Warbird Information Exchange

I've always been told breaks on. I have no personal experience with this. It has just been the advice I've been given for if, or when I may try it. The physics seem to make sense to me. I know a few bush pilots. I guess the real trick is using this method to get in and out of very small sand/gravel bars. Decelerate on the water role out on the land. The difficult part in this is releasing the breaks the moment one reaches the shore. The opposite method is used to get out. Get up speed on the land, lock the breaks when you touch water, continue to accelerate while hydroplaning until you can get off. I'm sure big, soft, smooth tires help in this maneuver. I think the film "Big Rocks, Long Props," has some footage of this. It also has footage of lots of other crazy things you can do with an airplane.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

This is a quote from supercub.org by one of the 'long props/big rocks' guys:

I have tried both ways (brakes applied or not applied) and do not notice a huge difference either way. I do not have the brakes applied when I am doing it, I am always ready for a forward pitch during transition from water to firm ground. I am ready with controls(elevator), brakes or power what ever it takes to make it come out right. You can not master this in a weekend, some fluff takes longer then that .

My guess is that I spend as much time landing in the water as landing on solid ground. So if I only fly once a week and do 40 landings & half use water of some sort that is 1000 landings a year and I have been doing the water thing for 3 years or so. I know this is a short time if someone has been flying for 50 years but I also know that I probably do more landings in one year then the average pilot may do in 10 or 20 years. There have been times in the last 3 years when I have flown 3 or 4 times a week (120-160 T.O. and Landings in a weeks time).


Both ways work but brakes off is sop.

Steve G

I'm glad we have the voice of experiance. I was just about to write a disclamer, warning not to try this just because I wrote of the way I heard to to do it. like I said I've never tried it, I've never seen it first hand. I guess the real advice is find someone who knows how to accomplish this, and make them show you (sit on the beach and watch). If they come back, then give it a shot with them.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Curtis, those things on the wheels are brakes. Breaks are what you might get in parts of your airplane or your body if you try this and mess up. I have seen video of a Super Cub and'or Husky doing this, but I would not want to try it in much else.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

After my son watched the long props/big rocks video he was all hot to do that in a Cub. I wouldn't let him.

Steve G

Bill, Ar yew saing thate aftr for yeres uv colage, eye stil kan't speel?

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."