The Shin Meiwa PS-1 and US-1A are large STOL aircraft designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and air-sea rescue (SAR) work respectively. The PS-1 was a flying boat which carried its own beaching gear on board, while the US-1A is a true amphibian.

In 1960, Shin Meiwa demonstrated a prototype flying boat, the UF-XS that featured a novel boundary layer control system to provide enhanced STOL performance. The company also built upon its wartime experience (as Kawanishi) to refine the Grumman Albatross hull that the aircraft was based on.

In cooperation with the JMSDF and the National Fire Agency, Shin Meiwa converted the first PS-1 prototype into a water-bombing test-bed; it could deliver a total of 185 tonnes of water, picked up 70km from base, to a site 10km away, in 3 hours 36 minutes. The proposed production version could deliver 315 tonnes to a site the same distance from its base before needing to refuel.

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Beriev Be-200 take off in gale
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1. The setting up of a special legal infrastructure to implement the development of this SPECIAL PURPOSE PROJECT which is the creation of the basic platform necessary for Seaplane Operations to come to Greece and become part of the main stream transportation industry.

This means no tendering processes for the acquisition of suitable locations and other exclusive treatment in acquiring permits, licenses, development partners, etc. The unencumbered one-stop-shop of an approval process without the usual back-and-forth.

2. The acquisition of key locations for the development of the main hub and sub hubs throughout the country. The chosen locations should be dealt to the project without tender and as part and parcel of making state assets available for lease for the sought after development of the Greek economy and creation of real jobs in the private sector and especially in this new industry.

3. The financing and building the SOP Project:

Mission: The SOP for Greece is intended to provide the basic infrastructure requirements to facilitate efficient and effective third party operations of Seaplanes throughout the Greek coastline, the islands and various points of third country access.

Corporate Organization: The entity that will build and operate the SOP will be organized as a private company and incorporated under the laws of Ireland with the objective to facilitate the implementation of private investment. A Greek subsidiary will be set up in Greece to receive Greek and/or EU state sponsored direct investment and/or loan guarantees. It will also implement and execute the plan on the ground to develop the SOP.

Sources of Capital: Investment in the project will be sought from private sources, public sources directly or through guarantees and/or sweat capital from contractors and other service providers. The company will issue its shares for funds and sweat capital it receives. The shareholders of the company will be its owners. The shareholders will appoint the Board and the CEO that will be responsible for the implementation of the plan to build the proposed project and run the resulting operations. A Business Plan will be available to make the case for financial projections based on revenue sources and operating expenses as well as future potential for growth and the viability and sustainability of operations and income growth for the company.

Proposed Infrastructure: The physical locations to build the terminals (hubs) will be leased from Greek State assets. These assets will consist of suitable locations in commercial ports, marinas and/or unused coastline at the designated areas best suited for the plan. The proposed infrastructure to be developed will consist of one Maintenance Facility, Terminal Structures, Floating Dock Systems, Fuel Storage Facilities, Fuel Distribution Tank Boats and IT Infrastructure. Add-ons, under special arrangements with providers, will be renewable energy solutions at the terminal (hub) locations. The main terminal and hub will be located at the Faliro Delta area, near down town Athens.The rest of the terminals will be strategically located in various coastal and island locations throughout Greece.

The expertise and know how to build this project as well as operate the resulting facilities and services will mainly come from outside of Greece and particularly from Canada until local expertise is developed in operating and maintaining the infrastructure and the aircraft that will come to provide the service.

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Only a brand new ultralight amphibia was displayed, many commentator found it takes after Dornier hydroplanes with its low horizontal swimming stabilizers. Considering its size, it’s humorous the plane was named “Flywhale”.

The maiden flight is expected for this summer, and the planned price is 125 thousand Euros.

The czech TL Ultralight brought again the amphibia version of their TL-3000 ultralight again, just like the year before. The plane can be operated from water since last autumn, as you can see in this video:

A photo of Icon’s stand.

