[Mind-numbed Robot]

The Osprey does seem to be a natural for this kind of thing, except amphibious landings, and it may be modified for that if desirable. Do you remember the old "Flying Wing" of the 1950s? Various sizes of those could easily be adapted to a variety of uses. Lots of lift and STOL capability, too. Would be easy to convert to amphibious.

[Barry Goldwater]

That airforce bomber, I think it's the B-2, may be a good test platform. Just add some pontoons to the flying wing airframe, change a few control laws in the computer and give it a shot. Back when Carter was president they put some JATO bottles on backwards on the wings of a C-130 to give it short landing capabilities. The films of the test were interesting, reminds me of the films of early aviation innovation.