Seaplanes.

Aircraft are great for going places that only the birds can usually get to. With the addition of pontoons, they can also go where the ducks go, but to get the most from your seaplane, read on!

There are two types of seaplane, the 'casual' seaplane, which is simply a plane which has pontoons attached so that it can land on the water, and the 'true' seaplane, which actually has a moulded hull to allow for greater performance in the water.

Unless stated, all rules and notes here will apply to both casual and true seaplanes unless specifically stated.

Construction:

'Casual Seaplane':
This is just a normal plane which has pontoons under the wings to provide support and buoyancy in the water.

Pontoons are bought as normal (page of Uncle Alberts), but have some restrictions placed on them, unlike helicopters.

Pontoons take up the space of one EWP under the wings. They also pose one additional problem for seaplanes in that they cannot have wheels mounted in them for landings, unless the aircraft is a VTOL type. This is because the wheels don't have the mobility and strength to be able to be used for take off and landings. If desired, a pontoon equipped seaplane can have retractable undercarriage installed instead.

'True Seaplane':
This is a plane which doesn't need pontoons under the wings, but instead has a moulded streamlined hull for better sailing through the water.

A true seaplane has a body cost of 25% more than the normal aircraft frame cost, and it weighs 10% more as well. The moulding of the hull reduces internal space (not wing space) by 10%, just as if the craft was streamlined, although this doesn't actually give the craft the streamlining advantages. The craft may be streamlined as well if desired (cutting away a further 10% of spaces, or 15% if the craft is also sloped).

Pontoons are not needed for the craft as the hull will provide buoyancy.

True seaplanes may mount retractable undercarriages in their hull, although no suspension modifiers are possible.

Small aircraft have a bit of problem when it comes to engine mountings. Because the hull of the aircraft is now placed in the water, normal wing and body mounted engines cannot be used as the propellers would slice into the water, reducing performance, but more importantly, destroying the props. So, for microplanes and aircraft under large size, propellers must be mounted on the top of the body in EWP's, which will limit the amount of propellers that the aircraft may have. Props may still be mounted facing forwards or backwards though, with no penalties.

Remember though, that mounting propellers in EWP's will still give the craft a -10% reduction in top speed due to the extra drag, ironically enough.

Obviously, with any true seaplane, any underbody mounted turrets, rocket platforms, EWPs and so on, will be in the water when the aircraft has landed, and thus will need to be made waterproof, or retractable. Remember also, that if not retractable, the items will probably be producing additional drag on the craft.

Large Aircraft:
Aircraft (not microplanes) of Large size or greater, must be made true seaplanes as pontoons are not sufficient to keep the aircraft out of the water.
These aircraft need not use the additional engine mountings location though, the aircraft is large enough to have the propellers out of the water.

All seaplanes, except for those that mount the engine above the body, can be made tilt-rotor at normal costs and weights.

Performance:

In the air, a seaplane functions as a normal aircraft, which is exactly what it is.
Landing on the water is similar to landing on ground, although the water gives an additional 5 mph/turn deceleration free due to the drag of the water.

Taking off is slightly different though.
Water gives more drag and requires more energy than a simple land take off, and thus (for take off purposes only), stall speed is increased by 50%, and acceleration in the water is halved.
True seaplanes do not halve their acceleration and their take off distance is only increased by 33%. This is due to the moulded body being much easier to drag through the water although it still requires a greater effort by the engines to achieve a take-off.

Large sized or greater aircraft, while having to be made as a True Seaplane, don't actually have any of the take off advantages of a true seaplane, and function as if they were a casual seaplane.

When on the water, a seaplane taxies as if it were a normal boat, but with half the acceleration (minimum of 2.5 mph). The HC is 0, which, for a casual seaplane, cannot be increased at all. A seaplane has a maximum water speed equalling it's stall speed (modified as above).
A true seaplane has an HC 1 (modifiable by some accessories below), and have regular acceleration due to their streamlining.

Additional equipment useful for seaplanes:

Pontoon winglets: Cost and weight as a regular pair of manoeuvre foils, but with an additional $100 and 10 lbs per foil. These are basically manoeuvre foils, and indeed when the craft is in the air, they function as those items, but when the craft is in the water, they provide additional stability to the craft (adding +1 to to the vessels HC when in the water only) and extra buoyancy having a pontoon tip.
They are for true seaplanes only, and may not be made retractable.

