Knowing that almost 70% of the earth is covered with water and aquatic life, I don't have
to explain why you should own a seaplane.
You might say: "Well, okay, I can buy a private yacht or a jet ski instead!".
But hey, can your jet ski fly?!
Yeah, that's what I thought!
Now shut up and keep watching as in this video we're counting down the top 5 best seaplanes
you can buy!
If you can afford to splurge $359,000 with only a slight decrease in your bank balance,
you must consider buying the ICON A5— one of the most stunning and widely used light-sport
seaplanes.
The ultramodern aircraft is not only extremely light, but you can fill it up with either
aviation and regular gasoline, whatever is cheaper at the moment.
With the capacity to seat two people in a 46-inch-wide cockpit, the ICON A5 allows you
to carry up to 60 lbs of luggage, and thanks to a single 100 hp Rotax 912 iS engine, it
can reach a maximum speed of 109 mph.
This means that with a monthly maintenance cost of just over 1,500 dollars, it can cover
almost 427 nautical miles without needing a refuel.
Once you're done flying, just fold the wings, and you can tow it on a regular road.
Specially designed for the hotheads, the SeaMax aircraft delivers adventure so intensely that
it demands to be experienced again and again.
Whether you're discovering a hidden oasis in Russia or you want to fly over secluded
Caribbean lagoons in Africa, no other seaplane can give you an exploring experience better
than the SeaMax aircraft.
It comes with a 100 hp Rotax 912ULS engine mounted on top of its fabric wing with struts.
It boasts a luggage capacity of 600 pounds, and there is even an option to have a folding
wing for compact storage and a more efficient fuel-injected 100 hp Rotax 912iS engine.
With a top speed of 134 mph, this seaplane has an excellent range of 610 nautical miles,
and guess what, you can land with it on the water!
No way, who would have thought of that!
Its price ranges from $170,000 to $194,000—depending upon the version you choose.
SeaRey has been around the longest of all the planes on our list, having around 800
flyings worldwide, so it's not surprising it is the second highest selling aircraft
in the US, after the ICON.
Available in two versions—the Elite version comes with a 115 horsepower engine, while
the Adventure version is equipped with a more economical 100hp engine.
With a maximum cruise speed of 120 mph, it can cover more than 380 nautical miles without
requiring a refuel.
If you want to snap up one of these bad boys, prepare from 150 to $169,000.
Change...for a Bill Gates, or Mark Zuckerberg.
If you want to experience pure fun, you must consider buying this Super Petrel seaplane
manufactured by Scoda Aeronautica - aircraft with a unique double-wing design and made
up of corrosion-resistant material.
With the capacity to accommodate two people, it offers a maximum cruising speed of 120
mph and can cover more than 510 nm.
Under the hood...ehm...sorry...under the propeller, you'll find the same Rotax engine as in the
ICON A5.
But suppose you want to buy something more exclusive.
In that case, you can go for the special version with Rotax 914UL turbocharged, for which Scoda
charges around $207,000, while the regular version is available for just $195,000.
If you're a seaplane enthusiast, there is a high chance you have already heard of Aventura
2.
This US kit-built aircraft can be completed in as few as 350 hours, and comes with several
engine options, including the usual 100 hp Rotax 912ULS.
While some models of LSA seaplanes appeal to the wealthy class at prices approaching
$400,000, Aero Adventure makes seaplanes for the rest of us.
It is available for less than $60,000.
Yeah!
You heard it right—less than $60,000.
The two-seater seaplane offers a maximum cruise speed of 90 mph and can carry almost 30 lbs
of luggage, which might not sound like much, but it's rather impressive for a home-built
seaplane.
For all the low-budget thrill-seekers, Aventura 2, is for you.
So, which one of these seaplanes just appeared on your shopping list?