The European Seaplane Association facilitated the first seaplane purchase of an Aeroprakt A22L Foxbat
I set off with Pertti, a flight instructor and aircraft inspector, at 7 AM from Helsinki toward the former Kymi military airfield, where my Aeroprakt A22L Foxbat amphibious aircraft is located. At this latitude, the sky is still dark, and ice covers many roads.
I found this plane through the newly founded European Seaplane Association’s pilot network. Initially listed in a Finnish forum, I wouldn’t have discovered it without Mikko Sinervä, an air traffic controller and key promoter of seaplane flying in Finland. From the first contact, the seller, Pertti, and Mikko helped me navigate the Finnish bureaucracy to transfer ownership and obtain my ultralight license—purely out of friendship and airmanship.
After 90 minutes, we arrive. The aircraft rests on its Full Lotus floats, designed with inflatable chambers, making them ideal for snow and ice. After pre-flight checks, we taxi onto the snow-covered runway. My initial doubts about handling vanish instantly—it’s precise and easy to control. As the sun peeks through the trees, we line up on runway 34, throttle up, and take off within seconds.
The cockpit offers helicopter-like visibility, with transparent side doors extending down to the ankles. At treetop level, the landscape is breathtaking. The low morning sun casts stunning contrasts. Though the ground is calm, at 1,000 feet, a steady 20-knot southwest wind flows. I practice tighter turns, slow flight, and deep stalls. Compared to other seaplanes, the Foxbat resists adverse yaw exceptionally well. Even fully flapped, stall buffet is minimal, and descent stabilizes around 550 feet per minute at 47 km/h.
I test the Garmin autopilot, installed by the previous owner for long trips, then take a moment to admire the frozen rivers, lakes, and bays. Returning to Kymi, we perform touch-and-go landings and emergency drills. My first snow landing, gear up, is at 90 km/h—smooth and softer than water. After a few more landings, I find the Foxbat incredibly responsive yet predictable. The overhead flap control isn’t ideal with my Y-stick but is manageable.
I don’t want to land, but fuel is low, and I have a flight home. Excited, I can’t wait to fly it to Germany and then Italy. Built for adventure, it conquers land, water, and snow, and I’m determined to land it in as many countries as possible.
The warmth of my Finnish friends is overwhelming. They take pride in seeing others admire their homeland, and their generosity is truly moving. I wholeheartedly recommend flying here—especially in a seaplane.
Below you can see the video of the flight. Do not forget to Subscribe to the channel!
