SKIMMER MODIFICATIONS |
Wing extensions:In 1964 John Staber, owner of s/n 12, N252B and Peter Annis, owner of s/n 14, N254B approached Herbert Lindblad of Aerofab, Inc., builders of the Lake Amphibian to see whether it would be possible to add wing extensions to their C-1 Skimmers. Colonial Skimmer wingspan was 34 feet. After doing some calculations Mr. Lindblad agreed that it would be possible to add 2 more feet to each wing making them identical to the Lake LA-4, at 38 feet. The first set was put on #14 and the second on #12. Peter Annis did the flight testing which included diving the Skimmer to over 150 miles per hour and making a sharp pull-up. Almost all of the existing Skimmers have had the extensions added. Benefits include a shorter takeoff run, faster cruise speed and lower stall speed. Brakes:All C-1 Skimmers and most of the C-2 Skimmers came with expander-tube drum brakes which were marginal at best. If one needed to taxi through mud to go up a ramp, they were impossible, requiring constant cleaning or replacement. Needless to say, many have been converted to Goodyear and later Cleveland wheels and brakes, not unlike the Lake LA-4. Propellor:All C-1 Skimmers came with a Hartzellite phenolic blade propellor. While lighter than an aluminum blade, they were a constant source of problems due to the phenolic swelling in the hub making it impossible to change the pitch of the blades. Blade erosion from water spray was also a problem. Quite a few have been modified with metal propellors eliminating the problem. The C-2 Skimmer came equipped with a metal propellor identical to the 180 horsepower Lake LA-4, but after many years of use and abuse by not lubricating, some have not been able to pass an inspection. The newer, lightweight hub propellor used on the Lake Buccaneer, LA-4-200 has been approved on the C-2 Skimmer and definitely increases performance. One must remember that only 23 C-1 Skimmers and 19 C-2 Skimmers were produced by Colonial Aircraft Corporation and very few are flying today. Differential gear:N252B, s/n 12 had a modification to the standard landing gear operation that was known as differential gear. There were three gear selectors mounted in the panel. One, the standard gear up and down, two, the left main gear labeled normal and opposite, and three, the right main gear labeled normal and opposite. It enabled one to lower both, or only one main gear independently of the nose gear, for use in water taxiing or beaching. As one approached the shore you would leave the standard selector in the up position which kept the nose gear up, and lower both main gear with the main gear differential handles and taxi up to shore until the mains were lodged on the bottom. When departing, one would select only one main gear up, pivot on the down gear until facing the right direction, raise that gear and taxi away. As long as any gear was not in the standard selector's position, no gear up or down light appeared on the panel. It sounds confusing, but it really wasn't. I used the feature all the time on my muddy-bottomed lake. I used to take great glee in flying over the runway with only one gear down and then selecting the down position on the standard handle, which resulted in the single gear going up and the other two coming down. It is believed to be the only Skimmer so equipped. [John H. Staber 2003] |
|
Updated: 2003-10-09Copyright © 2003 John H. Staber & Steinar SaevdalE-mail: Steinar Saevdal
|