The VSKYLABS C-47 Skytrain Flying Lab project is including a second variant of the C-47. It is the XC-47C, which was intended to be used in the Pacific, with its amphibious capabilities for use around islands without airfields.
The Edo Corporation, of College Point, N.Y. designed twin, 1-ton floats, (the largest floats ever built). Each float was 42 feet long. Each float also had a 325 gallon fuel tank. The floats had fully retractable, hydraulic wheels, and could land on water, snow or land. The float rudders were connected to the air rudder.
The XC-47C weighed 34,162 pounds and it was difficult to launch in rough water. It had a high tire failure on land, and was difficult to handle in a crosswind landing. The XC-47C was slow on take-off and it was also about 30 mph slower than the conventional DC-3/C-47.
Development note: Current version of the project is not including the additional ~300 gallon fuel tanks. Maximum weight limitations are the same as in the conventional variant. Additional, extensive flight testings are planned down the road to set the XC-47C with these as well.
The XC-47C floats are featuring retractable landing gears. The two front wheels are free-castor wheels. Steering is made by the use of differential braking and power. Ground taxi should be carried out nice and easy, and there is no need to use the tail-wheel lock handle upon takeoff.
Water rudders are effective in water. They are set up to retract automatically when the landing gears are deployed, to avoid water-rudder ground strike on land operations.
Ground operations notes for the EDO-78:
- Ground operations with the EDO-78 floats is straight forward.
- The front wheels are not connected to a steering system. Use differential braking and power to execute a turn or to fine-tune it.
- To make a tight turns, come to a full stop, then execute the turn while taxiing slowly, with the use of differential power and braking.
- During the takeoff run, pay attention to rotation speed. The aircraft/floats landing gears configuration will allow an early nose-up attitude while running, especially with full power. On shorts runways, make sure to ease up the nose attitude right after liftoff, to prevent a non-climbing aircraft situation, or stalls.
- Landings should be carried out normally.
Water operation notes for the EDO-78:
- The EDO-78 floats are equipped with operational water rudders. Steering the aircraft on water with rudder, water rudder and differential power. At low speed, controlled high power "boosts" will help the aircraft in tight turns.
- Takeoff should be carried on calm water with a headwind component.
- For take off - use approximately 25% flaps down configuration.
- Make sure that X-Plane's anchor is not deployed (it is deployed like parking brakes in X-Plane, with an on-screen notification).
- Apply takeoff power and let the aircraft to build up airspeed.
- Rotation should be carried out firmly, not below 70-75mph.
- Nose attitude should be fixed in a shallow climb-out attitude until airspeed has reached 90mph. At low airspeed/high power takeoff a tendency for a slight pitch up moment should be anticipated.
- Landings should be carried out normally.