Irene Dornier was also an exhibitor this year, but unfortunately only his limited edition flight jacket and other pilot accessories were displayed, not the Dornier S-Ray007 amphibia.

We also missed the float version of the new Savage Cruiser. You can find more photos of the expo at this gallery.

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The original zebra stripped plane was owned by a married couple, they used it during their huntings in Africa. The replica have based in Europe since 2010.

With it’s elegant cabin it was often referred as “The Explorer’s Air Yacht” . Behind the pilot 8 passengers were seated, and transported with 200 km/h, up to 1200 km distance.

You can watch the replica land and take of from Lake Lucerne on the following video.

Back in the thirties Sikorsky built 101 of this amphibia, besides numerous private owners the main operators were Pan American Airways an the US Army.

A czech model builder, Vaclav Janko made a radio controlled model of the S-38. You can watch it’s maiden flight below.

It’s nice to see this old timer in a picture with this swiss Twin Bee.

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Splash and go Dutsh Catalina
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Previous link:
Sikorsky S-38 Replika

You can see Grumman Duck on video.

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Suggested link:
Sun ‘n Fun

Last week Icon A5 amphibian aircraft flew on Lake Isabella, California.

The sales promotion to celebrate the launch of Microsoft Flight was a big hit in March.

Icon Aircraft took 42 amphibian deposits during the ten day promotion, bringing the A5 order book to position eight hundred.

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Suggested link:
ICON Aircraft

We hope we could meet the new plane on European waters as soon as possible.

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Dornier Do-24ATT on the water

Suggested link:
Dornier S-Ray 007

Competition organized by the International Sporting Club of Monaco.

Seaplane pilots competed under the conditions of four categories:

1) takeoff in calm water, in the port, to circle marking buyos
2) landing in calm water, in the port, coming in from the open sea
3) takeoff in rough water and
4) landing in rough water

Jules Fischer, a Belgian yachtsman and duck hunter, known in Italy for having flown his Gnome -powered Henry Farman around one of the landmark towers of Turin was the winner.

Eugéne Renaux, with a Maurice Farman powered by the customary 70-hp Renault was the second.

A bird’s-eye view of Monaco Harbour and surroundings taken from Renaux’s Maurice Farman aquaplane.

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The package deal was announced at the Singapore International Air Show, and covers six aircraft configured with straight floats for water based commercial operations. The first aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2014.

Spring of 2012 Seabird Airlines are flying to the one-of-a-kind bays of the Aegean and Mediterranean.

Seabird Airlines flights are operated by the ”De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter” Canadian Aircraft well known in the industry for their high safety and performance records.

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Suggested link:
Seabird Airlines

Lakeland Seaplane Tours is one of the smallest ‘airlines’ in the world, although plans are already afoot to increase the fleet of aircraft.

They are located at St Angelo Airport, Enniskillen based in the beautiful county of Fermanagh and has attracted passengers from Europe, Canada and further afield.

The operator has a current fleet of one Maule M-7-235B Super Rocket a high-wing five-seated STOL Amphibious Aircraft. They will accommodate two adults or two adults and a child (subject to weight to restrictions).

Lakeland Seaplane Tours flights range from pleasure and scenic flights, to weddings, historic trails and many more.

The operator offers two different types of tours Discovery and Explore. Discovery flights fly various routes which will take in local landmarks, heritage sites and other areas of culture.

Explore flights, as the name suggests, allows you the opportunity to not only fly the same routes as the Discovery package but to also de-board the aircraft and explore the local area.

As well as tours they we dedicate theirselves in Private flights for special occasions. These include Weddings, Engagements and Champagne picnics.

They work closely with the numerous waterside hotels in the area to provide you with Fly n Dine and Fly n Stay packages.

Lakeland Seaplane Tours works along side flying school, The Amphibious Flying Club, which offers Pilot training from basic PPL training to Sea plane Ratings.

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On Scottish waters
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Suggested links:
Lakeland Seaplane Tours
The Amphibious Flying Club