Wing Tip Pontoons: They cost $200 and weigh 20 lbs. per wing and are available for true seaplanes only. These are small floats that are added to the end of the wing tip, which now rests in the water when the craft is floating. As such they take up no space under the wing. However, the wing itself is lower, so any pods under the wing must be made waterproofed. They provide +1 HC when the craft is in the water only, and limit the craft to maoeuvres of D3 or less.

Examples:

Note: All designs give 200 lbs per crewmember for personal gear.

Sea Skimmer:
Large microplane (true seaplane moulded body), sports plant, 3 std cycle tyres, 1 propeller (in EWP, t, facing forward), pilot, passenger, 1 cargo (810 lbs), 2 VMGs (linked, 1 each wing), pontoon winglets, LDR, retractable landing gear, radar. Armour: F40, B30, L35, R35, T25, U35 + 10 points EWP armour, 10 points propeller armour, 10 points winglet armour, accel 5 mph, top speed 237.5 mph (loaded), stall speed 30 mph, HC 3, weight 5,190 lbs, cost $26,470

Sea-37a:
Cargo airplane (true seaplane moulded body), standard helicopter power plant w/ extra powercells, 6 std truck tyres, 2 props wing mounted front, ducted fans, heavy list/STOL wings, pilot, co-pilot, gunner, 42 cargo (15,705 lbs), 4 MGs (linked, universal cupula - tf), 4 personal parachutes, LDR, retracable landing gear (wings), extra driver controls. Metal armour: F6, LF4, RF4, LB4, RB4, B6, TF6, TB4, UF3, UB3, accel 5 mph, top speed 210 mph (loaded), stall speed 60 mph, HC 0, weight 14,295 lbs, cost $ 95,150
[Those astute of you will notice that the Sea-37a is almost identical to the C-37 found in Aeroduel. Well, that's because the aircraft I designed for this exact role came way too similar for my liking, so I just modified the C-37 and thought sod it!]

