The JD MTF 'Heron' is not a toy...

By Lord Lisle

Very recently I aquired my first Sea-Plane, often referred to as Flying Boat, supplied by the Mechanical Toy Factory (MTF), SOL Solution Island 181/23/319

(A flying boat is a specialized form of aircraft that is designed to take off from and land on water, using its fuselage as a floating hull. Such aircraft are often stabilized on water by under wing floats -Wikipedia-)

Although sea-planes can be obtained at many other places in Second Life, my choice of the JD MTF Heron was based on previous experience with creations by Jenne and Mandy such as the JD MTF "Celerus" Steamboat, the Personal Copter and of course my much treasured Jenney Mandy'dson 1915 ed. sidecar equipped motorcycle from the early 20th century.

HUD of the Heron, showing full functional instruments: Banline indicator, Altimeter, Airspeed indicator, region display, compass, pitch warning indicator and function button with parachute dispenser, camera view and sound button

Important features of the remarkable JD MTF Heron are the carrying of up to three passengers (in the usual comfy MTF seats hehe) exceptional sculpts and details in an early 20th century style.
It is no wonder that during the few initial flights I was approached via my IM by several people informing where I had acquired this plane.
The craft has only 27 prims, copy permission, 8 menu driven colour schemes plus a high quality HUD (which has a unique banline indicator giving visual and sound warnings) and much more.
Needless to say that the Heron has good flying capacities, not very fast, but what would you expect from a flying boat?
I must congratulate Jenne Dibou (primworks/textures) and Mandy Marseille (scripts/sounds) of the Mechanical Toy Factory on another fine item in their long line of remarkable and always unique creations.

The MTF Heron taking off at sunset from the waters of the West side of Blake Sea for a photographic reconnaissance flight

Gathering more speed before getting airborne

Reaching Second Life cruise level at about 200 meter

Cruising over the Coast of Blake Sea through the evening clouds

Returned and moored after the evening flight, dwarfed out by the huge tri-engine Short Calcutta 1928 Flying Boat owned by Michel Linden. No, that plane cannot fly; it’s just a 170+ prim floating display. (To be seen at Ferry Terminal and Welcome Area, Barbarossa/177/31/21/)