Monday, June 30, 2008
Steve's Video Of The Day: Short Sunderlands; "Berlin Airlift"!
I am quite familiar with the "Berlin Airlift", I just didn't realize the "Flying Boats" played such a role. Check out the "Short Sunderland"! What a machine!
VIDEO -
Short Sunderlands; "Berlin Airlift"!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Steve's "Otter Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
When I see the "condition" and "lot in life" of this following Otter, all I can think is;
"But for the grace of God, there go I."
John Bradford, an English protestant martyr, said this in the 1500s as he watched criminals being led to their executions. This fine "Canadian girl" is, unfortunately, "frozen in time", being "abused" by the "elements" and "vandals"......
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otter 17
Otter number 17 was delivered to the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd, DHC's parent company in England, on 31st July 1953, registered G-ANCM. It was to serve as the European demonstrator based at Hatfield, a role it fulfilled for nearly four years. It went on a number of demonstration tours, including one to Norway and Sweden, flown by George Neal, DHC's chief test pilot, where it was shown to civil and military operators. It was also demonstrated in Portugal and Spain.
The Otter was sold in March 1957 to the Indian Air Force, being replaced as European demonstrator by G-AOYX (204). With the Indian Air Force it took serial IM-1057. It survived its tour of duty, and is now preserved in the museum at Kalaikunda Air Base, some seventy miles west of Calcutta, India.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unbelievable. Time to plan a "rescue" mission and "repatriate" this fine gal'.....
BRING - Otter 17 "HOME"!!
-photo by Simon Watson
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
"But for the grace of God, there go I."
John Bradford, an English protestant martyr, said this in the 1500s as he watched criminals being led to their executions. This fine "Canadian girl" is, unfortunately, "frozen in time", being "abused" by the "elements" and "vandals"......
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otter 17
Otter number 17 was delivered to the De Havilland Aircraft Company Ltd, DHC's parent company in England, on 31st July 1953, registered G-ANCM. It was to serve as the European demonstrator based at Hatfield, a role it fulfilled for nearly four years. It went on a number of demonstration tours, including one to Norway and Sweden, flown by George Neal, DHC's chief test pilot, where it was shown to civil and military operators. It was also demonstrated in Portugal and Spain.
The Otter was sold in March 1957 to the Indian Air Force, being replaced as European demonstrator by G-AOYX (204). With the Indian Air Force it took serial IM-1057. It survived its tour of duty, and is now preserved in the museum at Kalaikunda Air Base, some seventy miles west of Calcutta, India.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unbelievable. Time to plan a "rescue" mission and "repatriate" this fine gal'.....
BRING - Otter 17 "HOME"!!
-photo by Simon Watson
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Steve's Video Of The Day: "Golden Eagle" Defines "Nature".........
This video is unbelievable. There is no "compassion" in nature, and I guess that is why "nature" is "successful" in "the wild". What a perfectly adapted "Golden Flyer"!
VIDEO -
"Golden Eagle" Defines "Nature".........Friday, June 27, 2008
Into "The Hangar", A "Beaver", "Fort Frankie", and "Life Is A Beech"!
I have been asked before how maintenance is done on an Otter when it needs to be "hangar-bound", and the Otter is on floats. First, the "hangar boys" put the trailer into the lake, which I drive straight onto.......
"Success"!
Then, the "junior" man has to get wet..........
We "pull" her up the hill........
"Back her" into the hangar.....
"Done deal"!
ODK in the hangar, I become "dock photographer". Matt runs up his Beaver.........
An "ethereal light" envelops the Beaver as Matt begins his take-off......
ODK is back in the water, and I take her to "Fort Frankie" to drop off some passengers......
"Boats"......
..."everywhere"!
Back at the dock, Northwest Flying's Beech 18 C-FNKL taxis down beside our docks to play a "Twin Junior" symphony, and gets the "last word"!
"Adios, we're outta' here"!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
It's Time To Play..... Otterflogger's "Name That Cockpit"!
OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #64" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY UNSOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the Supermarine "Southampton" Mk.I! A real beauty, and a very "refreshing" ride! The "sailboat fuel" doubles next week!
