A "float plane" is an airplane that has floats, or pontoons, attached to its body instead of wheels. These floats allow the plane to land and take off on water instead of a traditional runway. Full definition
We were in one of those places where the only access is by float plane. (inc.com)
Kids will love watching float planes land and watching the other boats on the water. (thebarefootnomad.com)
Second, moving around big pieces of painted paper for the mock - up of the elevator bank mosaic led Hofmann to the signature motif of his late work: little floating planes of color, squares and rectangles of pure color locked together across the surface or isolated on fields of murkier colors. (milesmcenery.com)