The Little World

This is quite the most detailed trolley I have ever seen.

Seaplanes and float-planes are wonderful birds in the air and slippery fish on the surface of the water, but sad encumbrances back at the air base. Unless they are amphibians like the USAF Albatross, they cannot land on their own wheels and need something to aid them to climb up out of the water. Crews clap wheels and struts onto Mk I Catalinas and Sunderlands and float the smaller planes up over wheeled dollies to haul them up ramps.

This Aichi has a wheeled platform with side members to cradle the floats as well as walkways to allow the beaching crews to ride along with their charge as it is hauled out by winch or tractor.

Ship-borne aircraft have the advantage of carrying sling cables and attachment points that allow cranes to haul them straight up and onto carriages or catapults.

The most imaginative idea I’ve seen has come off the Instagram reels – where an Indian or Chinese company will use giant rubber bladders shaped like rollers to cushion ships either being launched or beached. Go watch it and be impressed. But join me in wondering what happens when one of the rubber rollers bursts…