LINK - Supermarine "Southampton"
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY UNSOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the Supermarine "Southampton" Mk.I! A real beauty, and a very "refreshing" ride! The "sailboat fuel" doubles next week!
LINK - Supermarine "Southampton"
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Steve's Video Of The Day: Kelly Johnson's "Skunks" Continue.....
We all know the "legacy" of Kelly Johnson and his "Skunk Works". So many famous "unbelievable" aircraft. Well, what is up next in the "famous family"? Here it is, the..... "QSST"!!!!!
VIDEO - Kelly Johnson's "Skunks" Continue.....
All hail "The Master".........
VIDEO - Kelly Johnson's "Skunks" Continue.....
All hail "The Master".........
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Steve's "Otter Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
This summer I am flying and living in a different geographic area than I normally have been for the past number of years. One of the "bonuses" of a change of address is getting to meet "the neighbours". I have met a number of the neighbours, but there is one neighbour I haven't "crossed paths" with yet, although I hope to before the season is done. "Hey", check out her history..........
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otter 365
Otter 365 was delivered to the RCAF on 16th June 1960 with serial 9406. It was allocated to 438 Squadron at St.Hubert, Montreal where it served until selected for duty with 117 Air Transport Unit, an RCAF unit formed to support a United Nations mission supervising a cease-fire between India and Pakistan. The Otter flew to Trenton on 23rd September '65, taking up temporary residence with 102 Communications Unit, and was then loaded on board an RCAF Hercules and flown to Lahore in Pakistan, where it arrived on 6th October 1965. Two other Otters served with 117 ATU, these being 9422 (404) and 9423 (405). The activities of 117 ATU are described in the Canadian military section. The three Otters were flown back to Canada in April 1966, again on board RCAF Hercules.
After re-assembly by No.6 Repair Depot, 9406 was assigned on 18th November 1966 to No.4 Operational Training Unit at Trenton. This unit was re-designated 424 Transport & Rescue Squadron in November 1968, remaining based at Trenton. The Otter was noted on detachment at Goose Bay during June 1969. 9406 continued to serve with 424 Squadron until transferred to 401 Squadron at St.Hubert on 22nd June 1970. On 28th June '72 it went into storage at the Mountain View Depot until 6th August 1974 when it was assigned to 402 Squadron at Winnipeg. On 22nd December '75 it was transferred back to St.Hubert and re-joined 401 Squadron. It continued to serve with 401 Squadron until 9th December 1981 when it was flown to the Mountain View Depot and put up for disposal by the Crown Assets Disposal Corporation.
9406 was sold in an auction in February 1982, with a total airframe time at that stage of 6,576 hours. The buyer was Nahanni Air Services Ltd of Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, to whom the Otter was registered in February 1983 as C-GUTL. Nahanni Air Services had also purchased two other ex-Canadian military Otters, 9421 (402) which became C-GUTQ and 9423 (405) which became C-GUTW. Otter C-GUTL went on lease to LSD Aviation Ltd of Fort Frances, Ontario for the summer of 1983. A company in Colombia then agreed to purchase all three of these Otters from Nahanni Air Services. The proposed purchaser had the exotic name of Aerolineas de la Orinoquia & Amazonia Limitada and early in 1984 paid a deposit for the Otters, and obtained Colombian registrations for the three aircraft. C-GUTL (365) was to become HK-3048X, C-GUTQ (402) was to become HK-3049X and C-GUTW (405) was to become HK-3050X.
The three Otters were made ready for delivery, but the final payment was never made and nothing more was heard from the would-be purchaser. After this sale had fallen through, C-GUTL was sold to Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways Ltd, to whom it was registered in April 1984, based at Fort Frances, Ontario. It was converted to Vazar turbine Otter and carries Northern Wilderness Outfitters Ltd titles, a company associated with Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways Ltd. It is used during the summer months to fly fishermen and tourists to remote parts of Ontario, and was still in service during the summer of 2004, twenty years after first delivered to Fort Frances.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 365
January 1st, 2008. C-GUTL. Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways Ltd., Fort Frances, Ontario. Vazar.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I was in "Fort Frankie" last week, but I never found "UTL". Maybe next time........
