Hello all, been working a bunch with the 415 and have been working on a way to make the takeoff easier for more people. These are the results of those efforts, hope it helps. Importantly, this will entirely avoid engine damage. The CL-415 will take off in a short time completely in the green if you run it right!
Bindings: The important ones here are Power, Flaps, Probes, and Pitch Trim
Approach Phase
This is very important. If you don’t have a decent approach you aren’t likely to have a decent landings. Get your speed back so you can get flaps out, leave yourself some angle to approach, and give yourself as much lake as you can.
- Approach at ~100kts, Flaps 3 (25*)
- Extend Probes before touchdown
- Power will be between 30-50% to control sink
- In the flare work the trim nose up to about 0%
Touchdown, this happens fast
- Touchdown between 70-80kts, faster means less time on the water but might bounce more
- immediately on touchdown, flaps to Flaps 2 (15*)
- Bring Power smoothly to the top of the green, doesn’t have to be super precise, ~95% but within Max Continuous
- Trim Nose Up
You want to trim with the tanks. Starting at about 0% Trim with empty tanks you want to get to about 30% Trim (nose up) when or just after the tanks are full. If you’re low on fuel, you can trim less, if you’re full fuel you might be more around 40% trim. On the Trim gauge this is around the 6-8 mark.
Tanks full
- Retract Probes
- Confirm power at Max Continuous (top of the green, no yellow)
- Confirm Flaps 2 and Trim ~30% Nose Up
- Release elevator pressure, take off with neutral pitch
The plane will fly itself into the air, it will be right near the sweet spot at 95kts, then you can clean up as usual.
I’ve tried Flaps 1 (10*), I don’t like it for takeoff in any conditions so far but i’m still testing.
I’ve tested this on Castaic Lake with no issues. You want to avoid letting your speed get below 70kts on the water or else your take off run will be longer. Be as smooth as you can, hopefully this works for you as well!