Rutan’s new amphibious SkiGull tests the water

• http://www.cdapress.com/news/local_news/article_439a845a-82b6-11e5-a3c0-f7e0829b21b6.html?mode=story
• http://www.flyingmag.com/news/burt-rutan-takes-skigull-water

After two years evolving and building his 47th unique aircraft, SkiGull, Burt Rutan towed it to Bob Williams’ beach next to Honeysuckle on Hayden Lake Sunday for a series of water taxi tests that were conducted Sunday evening and Monday.

The SkiGull design is different than other seaplanes, in that most of the water takeoff run is done with the aircraft supported above the water on flexible water skis. The flexible skis are intended to provide shock absorption to allow it to operate on rougher water than conventional seaplanes. Before the skis can be extended, the long hull and low speed prevents pitch angle changes. The planned modifications are now aimed at forcing the nose higher for low speed taxi.