(Hey, I wonder what the Colombian company wanted 3 Otters for? You could load a lot of "Latin Lettuce" in an Otter.....)
-photo by Rich Hulina
-photo by Ruud Leeuw
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otter 365
Otter 365 was delivered to the RCAF on 16th June 1960 with serial 9406. It was allocated to 438 Squadron at St.Hubert, Montreal where it served until selected for duty with 117 Air Transport Unit, an RCAF unit formed to support a United Nations mission supervising a cease-fire between India and Pakistan. The Otter flew to Trenton on 23rd September '65, taking up temporary residence with 102 Communications Unit, and was then loaded on board an RCAF Hercules and flown to Lahore in Pakistan, where it arrived on 6th October 1965. Two other Otters served with 117 ATU, these being 9422 (404) and 9423 (405). The activities of 117 ATU are described in the Canadian military section. The three Otters were flown back to Canada in April 1966, again on board RCAF Hercules.
After re-assembly by No.6 Repair Depot, 9406 was assigned on 18th November 1966 to No.4 Operational Training Unit at Trenton. This unit was re-designated 424 Transport & Rescue Squadron in November 1968, remaining based at Trenton. The Otter was noted on detachment at Goose Bay during June 1969. 9406 continued to serve with 424 Squadron until transferred to 401 Squadron at St.Hubert on 22nd June 1970. On 28th June '72 it went into storage at the Mountain View Depot until 6th August 1974 when it was assigned to 402 Squadron at Winnipeg. On 22nd December '75 it was transferred back to St.Hubert and re-joined 401 Squadron. It continued to serve with 401 Squadron until 9th December 1981 when it was flown to the Mountain View Depot and put up for disposal by the Crown Assets Disposal Corporation.
9406 was sold in an auction in February 1982, with a total airframe time at that stage of 6,576 hours. The buyer was Nahanni Air Services Ltd of Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, to whom the Otter was registered in February 1983 as C-GUTL. Nahanni Air Services had also purchased two other ex-Canadian military Otters, 9421 (402) which became C-GUTQ and 9423 (405) which became C-GUTW. Otter C-GUTL went on lease to LSD Aviation Ltd of Fort Frances, Ontario for the summer of 1983. A company in Colombia then agreed to purchase all three of these Otters from Nahanni Air Services. The proposed purchaser had the exotic name of Aerolineas de la Orinoquia & Amazonia Limitada and early in 1984 paid a deposit for the Otters, and obtained Colombian registrations for the three aircraft. C-GUTL (365) was to become HK-3048X, C-GUTQ (402) was to become HK-3049X and C-GUTW (405) was to become HK-3050X.
The three Otters were made ready for delivery, but the final payment was never made and nothing more was heard from the would-be purchaser. After this sale had fallen through, C-GUTL was sold to Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways Ltd, to whom it was registered in April 1984, based at Fort Frances, Ontario. It was converted to Vazar turbine Otter and carries Northern Wilderness Outfitters Ltd titles, a company associated with Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways Ltd. It is used during the summer months to fly fishermen and tourists to remote parts of Ontario, and was still in service during the summer of 2004, twenty years after first delivered to Fort Frances.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 365
January 1st, 2008. C-GUTL. Fort Frances Sportsmen Airways Ltd., Fort Frances, Ontario. Vazar.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, I was in "Fort Frankie" last week, but I never found "UTL". Maybe next time........
(Hey, I wonder what the Colombian company wanted 3 Otters for? You could load a lot of "Latin Lettuce" in an Otter.....)
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
Thursday, June 19, 2008
It's Time To Play..... Otterflogger's "Name That Cockpit"!
OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #63" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***NEW CLUE!***
Think.... "1st".... to "The Max"....!
***MYSTERY SOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the de Havilland DH.83 "Fox Moth"! "Max's" first! We all know the "rest of his story"! Lance wins the "sailboat fuel", "honourable mention" to "SoftJug"!
