Searey Demonstration flight for ex-top gun instructor

Join ex-Top Gun instructor, aerobatic pilot and current commercial airline pilot Alex Howell for a "Ride-a-Long" with Searey designer Kerry Richter.

[@alexploof9110]

Took a flight with Kerry a few weeks ago. It appears you left out a few parts of the flight and I can say this. That aircraft has allot more agility than what is shown here. I love the searey and always will. Thanks for the demo Kerry, that was 1 for the books.

[@mikemaloney5830]

After a Demo with Kerry, I bought a SeaRey. The man and machine are amazing.

[@gordonmccoy4537]

What a FUN acft... When you've done it all and there's really nothing left (to fly) along comes "just fun".... Thanks to you two for an excellent introduction/review....!

[@chrisjohnson6610]

I had the demo ride last week and was very impressed. The plane handled like an Osprey, powerful, precise and well balanced. If the Icon A-5 lowered its price by $150,000 to match the SeaRey, I’d still buy the SeaRey. Do yourself a big favor and visit the factory, see the superb quality and then get Kerry to show off this magnificent amphib. You won’t regret it. I’ve flown some other amphibious, like Super Petrel, and some float planes, the SeaRey is heads and shoulders above the competition.

[@mtweiss01]

I purchased N6181X from a fellow in san Luis Obispo, CA in December of 1999 and flew it across the United States to Connecticut in six days. I received a check out from Kerry for a week in company demo in Florida.

[@deldridg]

Great video and inspirational. As a suggestion, how about next time you invite a pilot with such serious credentials, give him some time on the controls so we can get his piloting feedback, not just a string of superlatives from the designer himself hogging the stick. Better still, send him out on his own (yes, he would be quite capable...) and watch the credibility needle move to the right. Still a great watch and thanks for sharing. Cheers from Australia - Dave

[@DoctorShocktor]

And you could not be more WRONG. First, his last military experience would be fast jets, and his airline experience would of course be jet airliners. NEITHER requires the use of much rudder other than during crosswinds during landing. (And yes, even his primary training aircraft probably required very little rudder.) The Searay is what is called a RUDDER DOMINANT aircraft, requiring use of rudder first (leading) to coordinate turns properly. It is also a TAILDRAGGER, and a SEAPLANE, both of which require SPECIALIZED training for ANY pilot before being allowed to command and then PRACTICE maneuvers for such aircraft. Lastly, many airline pilots become VERY RUSTY on the flying required for any light aircraft and require a bit of instructor time and practice to come up to speed again. So NO - this fighter jock/airline pilot is in NO WAY qualified to fly this aircraft for a proper evaluation, much less ALONE.

[@chenjunalex]

Do you need float rating and taildragger training in order to fly the Searay?

[@texogrady9576]

A good Vid' I managed a flight in a Searey when they first came out to OZ and S.P.A.A. had a splash in at Gosford. I haven't flown for many years but am about to get back into it. Been thinking about an LA4-200 or a Searey. I honestly think bang for buck and the fact we don't have anywhere near the Fresh water lakes that the U.S. have, the Searey is on top for me.

[@michaelhille261]

Awesome video 👍🏻

[@garygerard4290]

I was going to get a Lear Jet 'cancelled the deal I'm getting one of these

[@skipkelley3229]

great for Icon A5 but up to now they are just a dream and a waiting list

[@DoctorShocktor]

Nonsense. They’re in production and selling them.

[@hogey74]

Nice vid but I wish the fighter guy had been doing all the flying. I would have liked to hear him describing how he found the machine as he got used to it.

[@DoctorShocktor]

He would not be qualified in any way to do takeoffs or landings in it, but he could give basic flight maneuver feedback I guess. IF he was used to a rudder focused aircraft, which he may not be.

[@strikezero01]

9:00 Like James Bond XD "Gas, shake but not stir"

[@madmanmechanic8847]

How cool I want one of those planes so bad and want to learn how to fly

[@SunShine-yd5xu]

Two questions : 1) why the SeaRey wasn’t built with a T-Tail to minimize contact between water and elevators ( in case of high wave - emergency landing or takeoff ) and question 2) : what is the price as shown in this video with brother Top-Gun ? Note : upon customer’s request, can the factory design and sell a T-Tail Sea-Rey ? Thanks for responding.

[@DoctorShocktor]

Because you NEVER land a Searey in ANY kind of high waves, regardless of the “emergency”. EVER. You only fly normal flights in very light waves, and if unexpected weather/waves pop up, you DIVERT to an airfield (one of the benefits of an amphibian) OR you can even land very safely and with little damage with the landing gear up on a grassy or other smooth/soft surface. Another benefit of a flying boat type hull over a floatplane with separate floats underneath.

[@jrfoleyjr]

I am in love... it is like your own small personal PBY. This takes the $100 dollar hamburger in another direction. Beautiful plane! :)

[@Jolinator]

I was literally just thinking that then scrolled down to see your comment :)

[@LIamaLlama554]

jrfoleyjr $100 conch fritters 😁

[@MrWaterbirds]

The ICON A5 has some serious design flaws. Notably, if it goes onto its back, as seaplanes sometimes do, you're in deep do do. Good luck getting that canopy open. Secondly, on the downwind to upwind taxi turn discussed in the Searey video note that the ICON has no wing sponsons. A good crosswind will lift the upwind wing putting the downwind wingtip into the water. At best this will prohibit you from getting turned into the wind. At worst it can roll the aircraft over in the water (then see first objection). As for its "spin-proof" wing watch their comparison video carefully where they stall it beside a C-150. When the pilots push hard right rudder and full up elevator look at the respective motion of those surfaces. The ICON accomplishes its "protection" with severely restricted control throws. Good luck trying to do a strong crosswind landing. Personally, I want the ability to fully stall and spin my aircraft. Limiting the max attainable alpha is a poor substitute for proper training.

