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Several
modifications have been developed by Seabee owners and engineers to
improve the aerodynamic performance of the Seabee. Such
modifications include extended
wings, droop wing tips, wing tip end plates ('splates'), inboard 'splates'. Other modifications, such as extended spray rails and
longitudinal steps, have been designed to
improve the water performance and reduce water spray into the propeller. Below
is a summary of all Seabee modifications and STCs known to this
author. If you have any corrections, comments and additions -
please e-mail Steinar Saevdal. DISCLAIMER
- These web pages do not represent or promote any of the Seabee
modifications or businesses listed below. The purpose of this list
is to give basic information on some of the Seabee modifications and conversions
that have been installed. Some of the modifications listed
might no longer be available. |
Reverse
Valve
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Reverse Valve
Installation - [FAA STC # SE914NW]. This is a more
compact and practical Reverse Valve installation than the one supplied
by Hartzell Propeller Co. The roughly made Hartzell valve mounts
between the Nose Case Governor Adaptor (Lycoming Part No: 69290) and
the Governor. It contains a Spool Valve to switch oil direction
and act as a 'followup' for the Beta system. Also provided is a
Governor Drive Shaft Extension, made necessary by the additional depth
of their Reverse Valve.
The Simuflight Reverse Valve installation is a
combination of the two above mentioned parts (Hartzell Reverse Valve
and Lyc. Part No: 69290) manufactured to very exact standards and
tolerance. No additional Drive Shaft Extensions are
required. All extra reverse linkage needed to complete the
installation is included.
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Cabin
Heaters
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Larger
Image
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Southwind
940 CABIN Heater Installation - [FAA STC # SA915NW]. The
Simuflight designed installation
provides for a more comfortable air distribution than the original
heater installation. The installation is fully approved and
comes complete. It is available for either 12 or 24 volt
electrical systems.
FAA approved installation for the Southwind 940
heater, with defrost vents.
The Southwind 940 heater uses fuel from the main feul
tank and has the following specifications.
Fuel consumption:
Low Heat: 0.12 gph
High Heat: 0.37 gph
Heat output:
Low Heat: 15,000 btu/hr
High Heat: 27,500 btu/hr
These are approx. numbers, and this heater has a number of models and
there is a slight variance in the performance of each model. The
numbers indicated here are for the latest model available.
Installation time for this kit is between 30 and 40 hours depending on
how you want your panel arranged. General condition and status of
the aircraft can impact this installation estimate as well.
Contact
Scott A. Henderson
Simuflight Inc.
3763 Image Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
USA
Tel: 907.337.2860
Fax: 907.333.4482
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Brake
Conversions
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Cleveland
(Dual Puck) Brake Conversion - [FAA STC # SA815NW].
Developed by Simuflight
for seaplane use. The original Seabee wheels and tires are
used. New master cylinders, adaptors and hardware are installed.
Contact:
Scott A. Henderson
Simuflight Inc.
3763 Image Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
USA
Tel: 907.337.2860
Fax: 907.333.4482
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Wing
Fuel Tanks
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Wing Fuel
Tanks - Second generation Seabee Guru, Henry Ruzakowski,
has developed some leading edge wing fuel tanks that will hold a least 15
useable gallons per side. They are made of carbon fiber
and Kevlar and will gravity feed to the main tank with the operation of
one lever. They will be done on a field approval only, so you'll
have to take your airplane to him in Florida...
Henry
Ruzakowski
10941 Deneau Road
Boynton Beach, FL 33437
USA
Tel: 561-436-0821
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Extended
Spray Rails
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Tapered
Wide Spray Rails - [FAA STC # SA-392-NW] were originally designed
by STC Bee Inc. (Jack Daubenspeck) to protect the propeller from water
spray during water operations. The 'Tapered Wide Spray Rails'
extend 13½" from fuselage at step and will give a super flat water
spray pattern.
Contact:
Transition AirCraft, Inc.
P.O. Box 285
McKenna, WA 98558
USA
Tel: 360-458-7715
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Miller
Extended Spray Rails - [FAA STC # SA3-30, issued 1956-04-19] were designed by Miller
Flying Service in the mid 1950ies to reduce water spray. The
Miller Spray Rails, made from .125" -75ST sheets, were riveted onto
the the original 44" long spray rails and along the chines.
Each Miller Spray Rail had a weight of 10 lbs and extended 9 - 10"
out from fuselage, with a total length of 112" from the step and
forward. Contact:
Russel
A. Miller
Miller Flying Service
North Benton, Ohio
USA
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Wing
Extensions
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- Increase rate of climb 150 ft/min
- Get on the step in 8 secs
- Take off distance - land 600 ft
- Lift off water 27 secs
- Lower stall speed 8 mph
- Land at 50 mph - reduce landing roll
- Make power off landings with ease
- Not adversely affect cruise speed
- Fly at a reduced angle of attack
- Eliminate propeller erosion
- Give you confidence in the Seabee
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The
Miller Wing Extensions - [FAA STC # SA3-30, issued
1956-04-19] were originally developed and marketed by Russell A. Miller;
Miller Flying Service, North Benton, Ohio, in the mid
1950ies. Miller was a Seabee distributor and operator, and
always thought of the Seabee as 'a well made, safe and sound
airplane'.