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***NEW CLUE!***
Think.... "1st".... to "The Max"....!
***MYSTERY SOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the de Havilland DH.83 "Fox Moth"! "Max's" first! We all know the "rest of his story"! Lance wins the "sailboat fuel", "honourable mention" to "SoftJug"!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Steve's "Otter Of The Week"! .....by Karl E. Hayes
June 10th I published a "Post" entitled The Return Of........ "ODK"! Well, let's go back a little further, back to her "birth", early "childhood", and "adulthood", to witness the "factors" that made her the "fine ship" she is today.
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otter 13
Otter number 13, registered CF-ODK to the Department of Lands & Forests, was delivered to the Ontario Provincial Air Service (OPAS) on 22nd May 1953, based at Sault St.Marie, Ontario. It was the second Otter delivered to OPAS, the first being CF-ODJ (14) on 8th May '53, these being the first two of an order for eleven new Otters from DHC. In their attractive and distinctive all yellow scheme with black trim, these Otters served the Province for many years, providing a full range of aerial bush services.
The Otters were most active during the summer months, but some of the fleet were also kept going on wheel-skis during the winter. The Otters were modified as water bombers, to fight forest fires which plague the Province during the summer, and were also invaluable for moving fire crews. The Fish & Wildlife Branch was another big user of the Otter, on surveys, census taking, fish stocking and enforcement of game laws. Timber surveys were another task. Year round, the Otters provided transportation for officials to all the remote parts of this huge Province, including many native settlements, and brought cargo wherever it was needed. They were also available year round for SAR and medevacs.
Only one minor incident is recorded in respect of CF-ODK during its service with OPAS. It was damaged in a hard landing at Terrace Bay on Lake Superior, Ontario on 11th August 1970. The pilot had “misjudged speed and distance”. The damage was repaired and ODK returned to service. In September 1972, along with all the other OPAS Otters, the registered owner was changed to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the registration became C-FODK. After thirty years of faithful service, ODK was put up for sale, as the Province disposed of its Otter fleet. The Otter was destined to stay in Ontario, however, as its purchaser was Huron Air & Outfitters Inc of Armstrong-McKenzie Lake, to whom ODK was registered in May 1984. Armstrong is one of these 'end of the road' towns, ideally located to serve the vast central region of northern Ontario. ODK joined Huron Air's then fleet of Cessna 185s. It was to serve Huron Air for fourteen years, the registration reverting to CF-ODK in April 1997.
During this long period of service, it flew fishermen to the many lodges in this remote and beautiful land, flew passengers and cargo to the native settlements, flew construction workers out into the bush to establish mining camps and kept the camps supplied. Its time with Huron Air came to an end on 26th May 1998. The float-equipped Otter had just taken off from Lake Machawaian, some one hundred miles to the north of Armstrong, after dropping off six passengers. At an altitude of 500 feet the engine began to backfire and lose power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and turned on the electric fuel boost pump, but the engine would not stop backfiring. ODK began to lose airspeed and altitude, and the pilot elected to land straight ahead. The Otter crashed into trees and muskeg approximately three miles south of the lake, and was substantially damaged. That was the end of its career with Huron Air, who leased Otter C-FCEE (282) for summer 1998, until they purchased another former Ontario Government Otter C-GOFF (65) as a replacement in October '98.
The wreck of ODK was sold by the insurers to Aviation V.L. Inc who retrieved the Otter from the crash site and transported it to their facility at St.Jean Airfield, Montreal where the rebuild commenced. The Otter was registered to Aviation V.L. Inc in April 1999, reverting to C-FODK the following month. After the rebuild was complete, ODK was sold to Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts Ltd, to whom it was registered in July 1999, joining their other Otter C-FSOR (239) as well as a Beaver and Beech 18. This carrier is based at Nestor Falls, Ontario not far from the US border and is a summer only operator, catering for fishermen and tourists. Their website says it all: “Climb aboard one of our float planes and soar over the magnificent beauty of the Canadian shield. A tremendous photo opportunity of the rugged cliffs, pristine waters and abundance of wild life awaits you… ..Savour the beauty of the Canadian bush, a wilderness for the most part accessible only by air”.
