A SEAPLANE PILOTS ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION • NO. 222 • $3.95 JUL/AUG 2017 Coastal Alaska Daytripping Cross-Country Kitfox AirVenture's SeaVenture 12 WATER FLYERS July/August 2017 • No. 222 FEATURES Daytripping Coastal Alaska in the Gweduck By Burke Mees LOW AND SLOW AS A CAREER Every so often, an especially memorable day of 18flying comes along, and the author recently had DAYTRIPPING ALASKA one of these while making a flight from Juneau to 18 Anchorage in the Gweduck. They covered a lot of ground that day, and discovered that, while Alaska is a large state, it is still a small place. To AirVenture and Back, Slowly By Joel Mapes 2017 became the year the author finally flew his 24homebuilt Kitfox on floats to AirVenture. Weeks SIGHTSEEING IN THE GWEDUCK of flight planning, making reservations, meeting new friends online, and prepping the plane culmi- nated in launching from KPWT headed to the Vette FLYING TO AIRVENTURE Seaplane Base on Lake Winnebago. 24 AirVenture's SeaVenture The happy storm of humanity, aircraft, trade show 30displays and campers that is Wittman Field during EAA’s AirVenture stands in stark contrast to the quiet oasis of the Vette Seaplane Base just a few TAKING IT SLOW IN A HOMEBUILT KITFOX miles to the east on the shores of Lake Winnebago. DEPARTMENTS AIRVENTURE 30 2 Exec. Director’s Message AirVenture 4 SPA in Action Corn Roast 7 SPA Field Directors Listing 8 Briefs ICON "Humbled" 12 Water Flyers Low, Slow, and on Floats 14 Seaplane Fundamentals Having Fun 36 Splash-ins Marion Lake, Alaska 38 Calendar Complete Schedule 44 Snapshots THE SEAPLANE OASIS COVER: The Gweduck—a modern interpretation of the Grumman Goose—photographed over Alaska Cby Ashleigh OOliver. NTENTS Executive Director's Message AirVenture 2017 was a remarkable easily is the largest single activity the event, beginning with the weather. It association undertakes each year, would was about as perfect as you could hope not be possible without the tremendous for in Oshkosh over a midsummer two- support of the sponsoring companies and 3859 Laird Blvd. week span—that’s how long I’m there organizations: Aerocet, Wipaire, AOPA, Lakeland, FL 33811 each year to set up, manage, and pack Progressive Aerodyne, Falcon Insurance, Toll-free: 888/SPA-8923 Voice: 863/701-7979; Fax: 863/701-7588 up SPA’s presence. The great weather Hartzell, Icon, Clamar Floats, Acorn [email protected] contributed to big attendance numbers. Welding, and Seaplane Safety Institute. www.seaplanepilotsassociation.org EAA reported some 10,000 aircraft We thank them for their many years of Awere on the ground at Wittman during loyal support. SEAPLANE PILOTS ASSOCIATION AirVenture. Remarkable! The focus of seaplane activities at OFFICERS The show—the fly-in aircraft and AirVenture is, of course, the seaplane EXEC. DIRECTOR Steven McCaughey trade show displays, the many fly-bys, base on Lake Winnebago. The base was CHAIRMAN Phil Lockwood the afternoon and night airshows—was noticeably busy this year, both with arriv- BOARD PRESIDENT Stephen Williams VICE PRESIDENT Lyle Panepinto tremendous. I don’t know how it is pos- ing and departing seaplanes and with TREASURER Gordon B. Richardson sible for AirVenture to get bigger and visitors who bus over from Wittman SECRETARY Mark Futch better each year, but somehow it does. Field for the day. The seaplane base is a wonderful venue to introduce many BOARD MEMBERS hundreds of aviation enthusiasts to the Mark Baker unique pleasures of water flying. The John Drury John Gowey large corps of volunteers who prepare Bruce Hinds and work the temporary base during AirVenture deserve special recognition SEAPLANE PILOTS for their dedication and passion. FOUNDATION OFFICERS This issue of Water Flying includes CHAIRMAN Phil Lockwood a photo essay of AirVenture, as well as PRESIDENT Stephen Williams coverage of the Corn Roast. If you have TREASURER Harry Shannon not been to AirVenture or SPA’s Corn SECRETARY Walter Windus Roast, make plans now to be there in SPECIAL ADVISORS 2018. And please consider volunteer- Robert A. Bryan ing some time to help make next year’s Robert Murray show an even more remarkable success David Quam for SPA. EDITOR Mark Twombly Finally, I thank Ben Coleman for hid- ART DIRECTOR Susie Holly Every type of flying machine is repre- ing my cell phone while I enjoyed the GRAPHIC DESIGNER JT Holly sented, from the most inventive home- Corn Roast with 700 members of my AD SALES Chester Baumgartner built, lovingly restored vintage flyer, aviation family. Afterwards, Ben had MEMBERSHIP MGR. Ann Gaines and brand-new production aircraft to to break the news that my father had Copyright © 2017 Seaplane Pilots Association. the latest military hardware. Any per- passed away back in Florida. So, a