Scotland on Floats
We wish you a very warm welcome to Scotland on Floats, and hope to whet your appetite for our exciting new prospectus.
Our aims, over the next 12 months, are twofold.
Firstly, we want to help promote Scotland as the alternative destination for floatplane flying.
Secondly, we aim to help you put the FUN back into flying - without having to travel abroad or spend a fortune.
How are we going to do that ?
We will promote Scotland as a destination both for seaplane instruction and adventure sports by touring extensively - making the airframe available as a quality photo opportunity for tourism, whisky, fresh-air and adventure sports industries.
And for pilots .... we will introduce you to the sheer freedom and beauty of flying floatplanes around the stunning, world-class environment of Scotland.
If you already have a Pilot's Licence then we can take you on a voyage of discovery - to rediscover flying as it should be. No landing fees and no clearances - you have to work out the wind and the water and then choose your landing area. You will learn the skills of taxiing, mooring, docking, sailing and much much more. Initially we will be offering shared ownership of G-DRAM, where you can learn with us as we rediscover the exciting qualities and joys of Scotland. Contact info@scotlandonfloats.com for details of flying and promotional opportunities.
Why travel thousands of miles to Alaska, Canada, or Florida ? Instead - before your transatlantic flight would have crossed over Ireland - you (and your loved one .. or flying buddy) could already be splashing down in some of Europe's most stunning and beautiful landscapes. You could picnic on a secluded beach or visit that extra-special castle on a remote lochside. Try a spot of fishing, dinghy sailing, hill-walking or bird-watching - or, if you are brave .. bring your snorkel !! We can stop off for breakfast, lunch or dinner (or all three) at numerous hotels or restaurants, ranging from coffee shops to 4 star luxury - or - we could pack a couple of bicycles and enjoy a remote days cycling...
The list is as long as your (or our) imagination, and as curvy as the cheesy grins .....
About "G-DRAM" - The first Cessna 172 Amphib in Europe.
We operate a Reims/Cessna FR172F "Reims Rocket" on brand-new Wipline 2350A amphibious floats. This aircraft (G-DRAM "Spirit of Scotland") is no ordinary Cessna 172 - with EASA approval G-DRAM becomes the FIRST (and ONLY) certificated amphibious Cessna 172 in Europe.
Built by Reims in France and corrosion-proofed in the factory, she has a 210HP 6-cylinder Continental engine with McCauley Constant Speed prop. She has operated on 'straight' floats for many years, but new investment in the latest Wipline 2350A amphibious floats has opened up a whole new world of flexibility. A maximum take-off weight of 2550lbs will gives an excellent 690lbs of useful load. This means that we can realistically offer 3 seats plus 2 hours flying. Or 2 adults, full tanks (4hrs flying), two bikes and luggage. The amphibious floats add unprecedented versatility, and operating between Glasgow Flying Club and Prestwick Flight Centre will give us the accessibility and backup of two major airports, on the edge of arguably Scotland's liveliest city.
STOP PRESS
RAF Leuchars Airshow - Saturday 13th September 2008
Mark your diaries. This is the premier Airshow in Scotland for 2008. Once again we have been invited to attend with G-DRAM on the static display and look forward to answering any questions about the floatplane revival that is taking place in Scotland. See you there !!
Scottish Island Hop - August 2008
DRAM's summer holiday for 2008 was a 1000 mile epic island-hopping adventure. From Prestwick to Cape Wrath (not strictly an island), Orkney, Eday, Sanday, Westray, Papa Westray, Fair Isle, Lewis, Harris (with a boat trip to St Kilda as a non-flying bonus), then back to the mainland for a couple of days camping at Plockton before a successful CAA checkride at Lochearnhead - Scotland now has one more Seaplane Instructor :) Finished off (where else) on Islay with a few drams and the last of the summer sun. Words cannot express what a stunning country we have the privilege to fly in.
Biscarosse Airshow, France. 1-4 May 2008.
BISCAROSSE - the spiritual home of seaplanes and flying boats in France. Located on the Aquitaine coast, about 100 miles north of the Spanish border. This was where French flying boats were built in the 1930s and now hosts a museum, biennial airshow and seaplane extravanga - the biggest seaplane exhibition outside North America. We believe that G-DRAM will be the first Scottish seaplane to attend and we look forward to making many new friends and contacts. See you there !!