The Miller Wing Extension would add 24" to each wing. Each
wing extension would have a we<ight of 17 lbs. The combined Miller
Wing/Spray Rail modification was issued FAA STC No: SA3-30 on 19 April
1956, and promised the several performance improvements.
Most Seabees flying today will have the Miller Wing
Extensions installed.
In the promotional literature for the Miller
modifications, Miller wrote this well written praise of the
Seabee.
Contact:
Russel
A. Miller
Miller Flying Service
North Benton, Ohio
USA
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'RICE'
Wing Extension - [FAA STC # SA1-18] is described in FAA records as: Increasing the
the wing span 16 inches and incorporating wing tip spill plastes.
Contact:
Ned
C. Rice
470 Silver Lane
East Hartford, CT 06108
USA
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KENMORE
Wing Extension -
[FAA STC # SA17CE, issued 2000-10-27] is described in FAA records as: 'Extension of each wing
tip 24 inches on outboard end'.
Contact:
Kenmore
Air Harbor, Inc.
P O Box 82064
Kenmore, WA 98028-0064
USA
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Electric
Trim
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Electric
elevator and rudder trim - replacement [STC Pending].
This is a complete replacement for the existing trim
system. It consists of two electrically actuated server motors for
the elevator and one servo for the rudder. The entire kit weights approx
one pound and allows for the complete removal of the existing trim
system and all components.
Controls can be panel mounted and/or yoke mounted with panel mounted
trim position indicators.
Contact:
Scott A. Henderson
Simuflight Inc.
3763 Image Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
USA
Tel: 907.337.2860
Fax: 907.333.4482
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Flush Fuel
Fill
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Flush
Fuel Fill - [FAA STC # SA-391-NW, issued 1976-12-28]. The original
Seabee fuel filler cap was installed on a tube extruding into the air on
the left side of cabin just behind and above main landing gear.
There are reports of cases were a loose filler cap have fallen off and into the propeller in flight.
The Flush Fill modification, originally designed by Jack Daubenspeck,
will improve the appearance and prevent a loose filler cap from flying
into the propeller.
Flush fuel fill modifications of different designs
have been observed on other Seabees.
Contact:
Transition AirCraft, Inc.
P.O. Box 285
McKenna, WA 98558
USA
Tel: 360-458-7715
www.seabee-transition.com
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Instrument Panel
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IFR
Instrument Panel - A
number of different IFR instrument panel modifications have been
installed on Seabees, most of them 'one-of-kind'. It is known that
STC Bee Inc. (Jack Daubenspeck) offered an IFR instrument Panel Kit
Model 1-TP-1 under STC # SA-374-NW, issued 1976-11-01, during the
1970ies.
STC Bee, Inc. ceased operations with the death of Mr.
Daubenspeck.
The IFR panel on the photo (left) was made for N3500G
by Transition Aircraft, Inc.
Contact:
Transition AirCraft, Inc.
P.O. Box 285
McKenna, WA 98558
USA
Tel: 360-458-7715
www.seabee-transition.com
Shock
Mounted Instrument Panel - Simuflight offered this
modification with space for standard grouped flight instruments and
radios, plus extra space for options.
Contact:
Scott A. Henderson
Simuflight Inc.
3763 Image Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
USA
Tel: 907.337.2860
Fax: 907.333.4482
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Longitudinal
Steps
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Longitudinal
Steps - [FAA STC # SA-575-NW, issued 1978-03-16]. This
modification was developed by STC Bee (Jack Daubenspeck) for the
installation of two longitudinal stiffeners on outside hull bottom - one
on each side of keel. According to the designer, the modification
would stiffen the hull bottom and make the Seabee hull plane at a lower
angle on water, resulting in less air drag.
Much less up elevator would be required to trim the
aircraft on plane against power moment and step drag moment that both
force the nose down. Due to the longitudinal step stiffeners long
fore-aft area, the water pressure counteracting the power and step drag
moments would be increased.
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Wing
Tips
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At
least three different Seabee wing tip modifications are known to exist;
all with the purpose of improving the Seabee's performance by reducing
induced drag due to wing tip vortex.
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Droop Tips
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(1) DROOP TIPS
Daubenspeck 'Model 2 DT' fibreglass droop wing tips were
approved under FAA STC # SA-394-NW, issued 1976-12-28.
Daubenspeck 'Model D-1' fibreglass droop wing tips were
approved under FAA STC # SA2386WE, issued 1971-07-28.
STC Bee, Inc. ceased operations with the death of Mr.
Daubenspeck.
Droop tips are currently available at Simuflight;
Contact:
Scott A. Henderson
Simuflight Inc.
