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          * Volmer Amphibian News 

     Some other forums on the Volmer VJ-22. Two yahoo groups have also been formed that has some interesting reading also. You have to join the group and it usually takes a few days to be approved, but again it free.

      * VJ-22 Yahoo

      * Volmer VJ22 Waterbouys Yahoo

Recent discussions on Volmer Amphibian News forum...................

828DD

Bob Ibanez and I are having a discussion about the Angle to vertical chine of spray rails positioned aft of the landing gear forward of the step. Some are about perpendicular, almost 90 ' degrees from the side of the hull, while others are more sturdy and may angle down as much as 30' degrees ( or 120' degrees from the vertical.)

VJ22HTY

My Volmer just has a long triangular strip from the nose strakes to the step that angles out slightly from the fuselage sides and the belly, giving a horizontal deflection to water from the hull proper. It doesn't show up too well in the photographs and I don't know if my description just adds to the confusion!

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caseybrooks

Building a Volmer in the Rio Dulce, Guatemala. Let me introduce myself. This is Casey Brooks: wooden boat builder, sailor and circumnavigator. Please see my website www.riodulceboats.com.  I live in "Waterworld" down here and have an eleven mile commute by launch up to the town of Rio Dulce for materials, supplies, bank, groceries, etc. One day beating back against a stiff 15 knot wind, "wouldn't it be nice to just fly up to town and back?" So- bought a set of plans from Bob our moderator and in between refitting cruising sailboats, we're building a Volmer in my boatshop. Wing framing done, six station frames done, setting up the jig beam soon. I am coming up to Florida soon for 9 days and would like to meet a Volmer owner or especially a Volmer builder in Florida or the southeast. This is my first airplane,. AND I don't know how to fly either. Two lessons in a Piper Cub is all.
Casey

828DD

Hi Casey!
Welcome to a wonderful world of small amphibs! The most versatile and fun machine ever devised for transportation! And the VJ22 design is, hands down, as good a hull as is any ever. Good manners and strength in the air and in the water. (I'm biased, I'm on my 3rd VJ22)
There have been many hundred built, but few are active, and fewer still owners that are active on e-groups. Conversation is slow.
If you want to do all this, start here: keep working. Be very disciplined with yourself about weight and quality. Flying boat hulls take considerably more action in high speed wave impact than a surface hull, and VJ22's, like all hulls, need to be light coming up out of the water.
2) scour FAA files for Volmer near where you will be going, call them, see if anybody has something you can go look at. Don't really expect to find somebody that has rideable bird.
3) get some Lake amphib LA4-180 or 200 time. A premier choice is Paul Furnee at Lake Hamilton Seaplanes ?? near Orlando. There are several others nearby. Join SPA seaplane assn. they have a directory of Lake 4 dual instruction providers.
You must get at least 20-30 hours in a Lake before you should try to drive a Volmer. You can learn to fly better still by finding someone near you who rents out a tail dragger airplane ( or look one up when you are in florida). Learn to fly in that, way, way cheaper. (although I did have 7 hours in floats before I ever put a wheel on pavement, and in downtown Seattle, too!! But that was many decades ago)
So when you go, be sure to get some, if not several Lake lessons. This is a high skill level activity, you must be ready to pay the costs of safety. Muy importante!!! Incredibly rewarding, beyond any imaginings. IF your're lucky you'll get in a VJ or 2, but the idea is to expose yourself to the experience of flying a small hull off the water, so you'll find out if it is for you and you will be able to make good choices for your situation.
Dan (Oregon, USA)