Fortunately, Eustace Bowhay, of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, is a pilot with vast experience in both land and water aircraft. He carefully researched the matter and decided that the RV-6 had the potential to be an excellent floatplane. After consulting engineers, including Van, he designed a float installation and submitted it to the Canadian authorities for engineering approval. They determined that the RV-6 was strong enough, without modification, to handle the added stresses and loads imposed by flying off water.

Eustace and his partner Jim Rowe built a set of floats that mounted to the stock RV-6 engine mount and rear spar fittings. The result is what Eustace thinks is the fastest single piston engine floatplane in the world. Cruise speeds, with the 180 hp Lycoming and constant speed prop, are in the neighborhood of 150 statue miles per hour. The water handling characteristics are excellent. The airplane is easy to land and taxi. If Eustace wasn�t flying to somewhere with water, it took about three hours to switch back to wheels.

After flying the airplane on both wheels and straight floats for two years, Eustace and Jim decided they could have the best of both worlds, and installed amphibious floats. The airplane continues to perform well, taking off like an RV (less than 500�) on paved strips and landing like no other RV in the world when it�s time to find the best fishing in the lakes of the Canadian North.

The whole installation has been so successful that Jim and Eustace have decided to offer it to other RV-4, RV-6, and RV-6A builders. For further details, contact Jim or Eustace at Copper Island Aviation