Thursday, April 07, 2005
Spring!! Finally!!
Having avoided a flood from the river yesterday, today was a beautiful day, so I went on a little road trip to see some signs of spring. So, below are some of "Steve's Signs of Spring".
The Icelandic River subsiding, one day after break-up.
The small Cutter "Vakta" ready for first open water in Gimli. She will brave Lake Winnipeg all summer.
The "Whitefish boats" fleet at Gimli yearning to ply Lake Winnipeg.
My favourite of the boats. It brings to mind Jack London's story of the obsessed, tyrannical, Wolf Larsen, and his battle of wills against Humphrey Van Weyden, aboard the sealing-schooner, "The Ghost".
The Coast Guard Cutter "Namao", now a research ship, straining at her berth in Gimli Harbour against Lake Winnipeg's departing winter coat of ice. She longs to cut through the swells.
A beautiful painting of days long past absorbs the sunshine, and proudly displays herself on the Gimli sea-wall. Painting by D.B. MacPherson, Aug.22/98.
The ramp at Gimli airport is bare and dry, perfect for the Canadian military to conduct parachute training from a C-130 Hercules.
4-engine behemoth! A great "bush-plane"!! Slap on some floats, and we'd be in business!
In the distance, something catches my eye.......
Holy shit! Real planes (albeit this one missing an engine) on the ramp. Actually, it is undergoing an engine-change, and will be serviceable and take to the skies soon. Fine ship C-GTPO, the "China Doll", C-46 Curtiss Commando.
Another behemoth of an airplane, still showing her scars from years of flying and supplying Reserves and industries across northern Canada.
Curtiss C-46 Commando C-GIBX stands "bare balls" awaiting new engines, and has "spring fever", and longs to return to the skies.......Serial #: 44-78649
Construction #: 22472
Civil Registration:
N74171
C-GIBX
Model: C-46F
Name: None
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2005
History:
Pan American World Airways, Sept. 1948-Jan. 1953.
- Registered as N74171.
Westair Transport, 19??.
Ortner Air Services, 19??.
Northland Air Manitoba Ltd, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1985-1988.
- Registered as C-GIBX.
Air Manitoba Ltd, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1994.
Commando Air Transport Inc, Gimli, Manitoba, Mar. 07, 1997-2003.
FNT First Nations Transportation Inc, Winnipeg, Manitoba, as of April 7, 2005.
These airplanes actually have beautiful lines........
C-GTPO, still in "Buffalo" Joe McBryan's Buffalo Airways livery..........Serial #: 44-78733
Construction #: 22556
Civil Registration:
C-GTPO
Model: C-46F
Name: China Doll
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2005
History:
Manufactured, 1944.
Delivered to USAAF as 44-78733, 1945.
Wings Incorporated, Fairbanks, AK, 19??.
- Registered as ???.
- Leased to Wein Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, Jan. 1957.
-- Damaged when gear inadvertently retracted on ground, 1957.
- Returned to Wings Incorporated, July 7, 1964.
F.A. Conner, Miami, Springs, FL, May 1969.
Shamrock Airlines, USA, Sept. 1970.
Plymouth Leasing Company, Plymouth, MI, 1974.
- Leased to Zantop, 1975.
Trans Continental Airlines, 1976.
Buffalo Airways, Hay River, NT, Canada, 19??-2003.
FNT First Nations Transportation Inc, Winnipeg, Manitoba, as of April 7, 2005.
I get a "boner" when I see these airplanes. If the airframes could only talk, or write, imagine the history and stories they could tell.............
And the final sign of spring? "Tonto", my faithful compatriot (Munchie) follows me everywhere I go!
So, finally, spring. When a young man's thoughts turn to courtship and women, and my thoughts turn to floatplanes (and women). So, enjoy the weather while you can, folks, only 7 more months until freeze-up!!
The Icelandic River subsiding, one day after break-up.
The small Cutter "Vakta" ready for first open water in Gimli. She will brave Lake Winnipeg all summer.
The "Whitefish boats" fleet at Gimli yearning to ply Lake Winnipeg.
My favourite of the boats. It brings to mind Jack London's story of the obsessed, tyrannical, Wolf Larsen, and his battle of wills against Humphrey Van Weyden, aboard the sealing-schooner, "The Ghost".
The Coast Guard Cutter "Namao", now a research ship, straining at her berth in Gimli Harbour against Lake Winnipeg's departing winter coat of ice. She longs to cut through the swells.
A beautiful painting of days long past absorbs the sunshine, and proudly displays herself on the Gimli sea-wall. Painting by D.B. MacPherson, Aug.22/98.
The ramp at Gimli airport is bare and dry, perfect for the Canadian military to conduct parachute training from a C-130 Hercules.
4-engine behemoth! A great "bush-plane"!! Slap on some floats, and we'd be in business!
In the distance, something catches my eye.......
Holy shit! Real planes (albeit this one missing an engine) on the ramp. Actually, it is undergoing an engine-change, and will be serviceable and take to the skies soon. Fine ship C-GTPO, the "China Doll", C-46 Curtiss Commando.
Another behemoth of an airplane, still showing her scars from years of flying and supplying Reserves and industries across northern Canada.
Curtiss C-46 Commando C-GIBX stands "bare balls" awaiting new engines, and has "spring fever", and longs to return to the skies.......Serial #: 44-78649
Construction #: 22472
Civil Registration:
N74171
C-GIBX
Model: C-46F
Name: None
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2005
History:
Pan American World Airways, Sept. 1948-Jan. 1953.
- Registered as N74171.
Westair Transport, 19??.
Ortner Air Services, 19??.
Northland Air Manitoba Ltd, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1985-1988.
- Registered as C-GIBX.
Air Manitoba Ltd, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1994.
Commando Air Transport Inc, Gimli, Manitoba, Mar. 07, 1997-2003.
FNT First Nations Transportation Inc, Winnipeg, Manitoba, as of April 7, 2005.
These airplanes actually have beautiful lines........
C-GTPO, still in "Buffalo" Joe McBryan's Buffalo Airways livery..........Serial #: 44-78733
Construction #: 22556
Civil Registration:
C-GTPO
Model: C-46F
Name: China Doll
Status: Airworthy
Last info: 2005
History:
Manufactured, 1944.
Delivered to USAAF as 44-78733, 1945.
Wings Incorporated, Fairbanks, AK, 19??.
- Registered as ???.
- Leased to Wein Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, Jan. 1957.
-- Damaged when gear inadvertently retracted on ground, 1957.
- Returned to Wings Incorporated, July 7, 1964.
F.A. Conner, Miami, Springs, FL, May 1969.
Shamrock Airlines, USA, Sept. 1970.
Plymouth Leasing Company, Plymouth, MI, 1974.
- Leased to Zantop, 1975.
Trans Continental Airlines, 1976.
Buffalo Airways, Hay River, NT, Canada, 19??-2003.
FNT First Nations Transportation Inc, Winnipeg, Manitoba, as of April 7, 2005.
I get a "boner" when I see these airplanes. If the airframes could only talk, or write, imagine the history and stories they could tell.............
And the final sign of spring? "Tonto", my faithful compatriot (Munchie) follows me everywhere I go!
So, finally, spring. When a young man's thoughts turn to courtship and women, and my thoughts turn to floatplanes (and women). So, enjoy the weather while you can, folks, only 7 more months until freeze-up!!