shout All rights reserved. Water Flying (ISSN:0733- son or company who has an aircraft to out to you, Dad, for providing me with 1754) is published bimonthly (January/Febru- show off or a product, service, or even the support and guidance that made this ary; March/April; May/June; July/August; Sep- an idea to peddle to the general aviation wonderful life possible. You passed on a tember/October; November/December) by the community will be at Wittman Field in deep love of adventure and an endless Seaplane Pilots Association, 3859 Laird Blvd., Oshkosh in late July. hunger to learn. You understood that Lakeland, FL 33811. Periodicals postage paid at But the most remarkable thing about it’s more than okay, it’s a gift to be a Lakeland, Florida and additional mailing offic- AirVenture is what makes it all work, strangebird who doesn’t follow a beaten es. Postmaster: Send address changes to Wa- and that is the people. This is especially path in life. I will honor your memory as ter Flying magazine, 3859 Laird Blvd., Lakeland, true of the volunteers, the staff, the I continue to pursue my dreams. FL 33811. Membership fees for the Seaplane sponsors and the donors who devote Pilots Association are $55 a year, of which $25 is for annual subscription to Water Flying. Send their time, energy and passion to mak- all manuscripts to Editor, Water Flying maga- ing SPA’s AirVenture presence such a zine, 3859 Laird Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33811. Rea- resounding success. sonable care will be taken in handling scripts, We had a crackerjack team on the but the magazine assumes no responsibility for ground this year. Joyce, Ernie, Christie, material submitted. Peter, Mary, Ann, Mark and Phil—you are my A Team, along with the more Water Flying magazine is accepting than 18 volunteers who came together to articles and photos for publication! work the Corn Roast. That event, which Technical articles especially welcome. Email [email protected] 2 Water Flying July/August 2017 July/August 2010 Water Flying 3 SPA in Action Tavares, FL, which calls itself “America's Seaplane City,” is the site of SPA's 2017 Adventure Week. Participants will have a variety of seaplanes to fly out of the large downtown seaplane base. Key West Resort hotel is adjacent to the seaplane base. planned for the week are a tour of the and worldwide. If you have photos that SPA'S 2017 Progressive Aerodyne factory where the you would like to submit for us to use Searey is manufactured (and a demo from your specific event, please let us ADVENTURE WEEK ride in a Searey), a visit to Wipaire’s know. seaplane maintenance facility at nearby Anything seaplane related, whether IN TAVARES, FL Leesburg International Airport, and it’s an aerial or water shot will be con- evening receptions and dinners. SPA sidered. Multiple or single seaplanes in We’ve had an encouraging response also will hold its 2017 annual Member the photo or perhaps people, pets, or from members interested in par- Meeting Friday, October 20 from 10:00 scenery in the background are a plus. ticipating in SPA’s second annual a.m.-1:00 p.m. in the Picnic Pavilion We also are looking for unique angles Adventure Week, which will take place next to the Seaplane Base. on the aircraft. in “America’s Seaplane City”—Tavares, There will be plenty of free time Please indicate what type of aircraft Florida, on Monday through Friday, during the week to enjoy other water is in the photo as well as the event and October 16-20, 2017. sports such as kayaking and boating, location. We also need the name of the The core activity for the week will or exploring the area including near- person who took the photo and type of be flying in a variety of float and hull by Mount Dora, an historic lakeshore floats, if known. seaplanes—a Piper J3 Cub, Cessna 182 town with many antique shops and Please understand that we will not be and 206, Maule, Searey, Aircam, ICON restaurants. Also, the Orlando area able to use every photo submitted, so be A5, and a Twin Bee. Participants will with Disneyworld, Universal Orlando, sure to send us your best, sharpest, most have the opportunity to fly as PIC (with SeaWorld Orlando and other attractions colorful and highest-resolution photo instructor or demonstration pilot) on is an easy drive from Tavares. for consideration. sightseeing, lunch, and/or instructional SPA will plan and coordinate activi- Email photos to Ann Gaines at anng@ flights if so desired. We will soon have ties during the week, including flights. seaplanes.org. ■ a complete list of aircraft that will be Tavares Adventure Week participants available to fly during Adventure week, are responsible for their expenses includ- and pricing. ing hotel, seaplane rental, and food and SPA'S AIRVENTURE Jones Brothers & Co.