[@nimbuskhannk627]

"Limiting the max attainable alpha is a poor substitute for proper training". ...and yet, it is done by any modern AFCS in any modern airliner, such as the one you fly and is shown in your avatar photo....Or is it only good, when it is electronically achieved and pompously dubbed "flight envelope protection"? Mortality rates in VLA flying come mostly from poorly prepared owners/operators that weren't, precisely, "properly trained" be it either because they have far too much money and think that physics are "boring" and do not apply to them or because they were lead to that perilous stance by less-than-scrupulous vendors who want to portray flying as "fun" and "easy" in an attempt to not lose sales with full encompassing flying syllabus that might be perceived as "bummers" in the ever-so-light current times. If anything, it makes even more sense to flight-controls-restrict these kind of planes, who are likely to be operated by less than optimally prepared pilots, than to electronically-restrict an airliner that is operated by fully trained pilots, many of us with full degrees in Aerodynamics. As for your objections to the in-water operation I can't add much, since I never operated an amphibious A/c. However, I would like to point out that, although it it is true that it has no wing sponsons, it is fitted with in-body ones. As for their efficiency in x-winds, let's leave that for the designers and test-pilots keeping in mind that strong x-winds are more prone to limit operations on account of off-limits water surface conditions than flare and landing maneuvering.

[@M1A1cavalryman]

This is an excellent, informative video - thank you. A small comment, TOPGUN is one word, all uppercase.

[@daveriley6310]

Doesn't have to be all uppercase. I earned three annual (and numerous quarterly) topgun awards and trophies from my fighter squadron and from the wing over the years in the F-105 and F-4. Until the movie made the word synonymous with the Navy's version of the Fighter Weapons Instructor Course of the Air Force, I had never seen it written as one word in all uppercase letters. It was in all caps on the sign for the parking spot I used for the years I held the title, but it was as two separate words. TOP GUN said the parking space sign. A small comment. Thanks for your service on the Abrams. I had a buddy in Iraq when we were flying as civilian contractors who had been a tank commander. He said he loved it.

[@savagecub]

I like the Searey, I just wish it wasn't so freaking small. Just little more elbow room and cargo hauling capability could go a long way.

[@Kev376]

It's a lightsport

[@user-tb8hz8qr1q]

Cảm ơn video chia sẻ của bạn rất hay chúc bạn sức khỏe và hạnh phúc.

[@daveriley6310]

"Gear is up . . . we're ready to roll." Uhh, we're ready to takeoff.

[@j3flyr]

yes, amazing isn't it

[@ancientpelican]

Mine will be named Clipper Retirement. Seven more years...

[@38KSW]

I really li9ke this aircraft but why does it say experimental, does this mean I am going to have problems with this aircraft in Canada...?

[@sergesmith2863]

+Tim D Stevens No it means you can build it and do your own maintenance. or you can buy it build and just fly it. no medical is required in a sport plane!

[@chenjunalex]

I think Canada has different rules for sport plane. Is it under ultra light category? anyone knows? I am in Canada and interested too, but just want to make sure it works here.

[@DoctorShocktor]

You can buy a factory certified model if you like and have issues with self built experimentals

[@drampadreg1386]

I was there right up until she said imagine flying right up to the Tiki bar...alcohol and altitude do not mix! I do know several pilots who smoke a bit of weed during a flight, but in some places that can help you fly better. Take Vietnam for example.

[@martynasdanys4890]

is this real?

[@terrycarter4459]

I would love to own this aircraft, I better start getting lottery tickets :)

[@earthpilot8500]

Lotto tickets are for the Icon A5. We pay cash here.

[@DoctorShocktor]

@@earthpilot8500 Still need lottery tickets, the Searey is the price of a small house or a very expensive luxury/sports car.

[@urukpaone4790]

take off at 20 mph ? hmm strange,and later on radio i heard 40 mph hmm.

[@ThePfitzger]

Listen again : I heard Flap settings .

[@DoctorShocktor]

20 degree flaps, not MPH

[@puccalove69]

If there aloud in the uk I'm having one

[@nefariouspurplebadger]

puccalove69 I don’t think anyone who doesn’t understand the difference between allowed and aloud would be allowed to fly one.

[@EastBayFM]

Icon a5 is muuuuch nicer

[@earthpilot8500]

Tell us about your A5.

[@DoctorShocktor]

The Icon is definitely a higher fit/finish, but it lacks in other ways. A pilot would have to evaluate them for themselves.

[@melongaming3819]

R u imagineer

[@sergesmith2863]

I just don't like the big ugly wings, does not look like it belongs.

[@DoctorShocktor]

The peanut gallery chimes in I guess.

[@sergesmith2863]

@@DoctorShocktor well,OK MR. mature! It is a ugly wing. coming from a pilots point of view. I own a sea plane what do you have?