Man bought an abandoned flying boat that had been sitting for years and tried starting it to see what would happen
- YouTuber Jimmy’s World bought a flying boat that hasn’t flown in years
- The American is planning on restoring the aircraft to gain water experience
- Once restored, the aircraft will be inspected by the original manufacturer
Published on Feb 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 11, 2025 at 9:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An American YouTuber has rescued an abandoned flying boat that has been sitting in its hangar for over eight years.
Jimmy’s World, whose real name is James Webb, posted a video on his channel showing his new Aventura 2 flying boat, which he found for sale in a Florida Hangar.
The Aventura 2 is an aircraft built in Florida by Aero Adventure, with the first designed by Bob Bailey in 1995.
The video on Webb’s channel shows him walking around the flying boat, inspecting the engine, and then attempting to fire it up for the first time.
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The flying boat has very few flight hours recorded
This Aventura 2 airplane has just 500 flying hours registered in total, which, in aircraft terms, means it is barely run-in.
Webb himself will need certification to fly it, as he has no experience with flying boats or an endorsement for tail-wheel aircraft like the Aventura.
Despite initial worries about corrosion, Webb’s walk around of the aircraft is positive.
It’s been in a hangar all its life, so outwardly, it appears all it has is a bit of dust and dirt on the surfaces.
The crunchy sounds from the ailerons are slightly unnerving, but overall, first impressions are positive.
The aircraft’s manufacturer said they would inspect it for Webb once he restored it and flew it to them.
The electrical systems have been on a trickle charge for a long time, and as such, they all work when Webb goes to check them over.
After looking at a YouTube tutorial, Webb also checked the oil to see if there was any in the Rotax 912 ULS engine.
The Rotax engine quickly fires into life
The 912 ULS engine has 100HP and an amusing improvised coolant overflow system that uses a gym water bottle.
After the inspection, the most significant issues were the crack in the bottom end and the crunchy-sounding controls.
Outside, Webb and his crew attempt to fire the Aventura 2 up.
After just a few cranks, the engine fires up and runs smoothly; however, they have some difficulty in keeping it running.
The flaps also come down but won’t go back up.
Nothing is ever simple, is it?
They do get the engine running better, and after his initial assessment, Webb knows he has something he can easily work with.
The landing gear also works, with the color lights for water (blue) and land (green) modes also in working order.
Webb signs off by promising a repairs update in the following video, and it’s clear he can see good things ahead for this fascinating aircraft.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