Well we made it !! 900 miles and many lunches later, G-DRAM and her tired crew splashed down in Biscarosse Lac. 2 fantastic days of seaplanes and sunshine, and the promise that we will return in 2010 - (the 100th Anniversary of the first ever seaplane flight by Frenchman Henri Favre. We spread the word that Scotland is THE place to visit for scenery, whisky, fresh air and seaplane adventures. On top of that the kilts got on French TV and several French Flying magazines carried articles with some more now planned specifically on Scotland.
(4 days, 35 seaplanes, 25,000 visitors, 90 journalists, 15 TV channels and 14 radio stations - giving an estimated 5,000,000 audience.)
Official Biscarosse Airshow 2008 website
29 November 2007 - Tucked away for the winter.
After the horrendous weather of 2007, the decision was taken to hangar G-DRAM over the forthcoming winter. She is now safely tucked away and should re-emerge next April with a new C of A and fresh annual completed.
27 April 2007 - Finally .... back on the water again !!
Probably the best weather day of the year so far .... well .. DRAM is back !! :) The engineers at ACS in Perth have done a fantastic job and she is looking brand new. Thanks to everyone - Mufid, Bob, Brian and Kerry for their immense help and support. We picked her up from Perth and flew her to Glasgow last Friday (20th). And then we waited and waited for the real spring weather to arrive ... all the time nipping up to the airport to check the new ropes and tie-downs on a daily basis !!
We got airborne and had a wee splashorama .... see if you can spot a couple of pictures that sum up the joy and relief of finally .. (after 2 and a half years) ... being able to spread those water wings. Can you guess where we are ... ?
February 2007 - GOOD NEWS !!
Repairs are now well under way, and we expect to be back in the air by Easter. God Bless the insurance, God Bless the engineers and God Bless everyone at Glasgow who helped secure DRAM and prevent further wind damage later in the week. Nice articles on our plans in this month's Pilot and Today's Pilot Magazines :-) A BIG THANK YOU to Ron the Loss Adjuster, Brian and the Insurers (sounds like a band doesn't it?) and all at Glasgow Airport who helped out in our time of need ... The Flying Club, BAA Ops and Works Dept, Air Traffic, the Fire Service, mates Stewart and Neil (for holding the ropes), Bob, Brian and Steve with the Hi-Ab (for not dropping it off the back of a lorry on the M8 in the middle of the rush-hour) and to all the well-wishers who emailed, phoned and commiserated on Scottish Radar 127.27 .... Thank you :)
1 January 2007 - Happy New Year (NOT)
Not the best of news at 9am this morning. Gusts of 80mph last night snapped the two fixed tie-downs and dragged G-DRAM (and another 4 large concrete tie-downs). Damage to left float, awaiting assessment :-( ....... in best Victor Meldrew voice ... "I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!" - 4 other aircraft damaged at Cumbernauld, and a hangar blew down in England :-(
20 December 2006
FIRST FLIGHT - successful 2 hour test flight on land and water. Aircraft re-positioned to Glasgow Flying Club at Glasgow International Airport.
17 December 2006
G-DRAM rolled out the hangar at Perth in the second week of December. Float-fitting was carried out on time and on budget by ACS Engineering. First flight is expected this week (weather permitting).
11 November 2006
Full bare metal respray with photochromatic paint, completed by Eastern Air Executive at Sturgate Aerodrome (01427 838280) - Oyster leather Interior completed by Aircraft Interiors (01902 345251) -G-DRAM flown to Perth for float fitting by Air Charter Scotland (ACS) Engineering (01738 552503).
September 2006
Float shipment delayed until October 2006 - respray now expected September/October with float-fitting and completion in November 2006.
May 2006
Floats have now passed FAA and EASA STCs, are due to be shipped from Wipline in July and fitted by end of August - with expected rollout mid-September 2006. Respray now scheduled for end of September 2006. First lessons planned for Summer 2007.
If you would like to register your interest for flying next year, or if you just want to blether about float-flying, then please feel free to contact us on - info@scotlandonfloats.com - or by mobile phone 07710 460694