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mtworkowski@o
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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?
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?
As far as interchangable parts go, in the military -4 (Illustrated Parts Catalogue) every sheetmetal part has the suffix "CP" behind it. This meant "Corrosion Proofed" and unless you ordered a seaplane version, you didn't get this part in your plane. Every rib, stringer, etc was alodined and primer before assembly on the military birds, Birdogs, Skymasters, Blue Canoes, and Tweets all had this. I don't believe that many 337's were ordered with seaplane options.
The purpose of a sea plane with a tail prop is to allow the plane to take off and land on water. The tail prop, also known as a water rudder, helps to steer and stabilize the plane in water, making it possible for the sea plane to operate in bodies of water.
The tail prop works by using a rudder, which is a movable surface at the back of the plane. This rudder can be turned to change the direction of the plane, providing steering control. In a sea plane, the rudder is designed to also function as a water rudder, allowing the pilot to control the direction of the plane while on water.
A tail prop is necessary for a sea plane because the regular landing gear on a plane is not designed to operate on water. The water rudder helps to distribute weight and provide stability in the water, making it possible for the sea plane to take off and land safely.
Yes, a sea plane with a tail prop can also operate on land. The tail prop can be retracted or removed when the plane is on land, and the landing gear can be used instead for takeoff and landing.
The advantages of a sea plane with a tail prop include the ability to take off and land on water, which expands the range of places the plane can travel to. It also allows for a smoother and more controlled landing on water, as well as the possibility of landing in areas with limited or no runway access.