Top 10 Amphibious Aircraft and Private Seaplanes You Can Still Fly Today

The increasing availability of airstrips, safety concerns and requirements for better fuel economy have resulted in the gradual decline of seaplanes and so-called flying boats. Private aviation, however, is not ready to give up on the concept, so quite a few of old-timers are produced till this day plus brand-new models are being developed with the use of modern composites and innovative powertrains. Today we will look into the topic of amphibious aircraft that feel equally comfortable fairing through the skies, landing on water and taking off from short runways.

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List of all aircraft models that made it to this release of this #ATAircraft series:

Icon A5: iconaircraft.com

The Icon A5 first surfaced in 2008 as an idea to bring a sports car priced aircraft to the wide. Despite a drastic price increase, questionable company policies and many controversies associated with accidents, the startup still managed to establish manufacturing.

Nordic Omsider: omsider.com

Though manufactured in Czech Republic, the Omsider has a truly Nordic spirit as it has been developed in Norway specifically for the Nordic landscape. The seaplane features a composite body made of carbon and processed cork, that allows to keeps it empty weight down to just 700 lbs.

SeaRey Elite & Adventure: searey.com/elite/ searey.com/adventure

Manufactured by the Florida-based Progressive Aerodyne, SeaRey is a single engine, two-passenger aircraft with a boat-like monocoque construction. This seaplane is produced in 3 modifications: the FFA-certified Elite and Adventure, plus a kit for amateur assembly.

Super Petrel USA: superpetrelusa.com

Super Petrel USA has a biplane construction with long narrow wings and comes powered by a Rotax 912iS Sport engine good for a max cruise speed of around 100 knots.

Seamax M-22: seamaxaircraft.com

Designed by a prominent aeronautical draftsman Miguel Rosário, the latest Seamax M-22 is one of the trend-setters of its class as well as one of the safest planes in the category.

Equator P2 Xcursion: equatoraircraft.com/press.html

Currently in the prototype stage of development, the P2 Xcursion from the Norwegian startup Equator Aircraft has been flying the skies since 2018. It is an all-composite model with a floatwing design and a fuselage merged with a boat hull.

Lisa Akoya: lisa-airplanes.com/en/light-amphibious-aircraft-akoya/

The Akoya aircraft by the French company Lisa has been under development since 2006, getting unique aeronautical hydrofoils dubbed “seafoils” and a patented “Multi Access” technology with skis as a part of its landing gear package.

Viking DHC-2T Turbo Beaver: vikingair.com/viking-aircraft/dhc-2t-turbo-beaver
The original DHC-2 Beaver has been manufactured by the de Havilland Canada between 1947 and 1967, with a total of 1657 units being produced. In 1987, a fellow Canadian company, Viking Air, became an exclusive spare parts manufacturer and servicer for the aircraft, and later started remanufacturing the existing Beavers with Pratt and Whitney turboprop engines.

Cubcrafters Carbon Cub EX3 and FX-3: cubcrafters.com

Saying good bye to the Piper PA-18 Super Cub was never an option, and the mantle of manufacturing was taken by Yakima, Washington based CubCrafters. The company offers the new Cub in the reimagined carbon versions EX3 and FX3.

Kodiak 100: kodiak.aero/kodiak

Unlike the rest of the entries in this lineup, the Quest Kodiak 100 is a legitimate amphibious people’s hauler capable of seating ten.