Tham khảo tài liệu 'aircraft design projects episode 12', kỹ thuật - công nghệ, cơ khí - chế tạo máy phục vụ nhu cầu học tập, nghiên cứu và làm việc hiệu quả | Project study a general aviation amphibian aircraft 311 Introduction Many early aircraft designs were developed for take-off and landing on water. With the absence of readily available level and mowed fields lakes and even the ocean were looked upon as ideal choices for a place to land or take-off. This allowed operation in a wide range of headings to accommodate wind direction. It also did not require any preparation for landing or take-off other than a quick look to make sure that boats or debris were not in the fight path. This provided a decided advantage over land-based operations where real estate had to be purchased or rented obstacles tree stumps and rocks cleared and grass cut to a reasonable height or a hardened earth or macadam surface prepared. In emergencies a lake was also more likely to be clear of obstacles than a farmer s field that might be filled with cattle or bisected by a fence. Hence many early airplane designers opted for a seaplane configuration. In the event that land operation was sought an amphibian design offered the capability of water or land operation. In fact due to the public s lack of confidence in airplane engine reliability it was not until almost the mid-twentieth century that long overwater passenger flights transatlantic transpacific Caribbean etc. were routinely attempted in anything other than seaplanes or amphibians. With extensive use of land-based aircraft to transport military personnel during World War II and with improvement in engine reliability the flying public gained the confidence needed for such aircraft to replace their water-based counterparts. This allowed inland airports to replace coastal sites as ports of entry and exit for overseas flights and the large amphibians and seaplanes of the 1930s and 1940s were retired from service. In the general aviation GA field seaplanes and amphibians have always occupied a small but important niche in the marketplace used primarily for operations into and out of .
