By JONI M. FISHER Known as the fun rating, seaplane flying has an adventurous allure. Seaplane pilots venture into hard-to-reach places, such as villages in Alaska, fishing spots in Canada, Florida swamps, Amazon rivers, small bays, and Caribbean islands. The 22nd Annual SUN ‘n FUN Seabirds Splash-In today on Lake Agnes near Fantasy of Flight […]
seaplanes
Seaplane LSAs take off
Many have now heard that the Light-Sport Aircraft industry achieved an impressive benchmark in its first decade. As the newest aviation segment approaches its 10th birthday in the summer of 2014, airplane designers have created and gained FAA acceptance for 134 models, a pace of more than one new design every month for 10 years […]
Upgrades slated for KPTN seaway
Upgrades to the 4,500 foot seaway at the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport (KPTN) in Patterson, Louisiana, are set to begin Nov. 4. The upgrades begin with the construction of a new, additional concrete ramp for launching and retrieval of straight float aircraft, which will be overlaid by wood for use by amphibious aircraft. In […]
Campground reopened at LRG
LINCOLN, Maine — The Town of Lincoln has reopened the former private aviation campground on the banks of the Penobscot River at the Lincoln Regional Airport (LRG) in Maine. David Lloyd, the town’s public works director and airport manager, was instrumental in convincing the town council that the property should stay intact to offer recreational […]
Texas airport looks to become seaplane haven
Joey Baker says he never met a pilot who didn’t want a seaplane rating. Working off that premise, he’s hoping that Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport (SLR) in Texas will become a destination for seaplane pilots across the United States. “There’s a big gap in the middle of the United States,” he says he’s been told […]
Seaplane helps pilot commune with nature
Austin Watson was enamored with aviation from an early age, but it took a while for him to find the time to get his wings. “I think I built every model plane there was in the local store when I was a kid,” Watson mused. “Dad asked me if I wanted to learn to fly […]
Embracing the seaplane lifestyle
Not many people can say they pursued their seaplane rating out of necessity, but Greg Corrado from Port Orchard, Wash., can. He always had an interest in aviation but it wasn’t until he reached his 40s that he had both the time — and a financial reason — to pursue his wings. “My wife Mary […]
Fantasy of Flight to host Splash-In
For the fifth year in a row, Fantasy of Flight will once again host the Splash-In of the 39th annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In & Expo, held in nearby Lakeland, Fla., April 9-14. The Splash-In site at Lake Agnes, adjacent to Fantasy of Flight, will be operational Wednesday, April 10, through Friday, April 12. […]
Grounded Hogs Dinner slated
The Washington Seaplane Pilots Association (WSPA) will hold its annual Grounded Hogs Dinner Feb. 22. “It’s going to be a fantastic event, and by all measure it will be the best ever,” noted Gary Engard of the WSPA board, noting that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is once again co-sponsor of the dinner, which […]