Searey's Flight Revolution: How Frise Ailerons Redefined Amphibious Performance

Don Maxwell, veteran Searey builder and pilot with over 1,300 hours in his 'Classic' model, reports an almost emotional shift in the aircraft's personality following a critical design upgrade. The catalyst? New Frise-type slotted ailerons introduced in mid-2014 on all Searey kits and SLSAs.

The Control Harmony Breakthrough

Flying the first production Searey LSX equipped with the new ailerons revealed transformative handling:
- Adverse Yaw Elimination: Previously a 'rudder airplane' requiring coordinated footwork, the Searey now maintains centered ball coordination during rolls without rudder input.
- Dramatically Reduced Stick Forces: Force measurements dropped from ~9.5 pounds on older models to just 2-2.5 pounds – approaching the 1-pound force noted in an RV-7A, a land plane renowned for control harmony.
- Enhanced Controllability: Pilots report effortless wing rocking via wrist movement alone and significantly improved roll response during low-level maneuvers.

"The stick felt so light—but perfect—that I simply had to roll into a steep turn... The airplane practically flew itself around the islands," Maxwell recounts after flying Helen Woods' new LSX, emphasizing the synergy of this upgrade with prior vortex generators, washout strut plates, and landing gear alerts.

Close-up of the transformative Frise-type slotted aileron design. Credit: Kitplanes.

Flight Test Comparisons: Old vs. New

Direct A/B testing between aircraft highlighted stark differences:

The new configuration demonstrated remarkable stall resistance in 100-hp 912 ULS models, exhibiting a gentle, controlled descent with full back stick and landing flaps instead of a traditional break.

Beyond Ailerons: The Searey Ecosystem

The LSX airframe incorporates two decades of evolution:
1. Hull Development: Progressed from shallow-V ('A') to the current 'C' hull with a double-V step for rough water handling and buoyancy.
2. Structural Upgrades: LSX models (2010+) feature stiffer wings, larger tail surfaces, and reinforced bulkheads.
3. Operational Enhancements: Electric linear actuators for reliable gear retraction and vortex generators reducing stall speed by ~7 mph.

Taxiing onto shore: The retractable tailwheel avoids digging into soft surfaces like sand. Credit: Kitplanes.

Building the Modern Searey

Progressive Aerodyne offers multiple paths to ownership:
- Kit Construction (Experimental/Amateur-Built): ~600-900 hour build time using primarily aluminum framework, fiberglass/carbon hull sections, and Poly-Fiber fabric wings. Noted for straightforward construction with standard tools.
- Factory-Assisted Build: Guidance at their Lake Idamere, FL facility (seaplane base 3FA8).
- SLSA Purchase: Fully factory-built Light-Sport Aircraft.

The active Searey Technical Site community remains a vital resource for builders and pilots, fostering innovation and shared knowledge beyond factory documentation.

Why This Matters for Aviation Innovation

The Searey's handling transformation demonstrates how targeted aerodynamic refinements can fundamentally alter aircraft character and performance. Reducing pilot workload through superior control harmony enhances safety, especially during critical phases like water operations or crosswind landings (officially demonstrated at 15 mph, but regularly handled in 20+ knots). For kit aircraft, it underscores the value of continuous, community-driven improvement. Progressive Aerodyne’s integration of this upgrade across both kit and SLSA models ensures all pilots access this leap in flight quality, blurring the handling lines between specialized amphibians and performance land planes.

Source: Original reporting and flight analysis by Don Maxwell via Kitplanes. Aircraft images courtesy of Connie McNabb/Photos for a Cause.