L-4 on Floats?

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:21 pm

I was watching the Military Channel tonight and they did a story in part about the Anizo landing and one of the photo's showed a L-4 in the back ground on floats. I never knew that, I have seen them on ski's but not floats. I'm looking to get my seaplane rating in Alaska sometime soon and the picture caught my eye. Guess I can still learn something, once in awhile :roll:

Lynn

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:25 pm

So when you get the rating you gonna buy one of Connies seaplanes?

Lynn Allen · **Posted:** Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:32 pm

No way Jose.. A P-51 for me, after I win the lottery :roll:

Lynn

Forgotten Field · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:23 am

I've never seen floats on L-4 or L-5 in theatre in photos, but there were some built and may have been sent overseas for use. I probably won't find it again, but I found a reference somewhere that a person witnessed L-5 float training during WWII. The L-5 used a Duramold wooden float, which have all deteriorated by now, but there are a few sets of hardware and rigging around that could be made into useable floats by the right canoe-maker. Supposedly, Stinson 108 rigging and floats will bolt right up to an L-5, but they are now what was made for them during WWII. I haven't seen anything on the L-4 on floats, but I bet that was an interesting engine start...

As I write this, I recall that a friend's father operated a Seaplane base on Back River, which is a peninsula away from Middle River where Glenn Martin Field is. I'll ask him what they had, but I'd guess that everything after WWII was Edo.

JDK · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 12:43 am

There's been Cubs on floats I presume? Seem to remember that. Likewise Austers were used on floats in the Antarctic by the RNZAF, RAAF, and RAF. Don't recall wartime use with floats though.

CWBuff · **Joined:** Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:14 am **Posts:** 854

Here's one of the few photos I've seen... albeit not a wartime shot...

Image source: epay

Fade to Black...

bipe215 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:03 am

As far as the L-4/Cub engine start, you would stand on the right float and prop it from behind.

Steve G

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:32 am

Wow in a 30 mph head wind that must fly backwards.

:lol:

Ryan

at-6b · **Joined:** Tue Sep 12, 2006 6:39 pm **Posts:** 11

The 24th Fighter Squadron, Sixth Air Force, had at least one L-4 on floats at their Madden Dam (Madden Lake) base circa 1943-44.

Swiss Mustangs · **Posted:** Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:09 am

something like this ?

Martin

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L-4 on Floats?

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