Seaplanes
Aircraft are great for going places that only the birds can usually get to. With the addition of pontoons, they can also go where the ducks go, but to get the most from your seaplane, read on! There are two types of seaplane, the 'casual' seaplane, which is simply a plane which has pontoons attached so that it can land on the water, and the 'true' seaplane, which actually has a moulded hull to allow for greater performance in the water. Unless stated, all rules and notes here will apply to both casual and true seaplanes unless specifically stated. Construction: 'Casual Seaplane': This is just a normal plane which has pontoons under the wings to provide support and buoyancy in the water. Pontoons are bought as normal (page of Uncle Alberts), but have some restrictions placed on them, unlike helicopters. Pontoons take up the space of one EWP under the wings. They also pose one additional problem for seaplanes in that they cannot have wheels mounted in them for landings, unless the aircraft is a VTOL type. This is because the wheels don't have the mobility and strength to be able to be used for take off and landings. If desired, a pontoon equipped seaplane can have retractable undercarriage installed instead. 'True Seaplane': This is a plane which doesn't need pontoons under the wings, but instead has a moulded streamlined hull for better sailing through the water. A true seaplane has a body cost of 25% more than the normal aircraft frame cost, and it weighs 10% more as well. The moulding of the hull reduces internal space (not wing space) by 10%, just as if the craft was streamlined, although this doesn't actually give the craft the streamlining advantages. The craft may be streamlined as well if desired (cutting away a further 10% of spaces, or 15% if the craft is also sloped). Pontoons are not needed for the craft as the hull will provide buoyancy. True seaplanes may mount retractable undercarriages in their hull, although no suspension modifiers are possible. Small aircraft have a bit of problem when it comes to engine mountings. Because the hull of the aircraft is now placed in the water, normal wing and body mounted engines cannot be used as the propellers would slice into the water, reducing performance, but more importantly, destroying the props. So, for microplanes and aircraft under large size, propellers must be mounted on the top of the body in EWP's, which will limit the amount of propellers that the aircraft may have. Props may still be mounted facing forwards or backwards though, with no penalties. Remember though, that mounting propellers in EWP's will still give the craft a -10% reduction in top speed due to the extra drag, ironically enough. Obviously, with any true seaplane, any underbody mounted turrets, rocket platforms, EWPs and so on, will be in the water when the aircraft has landed, and thus will need to be made waterproof, or retractable. Remember also, that if not retractable, the items will probably be producing additional drag on the craft. Large Aircraft: Aircraft (not microplanes) of Large size or greater, must be made true seaplanes as pontoons are not sufficient to keep the aircraft out of the water. These aircraft need not use the additional engine mountings location though, the aircraft is large enough to have the propellers out of the water. All seaplanes, except for those that mount the engine above the body, can be made tilt-rotor at normal costs and weights. Performance: In the air, a seaplane functions as a normal aircraft, which is exactly what it is. Landing on the water is similar to landing on ground, although the water gives an additional 5 mph/turn deceleration free due to the drag of the water. Taking off is slightly different though. Water gives more drag and requires more energy than a simple land take off, and thus (for take off purposes only), stall speed is increased by 50%, and acceleration in the water is halved. True seaplanes do not halve their acceleration and their take off distance is only increased by 33%. This is due to the moulded body being much easier to drag through the water although it still requires a greater effort by the engines to achieve a take-off. Large sized or greater aircraft, while having to be made as a True Seaplane, don't actually have any of the take off advantages of a true seaplane, and function as if they were a casual seaplane. When on the water, a seaplane taxies as if it were a normal boat, but with half the acceleration (minimum of 2.5 mph). The HC is 0, which, for a casual seaplane, cannot be increased at all. A seaplane has a maximum water speed equalling it's stall speed (modified as above). A true seaplane has an HC 1 (modifiable by some accessories below), and have regular acceleration due to their streamlining. Additional equipment useful for seaplanes: Pontoon winglets: Cost and weight as a regular pair of manoeuvre foils, but with an additional $100 and 10 lbs per foil. These are basically manoeuvre foils, and indeed when the craft is in the air, they function as those items, but when the craft is in the water, they provide additional stability to the craft (adding +1 to to the vessels HC when in the water only) and extra buoyancy having a pontoon tip. They are for true seaplanes only, and may not be made retractable. Wing Tip Pontoons: They cost $200 and weigh 20 lbs. per wing and are available for true seaplanes only. These are small floats that are added to the end of the wing tip, which now rests in the water when the craft is floating. As such they take up no space under the wing. However, the wing itself is lower, so any pods under the wing must be made waterproofed. They provide +1 HC when the craft is in the water only, and limit the craft to maoeuvres of D3 or less. Examples: Note: All designs give 200 lbs per crewmember for personal gear. Sea Skimmer: Large microplane (true seaplane moulded body), sports plant, 3 std cycle tyres, 1 propeller (in EWP, t, facing forward), pilot, passenger, 1 cargo (810 lbs), 2 VMGs (linked, 1 each wing), pontoon winglets, LDR, retractable landing gear, radar. Armour: F40, B30, L35, R35, T25, U35 + 10 points EWP armour, 10 points propeller armour, 10 points winglet armour, accel 5 mph, top speed 237.5 mph (loaded), stall speed 30 mph, HC 3, weight 5,190 lbs, cost $26,470 Sea-37a: Cargo airplane (true seaplane moulded body), standard helicopter power plant w/ extra powercells, 6 std truck tyres, 2 props wing mounted front, ducted fans, heavy list/STOL wings, pilot, co-pilot, gunner, 42 cargo (15,705 lbs), 4 MGs (linked, universal cupula - tf), 4 personal parachutes, LDR, retracable landing gear (wings), extra driver controls. Metal armour: F6, LF4, RF4, LB4, RB4, B6, TF6, TB4, UF3, UB3, accel 5 mph, top speed 210 mph (loaded), stall speed 60 mph, HC 0, weight 14,295 lbs, cost $ 95,150 [Those astute of you will notice that the Sea-37a is almost identical to the C-37 found in Aeroduel. Well, that's because the aircraft I designed for this exact role came way too similar for my liking, so I just modified the C-37 and thought sod it!]

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