Sailing

Notes about sailing

  • In very high wind, you may try sailing with the engine at idle (if you don’t make backward progress like you want, shut down)
  • Sail with water rudders up
  • Point your tail where you want to go (in a float plane or hull airplane)
  • If sailing into a shoreline or dock, consider getting out and using a paddle to help control direction and speed (works best with one person at the controls and one paddling)
  • If you feel like you are moving backward into the shoreline too quickly, then start the engine (use carb heat, maybe one mag to minimize forward thrust, be cognizant of running the engine at too low of an RPM and not having appropriate oil pressure).


Sailing (combined here with reverse thrust) makes for an effective way to beach the plane in windy conditions.