd have one guy drive the boat, then follow the boat with the airplane. My boat would run about 55 MPH, and the Seamaster would keep right up on only 2/3 throttle. The crowds can definately be an issue. Whenever we'd come to a stop to land the plane, the whole lake population had seen it and wanted a closer look- jetskis were in every possible place I'd consider landing. I plan on trying it again this summer on the Delaware River.