Section 6 - Description of Airplane and Systems
GENERAL
Type: Two Seat High Wing Amphibian
Engine Installation: Single Engine Pusher. Engine mounted up behind wing.
Wing: Strut braced, 2 spars, fabric covered. Full span flaps and ailerons.
Fuselage: Bolted aluminum tubular frame, bolt mounted into composite fiberglass or carbon fiber hull and enclosed in fiberglass front deck and aft turtle deck.
Landing Gear: Conventional tail-dragger configuration. Mains and tail wheel retractable.
Tail Surfaces: Aluminum tube frame, fabric covered. Trim control is via elevator push-pull tube. Tail surfaces cable braced.
Control System: Dual control sticks and rudder pedals
DIMENSIONS
Wing Span 30’ 10”
Wing Chord – Tip 48”
Wing Chord – Root 76”
Wing Area – Incl. Ailerons 157 sq ft
Overall Length 22’ 5”
Overall Height 7’ 2”
Aileron Area 12 sq ft
Elevator Area 8 sq ft
Stabilizer Area 16 sq ft
Rudder Area 7 sq ft
Aspect Ratio 6.06
Wheel Track 84”
Tire Size – Mains 6.00 x 6”
Tire Size – Tail 280/250 x 4”
Cockpit Height 3’ 10”
ELECTRICA SYSTEM
The Searey operates on a 12-volt DC electrical system.
Battery
A 12-volt, 18 Amp Hr. sealed lead acid battery is used for the aircraft power supply.
Master Switch
The Master Switch is a split-rocker type switch labeled MASTER and is ON in the UP position and OFF in the DOWN position. The right half of the switch controls power from the battery. The left half controls the power from the alternator. Normally both sides of the master switch should be used simultaneously, however the Battery side of the switch may be turned on separately to check or operate equipment while on the ground. The generator side of the switch, when placed in the OFF position, isolates the generator from the electrical system. With the switch in this position the entire electrical load is placed on the battery. Continued operation with the generator switch OFF will reduce battery power and cause electrical system failure.
Ignition/Start Switch
The “start” position of the switch applies power to the start relay that engages the electric engine starter. After engine start, the switch should be set to the “run” position. The “right” and “left” switch positions allow testing the two independent ignition systems prior to takeoff.
Electric Fuel Pump
The Rotax 914 engine has no mechanical pump but has two electric pumps. The power for one primary pump comes through the main power source and the second backup pump is connected through its own circuit breaker directly to the battery.
ENGINE
The Searey is powered by a horizontally-opposed, four cylinder, liquid cooled heads, air-cooled cylinders, carbureted engine with dry sump forced lubrication. The engine is fitted with an electric starter, AC generator and 2 electrical fuel pumps. The propeller is driven via a reduction gearbox with integrated shock absorber. Fuel mixture is automatic and is controlled by an altitude compensating diaphragm in the carburetor.
Engine Controls
Engine power is controlled by a throttle handle that is located between the two occupant seats. There are two cables attached to the throttle handle with both cables being linked to the two carburetors. The throttle operates in a conventional manner with the throttle being fully open when the handle is in the full forward position and in the full aft position the throttle is closed. Rotax 914UL engine is turbo charged and used in the Elite configuration of Searey LSA.
Engine Instruments – EIS 4000
Engine operation is monitored by the EIS 4000 instrument. By using Next and Previous button you can cycle through the following pages.
Engine RPM
Oil Temperature
Oil Pressure
Manifold Pressure
Aux 2 (not connected)
Aux 3 (not connected)
Outside Air Temperature (in Fahrenheit)
Battery Voltage
Engine RPM
1. – 4. Exhaust Gas Temperature per Cylinder
1. – 4. Cylinder Heat Temperature per Cylinder
2. Highest Cylinder Temperature
Altitude (Standard Pressure)
Vertical Speed in hundrets
Speed in Miles per Hour
Current (Sim) Time
FUEL
The fuel tank is a cross-linked polyethylene plastic molding. It is attached to the fuselage primarily by a nylon strap with additional location support provided by aluminum angles. Capacity of the tank is 23 gallons. The fuel sump and fuel supply are at the forward bottom of the fuel tank.
