A water loop is a situation where a flying boat loses directional control and rotates about its vertical axis. It can happen when landing, when taking off or during taxi. It’s not something anyone wants to happen and is similar to a ground loop for land based aircraft.
The Consolidated Commodore was a flying boat operated by Pan American from 1930 to 1935. They then passed to other airlines and operated through the 1940s. Just 14 examples were built and it provided excellent service for that era.
An Example of a Water Loop
What got me thinking about this was a video uploaded to YouTube showing exactly this. While it is billed as a “failed stunt” in actual fact the flying boat is alighting on a lake. It’s a short video and you can see exactly what is meant by a water loop.
It’s all fairly spectacular looking, isn’t it? I imagine it would have been a bit dizzying for anyone on board and it’s not a situation you really want to happen.
You can’t water loop a Consolidated Commodore!
So what does all this have to do with a Consolidated Commodore flying boat from almost 100 years ago? Captain Marius Lodeesen was a Pan American pilot in that era, and he wrote a book about his experiences. What stands out in the book is his almost loving epitaph to the Commodore. He wrote…
Overall Thoughts
Compared to land planes, flying boats were relatively dangerous. I’ve read an account by at least one pilot where he flat out says that it was good the boats were retired as they were not particularly safe.
Apparently he didn’t fly the Consolidated Commodore, which received such high praise from Captain Lodeesen. It stuck with me as it was the only aircraft he described in such loving terms in his book, “Captain Lodi Speaking: Saying Goodbye to an Era”.
Well, now you also know that you can’t water loop a Commodore. Did you know this before? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image from PAHF/Ernest Hemingway Collection, JFK Library via Pan Am Historical Foundation on Facebook.
Inflight image via Mary Evans Picture Library.
Great plane. In my flying boat bible: Pan American’s Flying Boats it speaks very well of the Commodore as an impressive craft for a time when transoceanic commercial flights were a theory rather than reality.
I might have to check that one out. Great to see it wasn’t just the opinion of one pilot lauding the Commodore. Thanks for that!!
Nice article, but you’ve misidentified the axis about which the aircraft is rotating. It’s rotating about the yaw axis, which is vertical. (Imagine sticking a pole through the aircraft vertically and twirling that pole. That’s what’s happening.)
Great point, thanks for that – I’ll make the edit 🙂 Glad you enjoyed the article!