Pacific Coast Models has a 1/48 CANT Z.506 resin kit for $195.95. They have a Sunderland Mk III Flying Boat for $295.95, too.
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Hey Ranger,
Thanks for the heads up! Unfortunately, I’m after a 1/72 Z.511 which is a bit different than the Alcione. Those PCM kits look nice, but they’re big, and expensive!
Cheers,
Alex
Expensive? Yes. You have me there!
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A quick google search with “DC-3 floats”
I think someone has mentioned structural integrity, not of the floats, but of the aircraft that is 60(?) years old. Can she handle the weight of the floats and the pounding she is gonna take on landing?
Sure be a shame to see those brand new floats survive by smashing in the underside of the old gal.
W
Can’t comment on the structural integrity of the bird, that’s not our department. Someone else is working on the restoration/refurbishing of the aircraft.
We’re operating on the assumption that she’ll be good to go with her new shoes.
Hi,
The 2006 Air-Britain 2 vol set on the C-47/DC-3 has a nice side view drawing of the float equipped XC-47C as well as a picture of one (42-5671) of the five converted. Can scan and send if interested.
Beech18Bob
I’d want to get some kind of disclosure or release, protecting me against any liability, before I’d sign on on a project like this.
As someone who has chucked the occasional spanner at aircraft, both flying ones and restorations I agree with a lot of the above comments. BUT it’s this guys toys and cash so as Spencer Flack was quoted as saying when he was lambasted about painting his Spitfire red “when you have one you can paint it how you like”. (polite version) This guy has a B17 and a C47 that are not flying. he is prepared to put money into these aircraft and get them flying and also to get them flying as subtypes that many of us would never see otherwise. Damn huge good luck to the guy, I applaud his vision and wish him all success.
Now the sticky bit.
I personally (and I know I am stating the obvious here) would get in touch with anybody and everybody who had dealings with these conversions, Edo, Douglas (now Boeing?), The USN, USAF etc. Plans used by Edo and the services must still exist some place and I would try and get hold of these. this would in my humble opinion at least make the job of fabrication easier and as a tried and tested conversion MAY make certification easier too.
Good luck with the project, I doffs me cap to you sir. [tup]
If anyone has piccies of the floating B17 I’d love to see them.
All the best
Greg
I agree with ya, Gregers… it would probably be very helpful to get in touch with folks as Edo or even Wipaire… folks who have been making aircraft floats for a very long time.
According to this Edo product list, the C-47A used Edo 78-29400 floats. Might give a starting point for further research. I also notice that they have a float listed for the DC-2, as well… someone must have put on of those on floats at some time.
You are correct to mention that the guy holding the pursestrings is entitled to the aircraft he wants… I just can’t figure out why he’d want one. [%-)]
I can just imagine what the owner is going to go through, trying to get the FAA to issue him a supplemental type certificate for the float conversion. Just 'cause he builds it, doesn’t mean it’s legal to fly. Red tape has doomed many a worthy aircraft project.
Kevin
I seem to remember seeing pics and a movie of that particular aircraft (or one modified like it) several years ago being used as a bush plane in Canada just after the war. Might be worth a phone call, letter or e-mail to see what they have on file (or as Monk would say, “I could be wrong”).
Mlflyer
They don’t need to apply for a full STC (which is a supreme pain in the posterior to work thru). Just apply for an "In Field Approval (or "One Only STC). That only applies to one aircraft by manufacturer, model and serial number and carries no production approval. It’s somewhat quicker than a full STC and gets even quicker if you can provide data from a like modification previously installed by the Mfgr or IFA. A lot also depends upon the inspector you draw either at the FSDO or EMDO. The quickest IFA I ever got took only 60 days (approval for IFR operation of a GPS I’d installed) and the longest was a year and 3/4 (installation of a set of flaps on a stock J-3). In one case, the inspector was interested in the modification, in the other, the inspector didn’t see any need for the mod.
Ah yes, the great unknown variable when you visit the FSDO… what mood is the inspector/examiner in today? I’ve been there… CFI checkride. They manage to find an excuse to fail nearly 80% of CFI applicants their first time through. Guess what happened to me? [sigh]
The other fun one is when FSDO offices disagree with each other, get to bureaucratic wrestling, and trap pilots/owners/operators in the middle. Talk about a mess.
I have to admit, I totally forgot that you can get an IFA for just one airplane. [:I] Sounds like you have some ownership experience… what are you owning and/or flying these days?
Kevin
Actually, I’m on the maintenance side - been an A&P for 36 years and an AI for 33. I’m not currently working full time as a mechanic, just enough to keep both licences current. My current full time job is an electronics security tech for the Kansas National Guard (the salary and benifits are great). Giving serious consideration to retiring late this summer and going back to aviation full time (well, maybe 1/2 to 3/4 time). I haven’t flown for a few years because I have to rent (got my Private Pilot)and we’ve bought a house. I’ll probably renew my medical after I retire because a couple of my regular customers (one owns an Ercoupe and the other owns a 7AC) have expressed an interest in working a deal where they’ll put me on their insurance and allowing me to fly their planes and in return, I provide maintenance and inspections (and pay for my own fuel & oil).
Thought this may be of interest.
http://www.douglasdc3.com/float/float.htm
The aircraft in the link still exists as far as I can find out but whether she still has floats or not I don’t know yet. I’ll keep digging for you because this one has my attention.
All the best.
Greg
I’m almost positive that Edo made the floats for the C-47, and that they weren’t welded.
Is it April fools day already?
Bingo. It sounds like you are a small company and I suspect that a 1.8 mil job represents a significant amount of revenue. No wonder your boss can’t say no.
But if something goes wrong you will be sued. Not maybe, you will be. The cost of defense and liability if you lose could easily sink the company. As in gone.
I would not rest on a “couple of aeronautical courses.” I would not rest on any kind of loose agreement. All of the prior recommendations from other posters are good. CYA!!! Make sure you are covered six ways to Sunday, otherwise this is a huge risk.
I realize this responsibility lies with the upper management echelon, but at the end could mean your job. Harp on it.
Good luck.
And it’s not the guy building the DC-3 that will sue you, it’s some guy riding in it or that it fell on. The floats were a riveted structure.
EDO definitely built those floats. They will be on microfilm in their archives, as well as the attaching structure. Jay Frey was head of the float division for many years, and that is where I learned how the records are kept. EDO is primarily an electronics defense contractor now, so it is difficult to find anyone interested in old floats. I am pretty sure that the DC-3 on floats now that was flying in the northeast used floats found in storage that EDO built in WW II but were never in use. EDO did the floats and the testing on the F4F Wildcatfish as well.