Sea plane with tail prop

mtworkowski@o · Jun 16, 2008

A friend of mine works at one of the local airports. Recently he spotted a seaplane with pontoons and front prop. But it had a prop behind the tail also. What the....? Who knows what this could be?

FredGarvin · Jun 17, 2008

The only thing that comes immediately to mind that has a pusher and a puller prop is the old Cessna Skymaster. That's not a seaplane though. I can think of a few puller prop seaplanes like the Lake Buccaneer, but I am at a loss right now. I'll have to do some searching.

mtworkowski@o · Jun 17, 2008

fred thanks for the reply. Interesting, right? I tried to send a picture but i'm not sure how. thanks again.

turbo · Jun 17, 2008

Got my interest up. Apparently, you could order the 337 Skymaster with sea-plane options including corrosion-resistant metals.

http://www.skymaster.clara.net/history.htm [Broken]

FredGarvin · Jun 17, 2008

If you have a picture, use imageshack to post a link to it here. I am definitely interested to see a picture of it and to find out what it is.

Mech_Engineer · Jun 17, 2008

Could it be the Dornier Seastar?

(Site is in German)
http://www.dornierseastar.com/seastar/beschreib/beschreib.html [Broken]

mtworkowski@o · Jun 17, 2008

No, but that is a cool plane. this one has a convetional prop and another high on the back. The pic I got is not very good but the friend that saw it was dead sober.

Mech_Engineer · Jun 17, 2008

You'll have to post the picture, but it kind of sounds like a Cessna O-2 Skymaster with custom-added pontoons or something.

mtworkowski@o · Jun 17, 2008

fred, the image I have was emailed to me and was taken on a cell phone cam. I already sent one but I didn't get your note. I don't know how to use imageshack. Send me an email. that's easier, isn't it?

Mech_Engineer · Jun 18, 2008

Photo-hosting sites are very easy to use, and there are many free ones out there.

www.imageshack.com

www.photobucket.com

mtworkowski@o · Jun 18, 2008

seaplane

sending pic

FredGarvin · Jun 18, 2008

I don't see a tail prop, but there shouldn't be one. That is a Cessna Caravan

http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/cessna_208.php

http://www.aviastar.org/pictures/usa/cessna_208.jpg

http://www.alaskawings.com/images/Carvn04.jpg

mtworkowski@o · Jun 18, 2008

I had it from the source that the thing had a tail prop.... I'll check back. If not, my apologies for the frakus. I do see something back there though.

Mech_Engineer · Jun 18, 2008

I'm not seeing a rear prop either. If it's got anything back there, it isn't a powered propellor.

mtworkowski@o · Jun 18, 2008

I'm making a phone call now.

mtworkowski@o · Jun 18, 2008

I hate when this happens. I got the right description with the wrong picture. Here's the right picture. I'm disappointed as i'm sure you are too. My apologies. but I still have the same question. What could this little prop be for?

mtworkowski@o · Jun 18, 2008

Also, I somehow unsubscribed to something here. what does that mean?

turbo · Jun 18, 2008

That's a Skymaster, but it is certainly not a float-plane. Cessna did offer Skymasters in that configuration, but this is a plain-vanilla version, by the looks of it.

Mech_Engineer · Jun 18, 2008

mtworkowski@o said: ↑

I hate when this happens. I got the right description with the wrong picture. Here's the right picture. I'm disappointed as i'm sure you are too. My apologies. but I still have the same question. What could this little prop be for?

Yup, Cessna O-2 Skymaster. The prop in the rear is a second drive engine. If one engine fails, the flight characteristics of the craft are not seriously compromised as can be the case with dual-engine planes that have an engine on each wing.

mtworkowski@o · Jun 19, 2008

Some copy cat airplanes showing up at that airport again.