Let me start out by saying that I have very limited experience with float planes. This by no means makes me an expert in the subject of float planes and flying. In anticipation of writing this article, I have spent a great deal of time researching the subject. The majority of information I will providing was compiled from multiple sources and a little bit of conjecture. I cannot speak of certain subjects with firsthand experience, so I will do my best to provide information that seems logical or well thought out. Opinions will vary when it comes to equipment and methods. It is impossible to write about every nuance of float flying, but I will do my best to provide the information I have concluded to be relevant. This will be the first of a two part article. The first part will cover the plane itself and how to setup your plane. The second part will have to do with float installation and placement. You can read part 2 here.

Float flying is a little different than conventional flying, but is simple enough once you understand the physics involved. There is something beautiful and relaxing about standing at the beach of a lake and flying a plane. As an added bonus, the runway will always be very long, wide, and generally flat.

Starting off with a good plane will ensure you'll have a good experience. It would appear that the best types of planes that can be converted to a float plane are planes with a long nose, long tail moment, and a light wing loading. Most high wing planes or trainers make good conversion planes. If you start off with a flying brick, when you put floats on it, you'll have a flying brick with floats on it. Generally speaking, larger planes handle better than smaller planes. Small planes can get tossed around in gentle waves pretty easily.

There are two basic types of planes that can fly off of water. The first is a standard airplane frame that has had its wheels removed and replaced with a set of floats. The second type is referred to as "flying boats" or an airplane frame that has a boat-like hull. If you can afford a dedicated float plane, a flying boat design is believed to be much easier to handle. It doesn't require any additional increase of engine power to overcome the additional drag that floats can create. Flying boats are significantly more aerobatic and can also handle higher winds on the water.

When it comes to picking a plane, don't go for what looks the prettiest. Talk to people who have had some experience with different types of float planes and get their opinions on what type of plane(s) to buy. A good example would be the 60 sized Seawind ARF from Great Planes. I personally think it's a beautiful flying boat type plane, but from what I've heard and read, it's a handful to fly. It has a high wing loading and isn't meant for the beginner.

From a beginner's point of view, the consensus is that a flying boat is easier to fly. However, most people don't want to spend the money on a dedicated float plane. I would recommend converting an existing wheeled plane and see if you enjoy the experience. For the purposes of this article, I will be discussing items that are specific to a wheeled converted plane.