Seaplane with retractable twin floats

A twin float aircraft with its floats each being secured to the aircraft so that they can each assume at least two positions, a first of which is an extended position and a second of which is a retracted position, and being arranged when in an extended position, to at least substantially support the aircraft in a floating on water status providing sufficient buoyancy and stability for the aircraft during take off and landing, the aircraft having a first of the floats located to one side of a main fuselage of the aircraft, and a second of the floats located to a second side of the main fuselage which second side is opposite to the said first side of the main fuselage of the aircraft, the floats being each arranged when in the retracted position to be located with respect to the main fuselage so that a substantial portion of the surface area of each respective float is shielded from contributing substantially to air flow resistance of the aircraft when in flight, each of the floats having a portion which is articulated with respect to a further part of the float, and being arranged such that when the float is supported to be in an extended position, the float has a first articulated position, and when the float is supported to be in a retracted position, the float has a second articulated position which is different from the said first articulated position.

A twin float aircraft as in either one of the preceding claims further characterised in that at least one of the floats is comprised of at least two portions one of which is at or is a forward end of the float and one of which is at or is a rearward end of the float, the two portions being connected so that they are moveable one with respect to the other and are articulated thereby.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there is a fairing forming a portion of the main fuselage which is at a forward part of the fuselage and such that, in the retracted position, each of the floats is positioned relative to the fairing so that there is an alignment providing a substantially streamline shape across the fairing and from the fairing to each respective float.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that there is a fairing forming a portion of the main fuselage which is at a forward part of the fuselage and such that, in the retracted position, each of the floats is positioned relative to the fairing so that there is an alignment providing a substantially streamline shape across the fairing and from the fairing to each respective float each of which is located behind the fairing.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that each of the floats is arranged and supported so as to be adapted to be able to be moved to a third position which is a position that is beyond the extended position.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that each of the floats is arranged and supported so as to be adapted to be able to be moved to a third position which is a position that is beyond the extended position and a wheel is supported and located with each respective float so as to act as an undercarriage wheel for the aircraft when the respective float is so further positioned.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that each of the floats has a portion which is articulated with respect to a further part of the float so that in a retracted position the float is articulated to assume a more streamline alignment with the fuselage.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims in which the aircraft is a fixed wing type.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims in which the aircraft is a model aircraft.

A twin float aircraft having a float or floats for each side of a fuselage providing buoyancy for the aircraft during take off and landing, characterised in that there are means to effect a retraction of each of the floats from an extended position to a retracted position where they are adapted to be maintained during flight.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims in which each of the floats in a retracted position is located so as to be positioned in an adjacent relationship with a fuselage of the aircraft.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims in which each float when in a retracted position is positioned so that surfaces of the respective float which were lowermost in the extended position are positioned to not be outer surfaces when in the retracted position.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims in which there is a stub wing which can carry with it frame members to provide for support of a float both in a retracted and in an extended position.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims in which each float is arranged so that in one position it has an extendable portion so that its effective operating length is able to be changed.

A twin float aircraft as in any one of the preceding claims in which the respective floats are of an extended length when in an extended as compared to a retracted position with respect to the aircraft and such that they can each be retracted in length when being retracted with respect to the aircraft.