For the fisherman, the company flies to nine different lakes, with twelve cottages to chose from, all about 200 miles north of Nestor Falls. ODK entered service with the company, flying the larger groups to the lakes and on sightseeing flights during the summer months, put into storage for the winter.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 13
January 1st, 2008. C-FODK. In service with Nestor Falls Fly-In Outpost Camps, Nestor Falls, Ontario. R-1340.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, folks, this Spring the folks at Recon Air converted her to a "Super Otter", a "Texas Turbine"! She now has the Garrett 900 HP engine! She sits on the dock at Nestor Falls as I write, and in the AM I am heading to Malaher Lake with her! Good old "Lucky 13"!
-photo by Rich Hulina
-photo by Steve Taylor
-photo by Steve Taylor
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
***BONUS***
Ain't just "Turbines" that come from "Texas", check out these two "Troubadours"!
Gotta' love "Outlaws"!
All information is from Karl Hayes' "masterful" CD entitled:
De Havilland Canada
DHC-3 OTTER
A HISTORY
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Otter 13
Otter number 13, registered CF-ODK to the Department of Lands & Forests, was delivered to the Ontario Provincial Air Service (OPAS) on 22nd May 1953, based at Sault St.Marie, Ontario. It was the second Otter delivered to OPAS, the first being CF-ODJ (14) on 8th May '53, these being the first two of an order for eleven new Otters from DHC. In their attractive and distinctive all yellow scheme with black trim, these Otters served the Province for many years, providing a full range of aerial bush services.
The Otters were most active during the summer months, but some of the fleet were also kept going on wheel-skis during the winter. The Otters were modified as water bombers, to fight forest fires which plague the Province during the summer, and were also invaluable for moving fire crews. The Fish & Wildlife Branch was another big user of the Otter, on surveys, census taking, fish stocking and enforcement of game laws. Timber surveys were another task. Year round, the Otters provided transportation for officials to all the remote parts of this huge Province, including many native settlements, and brought cargo wherever it was needed. They were also available year round for SAR and medevacs.
Only one minor incident is recorded in respect of CF-ODK during its service with OPAS. It was damaged in a hard landing at Terrace Bay on Lake Superior, Ontario on 11th August 1970. The pilot had “misjudged speed and distance”. The damage was repaired and ODK returned to service. In September 1972, along with all the other OPAS Otters, the registered owner was changed to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the registration became C-FODK. After thirty years of faithful service, ODK was put up for sale, as the Province disposed of its Otter fleet. The Otter was destined to stay in Ontario, however, as its purchaser was Huron Air & Outfitters Inc of Armstrong-McKenzie Lake, to whom ODK was registered in May 1984. Armstrong is one of these 'end of the road' towns, ideally located to serve the vast central region of northern Ontario. ODK joined Huron Air's then fleet of Cessna 185s. It was to serve Huron Air for fourteen years, the registration reverting to CF-ODK in April 1997.
During this long period of service, it flew fishermen to the many lodges in this remote and beautiful land, flew passengers and cargo to the native settlements, flew construction workers out into the bush to establish mining camps and kept the camps supplied. Its time with Huron Air came to an end on 26th May 1998. The float-equipped Otter had just taken off from Lake Machawaian, some one hundred miles to the north of Armstrong, after dropping off six passengers. At an altitude of 500 feet the engine began to backfire and lose power. The pilot switched fuel tanks and turned on the electric fuel boost pump, but the engine would not stop backfiring. ODK began to lose airspeed and altitude, and the pilot elected to land straight ahead. The Otter crashed into trees and muskeg approximately three miles south of the lake, and was substantially damaged. That was the end of its career with Huron Air, who leased Otter C-FCEE (282) for summer 1998, until they purchased another former Ontario Government Otter C-GOFF (65) as a replacement in October '98.
