For all you air heads| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

nickel_dime HalfDork
6/10/08 1:04 p.m.

These guys are nuts!!!!!!

ClemSparks SuperDork
6/10/08 1:08 p.m.

Looks cool...

But reminds me of a chapter of "Catch 22" that is rather unpleasant.

foxtrapper SuperDork
6/10/08 4:12 p.m.

Pretty sure it's not as risky as you'd think. As I recall, at those speeds and those angles the water is effectively a very hard surface. That's why you can skip rocks.

Dr. Hess SuperDork
6/10/08 4:14 p.m.

What happens if there's a wave?

RX Reven' GRM+ Memberand New Reader
6/10/08 4:39 p.m.

Doc...notice that the water is extra, extra, extra smooth.

I've thought about setting a water speed record by basically dragging something along the water from an airplane.

Outragious spirit of the law violation be damned

NYG95GA Dork
6/10/08 5:08 p.m.

WOW.

That's either insane or inspired; I can't decide which.

Salanis HalfDork
6/10/08 5:35 p.m.

Actually, that's a manuever that anyone who learns to fly a tail-dragger has to practice. You practice landing coordination by flying the plane onto the runway, holding it there, and taking it off again. Only difference is, these guys are doing it on water, in formation.

I don't know the potential hazards of accidentally dropping a wheel into that lake though, as stated earlier, at 90+ mph that lake is probably like touching a hard surface.

Doesn't make it any less cool though.

Still, the ultimate in airplane control is Bob Hoover.

Dr. Hess SuperDork
6/10/08 6:13 p.m.

Yeah, I noticed the water was pretty smooth. I've seen it a lot smoother than that, though.

cghstang New Reader
6/10/08 8:55 p.m.

Did any body else think this thread was going to be about old BMW motorcycles?

dyintorace GRM+ Memberand Reader
6/10/08 8:56 p.m.

I was thinking 993 Porsches and earlier.

RealMiniDriver Dork
6/11/08 12:27 a.m.

cghstang wrote: Did any body else think this thread was going to be about old BMW motorcycles?

Yes.

GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/11/08 7:56 a.m.

Cool move, I've seen it before and tried it in simulators...not easy. I can get it done on land, but I think the sim-water grabs my plane like a glue trap

Oh and I can tell you that water IS much like concrete at any decent speed, so I expect the wheels would bounce off, much like on land, unless the plane really plunges into it.

Duke Dork
6/11/08 4:17 p.m.

foxtrapper wrote: Pretty sure it's not as risky as you'd think. As I recall, at those speeds and those angles the water is effectively a very hard surface.

Yeah - until that plane dips about 12" or the water bumps up about 12", like (say) the wake from a motorboat. Then the fun is over as soon as that tire gets about centerline-deep.