| CPC B64C 25/54 (2013.01) [B64C 25/20 (2013.01); B64C 35/008 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
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1. A float assembly mountable to an aircraft, the float assembly comprising:
a front hull extending lengthwise between a bow of the front hull and a trailing edge of the front hull, the front hull defining a clearance notch extending from the trailing edge of the front hull toward the bow;
a rear hull extending lengthwise between a stern of the rear hull and a leading edge of the rear hull, the rear hull defining a wheel opening extending from the leading edge of the rear hull toward the stern;
a step between the trailing edge of the front hull and the leading edge of the rear hull such that the leading edge of the rear hull is higher than the trailing edge of the front hull when the aircraft is flying level with the float assembly mounted to the aircraft;
a nose wheel coupled to the front hull and being closer to the bow than to the trailing edge of the front hull;
a main wheel; and
a main linkage supporting the main wheel, the main linkage being movable to move the main wheel between a retracted position and a deployed position relative to the rear hull, the main linkage extending into the clearance notch when the main wheel is in the deployed position, and the main wheel extending into the wheel opening when the main wheel is in the retracted position.
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