If It Flies Like a Duck and Floats Like a Duck, Maybe It IS a Duck

Article Updated July 17, 2024 — After this article was posted, Miguel Rosario reported, “Duck is still in tests. Now we will install a 912 ULS 80-horsepower engine, as requested by future customers.” He continued, “Molds are under construction for production, which we hope to start in three months” (approximately October 1, 2024). He finished, “I will keep you updated on all developments regarding Duck.” —DJ

You probably know Seamax. This longtime, performance-oriented LSA seaplane was one of the first to make a splash in the U.S. light aircraft market way back in December, 2007.

Today, regretfully, the Seamax company is going through some very difficult circumstances as noted in this State of the Seaplane Sector report. We don’t know the end of those stories yet.

Nonetheless, Seamax M-22 designer Miguel Rosario remains active. You can’t keep a good man down but apparently you can keep him on the water.

Welcome Duck!

Seamax and Duck share a love of water but otherwise they could hardly be more different.

Seamax (several articles here) was an early entry in the LSA sweepstakes. Despite earning its FAA acceptance only three years after the SP/LSA regulation was released, Seamax clocked in as #63 to receive its Special Airworthiness Certificate. New Light-Sport models arrived regularly in those beginning years, sometimes four or more new entries in a single month.

Many of those models — 158 show on our SLSA List — have gone quiet, perhaps never finding sufficient market to continue in the crowded and highly competitive U.S. market. Some off-shore designs have steady markets at home but found America challenging.

Since Seamax gained acceptance as a Special LSA, lots has happened. Only a year after its approval, we experienced the global financial crises of 2008 and more recently Covid and regional conflicts. During this turbulent period, currencies around the world continued to lose purchasing power such that a modern new LSA today is reaching toward $200,000 while some of the best-equipped, highest-performing models have shot past $300,000.

In these gusty conditions, affordable airplane builders have been hit hard by rising input costs and seaplanes even more so. Two top seaplanes — Searey and Seamax — are presently off the market. Icon just survived an expensive bankruptcy. Vickers Wave and Finland’s ATOL continue to progress (article) but are not actively being sold yet. We’re still waiting on other promising designs covered on this website.

Aero Adventure stands out as one strong survivor with fairly low costs, though even those are rising as the dollar sinks and the company has established a Brazilian factory, as was recently reported.

Duck Entry

Fortunately, challenges in the LSA seaplane sector need not affect all affordable aircraft.

While Seamax design Miguel Rosario admits the business part of aircraft building is not his forte, this prolific designer is one of those types who can’t sit still while the bean counters sort out Seamax, Inc.

“I am still working in airplane design (and race cars),” Miguel recently wrote via email. “I just developed a new amphibian that should have a low cost.”

“I want to share with you the Duck, a design specially made for a Brazilian company called Fly Fox, located in Goiania, Brazil.” Miguel cautioned, “So far, the info I am sharing with you… is for your personal information.” He promised to supply more details; when I hear more I’ll pass it along.

Fly Fox is the manufacturer of the Fox ultralight family consisting of V4, V5, and V6 (nearby images). Miguel noted that for the last 20 years, Fly Fox has been successfully manufacturing kit-built ultralights. “In manufacturing quality and flight characteristics, these are very good aircraft,” Miguel expressed.

He continued, “What I made is a ‘reassembled’ Fox V5, using same wings and tail, repositioning
the boom on top, installing the engine in tractor position, and adding a small composite boat hull.”

“The flight test program is finished,” Miguel declared, “and Fly Fox is now preparing for production.”

Main Technical Data
supplied by Miguel Rosario

• Empty Weight — 540 pounds (245 kilograms)
• Useful Load — 485 pounds (220 kilograms)
• Wing Span — 31.7 feet (9,66 meters)
• Stall Speed — 32 mph / 28 knots
• Cruise Speed — 78 mph / 68 knots
• Engine — Rotax 582, 65 horsepower
• Propeller — Warp Drive 3-blade 68 inch

About Fly Fox

“Since the end of 2018, Fly Ultraleves (English website) created the company Fly Fox to manufacture kits for assembling Fox V-5 and Fox V-6 aircraft under license.” wrote the Brazilian company.

“[In the last] year, we developed manufacturing templates, where all parts, without exception, are drilled in the same pattern. We made improvements to the aircraft, such as tanks on the wings, laminar landing gear, Celeron pulleys, lighter fairings due to improved resin quality and several other improvements. During this time, parts were manufactured for the kits, today designed in Solid Works, finished with CNC and water cutting. All tubes are made of 6061-T6 aluminum, manufactured under strict quality control.”

“Fox V5 Super Neo is an ultralight built side by side for the pilot who wants the “open cockpit feel.” [With] the strength and safety of the Fox line, and with its docile controls, low stall speed and configuration of an aircraft with unsurpassed flight quality, V5 Super Neo will certainly be the choice for the adventurous aviator.”

“The Fox V5 Tandem Neo is an ultralight with tandem (fore and aft) seats, incorporating the latest technological solutions. The landing gear has a laminar spring system for softer landings. The simplicity of the aircraft makes it a fun machine. It has the strength and safety of the Fox line, and with its docile controls, low stall speed and configuration of an aircraft with unsurpassed flight quality, it will certainly be the choice for the aviator who likes the wind in their face.”

Fly Fox’s V5 series use sewn dacron wings and offer “internal comfort, and a highly reinforced structure.” Various Rotax engines are recommended though builders may install the engine of their choice, said Fly Fox.

How Low Cost?

My title slide suggested Duck will be relatively inexpensive but it’s still too early to know details. As a kit based on ultralight construction, it’s reasonable to project a modest selling price. Fly Fox is not presently represented in the USA. Nonetheless, given rising LSA prices and even more costly Mosaic LSA to come in a year or so, economical choices like Duck may be worth investigating. You won’t likely get one for summer 2024 but you can dream ahead.

Interested? Contact Fly Fox directly…

This video was composed from clips sent by Miguel Rosario in June 2024. The finished Duck may look different than seen in this proof-of-concept aircraft. It is seen here making its maiden flight.