The wreck of ODK was sold by the insurers to Aviation V.L. Inc who retrieved the Otter from the crash site and transported it to their facility at St.Jean Airfield, Montreal where the rebuild commenced. The Otter was registered to Aviation V.L. Inc in April 1999, reverting to C-FODK the following month. After the rebuild was complete, ODK was sold to Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts Ltd, to whom it was registered in July 1999, joining their other Otter C-FSOR (239) as well as a Beaver and Beech 18. This carrier is based at Nestor Falls, Ontario not far from the US border and is a summer only operator, catering for fishermen and tourists. Their website says it all: “Climb aboard one of our float planes and soar over the magnificent beauty of the Canadian shield. A tremendous photo opportunity of the rugged cliffs, pristine waters and abundance of wild life awaits you… ..Savour the beauty of the Canadian bush, a wilderness for the most part accessible only by air”.
For the fisherman, the company flies to nine different lakes, with twelve cottages to chose from, all about 200 miles north of Nestor Falls. ODK entered service with the company, flying the larger groups to the lakes and on sightseeing flights during the summer months, put into storage for the winter.
*** LATEST UPDATE!***
Otter 13
January 1st, 2008. C-FODK. In service with Nestor Falls Fly-In Outpost Camps, Nestor Falls, Ontario. R-1340.
- by Karl E. Hayes
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, folks, this Spring the folks at Recon Air converted her to a "Super Otter", a "Texas Turbine"! She now has the Garrett 900 HP engine! She sits on the dock at Nestor Falls as I write, and in the AM I am heading to Malaher Lake with her! Good old "Lucky 13"!
CONTACT KARL, CD PRICING and ORDERING INFO - De Havilland DHC-3 OTTER - A HISTORY by Karl E. Hayes
***BONUS***
Ain't just "Turbines" that come from "Texas", check out these two "Troubadours"!
Gotta' love "Outlaws"!
Friday, June 13, 2008
The "LOON"!
If there is one sound in the Canadian wilderness that "stirs" your blood, gives you "goosebumps", makes the hair on your neck "stand", and puts your body into "tune" with nature, it is the "call of the Loon", especially at the "crack of dawn", or at "sunset". I personally have been favoured to hear it during my career many thousands of times, and I have observed these birds. Amazing "fishermen", amazing "swimmers", amazing "parents". At Nestor Falls, just out from the Float Base, a piece of "floating bog" broke from shore, drifted across the lake, and then the roots struck bottom in the middle of "Dawes Bay", and the bog became "anchored" again. Vegetation has grown, and you guessed it, a pair of "mating" Loons made a nest. "Smart birds", building a nest away from predators. Anyways, I took out the "crash" boat the other day, as we can always see the male and female Loons both from the floating docks, one on the nest, the other "patrolling" the nest "perimeter". I tried to get close without disturbing the birds.........
Anchored "floating bog" with "tenants"...........
I get "closer".............
The "male" Loon comes close to the boat and tries to lead me away..........
"Closer" yet.........
The "female" Loon becomes annoyed with my presence, I back off, time to use my camera "ZOOM".........
"WOW!" Nature "reproduces"..........
Ever alert, the female Loon watches, as her "fur-ball" huddles for warmth.
In this "shot", the "mother Loon" looks me "straight in the eye". She never moved from her nest, so I am sure the "fur-ball" you see was "first-born". I know Loon families I have seen before in the "wild" usually consists of 2 to 3 "young 'uns". One other amazing fact? Loons are "monogamous", and spend their summers together raising their chicks. In the fall and winter months, the adult loons fly to separate wintering locations, often in the Pacific, until the courtship reunion next spring. Final word of my "Post" goes to..........
THE CALL OF - The "LOON"!
MORE INFO - Loons!
Anchored "floating bog" with "tenants"...........
I get "closer".............
The "male" Loon comes close to the boat and tries to lead me away..........
"Closer" yet.........
The "female" Loon becomes annoyed with my presence, I back off, time to use my camera "ZOOM".........
"WOW!" Nature "reproduces"..........
Ever alert, the female Loon watches, as her "fur-ball" huddles for warmth.
