The "Walrus" is a large (14,109 lbs empty, 52,446 lbs fully loaded) multi-engine (8-engined) seaplane (MES) class aircraft capable of carrying 70 passengers in first-class configuration or up to 200 in cattle car configuration. The basic crew is comprised of 2 pilots, one navigator, one flight engineer, 4 stewards and 4 stewardesses. The wing (106.4 ft) is high mounted with conventional ailerons without benefit of tip floats, aileron control required to keep the wings level on takeoff and landing. The outer five feet of each wing is downturned approximately 45 degrees and the inner 1/3 of each wing is has approximately 10 degrees of dihedral. The tail (21.3 ft) is comprised of a low-mounted horizontal stabilizer with two interconnected elevator surfaces and three vertical stabilizers, the outer two with 2 interconnected rudder surfaces (5 total). The engines (8x 2000 hp Blade T2000 air-cooled 24 cylinder radials) are mounted fore and aft in four large pods mounted on the inboard wing surfaces, with the two main spars carrying around the engine pods in a circular configuration. The four forward engines are numbered left to right #1 through #4 and the four aft engines are numbered left to right #5 through #8 and drive 4-bladed constant-speed props of 100 in diameter. The large fuselage (69.7 ft) is a conventional monocoque structure incorporating a two-step planning hull supported by three independent flotation cells, two intact cells are required to keep the aircraft afloat.

Takeoffs are best executed with caution, as aileron control is necessary to keep the wings level and prevent a wingtip from dragging on the water's surface. Trim was set neutral for takeoff and climbout. Aileron authority comes on early and are fully effective by approximately 50 mph. The aircraft rotates (Vr) at 125 mph and initial climbout flown at best angle of climb/rate of climb (Vx/y) at 210 mph and 20 degrees nose high. The evaluation flight was flown to 10,000' initially to evaluate stall characteristics and minimum control airspeed (Vmc), the climb rate being rapid due to the large wing and excess power. The maximum level airspeed was 250 mph at 10,000'. With power at idle, the aircraft stalled at 105 mph (Vso); characteristics were benign, the break being moderately pronounced and the aircraft stalling straight ahead and easily recovered with forward yoke and full power.

Minimum Control Airspeed (Vmc) Evaluation: For the Vmc eval, engines #1, #2, #5 and #6 were shutdown and full power was applied on the remaining engines, all on the right wing. Entry was 200 mph. With the first two engines shutdown (#1, #2), the aircraft flew at 180 mph level flight and was controllable with full right rudder and approximately 5 degrees of right bank, plus 1/2 nose up trim. With all four engines shutdown, the airspeed decayed to approximately 135 mph with a marginal climb rate (<100 fpm) achievable when holding full right rudder, approximately 10-15 degrees right bank and full nose up trim (VTOL slider all way down). Control pressures were heavy, with both Captain and Copilot requiring 150 lbs each on their respective right rudder pedals and 50 lbs required for yoke deflection. Control was marginal in this condition. The aircraft departed into a left bank and resulting moderate spiral at approximately 125 mph, until power was reduced on the operating engines and recovery was initiated.

Following airwork, the aircraft's service ceiling was evaluated by flying to a 28,000' service ceiling at approximately 180 mph with full nose up trim. The crew then descended for a water landing, finding the best approach speed being above 125 mph with approximately 10% power on final approach. Again, care had to be taken to keep the wings level as the aircraft slowed to a stop.

Overall, the crew also noted that both stability and pitch control were exceptional, with very little trim required at normal operating airspeeds and altitudes. Roll authority was satisfactory, but longitudinal control was marginal, especially at altitude, where the aircraft tended to enter a slight 10 - 20 degree bank.

@General360, enjoy!