CHUCK CUNNINGHAM’S  FLOAT  DESIGN  PARAMETERS



1. The floats should be at least 75% of the fuselage length measured from the back of the prop to the elevator hinge line.

2. Place the floats so that the step on the float is under or just aft of the planes normal (with wheels) CG.

3. Balance without fuel.  Chances are that aircraft will be a bit tail heavy, so bring it back to it’s former balance point by adding weight to the floats, an equal amount of weight on each float.

4. Installing the floats at the normal landing gear spread is perfectly okay, if the spread is right for wheels then it’s good for floats.

5. The aircraft should be positioned on the floats so that the aircraft wing is sitting about 2 degrees positive to the top of the float.  This will allow the lift of the wing to aid in breaking the suction of the water when making the take-off run.

6. Use a plastic prop rather than wood.

Keep the method of attaching the floats to the aircraft simple.  Build a stiff back into the top of the float made from ¼  inch plywood ¾ of an inch wide running the full length of the float attach with epoxy.



Step  =  ¾”       Length =  75%  of fuselage length.       Thickness  =  8% of length.

Leading tip to step = 53% of length.      Step to training edge = 47% of length.



					     WIDTH

       		.10 to .25 = 2”		.30 to .40 = 3”

		.46 to 60 = 4”		.90 to 1.2 = 4.5”