Tuesday, July 26, 2005
C-GBTU Straps On Her Skis And Does A Water Survey!
I have detailed C-GBTU's conversion from Polish Otter to Walter Turbine Otter, and here it is again.
Walter Turbine Conversion.
Anyhoo', after the conversion, Blue Water Aviation was awarded a contract to do a water survey for the Federal Government this past April, between Thompson and Churchill. Manitoba Hydro has hydro-electric dams in the northern reaches of the Province on the major river systems, and surveys are done regularly to check the volumes of water on hand. The survey was done in early April, when the winter temperatures were moderating, and the ice was still thick enough to safely operate on skis. So, what better time to think of cool temperatures and ice than right now, July, when the daytime highs are hitting 30*C? Ed Gaffray was the pilot, and these are his photos!
BTU on South Indian Lake.
The boys at work doing "water survey"..........
A typical Otter load! Everything including the "kitchen sink"!
BTU in some slush.
Rubber-boot time!
Missi Falls, a Manitoba Hydro Control Structure on the Churchill River. Time to put a "few shrimps on the barby".
Missi Falls Control Structure.
Crewhouse at Missi Falls, with Satellite TV!
Maybe my eyesight is going, but if I didn't know better, I would say there were many "dead soldiers" on top of those cupboards.................
Missi Falls.
Missi Falls.
Missi Falls.
Open water.
The survey camp on the "Seal River"..........
Churchill Airport!
Unloading.
A realistic display of a Polar Bear and her cubs in the den. This display is from the Manitoba Conservation Museum in Churchill.
Caribou display from the Museum.
Arctic Foxes!
Polar Bear awakened, from the Museum!
Back to work, on the Churchill River. The ice was still 6' thick at this spot.
Beautiful photo of BTU on the Churchill River. Notice the height of the "stunted" trees.
A private camp on the Churchill River that actually had Sat. T.V. and a microwave. Real hardship!
Frozen lakes and tundra, north of Gillam, Manitoba.
A geophysical survey aircraft doing work out of Gillam.
BTU on the strip at Gillam.
Aviators doing what aviators do best once the day's flying is complete.
Airborne!
Manitoba Hydro's Limestone Generating Station, on the Nelson River.
An abandoned open-pit mine south of Thompson.
Different view of the same mine.
Running "like a top"!
Ed heading home to Silver Falls, and then finally, Norway House, and the north end of Lake Winnipeg! Familiar territory, and mission just about completed!
So you see folks, an Otter is just as at home on skis landing on a river, or wheels, landing on a gravel airstrip, as it is flying on floats. Manitoba is a huge undeveloped Province, and there are many sights to be seen, and there are miles, and miles, and miles of pristine wilderness, loads of wildlife, and great fishing. Take to the air yourself one day, and 'Discover Manitoba'!
Walter Turbine Conversion.
Anyhoo', after the conversion, Blue Water Aviation was awarded a contract to do a water survey for the Federal Government this past April, between Thompson and Churchill. Manitoba Hydro has hydro-electric dams in the northern reaches of the Province on the major river systems, and surveys are done regularly to check the volumes of water on hand. The survey was done in early April, when the winter temperatures were moderating, and the ice was still thick enough to safely operate on skis. So, what better time to think of cool temperatures and ice than right now, July, when the daytime highs are hitting 30*C? Ed Gaffray was the pilot, and these are his photos!
BTU on South Indian Lake.
The boys at work doing "water survey"..........
A typical Otter load! Everything including the "kitchen sink"!
BTU in some slush.
Rubber-boot time!
Missi Falls, a Manitoba Hydro Control Structure on the Churchill River. Time to put a "few shrimps on the barby".
Missi Falls Control Structure.
Crewhouse at Missi Falls, with Satellite TV!
Maybe my eyesight is going, but if I didn't know better, I would say there were many "dead soldiers" on top of those cupboards.................
Missi Falls.
Missi Falls.
Missi Falls.
Open water.
The survey camp on the "Seal River"..........
Churchill Airport!
Unloading.
A realistic display of a Polar Bear and her cubs in the den. This display is from the Manitoba Conservation Museum in Churchill.
Caribou display from the Museum.
Arctic Foxes!
Polar Bear awakened, from the Museum!
Back to work, on the Churchill River. The ice was still 6' thick at this spot.
Beautiful photo of BTU on the Churchill River. Notice the height of the "stunted" trees.
A private camp on the Churchill River that actually had Sat. T.V. and a microwave. Real hardship!
Frozen lakes and tundra, north of Gillam, Manitoba.
A geophysical survey aircraft doing work out of Gillam.
BTU on the strip at Gillam.
Aviators doing what aviators do best once the day's flying is complete.
Airborne!
Manitoba Hydro's Limestone Generating Station, on the Nelson River.
An abandoned open-pit mine south of Thompson.
Different view of the same mine.
Running "like a top"!
Ed heading home to Silver Falls, and then finally, Norway House, and the north end of Lake Winnipeg! Familiar territory, and mission just about completed!
So you see folks, an Otter is just as at home on skis landing on a river, or wheels, landing on a gravel airstrip, as it is flying on floats. Manitoba is a huge undeveloped Province, and there are many sights to be seen, and there are miles, and miles, and miles of pristine wilderness, loads of wildlife, and great fishing. Take to the air yourself one day, and 'Discover Manitoba'!