What is the purpose of a sea plane with a tail prop?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the purpose and identification of a seaplane featuring both a front propeller and a rear propeller, with participants exploring various aircraft models and configurations. The scope includes technical identification, speculation about design features, and historical context regarding seaplane options.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants speculate that the aircraft could be a Cessna Skymaster, which is known for having both a front and rear propeller, though it is not typically a seaplane.
  • Others mention the possibility of the Dornier Seastar, but this is dismissed by some as not fitting the description provided.
  • A participant suggests that the aircraft might be a Cessna O-2 Skymaster with custom pontoons, raising questions about the purpose of the rear propeller.
  • There are claims that Cessna offered seaplane options for the Skymaster, although some participants express skepticism about the existence of such variants.
  • One participant refers to anecdotal evidence of a Cessna 336 with floats, but notes that it was underperforming and not officially approved by Cessna.
  • Discussions include the challenges of identifying the aircraft based on a low-quality image and the confusion surrounding the presence of a tail propeller.
  • Participants express interest in finding images or further information about the seaplane variant of the Skymaster.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the identity of the aircraft or the purpose of the rear propeller. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain regarding the existence of seaplane options for the Skymaster and other aircraft mentioned.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the clarity of the image referenced, as well as the lack of definitive sources confirming the existence of seaplane variants for the discussed aircraft models.

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?
 
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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.
 
fred thanks for the reply. Interesting, right? I tried to send a picture but I'm not sure how. thanks again.
 
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
 
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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.
 
Could it be the Dornier Seastar?

ILA_04_Dornier_Seastar.jpg

796px-Dornier_Seastar_D-ICKS.jpg


(Site is in German)
http://www.dornierseastar.com/seastar/beschreib/beschreib.html
 
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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.
 
You'll have to post the picture, but it kind of sounds like a Cessna O-2 Skymaster with custom-added pontoons or something.


O2BankingHard.jpg
 
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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?
 
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  • #11
seaplane

sending pic
 
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  • #13
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.
 
  • #14
I'm not seeing a rear prop either. If it's got anything back there, it isn't a powered propellor.
 
  • #15
I'm making a phone call now.
 
  • #16
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?
 
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  • #17
Also, I somehow unsubscribed to something here. what does that mean?
 
  • #18
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.
 
  • #19
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.
 
  • #20
Some copy cat airplanes showing up at that airport again.
 
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  • #21
Ever ince I started reading this thread, I've been searching for a photo of the marine variant of the Skymaster. I never knew pontoons were an option on this aircraft, and now I'd like to see what that looks like. Can anybody find one?
 
  • #22
As far as I know, there were no variants that had floats. I have not been able to find anything that states otherwise. There was a civilian and a military version. If there is one, I have a suspicion that it was a custom job.
 
  • #23
I've always referred to the Skymaster as a 'Mixmaster', but my late buddy who owned one called it a 'Pushmepullyou'. I've never heard of one with floats, but I suppose that you can put them on just about anything.
 
  • #24
According to some 337 fanatics, there was a seaplane option.

http://www.skymaster.clara.net/history.htm

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.
 
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  • #25
Yes, I've seen several websites that say you could put pontoons on the Skymaster, but only since the start of this thread. None of them have images, and I'm having real trouble picturing it.
 
  • #26
On a Cessna owner’s forum they discuss a 336 with floats installed. Besides being under performing, it also had erosion damage on the rear prop, which is understandable.
http://forums.cessnaowner.org/read/5/12176/page=1
There is no record that I can find that it was ever approved. It certainly wasn’t by Cessna.
http://cessna337.com/c337info.html
Besides the USAF the Iran AF used the 337.
 
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