Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey

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SeaRey

Type	Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)
Manufacturer	Progressive Aerodyne, Inc.
Introduced	1992
Produced	1992-present
Number built	400 or more (estimate)
Unit cost	Starting at around US $42,000

The SeaRey is a small amphibious aircraft available in kit form from the Florida company Progressive Aerodyne, Inc.

The SeaRey may be registered either as a light sport aircraft or as an experimental homebuilt aircraft. Light sport aircraft, or LSA, is a classification of aircraft specific to the United States. Canadian Aviation Regulations classify the SeaRey as an advanced ultralight aeroplane (AULA).^[1]

Because it is a kit-built aircraft, the SeaRey is technically considered an experimental aircraft. The registration category depends mostly on gross weight (1370 lb for experimental, 1430 lb for LSA).

The SeaRey's high wing is tapered, and sweeps back from the leading edge with a straight trailing edge. ^[2] The wing, nearly 31 ft (10 m) in span, is strut-braced and covered with stits fabric.^[3]^[4]

Designed as an amphibious craft, the SeaRey does not use pontoons or floats as its primary flotation device; rather, it has a semi-Monocoque hull similar to that of a boat. The hull, nose deck, and "turtle" deck (the element which forms the top surface behind the canopy) are riveted together. In the basic configuration, these pieces are made of fiberglass; carbon graphite hull components are available at extra cost. The carbon graphite option reduces overall weight of the craft by some 70 pounds (32 kg). There are rotocast plastic floats under each side of the wing, mounted on aluminum struts.^[5]

The windshield and the sliding canopies on either side are made of optical-quality polycarbonate. The canopies are track-mounted and can be locked.^[6]

The SeaRey's single engine is mounted atop the wing,^[7] and drives a single rear-facing "pusher" propeller. The SeaRey can be equipped with the Rotax 582, 912, 912S, and 914 Turbo engines.^[8] The Rotax is a four-cylinder, four stroke engine with liquid-cooled heads and air-cooled cylinders.

Unlike other light aircraft with the more familiar tricycle landing gear located near the front of the aircraft, the SeaRey has two wheels amidships and a smaller landing gear at the rear of the aircraft. Such aircraft are often called "tail-draggers" or "conventional gear" aircraft. Standard factory configuration calls for mechanical gear retraction using a Johnson-bar type lever to raise or lower all three wheels simultaneously.^[9] The retractable landing gear have recently been approved for registration as an LSA, and are available in three different configurations of gear movement: Johnson type, hydraulic or electric actuator. The electric actuator is the newest and most popular, but the manual is the lightest.

1 Development overview
2 Production
3 Design succession
4 Flight characteristics
5 Cost
6 Noteworthy flights
7 Clubs
8 Specifications
9 Comparable aircraft
10 References
11 See also
12 External links

[edit] Development overview

Development of the aircraft that would eventually become the SeaRey began as far back as the 1970s with the introduction of the ultralight aircraft known as the Hi-Nuski. In the early 80's Stanley Richter, his son Wayne, Wayne's wife Nina, and Wayne's son Kerry opened Advanced Aviation where they designed and manufacturer a series of aircraft.^[10]^[11]

In June 1992, Wayne and Kerry, along with Paige Linette (another employee of Advanced Aviation) broke away from Advanced Aviation to found Progressive Aerodyne, where they designed the first SeaRey prototype.^[12]

The SeaRey had its inaugural flight on November 13, 1992.^[13] Initial speeds of up to 105 mph (169 kph) with the new aircraft surprised even the designers.^[14]

[edit] Production

Since the SeaRey is sold as a kit aircraft, the actual number of "completed" aircraft is somewhat difficult to ascertain. According to Progressive Aerodyne's Wayne Richter, "as of 2006 over 400 kits have been delivered to customers and are flying world wide."^[15]

[edit] Design succession

There is only one model of the SeaRey. Different hull designs have been used over the years, designated as "A," "B" and "C" hulls. As of this writing, only the "C" hull is available from the factory, and can be had in either carbon fiber or fiberglass.

[edit] Flight characteristics

Progressive Aerodyne offers a quick overview of takeoff, flying, and landing the SeaRey:
http://www.searey1.com/Html/FlySearey/pg1.html

In the planing or "step" position, most of the seaplane's weight is supported by hydrodynamic lift, rather than the buoyancy of the hull or floats. Once this equilibrium has been reached, the pilot may either increase speed and take off, or may remain at a relatively low speed and taxi across the water. The term "step-taxiing" is used to refer to this process, which is useful for covering long distances across water.^[16]

The "C" hull (see Design Succession above) is the most advanced design and is jokingly referred to as the "land-o-matic" hull. Compared to the earlier designs, it is much more forgiving of pilot error and can safely be step-taxied across glassy water, which to any seaplane pilot is a high-anxiety moment. Step-taxiing a SeaRey is unlike any other airplane and inspires real confidence in the design.

