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Getting a Seaplane Rating in Moline, Illinois, October 1991
Edited by David Barth January 2016. Photos were taken by David Barth and Jim Goetsch.
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| David Barth with Seaplane, Moline, Illinois, October 1991. |
At the time I was doing a lot of instructing myself, back in Denver, and I was comfortable flying single engine aircraft. After five hours of instruction, I received my seaplane rating. We flew down the Mississippi River which was perfect for seaplane instruction. Since I was competent to fly, the instruction concentrated on landing and taking off from water, including water taxiing on and off the "step." Jim had me do "Splashes and Dashes" (landings and takeoffs like touch and gos on a runway) down the Mississippi. The technique to learn was judging the planes height above the water, holding it steady at a constant attitude in relation to the horizon, allowing it to settle onto the water, and then taking off to repeat the sequence.
After a couple of hours, I made a lot of landings and takeoffs and became comfortable flying from water. Unfortunately, I was never able to use my seaplane expertise.
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| Jim Goetsch with his Seaplane, Moline, Illinois, October 1991. |
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| David Barth with Seaplane, Moline, Illinois, October 1991. |
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| David Barth with flight log book, Moline, Illinois, October 1991. |