Every time we go out flying – wherever you are – you have to do a pre-flight review. We have done it so many times that it is almost ritualistic. We each have our assigned “roles.” I unload the van and he puts the stuff in the plane (weight and balance).
Pledge instead of windshield wipers
Bill checks the oil and cleans the windows. I take off the ropes and pump the floats. Etc. For those not familiar with a seaplane, each float has 8 compartments and each compartment has a hole in which a pump is placed and water is pumped out – if there is any. Water in a float is not good – it is unnecessary weight. Depending on which float it is in – a lot of water can cause you to crash. We were stealhead fishing years ago and taxing up the shallows of a remote lake to a parking place when we punctured a hole in the float and took on lots of water. We carry a patch kit, but that wasn’t holding too well. We got airborne as quickly as we could and had to take the plane out of the water to get it permanently repaired. Fortunately, we were at a place where we could depart quickly. We carry a lot of survival gear, in case we go down and live through it, but we also carry a lot of things specific to that day’s activities. It goes in, it comes out, it goes back in, it comes back out … all in one day’s adventure. We have a U-shaped dock which we built – more than once over the years. It has its pluses and its minuses – very nice in 50+knot winds. However, the plane has to be backed out of it – which can be tricky with ropes in high or strange winds.
Pumping 1 of 18 floats
A light load still in the van
Warming up in place - when winds are right