[edit] Cost

Component Costs: As of January 2007, the basic price for the SeaRey airframe kit is just under $27,000. Engine prices range from $13,800 (Rotax 912 UL2) to about $26,200 (Rotax 914). Basic instrument packages start at around $1,400. Wire harnesses for the Rotax 912 and 914 engines run around $1,500. The carbon graphite hull option adds $3,548 (if specified at the time of initial purchase). If you live in a remote area, a larger fuel tank may be important to you; a 28-gallon replacement for the standard 18-gallon tank is available for $238. At this time, Progressive Aerodyne, Inc. does not offer financing. A $5,000 deposit on the airframe is required at the time of order, and engines must be 100% paid upfront; shipping is additional. All kits sold by Progressive Aerodyne are FOB Orlando, Florida.

Cost to build: One of the largest costs for the kit builder is the amount of time that must be invested. Although it's possible for an experienced builder to complete the SeaRey in about 400 hours, 600 hours is more typical.^[17]

Costs to maintain: For oil changes, allow 4 quarts (3.8 L) every 40 hours.

Overhauls: [Recommended time between engine—and other-- overhauls]

Hourly costs: The typical fuel burn is about 4.5 gal (17 L) per hour of auto-gas. Assuming gasoline prices in the US $3.50 range, that's just under US $16/hour for fuel.

[edit] Noteworthy flights

This article or section is missing information about: Sources.
This concern has been noted on the talk page where it may be discussed whether or not to include such information.(March 2008)

The SeaRey has been landed on lakes above 7,000 ft (2,100 m) MSL and has flown from coast to coast of the U.S. numerous times. It has also been flown from Florida to Alaska and to Nova Scotia.

[edit] Clubs

Please help improve this section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

There are active SeaRey owners in Australia as well:

SeaRey Australia

There are two very active type-specific Searey web sites. One is open to the public; access is provided upon request by calling Progressive Aerodyne (they don’t run the site). The other site is owners-only and is for technical discussion. It has over 160 unique visitors each month.

[edit] Specifications

SeaRey Touching Down

Data from ^[18]^[19]^[20]

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 2 occupants
Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.84 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 10 in (9.39 m)
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Wing area: 157 ft² (14.59 m²)
Empty weight: Varies between about 820-950 lb (372-431 kg)
Loaded weight: 1,370 lb (622 kg)
Useful load: 550 lb (249 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 1,370 lb (622 kg)
Powerplant: 1× Rotax 582 (rare), 912, 912 S, or 914 (Most popular prop: Warp and IVO, 68 inch diameter), 65 hp (Rotax 582); 80 hp (912); 95 hp (Rotax 912 S); 115 hp (Rotax 914) ()
Fuel capacity: 18 U.S. gal (159 L) or 25 U.S. gal
Cabin width: 44 in (1.12 m)

Performance

Range: 3.5 hrs ()
Service ceiling 12,500 ft depending on engine (914 engine has gone over 18,000 ft)

[1] (3,700 m)

Rate of climb: 700-1200 ft/min (3.6-6.1 m/s (depending on engine model and number of occupants))
Wing loading: 8.73 lb/ft² (3.96 kg/m²)
Fuel consumption (Rotax 582): 4.5 US gal/h (17.0 L/h) 89-93 octane, unleaded gasoline
Fuel consumption (Rotax 912): 3.5 US gal/h (13.25 L/h) 89 - 93 octane, unleaded gasoline (best) or Avgas 100LL
Takeoff: 150-400 ft (50-120 m) (depending on engine model and number of occupants)

The following specifications are from the Waterbirds Ltd. Corp. tables at http://www.searey.aero/performance.htm.

Engine:	Rotax 912 (80 HP)		Rotax 912S (95 HP)		Rotax 914 (115 HP)
Configuration:	Solo	Dual	Solo	Dual	Solo	Dual
Max Speed:	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h
Normal Cruise Speed:	85 mph 137 km/h	85 mph 137 km/h	93 mph 150 km/h	93 mph 150 km/h	100 mph 161 km/h	100 mph 161 km/h
Maximum Cruise Speed:	105 mph 169 km/h	105 mph 169 km/h	113 mph 182 km/h	113 mph 182 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h
Never Exceed Speed (VNE):	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h	120 mph 193 km/h
Stall Speed:	38 mph 61 km/h	42 mph 68 km/h	38 mph 61 km/h	42 mph 68 km/h	39 mph 63 km/h	43 mph 69 km/h

[edit] Comparable aircraft

None of these aircraft are kit-built, so far as is known at this time: Just be sure to actually SEE the real take off distances before comparing to a Searey. A light Searey will honestly get off the water in <500'. None of these come close to that.

LSA-Aero Freedom S100 Amphibian
LSA-Aero Gannet S100 Seaplane
Sport Aircraft Works Mermaid Amphibian
AIRMAX CONSTRUÇŌES AERONÁUTICAS LTDA SeaMax

[edit] References

Listing of Models Eligible to be Registered as Advanced Ultra-Light Aeroplanes (AULA). Canada, Government of (2007-09-25). Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
Searey. Pilotfriend. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
Campbell, J.R. ("Zoom"). The Ultimate Sport Amphib? Yes!!!. Progressive Aerodyne. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
Standard and Optional Equipment. Progressive Aerodyne. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
Engine Options. Progressive Aerodyne. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
SeaRey Experimental Aircraft History. Light Sport Aircraft Store. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
The Sea Rey... "A Gentleman's Airplane". Searey Quebec. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.
Frequently Asked Questions. Waterbirds Limited Corporation. Retrieved on 2007-11-14.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook:

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