In this "shot", the "mother Loon" looks me "straight in the eye". She never moved from her nest, so I am sure the "fur-ball" you see was "first-born". I know Loon families I have seen before in the "wild" usually consists of 2 to 3 "young 'uns". One other amazing fact? Loons are "monogamous", and spend their summers together raising their chicks. In the fall and winter months, the adult loons fly to separate wintering locations, often in the Pacific, until the courtship reunion next spring. Final word of my "Post" goes to..........
THE CALL OF - The "LOON"!
MORE INFO - Loons!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
It's Time To Play..... Otterflogger's "Name That Cockpit"!
OK, "Ladies and Gentlemen", time for "installment #62" in our "cockpit series", which will be a continuing "brain-strainer".
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY SOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the Bell "X-22A"! Lance wins the "sailboat fuel"! Hey Lance, did you really know this cockpit, or did you see the "plaque" aft of the co-pilot's left rudder pedal that I overlooked when I "posted" the pic? Be honest! "Ha"! Here she is!
"Adios"!
This is the "cockpit" of "the" ......................
***MYSTERY SOLVED!***
This is the cockpit of the Bell "X-22A"! Lance wins the "sailboat fuel"! Hey Lance, did you really know this cockpit, or did you see the "plaque" aft of the co-pilot's left rudder pedal that I overlooked when I "posted" the pic? Be honest! "Ha"! Here she is!
"Adios"!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Return Of........ "ODK"!
This past winter, Dave Beaushene, owner of Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts, decided to replace the powerplant on one of his Otters, C-FODK. Dave has two Otters, the other being C-FSOR. SOR has a "Garrett" powering her, and has given such "stellar performance" that Dave decided ODK should have a Garrett also, which would entail removing her Pratt and Whitney R-1340. Anyone who has flown thousands of hours on R-1340s and "still lives" applauds this move, as the old radials are just "too tired", and should all be sent to the "retirement home". In my career I have had 5 cylinder failures on 1340s.
Anyways, the good folks at Recon Air Corporation converted ODK to the Garrett turbine, Bobby Bishop from Texas Turbines did the initial "run-ups", some technical problems were identified, which is a normal part of any engine conversion, some "tweaks" were made to the aircraft systems, and finally I flew ODK to the hangar at Minaki so "floats" could be installed. ODK now sits on floats, and has been "earning her keep" flying fishermen "to and from" the bush! Let's follow the above story in some of my photos.........
Conversion complete, Bobby Bishop runs ODK!
Bobby studies the "numbers" the new engine is producing.........
..... then shuts ODK down.
Bobby takes her for a test "flip"...........
More "tweaks".........
........ more "runs"......
.......back to work.........
.....Lount Lake, English River..........
...........and back on the dock in Nestor Falls with fellow "ship" C-FSOR! She has been working hard!
Special mention to Paul and James from River Air who transported us safely and professionally in River Air's "amphib" Caravan to Geraldton to pick up ODK.
LINK - Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc.
LINK - Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts
LINK - Recon Air Corporation
LINK - River Air
"Adios"!
Anyways, the good folks at Recon Air Corporation converted ODK to the Garrett turbine, Bobby Bishop from Texas Turbines did the initial "run-ups", some technical problems were identified, which is a normal part of any engine conversion, some "tweaks" were made to the aircraft systems, and finally I flew ODK to the hangar at Minaki so "floats" could be installed. ODK now sits on floats, and has been "earning her keep" flying fishermen "to and from" the bush! Let's follow the above story in some of my photos.........
Conversion complete, Bobby Bishop runs ODK!
Bobby studies the "numbers" the new engine is producing.........
..... then shuts ODK down.
Bobby takes her for a test "flip"...........
More "tweaks".........
........ more "runs"......
.......back to work.........
.....Lount Lake, English River..........
...........and back on the dock in Nestor Falls with fellow "ship" C-FSOR! She has been working hard!
Special mention to Paul and James from River Air who transported us safely and professionally in River Air's "amphib" Caravan to Geraldton to pick up ODK.
LINK - Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc.
LINK - Nestor Falls Fly-In Outposts
LINK - Recon Air Corporation
LINK - River Air
"Adios"!
