Amphibious aircraft

摘要

Described are aircraft with at least one fuselage, a wing, and at least one float coupled to the wing. As examples, each float may include a step that is located forward of or at an intersection of a bottom surface and a line that extends from an aircraft aft-most center of gravity at an angle of less than ten degrees rearward from a vertical direction. As further examples, each float may include a forward portion located forward of the step, the forward portion including a ski surface that is planar in a left to right horizontal direction, and an aft portion that is located rearward of the step.

主权项

1. An aircraft configured to take off and land on water, the aircraft including at least one fuselage and at least one wing connected to the fuselage, the aircraft including an aft-most center of gravity and at least one float, the float comprising:
a float body that includes a bottom surface; a bottom surface forward portion located on the float body bottom surface, the bottom surface forward portion including a ski surface that is planar in a left-to-right horizontal direction; a bottom surface rearward portion located on the float body bottom surface, the bottom surface rearward portion including a rudder; and a bottom surface step located on the float body bottom surface and interposed between the bottom surface forward portion and the bottom surface rearward portion, the step including a point that is located forward of or at an intersection of the bottom surface and a line that extends from the aircraft aft-most center of gravity at an angle of less than ten degrees rearward from a vertical direction.