L-4 on Floats?

[Lynn Allen]

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

Lynn

[Obergrafeter]

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

[Lynn Allen]

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

Lynn

[Forgotten Field]

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]

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]

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


Image source: epay


Fade to Black...

[bipe215]

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

Steve G

[rwdfresno]

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



Ryan

[at-6b]

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]

something like this ?





Martin