Seaplane

A seaplane is a powered fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing (alighting) on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are in a subclass called amphibian aircraft. Seaplanes and amphibians are usually divided into two categories based on their technological characteristics: floatplanes and flying boats; the latter are generally far larger and can carry far more. These aircraft were sometimes called hydroplanes, but currently, this term applies instead to motor-powered watercraft that use hydrofoils to levitate their main hull above the water when running at speed.

Their use gradually tailed off after World War II, partially because of the investments in airports during the war. In the 21st century, seaplanes maintain a few niche uses, such as for dropping water on forest fires, air transport around archipelagos, and access to undeveloped or roadless areas, some of which have numerous fresh-water lakes.

Types

The word "seaplane" is used to describe two types of air/water vehicles: the floatplane and the flying boat.

Seaplane!

"Seaplane!" is the third episode of the fourth season of the animated comedy series Bob's Burgers and the overall 48th episode, and is written by Dan Fybel and Rich Rinaldi and directed by Jennifer Coyle. It aired on Fox in the United States on November 3, 2013.

Plot

Linda is dissatisfied by her and Bob's lackluster date nights and proposes that they take seaplane flying lessons. Bob refuses to go, so Linda elects to go by herself. Her instructor, Kurt, listens to her disappointment about Bob not joining her and they begin the lesson. At the restaurant, Teddy and Mr. Fischoeder alarm Bob to Kurt's reputation as a seducer, called "Upskirt Kurt": Kurt seduces his often lonely housewife students, first by faking a near plane crash to up the adrenaline, "saving" them at the last minute, then taking them to the nearby "deserted" Quippiquisset Island (which Mr. Fischoeder refers to as "Quickie Kissit Island") to fix the plane, leaving the two of them alone for romance. True to form, Kurt fakes a plane crash while flying with Linda and the two end up on Quippiquisset Island.