FLOATPLANES AT LAKE NARRACAN

Graeme Blackman was the first to try with 2 different models on 2 different occasions but was unsuccessful in both attempts. The first successful float plane take off from Lake Narracan was at 7.00pm on Wednesday 03/01/01. Alan Male, the Club President was flying a 110% Sweet Stik with an OS91 4stroke engine and this model is a proven flier that is well powered so Alan made and fitted some floats and you can see the results in the picture below. The only problem was in steering as there is no water rudder and it was found that the normal rudder was not efficient in turning the model in the wind. Alan made and fitted a Water Rudder and the model was flown again with great success.

Ian Milligan fitted floats to his Red Zephyr and tried but did not succeed and several other members have built floatplanes and some have not flown them at this time.

The Lake was emptied in April ’02 and April’03 for work on the Dam Gates & Wall and plans were made to erect a jetty for floatplanes. A Grant was obtained from the Latrobe Shire and the building of this Jetty was started at Lake Narracan on Saturday 14/9/02 when the 10 posts were put into the ground, whilst the water level was still low. The "L" shaped Jetty was completed in November 2003.

The following pictures are of the club members first model floatplanes. We have come a long way since then !

Alan Males 110% Sweet Stik with OS 90 4stroke engine.

Frank Rushton’s "Laker" OS46FX engine. Was a good flier !

Ian Milligan’s Red Zephyr on floats OS46LA engine

Rod Hilsley’s Water Rat with Thunder Tiger 91 engine, Well powered !

Rainbow 30 on floats with OS46FX engine - Wayne Lewis

Mike Schaarschmidt’s Cessna Trainer – MDS61 engine

Dale Carstein – Trainer wing on home made Fuselarge – OS46LA engine

Bill Burrows Pizazz came to grief when the stablizer broke off during its test flight off water.

The model had been flown several time with wheels and we think the air flow from the floats may have caused the stablizer to break during a loop. The elevator is still intact. The floats broke on impact with the water.

To see more up to date photo’s of float planes at Lake Narracan try this link-- http://modelfloatplanes.myphotoalbum.com/