R 22 Mariner

Robinson R-22 Helicopter

Again this is Scott with his R-22 Mariner at Palm Beach International, Fla. Notice the tail fin! This is to help protect the tail rotor when landing in water and is most important when preforming Auto-Rotations to the water. This fin will actually push up the tail section while lowering the nose if a too steep approach angle is attempted.

This is a picture taken from the Fla Everglades when the water table was high. The peices in the swamp are of an old cargo plane that crashed over 20 years ago, I found it when flying a search and rescue for a lost air-boater. The above picture was taken at Opa-Locka Airport Opa-Locka Fla. This picture shows another set of floats I had, These were NOT painted and are shown in their original color. The air pressure in these floats can be from 1 LB to 3 LBS with the best water performance and aerodynamics being 3 LBS. If I remember correctly there were 4 sections within each float and you have to fill a small amount of air in each before continuing to balance the chambers. You also had to carry a hand pump if you were out all day or going to the swamp for a dip. The tempature and ambient pressure would greatly effect the pressure throughout the day.

This is a picture of the Fla Everglades crossing Alligator Alley (SR 84) From Fort Lauderdale to Naples Fla. This was taken about 2 miles north of the Alley notice how it looks DRY! It accually has water below the brush and the depths can very from area to area. I have found some areas to be 4-5 feet deep and others to be 6" to 1'. This is a picture of the Salt Flats of the Fla Straights. This picture was taken when flying a direct route from Key West Fla. to Opa Locka Airport Fla. I would only fly this route when the floats were installed, although you can fly accross the water as long as you have current FAA approved Life Vests. You should always were the Vests when you are more then gliding distance from any land. Most the Vests we used were pop outs this let us fly with out to much trouble. My Helicopter was also equiped with a Emergancy Locater Transmitter (ELT) a Loran and a GPS.

This picture is of the Seven Mile Bridge around Marathon in the Fla Keys. When flying in this area you might think you are flying South from Key Biscayne Fla to get to the Fla Keys BUT YOUR NOT! If you follow the road which I and most all pilots will recomend you will be flying South West and West. The advantage to having a Float Helicopter was the comfort of knowing that you could land anyware you had to.

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Again this is Scott with his R-22 Mariner at Palm Beach International, Fla.	Notice the tail fin! This is to help protect the tail rotor when landing in water and is most important when preforming Auto-Rotations to the water. This fin will actually push up the tail section while lowering the nose if a too steep approach angle is attempted.

This is a picture taken from the Fla Everglades when the water table was high. The peices in the swamp are of an old cargo plane that crashed over 20 years ago, I found it when flying a search and rescue for a lost air-boater.	The above picture was taken at Opa-Locka Airport Opa-Locka Fla. This picture shows another set of floats I had, These were NOT painted and are shown in their original color. The air pressure in these floats can be from 1 LB to 3 LBS with the best water performance and aerodynamics being 3 LBS. If I remember correctly there were 4 sections within each float and you have to fill a small amount of air in each before continuing to balance the chambers. You also had to carry a hand pump if you were out all day or going to the swamp for a dip. The tempature and ambient pressure would greatly effect the pressure throughout the day.

This is a picture of the Fla Everglades crossing Alligator Alley (SR 84) From Fort Lauderdale to Naples Fla. This was taken about 2 miles north of the Alley notice how it looks DRY! It accually has water below the brush and the depths can very from area to area. I have found some areas to be 4-5 feet deep and others to be 6" to 1'.	This is a picture of the Salt Flats of the Fla Straights. This picture was taken when flying a direct route from Key West Fla. to Opa Locka Airport Fla. I would only fly this route when the floats were installed, although you can fly accross the water as long as you have current FAA approved Life Vests. You should always were the Vests when you are more then gliding distance from any land. Most the Vests we used were pop outs this let us fly with out to much trouble. My Helicopter was also equiped with a Emergancy Locater Transmitter (ELT) a Loran and a GPS.

	This picture is of the Seven Mile Bridge around Marathon in the Fla Keys. When flying in this area you might think you are flying South from Key Biscayne Fla to get to the Fla Keys BUT YOUR NOT! If you follow the road which I and most all pilots will recomend you will be flying South West and West. The advantage to having a Float Helicopter was the comfort of knowing that you could land anyware you had to.
Click here to send E-mail to Insta-Gator Helicopters, Inc.

Click here to return to Insta-Gator Helicopters main page.
Visitor number: