Monday, June 22, 2009

Dolly Take-off

Ever see a float plane without wheels take-off from land?

Thought you might like to see what kind of aviation related things they do in Prince George, B.C. You have seen float planes come and go...but bet you haven't seen one take off like this. This video was taken in Prince George....got to give the pilot full marks for guts. I imagine you only get one shot at this... notice the fire truck following them... they obviously had a few doubts themselves.

When a floatplane is landed on the grass and taken to the hangar for maintenance, obviously it has to depart once again. Landing a floatplane on grass is easier than becoming airborne on grass. This is where 'Dolly' comes in. Put the aircraft on a 'dolly', fire it up, tow it down the runway, and, once a certain speed is attained, push the throttle to 'Warp Factor 9', and you are airborne.

Get ready, here is how the good people at Hill Aircraft Service Ltd. in Prince George, B.C., accomplish a 'dolly take-off'!'

4 comments:

firstfleet said...

That is one heck of a buddy start!

Cal Taylor

Papa Hans said...

Thanks for checking in, Cal.

firstfleet said...

A friend in Olympia, WA has a buddy who launches a float-equipped Super Cub from a wheeled cart, without even towing the thing. He says it is a little bit dicey, so the driver needs to be sorta good.

Papa Hans said...

Wow! "Sorta good?????" I'd like to see a video of that!