Tuesday, February 09, 2010   
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Bonnie on Floats
Author: Bob Aberle   |  Added: 11/1/2004
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Page 4 : Floats  

I then attached this brass water rudder to the 3/32 inch wire again using the Radio Shack silver solder and paste. With this arrangement the BONNIE taxies easily at close to idle speeds (photos 25 and 26), which is what you want. In flight, the added drag of the water rudder on the end of the long wire went unnoticed. The instruction sheet showed the use of a fixed rudder extension on the lower side rear of the fuselage. They claimed that the aircraft might yaw in flight without this added fixed fin area. I didn’t do that and quite frankly, it proved unnecessary.

 
Photo 27    Photo 28

With the combined AXI brushless motor and the FMA/Kokam Li-Poly battery pack, the BONNIE is a fast and responsive performer. Taking off from the water takes hardly more “ground run” than does taking off from a runway (photo 27). Flight performance seems hardly any different, despite the added drag and weight of the floats (photo 28).


Photo 29

I found the BONNIE-20 on floats to be a very “clean” aircraft in flight. On one occasion, I landed with the BONNIE pointing towards the beach (photo 29). I didn’t realize that, although on the water, it was still moving quite fast. Next thing I know the seaplane was skidding up on the wet beach front sand, ending up about 20 feet onto the shore! So be advised and try to land parallel with the beach so you can bleed off some of the landing speed. The float design seemed optimum in the sense that little water got up on to the aircraft itself. That keeps everything dry, as it should be.

The only nuisance part of this entire set up is the time it takes to revert back to land based operation. Removing the floats and placing the wheels back on the aircraft takes time. Realistically you would likely install the floats at the beginning of the summer and leave them on until the fall, at which time you would go back to the wheels for winter or cold weather flying. You may even install skis in place of the wheels for a real winter flying experience. (Ed Note: Bring lots of hot coffee if you try this.)

 
Photo 30   Photo 31

Was it fun to fly off the water on floats – you bet! Also with quiet electric power, you can fly at sunrise, on any lake, and never draw any attention – think of it!


Q

For more information on the BONNIE 20 on floats, visit both www.hobby-lobby.com

The Hobby Lobby catalog number for the 31 in. floats used in this article is PPF820.
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Here's what others said about this article:

  Chuck posted on 7/29/2009 12:46:00 AM
  The floats alone $135-175 !!!!

  The Editor's Response: Posted on 9/21/2009 12:50:58 PM
Floats usually involve fiberglassing and are therefore expensive to make. Even in China I guess. The Hangar 9 Saratoga 40 floats are also ~ $125 but very light and strong Regards, Frank Granelli Editor

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