3763 Image Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
USA
Tel: 907.337.2860
Fax: 907.333.4482
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Splates
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(2) 'SPLATES'
Spill Plates are flat plates replacing original wing tips of the
Seabee. The are larger than the wing airfoil section, and thus are
sometimes referred to as 'wing tip fences'. Most Seabees operated
by the Einarson Brothers in Minnesota had 'splates' installed.
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Endplates
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(3) ENDPLATES
Larger versions of the wing tip endplates (similar to the
Splates),
of various shapes, have been spotted on some Seabees.
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Wing Floats
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Fibreglas
Wing Floats - The
fibreglass wing float illustrated above has been developed by Transition
AirCraft Inc. (Randy Komko) to replace the original aluminum wing
floats.
Contact:
Transition AirCraft, Inc.
P.O. Box 285
McKenna, WA 98558
USA
Tel: 360-458-7715
www.seabee-transition.com
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Step Vents
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Step Vents
- [FAA STC No: SA-577-NW]. The Step Vents modification was designed by STC Bee (Jack
Daubenspeck) to
reduce step drag on both water and in the air. According to
designer, these vents would show more relative effect, the heavier the
Seabee was loaded.
Two 3" diameter step vents (outlets) were installed in aft hull
bottom just behind the main hull step. The step vents were vented
through two tubes (6" wide, 1.25" deep and 77.625" long)
mounted inside hull, having their inlet vents at each side of the aft
cabin fuselage above the step.
STC Bee, Inc. ceased operations with the death of Mr.
Daubenspeck. Contact:
STC Bee, Inc.
10900 Rainier Avenue S.
Seattle, WA 98178
USA
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Engine Controls
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Overhead
Engine Controls - Overhead
engine and propeller controls installed on Seabee N3500G by Randy Komko,
Transition AirCraft Inc. (Photo on the left).
Contact:
Transition AirCraft, Inc.
P.O. Box 285
McKenna, WA 98558, USA
Tel: 360-458-7715
www.seabee-transition.com Panel
Mounted Control Verniers - Simuflight offered a complete set
of panel mounted Control Verniers (throttle, mixture and governor) made
to the exact length necessary for Simuflight's Lycoming engine
conversions. All controls used threaded rod ends. All
necessary brackets to mount on the engine and all hardware need were
included in the kit.
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Windows
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Extra Door
Windows - At least one of Commodore Air Services' Seabees
(N6275K s/n 485), operating out of Sausalito, California, had extra
windows installed in the lower side panels of the aft cabin and in the
side doors. The purpose was prabably to improve the cabin viewing
visability for sightseeing passangers.
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Reshaped
Aft Cabin Side Windows - [FAA STC # SA-395-NW, issued
1976-12-28].
Originally
developed by STC Bee Inc. (Jack Daubenspeck), the modification will
reduce the "1939 Ford look" of the original aft side windows
and improve cabin visability. This modification is available for
both rubber and flush mounting.
Transition AirCraft is still offering similar
modifications to the side windows.
Contact:
Transition AirCraft, Inc.
P.O. Box 285
McKenna, WA 98558
USA
Tel: 360-458-7715
www.seabee-transition.com
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Main
Step "Cross Vent"
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Main Step
Cross Vent - [FAA STC # SA-393-NW, issued 1976-12-28]. The Main Step "Cross-Vent" modification was
designed by STC Bee Inc. (Jack Daubenspeck) to shorten smooth-water
('glassy' water) take off distance. A plate with several holes was
mounted on keel gusset. STC Bee, Inc. ceased operations with the
death of Mr. Daubenspeck. Contact:
STC Bee, Inc.
10900 Rainier
Avenue S.
Seattle, WA 98178
USA
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Pitot/Static
System
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Heated
Pitot/Static System - [FAA STC # SA1153NW]. Simuflight
offered a 'current design' heated pitot/static system that was very
light in weight. The mounting position had been checked with a FAA
'airspeed test boom'. All switches and parts were included in the
kit.
Contact:
Scott A. Henderson:
Simuflight Inc.
3763 Image Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99504
USA
Tel: 907.337.2860
Fax: 907.333.4482
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Water
Rudder
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'Non-original' water rudder
installations have replaced the original water rudder on some
Seabees. In most cases this probably have been done when original
spare water rudders have not been available. Fiskflyg
Water Rudder
The water rudder illustrated on the left is installed on
Seabee SE-AXY (s/n 830) in Sweden. The installation was probably
made be the former owner Fiskflyg AB, which operated the Seabee as a
pure flying boat (wheels removed).
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Retractable
Wing Floats
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Retractable
Wing Floats - It is reported that Mr. Henri
Briaco 2004 installed
retractable floats on his Seabee C-FJIT s/n 148. Henri's lives in Quebec Canada,
his phone number is 450 667 4060. Photo courtesy of Alban Marcoux.
Brian Robinson reported in March 2004 that he was developing a retractable wing float system for the
Seabee. The design is complete, and the Robinson's are now
sourcing someone to manufacture them.
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