Scotland on Floats

(Scroll on to read our latest news and diary - 2009)

We wish you a very warm welcome to Scotland on Floats, and hope to whet your appetite for our exciting new prospectus. Our aims 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 are promoting 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 we are introducing pilots 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 learn the skills of taxiing, mooring, docking, sailing and much much more. Initially we are 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 more details of flying and promotional opportunities.

2009 - LATEST NEWS - 2009

Summer 2009 is here !! - Fresh from the annual inspection (carried out by Adnan at AEL Prestwick) and supremely visible with a new Mode S transponder, there's lots and lots of flying planned for 2009. Here's hoping the weather Gods are on our side this year ! A major Celtic adventure heading down the West Coast of Ireland (hopefully carrying on towards Cornwall and Brittany) is planned for August and then, all going well, we hope to get along to Scotland's biggest air show at RAF Leuchars on Saturday 12th September 2009. Come along and say 'hello'.

6 June 2009 - Perth Airshow. Organised by the Scottish Aeroclub, Morris Leslie and ACS Engineering. Perth Airshow was the place to be over the weekend of 6th June 2009. It was a real family event with the Red Arrows, Yaks, Husky Floatplane, Pitts, Beech200, balloon-busting and a Typhoon all doing their thing to entertain the 5000+ visitors - you can have a look at the photos here....! Anyway, good effort by all involved and as a bonus, all the 130 ATC cadets who helped out managed to get flights the next day ... some even landed on the River Tay !

30th May 2009. A certain little aeroplane had a significant birthday.... and to think she took to the same French skies less than 3 months after Concorde 001, F-WTSS not a million miles away in Toulouse. Hopefully there wasn't quite as much smoke at Reims !! I like to think that whoever was building her stopped, had a glass of wine and toasted the health of F-WTSS ..... Anyway, an informal party was held on the 30th at Prestwick Flight Centre with lots of cake, sandwiches and small kids with big grins .... retro French chic ....

22nd-25th May 2009. Headed south from Orkney and across the water to the International Seaplane Festival at the Share Centre near Enniskillen. Enniskillen is situated on Lower Loch Erne and was home to 2 flying boat bases (Castle Archdale and Killadeas) during WW2. On the Saturday, 5 seaplanes (from Northern and Southern Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands and England) landed on the river in the Town Centre, with DRAM having the privilege of taking retired Catalina pilot Ted Jones along. Sunday was the Open Day where several thousand visitors turned up to see what sea-planing is all about. On Monday we flew a tribute to the crews of Coastal Command along the Beleek/Donegal Corridor - a narrow strip of Irish airspace that was used as a shortcut, saving the Sunderland and Catalina crews an hour long detour during their U-boat patrols. The BBC and RTE came along for the ride and we got some excellent filming and an interview with Ted on the flight from Loch Eske (near Donegal). Huge thanks to Steve and Tracie Powell at The Amphibious Flying Club and Waterways Ireland for organising and sponsoring the event.

18-21st May 2009. Went 'stravaigin' around Scotland, visiting Loch Shiel, Loch Morar and a few more lochs near Achnasheen, with overnight stops at Plockton, (where we took part in a mini retro-remake of The Wickerman) and Peterhead Longside, (where we were warmly welcomed and biscuited by Alfie, Ken, Bruce and the Buchan Aero Club). Then on to the Orkneys, for a quick overnight visit to the Orkney Folk Festival.

1-3 May 2009 - Glenforsa Yakathon -Celebrated Mayday in style with a camping trip to Mull and the Glenforsa Hotel. Met up with a whole host of fine fine people from White Waltham and their fine fine aeroplanes - mostly Yaks .. well about 7 of them - so I guess that was a herd? Had a superb photo opportunity over the Sound of Mull with G-YAKT and David and Zan Blundell - if you would like to see what else they can offer then click along to their website and look at more photos of the best weekend of the year so far .... Glenforsa photos - And finally, was treated to some aeros over the airfield in Andy and Ellie Hill's superb RV8 (G-HILZ) - breathtakingly amazing and a fine way to finish the weekend. Thank you guys and gals, and to Alison and Brendan for your hospitality :)

March 2009 - Springtime stretch of the wings. Two sunny days spent splashing around Loch Venachar (lunch at the Harbour Cafe ), Loch Earn, Loch Rannoch and Loch Laidon before arriving at Prestwick ready for the annual maintenance check. The views were stunning, but 'jings', the water is still VERY cold .... brainfreeze on Loch Laidon (brrrrr...).

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 gives us 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 by operating between Prestwick Flight Centre and Glasgow Flying Club we have the accessibility and backup of two major airports, on the edge of Scotland's liveliest city.

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 .....

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING ?

November 2008 - Tucked away again for winter, we can all relax and enjoy restful nights, not worrying about tie-downs and the wind whistling down the chimney at 3am .....

Saturday 13th September 2008 - RAF Leuchars Airshow - 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 currently taking place in Scotland. See you there !! Well, despite the poor weather and low cloudbase, which severely limited the flying display, the anticipated Vulcan and RAF's 90th Anniversary Celebrations drew a large crowd of around 50000. The flying might have been curtailed, but that just meant there were many more visitors and questions for those on the static display .... and judging by the smiling faces and eager photo opportunities there were still a lot of people determined to enjoy their day out. Let's all just hope and pray for better weather and even bigger crowds in 2009 ! You can read a good review of the day here.

August 2008 - Scottish Island Hop - DRAM's summer holiday for 2008 was a 1000 mile epic island-hopping adventure with a tent and folding bikes. 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.

1-4 May 2008. Biscarosse Airshow, Bordeaux, France. 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 !! Stopping off at Ha'Penny Green, friendly Lasham, Guernsey for a tasty lunch (Hi Colin and Sam!), Dinard, Quiberon (Hi Pierre!) and La Rochelle - 5 days, 900 miles, many storm dodges and many lunches later, G-DRAM and her tired crew splashed down on Biscarosse Lac near Bordeaux. 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 Fabre). 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. With a good tailwind we made it home to Prestwick in one day of over 8 hrs flying !! (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 .... Loch Lomond was breathtaking. Later on in the month we headed on to the Isle of Harris, to Wick and the northwest, as well as many forays into the lochs of the west coast. Over the coming years we hope to give you a little taste of the variety of flying that Scotland has to offer.....

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