block30

I saw on the forums here a picture posted of a 20ish foot boat with a flat top installed, for remote control airplanes, probably from the 70s/80s. On youtube, I see people trying the same thing today. So I wondered, with the airshow routine of the plane taking off and landing from the top of trucks and semis, has anyone tried this on the water but with a real airplane?

I know insurance companies wouldn't be wild about the idea, but what about the legality? Would it even be legal? And what if someone owns a helicopter?

I could see the FAA using careless and wreckless, not sure how the 500 foot bubble rule would be applied...And would the Coast Guard (or whoever regulates the water) need to give some blessings?

FlyJSH

If one were 3, 12, or 24 miles off shore (depending on which definition of "territorial waters" is used), I would think one could do whatever he wanted.

Tom a Hawk

You mean like a big pontoon boat with a flat top getting up to say 55 and having a cub land on it at that speed like they do at the airshows? if its legal to get that close to the truck on land i dont see why it wouldnt be legal to do it on a (closed) waterway as part of an airshow. but im sure theres paperwork required for either one. cool idea though.

N9373M

Eclipse (yacht) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eclipse has two helicopter pads, 24 guest cabins, two swimming pools, several hot tubs and a disco hall.[7] It is also equipped with three launch boats, and a mini-submarine that is capable of submerging to 50 metres. Approximately 70 crew members are needed to operate the yacht.


Great Q!

block30

....and a disco hall...

Wow..sure don't wanna leave home without that!

I also watched on TV about a British gazillionaire and I believe, a South African guy, who both have a private air force of retired military jets among other planes. Others on the forums have probably seen the same shows. I am sure there are many others of the same brand throughout the world with both money and a flair for flying adventures. Isn't there also, a British guy who has a chauffered tank drive him around town? So given these extravagences, a little carrier would have already been tried...(so I figured)

I thought for sure someone of even more modest wealth would have hacked the top off of some boat or ship in exchange for a deck, in order to do a few carrier landings...shoot I think that would be just as fun as flying the jets! And also, given the crazy performance of some light sports/experimentals, not much real estate would be needed. If my memory serves, there is a Youtube video of a tail dragger getting off terra firma in something like 10 feet. Couple that performance with 20-30 knots worth of boat speed, 10-20 of ambient airflow (wind), voila, and 30/40 knots of free airflow! Maybe we need to call up Red Bull...

Finally, I am surprised this didn't get flamed mercilessly...

N9373M

You pays yo money and you takes yo chances. I get thread shock too sometimes.

Happy New Year.