| Downwind Technology of Weston Wisconsin is a new name in the light sport and ultralight aviation marketplace, but the person behind it is not. Mike Puhl of Downwind Technology has been involved in the sport for a number of years as the former owner of Slipstream Industries, manufacturers of the Genesis series of light sport aircraft. When Mike sold off the aircraft division of the company he retained the rights to the production of the Shark line of light sport aircraft floats and then developed the Toucan exhaust system for the Rotax 912 and Verner aircraft engines. The Shark series of floats was first introduced to ultralight and light sport aircraft in 1999. Initially the floats were available only in the 1600 series which served the experimental aircraft market place. Recently the line has been expanded to include the models 1100 and 1350 for experimental and light sport aircraft and a model 850 for single place ultralights. All models are available in either a straight float or amphibious float set up. The floats are constructed of composite material inside a fibreglass shell. Divincell which is a very strong yet light weight aerospace product is used in the wall of the float with composite Last A Foam used in the bulkheads. The bottom of the floats use keel cloth with a Kevlar lining. This gives superior strength, is very light, and can be repaired easily in the case where a pilot makes a gear up landing on a paved runway, or strikes a submerged log while landing on water. Unlike fibreglass that tends to shatter when struck, Kevlar holds together helping to prevent the collapse of the float in a severe impact situation. The smaller series of floats use four bulk heads, while the larger series use five the amphib series also have added stringers to the upper section of the float for extra strength. Man hole covers are located between the bulkheads for inspection and the pumping out of water. Currently there are over 50 sets of the Shark floats being used on a variety of light sport aircraft and are offered as the system of choice by nine light sport aircraft manufacturers. This year at Sun N Fun a Just Aircraft Highlander on Downwind Technology's Shark Series 1600 amphib floats won the Grand Champion Float plane award. Downwind has worked closely with a number of manufacturers and builders to design mounting hardware for various aircraft, and have a number of mounting kits available. They have also designed the Shark series so that the mounting locations can be easily adjusted to suit most if not all applications. At Airventure 2006 Downwind introduced for the first time their "Quad Amphibian" a four wheel retract system. In this system the floats have two retractable wheels located at the step of the float and two castering nose wheels which retract forward and up in the nose of the float. The pneumatic system uses a small 300 lbs. DC compressor which is activated via a toggle switch on the instrument panel. Four position lights are also located on the dash indicating what position each wheel in the system is in. In case of pump failure or an electrical failure the system is equipped with a backup CO 2 cartridge, which has enough power for 3 complete retract cycles. When the system is purchased from Downwind everything needed to mount it to the aircraft and to operate the retract system for amphib customers is supplied. All the customer has to do is install the spreader bars, bracing, pneumatic plumbing, and wiring. Complete float system weights start at just over 135 lbs for the 850 series to 190 lbs for the 1600 series. This weight will be reduced depending on the weight of your existing wheels, brakes etc. Delivery times for the Shark series of floats is currently running about six weeks. For more information: | 