Fuel Grade 91+ Oct. Auto Gas or 100LL AVGAS
Fuel Capacity, Total 23 Gallons
Fuel Capacity, Useable 22 Gallons
PROPELLER
Manufacturer Warp Drive
Type 3 Blade tapered tip
Diameter 68’’ diameter
Pitch 16° at the 66” diameter station
BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT
The baggage compartment consists of two areas, each extending aft from behind the two passenger seats. Access to both areas is gained through the cabin over the passenger seats. Do not exceed 50 lbs. of baggage or cargo and never exceed the 1430 lbs. loading limit.
SLIDING CANOPIES
The Searey aircraft can be flown with the sliding canopies in any position.
COMMUNICATION
This aircraft is equipped with an Icom IC-A200 VHF transceiver located at the top center of the main panel.
Frequency selection
There are 2 ways to select a desired frequency.
STBY window frequency selection
Rotate the large and small tuning knob to select a desired frequency.
The USE window frequency is not affected.
To change the 1MHz digit use the large tuning knob. The small tuning knob does not change the 1MHz digit.
USE window frequency selection
Push and hold Button 3 until the STBY window frequency is hidden.
Select a desired frequency using the large and small tuning knobs.
Push Button 3 again. The previous STBY window frequency appears again.
Memory programming
The transceiver is equipped with 9 memory channels. You can program often-used frequencies into them.
Note: The frequency will only be stored within the current sim session. As soon as you switch the aircraft, reload the flight, or restart the simulator the storage will be cleaned.
Push and hold Button 4 until the memory channel number blinks.
Rotate the large or small tuning knob to select a memory channel to be programmed.
Push Button 3. Frequency content or “----” blinks.
Rotate the large and small tuning knobs to select a desired frequency.
Push Button 4 to return to normal operation
Memory recall
Recall into STBY window
Push Button 4. DO NOT push and hold Button 4, or any other function is activated. Perform next step 2 within 5 seconds
Rotate the large or small tuning knob to select a memory channel. When any switches or tuning knobs are not operated, after 5 sec., the memory channel content is automatically transferred into the STBY window.
Recall into USE window
Push Button 4. DO NOT push and hold Button 4, or any other function is activated.
Rotate the large or small tuning knob to select a memory channel.
Push Button 3. The memory channel content is copied into the USE window. The previous USE window frequency is transferred into the STBY window.
TRANSPONDER
This aircraft is equipped with a Garmin GTX320 transponder.
INTEGRATED TABLET / EFB
The desktop version of the Searey uses a tablet to access various features. It is located at the right side of the main panel. To turn it on please click on the main screen.
By default the screen brightness is set to 100%. You can change it manually by moving the slider on the upper left side.
The battery lasts for approx. 5 hours.
Nav Map
The navigation map page shows the MSFS flight plan if it has been selected pefore your flight. You can zoom in and out by using the + & – icon on the top right side and move the map but click & drag at any map position.
Additionally, you can see the time and distance to your next waypoint and your destination.
While inflight the nearest airport will be indicated with a directional arrow and distance on the lower left side (not visible on this screenshot).
Preflight
The preflight page gives you access to our interactive walkaround. Each number is a clickspot for a specific camera position at which you can check the corresponding items.
Step 1: Only visual checks, no interaction possible
Step 2: Right wheel, tie-down & ailerons
Step 3: Propeller
Step 4: Wheel, elevator & rudder
Step 5: Wheel
Weights
On the weight side, you can control the entire loading of the aircraft in real time. They are automatically synchronized with the weights of the simulator.
Note: Due to a bug in MSFS, the native weight menu is not synchronized, but the weights are still changed correctly.
AUTOPILOT
To provide assistance on cross-country flights we added an autopilot to the aircraft. It is not visible but can be controlled via the MSFS hotkeys.
Autopilot on/off
Activates heading hold mode
Activates altitude hold mode
Sets NAV source to GPS
ANCHOR SIMULATION
By default there is no possibility to tie-down a seaplane, e.g. to a boye or a pier. Therefore, we have included a special function that simulates this:
If you apply full brakes or apply parking brake while on water the aircraft will keep its position. However it will still turn into the wind and therefore could clip into an object.
Please not that this is just a workaround and the aircraft will come to a sudden stop whenever you apply parking brake.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT
There is some camping equipment in the back of the aircraft. Click it to take a rest (engine needs to be off).
Last updated
