Homebuilt/kit Flyingboat

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Goodmorning
Saw this particular aircraft in the 1950's and early 1960's in Maple, Ontario, Canada.
It was of German design and I fell in love with it.
Two place Amphibian with tailwheel.  Open cockpit and was powered by a VW engine.
I lost thirty years of pictures so I can't remember the wing configuration.  I can not remember if the engine was set up as a pusher or tractor configuration.
Have not tried any Experimental Aircraft Association sites as of yet, that is my next stop.
I was wondering if anyone in Europe would remember seeing something that I have just described?
Would also be interested in the plans to build.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Hagar]

I'll have a good punt round for this particular aircraft later. Meanwhile, these might interest you.
http://coot-a.freeyellow.com/
http://www.seawindeurope.ision.co.uk/

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

WOW Thanks Hagar appreciate those links.

Cheers...Happy Landings....Doug

[Hagar]

Not German or open cockpit but this looks interesting. The Spencer Aircar. http://dougnlina.home.mindspring.com/Home.html

Overview of the Spencer Aircar

The Spencer Aircar Model S-12-E is the twelfth aircraft designed by Percival Hopkins Spencer (1897-1995), designer of the Republic RC-3 Seabee.  The basic design dates back to World War II  with Aircar #1  which Spencer designed, built and flew in 1941.

PS. I did wonder if this could be your own site.
Doug's (New) Unofficial Spencer Air-Car Home Page

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Thanks Hagar

Very very interesting site!

Always wanted to fly a Seabee as we had two of them where I was.  It seemed like a large aircraft compared to a Cessna 172 at the time.  The two owners would not rent them out.

The aircraft I am looking for looked more like a small boat with a deck at the front...it sure looked like tongue and groove hardwood to me and polished just like a hardwood floor.   The cockpit was side by side and open.  There was a small storage area enclosed behind the cockpit again deck like and very highly polished.
I can remember the main gear was right beside the crew but not sure how it worked.  There was a tailwheel and water rudder.  I know it had an aircooled VW engine.
The owners were German and had it shipped here.  They owned/operated a bakery for years in Toronto.
That is about all I can remember...BUT...sure would like to try and build one.

Thanks for the interest...Cheers...Doug

[Hagar]

[quote]The aircraft I am looking for looked more like a small boat with a deck at the front...it sure looked like tongue and groove hardwood to me and polished just like a hardwood floor.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Gosh Hagar I am sure the owners built it from a kit in Germany.  My career was just starting then and yup it was a long time ago.  I had thousand of pictures and films from all over North America from fly-ins and lost them all in a fire.  Was away for three weeks  and came home and no house!  They were sure it was burglarized prior to the fire.
The airport that it was at is long gone now as well,  that was Maple Ontario.
I will continue to keep looking But I really appreciate your interest.


Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Hagar]

OK, I'll keep looking but this might take a while. Shame about that fire but sounds like you lost everything. I also lost all my old photos & my flying/gliding logbooks but that was after a divorce & several moves.

[Ivan]

sure it isnt this one (or a variant)?

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Thanks Ivan that is one nice looking bird .

But the one I saw only had one VW engine and was open cockpit all wood (tongue and groove) I think.
Also the front deck lacked a top hatch and was not quite as convex.  The seating was also side by side.

Very nice aircraft Ivan what is the name of it?

Cheers....Happy Landings....Doug

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Thanks Hagar:  The aircraft Ivan just posted would probably be close to being the right size.  Also does the wheels on Ivans look like they retract or are they to move the aircaft down to the water?  The aircraft I am talking about the wheels actually retracted.

Sorry to hear about your pictures and log book.  You probably are like me...write every little detail down about a flight ....good or bad.  

Log Books are memories.

Cheers....Happy Landings...Doug

[Hagar]

[quote]Sorry to hear about your pictures and log book.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Hagar did Cecil Pashley have anything to do with the Royal Air Force and the British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP)?
Royal Canadian Air Force Station Trenton now Canadian Forces Base Trenton was home to the BCATP.
Losing a Log Book is always a loss as it contains so many memories.  
Why do you not start flying again?  I think you would enjoy it and one is never to old.
I started Bush Flying, then Military, then Commercial and now Recreational.  Still do the odd Commercial Ferry Flight.
I have had three Cessna 172's, a Cessna 337 and a Piper Apache.  Made money on all of them when I sold them.  Oh and Two Land Rovers Model 88s which I used to fly comming home in the wee hours of the morn from the flying club LOL.  Now I am older and wiser and do that type of flying at this desk!
That is why I want to build this particular aircraft...I have a certain amount of time on my hands and this is the perfect area for a light amphibian with the millions of lakes within a stones throw away.
Thanks for your interest...Cheers..Happy Landings..Doug

[Hagar]

[quote]Hagar did Cecil Pashley have anything to do with the Royal Air Force and the British Commonwealth Air Training Program (BCATP)?
Royal Canadian Air Force Station Trenton now Canadian Forces Base Trenton was home to the BCATP.
Losing a Log Book is always a loss as it contains so many memories.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Well Hagar most of my flying has been from the Great Lakes to the Artic and I am very naive about European flying.
Are there still what I would call grassroots airports in Britain?  Do flying clubs still exist and participate in flying activities rather than social activities?  Here we do poker runs (usually visit four airports and draw one card at each) sometimes a light lunch is offered by hosting club or airport.  We also do fly-in lunches or breakfasts or just plain mystery flights.
I think grassroot flying is on the come back here especially with all the ultra lights and homebuilts.
That is another reason I want to build....just to get back to the grassroots of flying.
I think that amphibian I am looking for is just the right bird for me.
Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug