An "Airhead's" Love Of Floatplanes

Sag Lake Welcomes Back the Past - (C-FYCX)

2010-09-02T15:07:00.002-06:00

A deHavilland DHC-3 Otter is cool. An Otter with a turbine engine is cool as well. But the fact that turbine Otter C-FYCX is docked on my lake makes it the coolest Otter ever. It's been a long time since I've seen an Otter on Sag Lake; ever since the Canadian Customs station closed there's been a significant reduction in airplane traffic to the lake. But once again, a DCH-3 is snuggled up to the Customs dock, wearing a whiny PT6A in place of the original R-1340 radial. I think they call this progress.....

C-FYCX holds serial number 44, and has undergone a Vazar turbine conversion. It now has a PT6A engine that produces 750 s.h.p. This airplane is really quiet, although it still makes the distinct whine of a turbine, which is always a thrilling sound to hear. I guess I hear enough raspy radials that I can appreciate another kind of engine once in a while, particularly since it powers such an awesome airplane. C-FYCX is owned and operated by Wilderness North outfitters, offering fly-in fishing adventures, based in Armstrong Ontario. Their website is very comprehensive and features a great photo gallery of the airplanes.

Seeing this Otter on Saganaga Lake takes me back to a time when airplanes of all makes and models were common on the lake, and while I still love airplanes as much now as I did then, I usually have to travel a bit farther to see them these days. I really need to turn my resort into a fly-in outfitter....

My dad sitting left seat. A PT6 Powell.
All photos courtesy of Sherry Powell

Forest Service Firefighter - (N193Z)

2010-09-01T08:53:00.002-06:00

I met N193Z this past July, when it flew a water drop demonstration in the Grand Marais, MN harbor. The Forest Service owns and operates 3 piston Beavers, and though I'm familiar with all of them, I've not spent any time with the pilots, so this visit was enjoyable and educational. N193Z was built in 1957 and holds serial number 1162, so it's a young Beaver. It's condition inside and out is spectacular, not all that surprising for a government ride. After spending some time with the pilot, it was clear that he takes pride in not only his career, but in the airplanes that he works with. He does a large amount of the maintenance himself, in addition to quite a bit of modifications. This Beav has a 125 gallon tank that can be filled on the step, and though the amount of water it carries isn't a lot, it's still a very effective tool in fire management. I've been on a couple fires where these Beavers have come in to give us a hand, and a deHavilland water drop is an incredible thing to see. And especially to hear!

My plan is to visit the Forest Service Seaplane Base at Shagawa Lake in Ely, MN this coming week, where with any luck, I will find these identical airplanes at rest. Due to the current dry conditions and small fires in the area, they might be off being superheros, but surely at least one will be taking the day off.

2010-08-09T20:53:00.002-06:00

All my old friends are back for another summer, and it's been great having them around again. I've met a few new airplanes as well, and enjoyed some interesting conversations with their pilots. I've had the pleasure of a few incredible flights this summer and hopefully there will be a few more! I just can't seem to stay on the ground for too long. From the sound of a Beaver just off the water only 20 yards away, to the sight of the Lake Superior shoreline from 1000 feet, to the feel of the spray of a water drop, airplanes will always continue to inspire me, all the while making me incredibly lonesome for some time in the air.

Lake Country Air Service

2010-03-27T18:09:00.007-06:00

With rare exception, it's every pilot's dream to be able to create a business from flying, expanding a passion into a job. John Justad has done that, and he's done it with a deHavilland Beaver.
N31457 made it's appearance on the website back in March 2007. I've known this airplane and it's different owners for quite a while, and one day at Sky Harbor in Duluth, I met it's current owner, a man who had big plans for this Beaver.
John owns and operates Lake Country Air Service, a scenic air tour service that serves Northern Minnesota. He's based at either the Webb Lake Airport in Hackensack, MN, or Sky Harbor Airport in Duluth, MN. From either departure, the view is incredible!

Floatplanes are synonomous with the Northern Minnesota area, and go hand in hand spectacularly with the "land of 10,000 lakes". To enjoy the scenery of this region from the air is bound to be memorable. To enjoy the scenery in a Beaver is just icing on the cake!
Drop by Lake Country Air Service's website for more information about rates, schedules, and contact information, along with a profile of N31357 and some interesting links. John has some great photos on the website as well, and it's evident from them alone that he too has a passion not only for flying, but for the Beaver as well.If you're ever in Minnesota's Northland, looking for some adventure that involves beautiful scenery, airplane exhaust, and a radial rumble, contact John and schedule a flight. He is professional, courteous, and always makes time to answer questions or tell a good story.

Kita's First Flight

2010-02-26T18:01:00.017-07:00

I'm convinced that fall is the best time to fly, and I'm always looking for an excuse to fly during the time of year when the air is clean and cool, and the scenery is breathtaking. I'm also convinced that flying is best enjoyed with the ones you love, so last September, I decided that Kita was ready to log her first hour in the air, in C-182 N9011T. I told Dan straight up that this flight wasn't going to be any fun for any of us, naturally over-reacting to a situation where the dog picks up on the person's stress, and is no better off because of it. I made way too big of a deal about this, and in the end, I can see a lot of things I could have done differently...
Since I adopted Kita a couple years ago, I've been slowly introducing her to airplanes, and she's been inside them before. She's very calm in almost every situation and considers an airplane to be my pickup truck with wings, but I'd never fired up an engine with her inside, never taxied with her, and have never left the ground with her before, so obviously it was a little nerve-wracking.

Knowing that dogs will do anything for freeze dried liver, I loaded my pockets with a healthy supply and put Kita into the airplane. Getting her in was easy, getting her back out at the end of our flight, not so much. The day I chose to fly was so windy and warm that I almost grounded us before we got going, thinking that turbulence would stress her. But I figured as long as we'd come this far, we could go a little farther.
Taxi and run-up were only nominally stressful, I think because the sound and vibration of the engine was so unfamiliar to her. I don't remember much of the take off, having spent that part of the flight stuffing my girl with dried liver. I figured it was a good sign that she was eating; dogs that are stressed beyond measure generally don't eat at all. Once we were in the air, she relaxed a bit and at one point laid down on the seat and closed her eyes. She seemed confused by the fact that the ground was so far below us.
I was finally able to relax and enjoy some air time, and in between handing out liver and baby-talking to my dog, was able to get some pictures. By the time we landed, Kita was all mellowed out, and after we docked and got out, she wanted to get back in. She climbed up on the floats and tried to hop into the airplane, which I suppose is an encouraging sign that she might want to fly again someday. The most challenging part of the entire flight was getting all the dog hair out of Dan's airplane. German Shepherd's shed profusely under normal circumstances; under pressure, the shedding is way more intense. Now that she's got her first hour behind her and appears to like it, I will for sure take her up again. It just seems natural to me to have a dog along when I'm flying, combining two of the things I enjoy most.

Serendipity, Sunsets, & a Salad - (N12DM)

2010-01-25T19:54:00.016-07:00

Resting in the harbor in Grand Marais, MN

I'd been waiting for this airplane all summer long, and last September, when Pete flew N12DM to his cabin on Sag Lake, we made plans for a visit. By the time I was able to make it over to his cabin, it was late in the day, so our time in the air that evening was against the backdrop of the most incredible sunset I've ever seen. Possibly because I was seeing it from a slightly higher altitude than I'm used to. Naturally, I forgot to bring my camera along, but maybe the images of that day are best viewed in my imagination. Thinking back on all the flights I've ever made; in the snow, through the rain, and way above the clouds, I can't think of one that was as beautiful. A view of the lake that I grew up on and make my home, painted in the burning orange of fading light, will be remembered and never equaled.
In an unexpected but appreciated coincidence, I ran into N12DM once again a few days later, this time at the Grand Marais airport. And so we were in the air once again, for a short flight to the harbor, where we did lunch at a waterfront restaurant.
A whole bunch of unexpected events led to my meeting up with this airplane again, and in the end I experienced some memorable time in the air. I suppose coincidences like these are one of the rewards of chasing airplanes, and the fact that the floatplane community is such a small circle of friends.

Turning Back Time - (C-GKBW)

2010-01-21T18:33:00.006-07:00

C-GKBW, serial number 310, wearing it's first North American numbers. This Beaver has undergone a number of changes since it posed for this picture. It still looks timeless.
Someone who knows I'm obsessed with this airplane sent this picture to me, and I can't remember who. The photo also lives on DHC-2.com , so with apologies to Neil, I didn't rip this image out from under you!

Form Follows Function

2009-09-09T18:40:00.007-06:00

My fascination with wildfire air tankers began years ago, because who could not be impressed with the size and sound of these gorgeous airplanes? And since then I've been fortunate enough to see them often, following them to fires in our area like a predator. Out of all the airplanes I've seen fight fires, naturally the Canadair CL-215 is close to my heart. Due, no doubt, to it's radial engines. Recently though, I've discovered a contender to my favorite airplanes category that I might have overlooked...

On a run to Thunder Bay a couple weeks ago, I got cleared to visit the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources airbase, where I found CL-415 C-GOGH waiting for me. CL-415's are often mistaken for their piston sisters from afar, but the 415 is individual and has several variations from the 215, not in the least it's turbine engines. Bombardier modified the 215 with PW123AF turbines and designated them as the 215T. In 1993, the company began production of this newly modified aircraft, under the designation of CL-415. C-GOGH was built in 1998 and has serial number 2034.Some of the features of the 415 over the 215 is increased operating speed and weight, and a larger water capacity, as well as updated avionics. There are a lot of statistics about this airplane that are worth researching, but I have little patience for anything but the basics. 415's are operated all over the world, and many of them live and work in Canada, an advantage for those of us who get to hang out with them instead of just seeing them from a distance. Often the first indication of a forest fire is not the smell or the sight of smoke, but the whiny sound of these airplanes on their way to do battle.

The stress on the flight deck during fire operations is incredible, and with only a two person crew aboard, a pilot and flight engineer would have their hands full just controlling straight and level flight in an airplane as heavy as a 415. During the intense currents and heat of a forest fire, these bombers would waste fuel loads and increase the risk of accident without some direction from something a bit smaller and faster to help them position for water drops.
This is where the air tankers get a little help from their friends, in the form of a spotter. Leading the the Ontario MNR's 415's is C-FMUM, an Aero Commander built in 1971. All I was able to figure out about this airplane is it's serial number, 3100. I know that several different designations of the Aero Commander were manufactured; please see above paragraph regarding patience...

Respect must be given to the airplanes and crews, both on the ground and in the air, who operate under stressful and dangerous conditions, working hard to change the outcome of fires that have the ability to alter our landscape forever.

2009-08-14T20:37:00.008-06:00

A Girl can dream...

This summer has not been friendly for flying, which is my only reasonable excuse for the lack of recent posts. Dan and I took C-182 N9011T for a sassy run against the shore of Lake Superior and up along the Canadian border, one of my more important flights, since I got his promise that he'll fly Kita the next time. It would only be proper that my Girl will get her wings with floats underneath her.

Joe Boxer getting to know C-GDZH.

Sapawe Air and Canoe Canada have brought the Beavers in a few times to my dock, so I got to spend some time with my old friends on floats. At the Hayward, Wisconsin airport, I rubbed shoulders with a Lear Jet, which is way out of my league, and Sky Harbor was my home away from home, since I can never not go there whenever I'm in Duluth.

For one weekend in July, my dad and I visited the Superior, WI airport to hang out with the B-17 Aluminum Overcast. I got my start in aviation because of my dad, and I value the time I'm able to spend with him and all the stories he has; he should be the one who writes the website.
Oshkosh came and went without me again this year, but judging from the phone calls, e-mails, and texts that came my way, it sounds like I missed a good time. I generally prefer to visit airplanes without the crush of a thousand people around me, but I can make an execption for one week out of the summer, something I intend to do for sure next year.

KCKC's airport dog, Stinson Vincent.

Summer is almost over, and it's absolutely shameful that the hours I spent in the air were so few. I know I shouldn't count my time with airplanes in terms of hours logged, but by the lessons learned, and the people and the dogs that I share it with.

2009-06-02T19:59:00.004-06:00

N33JP's twin 985's talk to me about fuel pressure problems.

Beech 18 N33JP is based at Sky Harbor, Minnesota and was born in 1954. It holds serial number A-998 and is still a bit of a mystery to me, even though I've spent a considerable amount of time with it. Probably I should devote some more time to it, and naturally, fly in it...
Multi-engines on floats are uncommon, and being in this airplane is a totally different experience, lending credibility to the words, "big, impressive, and loud". A single R-985 is cool enough, but two of them guarantee that I won't leave the airport till they shut down.

2009-05-09T18:42:00.003-06:00

Dan J. sent me this incredibly cool picture of a trio of Forest Service Beavers at their base on Shagawa Lake in Ely, Minnesota. These three Beavs are almost identical. From their paint to their portal windows, and the water pods on the floats; an impressive looking team. I enjoy seeing these airplanes flying over my home, but unfortunately every time they come by, it's because there's a forest fire in the area. I will visit them someday in Ely, when they are at rest.

N191Z holds serial number 1006 and was built in 1956. N192Z was born in 1959 and has serial number1347. Built in 1957, N193Z has serial number 1162.

Constant Craving - (C-GHGN)

2009-05-02T19:20:00.005-06:00

One of the readers of the website is Randy D., who operates C-GHGN from Minor Bay Lodge in Wollaston Lake in Saskatchewan. He recently e-mailed me to let me know that the only Mk. II in the world is currently at Anoka County Airport in Minneapolis, MN, having it's 600 h.p. PZL engine swapped for a 450 h.p. R-985. The one and only Mk. II is going extinct! I rest easy knowing it will still have a round engine; a turbine conversion would be really sad. I met this airplane in the Grand Marais harbor and it's memory has stuck with me since I was a little girl. I've been craving a meeting with this airplane again, maybe the fact that it's in Minnesota brings me one step closer. I can't remember what the serial number is on this one of a kind Beav, but I recall it was built in 1950.

Wipaire's Wonders

2009-05-02T18:32:00.011-06:00

Here's some pictures of what the Beavers in Wipaire's maintenance hangar have been up to since I last visited them...

Since I last saw N17393 in St. Paul, it's been completely converted to a turbine Boss Beaver, and made it's first flight a few weeks ago. It now wears N554BB and belongs to the Chevron Oil Company. It still has serial number 388, probably the only thing on it that didn't change. This Beav was built in 1952.
N5CC is shown here with it's new paint job, Wipline floats, and a newly rebuilt engine. This Beaver holds serial number 1167 and was born in 1957.Before and After pictures of N9028, my dynamic deHavilland that I fell in love with at Oshkosh in 2007. The serial number is 803 and it debuted in 1955. It's new registration is N317DH, and thankfully it's kept it's radial. A turbine engine on this one would have been heartbreaking...

Photos courtesy of Wipaire, Inc.

2009-05-02T18:17:00.003-06:00

Air Tractors at the Grand Marais, MN airport, part of the Gypsy Moth eradication program.

Changes

2009-03-24T19:21:00.003-06:00

The website is going in for it's annual, and will be experiencing some changes. Some of the links and features that were previously here will be missing for awhile, and the layout will change. Hopefully, I will figure out how to add page elements and links soon, so stay tuned but don't hold your breath...

Wipaire's Newest Addition - (N17393)

2009-01-24T18:13:00.004-07:00

Snowed in at Wipaire and waiting for some attention

I met N17393 in Oshkosh in 2006, and since then, Wipaire Inc. has bought it and moved it to Minnesota, where I ran into it again a few months ago. The next time I see it, it will have undergone a complete restoration, and will be behind a turbine engine. It will become Wipaire's newest Boss Beaver that will be going to Chevron Oil Company. At the time of this post, it's either completed or nearly done, and I'm counting on Wipaire to send over some pictures of it when it's finished.

The saddest part of all: N17393 surrenders it's radial.

Without wings, wiring, engine or instruments.

Hardly recognizable as a Beaver, it will look a thousand times better than this when it leaves the hangar.

The information I've previously posted on this Beav can be found on the blog by searching Archives for August 2006. N17393 was built in 1952 and holds serial number 333.

2009-01-24T18:08:00.003-07:00

a long winter spent waiting for water...

Grey Day, Grey Beav - (C-GKBW)

2008-10-30T20:04:00.005-06:00

In the absence of any flight time recently, I've been going through some pictures and video files that I've collected over time. Here, C-GKBW (naturally) gets airborne from Saganaga Lake. Sapawe Air hauled me to Mack Lake again this summer, resulting in a great view of my neighborhood from above. Also flew the 182 with Dan north from Devil's Track Lake and explored Saganaga Lake and Northern Lights Lake from a low altitude, with a few touch and go's to keep things interesting. This past summer brought me to Sky Harbor many times, and Kita and I spent lots of hours checking out the familiar residents of the flight line. We touched down at Wipaire again this fall and visited a few Beavers there, a couple of which were trading their radials for turbines. As the time of year rolls around when snow and cold are right around the corner, and many folks are swapping their floats for skis, let's recall some spectacular hours in the air and on the water...

Smoke Show - (N191Z)

2008-08-25T20:37:00.003-06:00

We came into another fire season with dry conditions and wind that wouldn't quit, and while we've so far avoided any big fires in our area, we've had a few smaller ones already this season. The Canadair 415 has visited Sag once already this summer, and twice I've seen them fly over, bound for fires to the West of us on the Canadian side. These pictures were taken about a mile away from the lodge, as Forest Service Beaver N191Z throws down on some flames. I can't help thinking about getting pushed back in the front seat at such a nose high attitude here, and what a great feeling that would be.

2008-06-28T20:15:00.002-06:00

My girl doesn't seem to think C-GKBW is a big deal...

A Flight to Remember - (N747BE)

2008-06-25T20:51:00.003-06:00

I took my first flight in this Cessna 206, when I was about 7 years old. N747BE has serial number U20606065 and was built in 1980. When I met it, it was flown by Bob Lewis when he worked for Soloy, and was owned by a flight engineer that worked on Boeing 747's, which explains the N number. Bob flew it as a demo for Soloy and stopped by our resort on his way to Thunder Bay. We flew from Saganaga Lake to the Cook County airport to fuel up, then back to Seagull Lake, where Bob had a cabin.
Soloy Aviation replaced the original piston engine on this 206 with a turbine. It's pictured here at Wipare's facility in St. Paul with the cowling off, showcasing it's whiny engine. When I knew it, it was on Edo floats, before Bob took it to Wipaire, and as far as I know, it's worn Wip's ever since.

I remember every second of my time in the air that day, and I know that in a significant way, that first flight inspired my love of airplanes. It's no surprise that it was a floatplane...

Building a Mystery - (N21PN)

2008-06-03T19:35:00.002-06:00

I met this Beech 18 at Oshkosh last summer and thought it was just so cool to see a Twin Beech on floats again. For me it's been about 20+ years since I'd seen one on the water. An article about N21PN showed up recently in the Seaplane Pilot's Association's Water Flying magazine, and I showed it to my dad, who read the article and mentioned that he knew this airplane. And then I remembered... This same Twin Beech was present in one of my very first airplane memories. I remember it being docked at the Canadian Customs on Sag Lake. I found out that at the time it was operated by Superior Airways out of Thunder Bay, Ontario. I don't know it's registration number at that time. My dad said that the only other air operators that flew Beech 18's regularly to Sag Lake were Ignace Airways, later bought by Brian Wylie, and Pat Magie's Wilderness Wings, based in Ely, Minnesota. Both of these outfits were before my time, so it's obvious that this airplane is the one I remember. It made an impression on me all those years ago, just like it did last summer in Wisconsin.
N21PN was built in 1952 and holds serial number CA-181. It's owned and operated by Sheble Aviation, based in Arizona.
I found this picture somewhere among all my other airplane pictures, and as far as I can remember, it was sent to me by Jason E. at Wipaire. Funny how I can remember the real thing from years ago, but I can't seem to recollect who sent me this snap...

deHavilland Dog

2008-05-31T19:32:00.002-06:00

In a perfect world, this would be the story of my life...

Rick....Thanks for the pictures and the stories. If you ever find yourself in a Beav again with room for a German Shepherd and a Princess, look me up. Looking forward to seeing some pix of the Mk. II.

Animwewtoo - (He walks away talking)

2008-05-03T21:13:00.002-06:00

May 3rd, and Bayshek's been gone a year. For all the things he taught me, and continues to teach me, I'm grateful. I drew this picture long before he passed from my life, but his influence reminds me that he hasn't walked very far away. May my friendship with Kita be as good as my friendship with him.

Multiple Personalities - (N529T)

2008-04-27T18:28:00.003-06:00

I finally tracked down some pictures of N529T before it took it's current registration number and paint scheme.

This picture was taken around 1965, not long after this Beaver stepped off the production line. It's registration number at this time was VH-IDL. Something's missing here, probably floats...

This is more comfortable. N150PL is shown here docked at Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Alaska. It wore one other Canadian number before it took N529T, but I'm not having any luck finding a picture of it as a Canadian.

The photo of VH-IDL was taken by Geoff Goodall and is taken from the Ed Coates collection. The photo of N150PL was taken by Derek Heley.

Go Rest High...

2008-04-27T18:12:00.005-06:00

I celebrate Bayshek's life, now nearly a year since he's been gone. I miss him every day, I miss his constant presence, and I know that a part of me went with him. The time of year has come around when I'm stuck on the island again, this time with a female German Shepherd that I know he would have loved. I'm blessed to have known how a dog can take up such an unbelievable space in my heart. I will always miss you, Super Puppy...

The music that accompanies Bayshek's slideshow is a song written by Vince Gill, and performed by Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, and Ricky Skaggs.

Click here to scope out Bayshek's slideshow

2008-04-07T17:27:00.003-06:00

Waiting for spring at Sky Harbor in Duluth, MN

So What If It's Not On Floats?

2008-04-06T09:23:00.001-06:00

The North American T-28 was a Air Force and Navy trainer that started production in the late 1940's. They were manufactured to replace the aging A-6 Texans used in the United States Air Force. I'm thinking that three different versions of this airplane were made. They were powered by a Wright Cyclone R-1820 engine.

I found this one at a friend's hangar at Anoka Co. Airport on my last run to the Cities. This airplane has just been sold, and it's waiting to be delivered to it's new owner.

Because it was hangared, I wasn't able to get any good pictures of it. I've never been in a hangar that was so gloriously filled with things. Equipment, cars, lawn tractors, and everything else imagineable. There was barely enough room for the airplane, and if the weather would have been better, I would have whined until the owner brought it outside...

Ace N9028

2008-02-16T18:13:00.001-07:00

On winter days when it's so cold you can't even get outside, my mind wanders back to summer, warmer temps, and float flying. Mark and I flew N9028 out of Lake Winnebago during Oshkosh last July, with the windows down and the headsets off, trying to catch as much cool air as possible. It wasn't much more comfortable at 1,500 feet than it was on the ground, but when I'm in a Beaver, I tend not to notice. OK, so why are the trees purple...?

2008-02-09T19:43:00.002-07:00

N9028, N31357, and C-GBUL soaking their floats on Lake Winnebago.

Herring Chokers

2007-12-22T10:31:00.001-07:00

Since I live on an island, in a shack without a phone, the website has become a good way to stay in touch with people who have a desire to know what I've been up to. One of these days I might actually post something having to do with airplanes...

The 2007 commercial fishing season has ended for Lake Superior, and I'm finally taking some time to get some things posted here. I know I need to switch the focus back to airplanes, but I've been really lame in that department lately. Work has taken up a lot of my time, and I didn't even get up flying once this fall. How sad is that? I'll give it hell next year....

I've been back in town since October, cutting herring for the commercial fisherman who gillnet on Lake Superior. Minnesota's season ended at the end of November, and we cut Canadian fish until almost mid-December.

Being a greenhorn (and a girl), I took my share of teasing from the good old boys at the fish house, and only after we cut the last herring did I hear that some of them bet that I wouldn't last through the season. Hope at least one or two bet on me and that I made someone some money...Whoever thinks that aviation is completely male-dominated never worked in the commercial fishing industry.

Me and my sister when we were kids, playing with herring. Probably misplaced our Barbie dolls somewhere and had to settle for second best...

New Numbers for the Norse - (N667AK)

2007-10-31T19:29:00.001-06:00

Noorduyn Norseman Mk. V C-FFQX is still sitting in lots of pieces at Sky Harbor, MN, waiting for it's restoration to begin. Gerry contacted me a few days ago to let me know that it won't be in any condition to fly for a couple years yet, but at least now it's getting a new tail number. I imagine having that new identity will propell this project forward, if only Gerry could sit still in one place long enough...

He's been all over the world in the last couple years, flying a DC-6 as a flight engineer in Alaska, and after another tour in Iraq, he's back in Minnesota for an undetermined amount of time. C-FFQX will come home to Floodwood, where the rebuild will take place. A project of these proportions is all about time and he's hoping to fly it on floats out of Sky Harbor in a couple years. Also on deck are a pair of skis for the winter seasons. FFQX was built in 1947 and has s/n # 625. G, please tell me it will still be yellow when it flies again...

Photo was taken by Rich Hulina and is copyrighted.

Extreme Makeover, Wipaire Style - (C-GVHS)

2007-10-14T20:31:00.001-06:00

C-GVHS was delivered in 1954 and has serial number 733. It was stored at Allen Airways, Ltd. in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Wipaire Inc. bought this Beav and brought it to their South Saint Paul, MN facility, where it will be restored and eventually will be fitted with a turbine engine. And no doubt a sassy set of Wipline floats...This Beav will become Wipaire's next turbine "Boss" Beaver and will leave their hangar in better condition than when it left Downsview in 1954.

The carcass of C-GVHS at Wipaire's maintenance hangar, with Pete, the man who will help make it beautiful once again...

Pete Zimmerman is a deHavilland expert who has been a big part of all of Wipaire's Beaver restorations since 2000. At this stage, he is just starting the sheet metal repairs on the fuselage, in preparation for the Wipaire modifications. There are a set of wings modified for the conversion that are almost finished.
I have no idea when this project is scheduled to be completed, but it will take a lot of hours, and a lot of knowledgeable people to make it happen.

C-GVHS at the storage facility at Sioux Lookout, waiting for Wipaire to take it home to Minnesota.

I met this Beav a few weeks ago when I dropped by Wip's hangar. It's overwhelming to imagine all of the work that needs to take place before it flies again. Everything on the original airframe that will remain will get inspected and repaired, new modifications will be built and fitted, and a new engine and new avionics will be installed, in addition to a ton of other upgrades, like interior and paint. My plan is to follow it's rebuild, and hopefully I'll get more information and some pix as the project moves forward. I will pay this Beav a visit again sometime this fall...

The images of VHS at Sioux Lookout were taken by Rich Hulina and are copyrighted. They were pulled off DHC-2.com, with Neil's permission.

A Beav In The Burn - (C-FOPA)

2007-10-10T19:03:00.001-06:00

Mk. III turbo Beav C-FOPA tied up to my dock during fire operations on the Ham Lake Fire in May. Things looked a lot different during the next few days when the fire came North up the channel and started burning our island. At the time this picture was taken, the fire was around the Gunflint Lake area, about 12 miles from the lodge. The smoke in this picture represents the size of the fire's base, still smaller than it would eventually get. The Ham Lake fire had just the right conditions with wind, humidity, and fuel load, to burn hot and unpredictable. It created it's own weather system above the smoke and made fire fighting operations from the air for the most part impossible when it reached this point.

Beav Before It Was Blue - (CF-OCC)

2007-10-09T08:34:00.001-06:00

One of my guests e-mailed me some pix of CF-OCC that he took on a fly-in out of Shebandowan Lake sometime in the early 80's. OCC was owned by Shebandowan Air Ltd. at the time and looks pretty sporty with all it's yellow paint. I've been trying to find a picture of it before it was re-painted but never had any luck until one of my fisherman stepped up with this one. CF-OCC is currently owned and operated by Sapawe Air Ltd. and is based on Eva Lake, Ontario. It wears blue paint in place of yellow now, which allows a better look at all its' scars. This Beav is old, like 1948 old, and has serial number 23.

Aviation According to SuperNova

2007-09-27T19:34:00.001-06:00

Kita met her first airplane the other day, and so far she seems to be taking it pretty well. She likes to ride in my truck and loves the boat, so getting in a sky-ride isn't a whole lot different for her, as far as transportation is concerned. That might be a different story once we fire up the engine though. I'll keep working with her, at first just getting her used to being in the airplane, then if that works we can taxi out and see how she responds. It will be awhile before we take a chance on flying. Flying needs to be a good experience for her, so if I feel she's not ready, I won't push her.
She's discovered two specific things about airplanes. A Cessna 172 is a bit small for a German Shepherd, and second in command is always the best place to be...
Why couldn't I have fallen in love with a smaller breed for my dog of choice?

Gordie Hyper Trim - (C-FOMJ)

2007-09-27T18:13:00.001-06:00

Blogger has added this sassy new feature that makes it simple to throw video format on the blog. Hold me back......
Gordie Melville and I in Mk. III C-FOMJ, my Rainy Day Beav, touching down in front of the lodge. This isn't about the picture, it's all about the sound, which will no doubt get better when I start posting my piston Beaver pix...

Fish Out Of Water - (N12PM)

2007-08-30T11:00:00.001-06:00

N12PM at the Wipline SeaBase in St. Paul, waiting to get back on the water.

A lot of folks who read this blog have stories about some of the different aircraft that I've posted. It's one thing to feature an airplane and give it's date of manufacture and s/n, but it takes on a personality when there's a story behind it, and I like the idea of airplanes with attitudes. Jason Erickson, Wipaire's Maintenance Director, sent me the following e-mail and the picture posted above, so this is the rest of the story on what the Beech 18 was up to after I met it at Oshkosh.

Hey Princess, Thanks for the spot on the blog. I have some information for you on theTwin Beech at the sea base this year. It is now owned by Joe and Val Sheble of Sheble Aviation in Airzona. They are going to add to their current flight school fleet and offer multi engine seaplane ratings. The machine was purchased from Surfside Sea Base in Lino Lakes, MN. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Joe after an unfortunate incident with N12PM. He was awakened in Pierre, SD with a wind storm. His new Beech 18 was thrashing itself on the shore. The RH float after body was trashed. After sinking the RH float in a bay and seeking refuge, he got some emergency repairs completed. See: Shoe Goo and inner tubes. He called me at Oshkosh to see if I could perform repairs. This was after the picture you took at the show. I agreed to take on the project as quick as possible and get 'er done!!!! Hate to see a guy down and out and nowhere to go. I know he had limited options as a lot of the local sea bases were not equipped for a machine that large or due to the seasons' drought, did not have enough water to float the beast. We reskinned the RH after body of the Bristol/EDO float as well as repaired the LH main keel area. He came and got the ship on the 24th of August and flew it home to Arizona. I am unsure if his trip was uneventful from here but have not heard anything. I have attached a few pics of the machine at the Wipline Sea Base in South St. Paul. Joe is a great guy and I would consider him one of the best customers ever. Thanks to Joe for trusting WipCaire maintenance to perform repairs on N12PM.

End of the Line Beav - (N577V)

2007-08-29T19:37:00.001-06:00

I met this Beav at Fleming Field, the last deHavilland I found that week, the day we flew back from Oshkosh and I never would have seen it but for the fact that I'm an airhead. I left some of my gear sitting on the floats of the Cessna after I took off for Bryan's hangar, and didn't realize any of it was missing until Mike had towed the 206 off the ramp. I ended up stalking him all over the airport until I saw this Beav and forgot about Mike completely. N577V was built in 1959 and has serial number 1385. I've seen pictures of it on floats and it looks pretty bare sitting on wheels. This airplane suffered an inversion when it was landed gear down on the water. Maybe that's why it's on wheels now. I can't figure out why I didn't get some better pictures of it. Probably too busy trying to find my shoes...

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

2007-08-28T19:11:00.001-06:00

A German Shepherd has come into my heart once again, and this sad little female that came to me so tentative and reluctant is already proving that she can be rehabilitated. This girl I call Champagne SuperNova is a 4 year old female that I rescued from a bad situation a few days ago. I was asked by the owner who wanted to surrender her to take a look at her, since she knows I'm a Shepherd person, and see what I could do about finding a permanant home for her. Within five minutes after meeting this dog, I knew I had to get her out of there. Her living conditions were unimaginable and she was scared and defeated. She was bought to be a brood bitch, and has lived in a kennel most of her life. She was kept in a 10 X 6 foot pen, with only gravel on the ground and no carpeting or hay in her doghouse. Substandard living conditions all her life, combined with a lot of neglect, have given her a sad look, but in time, she'll become a confident dog again, the way a German Shepherd is meant to be. I have a habit of naming dogs in Ojibwe, so the name I've given her is Agaamishkode, literally translated as "other side of the fire". She'll end up being Kita though, since shorter names always suit a dog better.

She's already been introduced to the airplane, and if I feel she's ready eventually, she'll fly with me. She's already extremely devoted to me, and I'm hoping her desire to be by my side will overcome any reservations she might have about being in an airplane. It's been interesting getting to know her and finding out her limits, which I hope won't include a fear of flying. I still have not made any long term plans for her, and for now we're working on getting her back on her feet and introducing her to all the things she's missed out on, one day at a time.

My promise to her is that I will never hurt her or treat her unfairly, that she will have the best I can possibly give her, and that as long as I'm alive, she will never spend another night in a kennel.

K-9 Rescue - The Dogs Need Help...

2007-08-22T19:57:00.001-06:00

Many people are volunteering their time, effort, and money to help with the construction of a new building for K-9 Rescue, a no-kill animal shelter in Sparta, Wisconsin.

Donations are appreciated to fund kennels for the new facility.

Please help our efforts by donating for a memorial kennel in memory of Bayshek.

Your contributions are greatly needed and appreciated. Please contact Laura at pistonengineprincess@yahoo.com with any questions.

Your donations make a difference. This shelter will become a reality only with the support of people who understand the value of a life enhanced by a dog. They need us just as much as we need them.

Thank you!

2007-08-21T22:22:00.002-06:00

Completely sassy any way you look at it...The Ministry of Natural Resources Canadair CL-415 waits it's turn at the Thunder Bay airport.

Gone to the Dogs

2007-08-09T13:27:00.002-06:00

Too many airplanes and suddenly I've neglected the one other thing that makes life worthwhile...the dogs that complete me. I miss Bayshek every day, but I fill a part of the void by borrowing other people's dogs, because I realize that I don't do well without a dog beside me.

Getting some love and drool from Nala
During the fire evacuation, I took in a friend's female Great Dane, and briefly considered offering her a permanent home with me. Nala is delicate and mellow, and I found her personality to be a good fit with mine. I have taken her back home a few times and she seems to blend in perfectly with my island lifestyle. How she would fit in an airplane is another story...

Saturday Night Special

Savage is my sister's blue male Great Dane and is just about as savage as a morning glory. At about a year and a half old, he's still a baby and his body is growing faster than his brain. I steal him occasionally when I feel like I've got enough in me to handle 151 pounds of energy. Like a any typical Dane, he is large and is a leaner and needs to have contact with you at all times, which makes for some interesting sleeping arrangements.

Just a face out in the crowd that looks like trouble...
For someone who's usually barefoot, I'm shocked to discover that I've lost a fair share of my shoes to this boy that I call Lonesome Roads. His given name is Earl and he belongs to my cousin, but I grab him once in awhile when I need the company of a German Shepherd. He's only 14 weeks old, but shows every promise of becoming the dedicated, loyal partner that only a Shepherd could be. He has quite a ways to go with his training and he's lucky he's cute; because of that he gets away with a lot.
There's certainly no shortage of dogs in my life, and we love our big dogs. Our Rottweilers, our Dobermans, our Great Danes, and our German Shepherds, with a couple of Brittanies thrown in for good measure.

A few folks have asked me what the name Bayshek means so this should quench your desire to know. It's the Ojibwe word for #1, and is actually spelled "Bezhig". My choice of spelling is adapted from the name of one of my grandparent's sled dogs.

MNR Turbo Beav - (C-FOER)

2007-08-06T19:03:00.001-06:00

Craig Burch, one of the pilots who flew fire crews and supplies into Sag Lake during the Ham Lake fire, sent me this picture of C-FOER on it's way to Dryden after the crews were released from Thunder Bay. C-FOER was delivered in 1967 and has serial number 1671TB41. It's been employed with the Ontario government forever, starting with the Department of Lands and Forests, when it's registration number was CF-OER. It now flies for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and is based in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Craig flew C-FOPA during the fire,which is the Beav that my parents were evacuated in, and a picture of that one is on the blog here somewhere. C-FOPA was built in 1968 and holds serial number 1688TB56. One of these airplanes was on Sag Lake with a conservation officer during the time I was down in Oshkosh, along with Atikokan Aero's Beaver and Cessna 180, so I missed seeing them. It's a shame I can only be in one place at a time.

2007-08-05T20:40:00.002-06:00

It's not just Beav N31357 or Norseman CF-SAN that makes this picture worthwhile, it's the fact that Twin Beech N21PN's rear end is trying to steal the show.

Jason Erickson, Wipaire SuperNova...

2007-08-05T20:28:00.001-06:00

Jason: You're just about famous in my little crazy corner of the world. Have fun Googling yourself and yell at me anytime. Enjoyed the sassy text messages.

Twin Beech 18 - (N21PN)

2007-08-05T20:03:00.001-06:00

It was nice to see a Beech on floats at the base this year, as they're not very common anymore. They had some more 18's at Wittman Field, in honor of Beechcraft's 70th anniversary, but this was the only one I found on floats. It has serial number CA-181 and was built in 1952. I can't remember where it was based and it only stayed for a few days so I had trouble getting in touch with it's owners. They did quite a few flights in and out of the base, and it doesn't matter how many times I've heard it, I will still put on hold whatever's going on to listen to two wound up R-985's flying over. I got it confused with a Beav a few times though and made some unnecessary trips back to the base anticipating a new Beaver that needed me. That's probably how I got the majority of my exercise at the show this year, stalking airplanes that weren't even there. Which doesn't lend any credibility to my beer drinking skills whatsoever...

Wipaire Sassy Cessna - (N12554)

2007-08-05T19:44:00.001-06:00

Mike and I flew this Cessna 206H back from Oshkosh at the end of the week. It's model year is 2006 and it's serial number is T20608673, serial numbers higher than a Beaver will ever know. Mike teases me about it; says it's a shame that I wasn't being hauled around in a Beaver, but flying a 206 is close to prestigious and quite a bit quieter, which makes for good sleeping conditions, cruising at 3000 feet. The avionics in N12554 are impressive so now I'm flipped out about getting to know some of the updated systems. I'm used to flying C172 N4416L, which brings you back to basics with it's instruments. Who needs a transponder anyway...?

Make An Offer - (N78691)

2007-08-05T19:26:00.001-06:00

Noorduyn Norseman N78691 once again sitting at Wittman Field in the same place that I found it last year. I meant to throw it on the website ages ago, but never did. This time I spent more time with it, in an effort to get some information for the post that I never got around to. The serial number is 637 and it was delivered in 1944. It's been fully restored and is in great shape. I think I remember the pilot saying that it's restoration took place in Brainerd, MN but maybe I've got it all wrong. It's paint scheme takes a break from standard yellow and it's P&W R-1340 is painted gold to match it's cowling. This airplane is for sale and is worth buying if a person could afford the insurance, fuel, maintenance, etc. and could ever find the time to fly it. The actual cost of buying an airplane is always the most affordable expense, until you factor in all the other costs of flying it. Norseman not for me...

Wipaire Conversion Beav - (N446PM)

2007-08-05T19:16:00.001-06:00

I wasn't able to find this Beav's owner and so I know very little about it. I understad that it's privately owned and is based in Wisconsin. It holds serial number 615 and was born in 1954. At some point it was modified with at PT-6 turbine engine and I'm guessing that Wipaire did the conversion, due to some of the add-on features, in particular the original tail design. I would be interested in getting to know this Beav better, and if anyone can tell me what's up, yell at me please.

60 Degrees North Beav - (N1053)

2007-08-05T18:58:00.001-06:00

By the time I got to this Beav at Wittman Field, I was so incredibly hot and tired out that it was hard to set up a good shot and I didn't have the engery to start kicking people out of the way. You've no doubt seen this Beav before if you run in deHavilland circles. It holds serial number 676 and was manufactured in 1954. It is based in Renton, WA and is privately owned by Mike Lunenschloss, who flew it for the documentary "60 Degrees North at 500 Feet" detailing his trip around British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Alaska. You've got to love a guy that flies with his dog. The scenery in that film is spectacular and it features some nice airplane footage as well. Land here to scope out this Beav's website.

The Bull Beav - (C-GBUL)

2007-08-05T18:32:00.001-06:00

C-GBUL lives in Quebec and is privately owned. It is serial number 588 and was born in 1953. It has been modified with a PZL 600 h.p. engine replacing it's original P&W R-985. One engine change that I can't complain about... It's four-blade prop looks a little wicked though. It haunted the seaplane base from the first day of the show and spent the week moored in the bay with Beavs N31357 and N9028. I flew it by the end of the week, when Andre was doing some demo flights. It was nice to be behind a 600 h.p. engine, which is new for me. We loaded BUL up with 6 people and I got rear seat because I was the smallest person on the airplane. Could be considered a compliment but I fought hard for the co-pilot seat... We had beautiful weather for flying and it was cool to see a different view than I'm used to. This Beav was in the air a lot during the week and did a ton of low passes, offering me the gut shot that I've always wanted. I'm certainly no photographer, but setting up for a shot like this and actually getting it makes you feel like you know what you're doing. Part of the draw of airplanes for me is being able to take pix of them, which is not all that easily accomplished when you've got such a large subject to fit in a small frame.

While I realize that there were other kinds of airplanes at Oshkosh this year, I went straight for the Beavers and other radials on floats, and paid little attention to anything else. I guess the whole point of a blog is a substitute journal, documenting whatever you find cool, and that's what I do. So all apologies for repetition, but if you're here, you obviously find it all fascinating too.

Turbo Beav And An Old Friend - (N812LT)

2007-08-05T18:21:00.001-06:00

I found this Beav easily enough but wasn't able to find it's owner, so I don't know much about it, other than it's serial number and date of manufacture. I heard from someone that it's carried about 5 registration numbers in it's lifetime, so it's obviously been busy. It was built in 1965 and has serial number 1578TB7. Sharing space with N812LT is my High Style Beav, N101CB, which since one year ago has been sold and is once again for sale. I think we're meant for each other...

The Complete Beav - (N4081F)

2007-08-05T18:05:00.001-06:00

Complete except it's without floats, but it still looks stunning. This airplane has about a million modifications and STC's added on, and is one of the best looking Beavers I've ever seen. It lives in North Dakota and is currently for sale. Some of it's modifications include an Alaskan door, Baron STOL kit, and tip tanks, in addition to tons of other things that make it a little easier to look at and a lot more comfortable to fly. It was built in 1953 and has serial number 491, so as an older Beaver, it's been well taken care of and has undergone a complete powerplant to tail restoration, making the finished product one of the coolest Beavs ever.

Above Average Norseman - (CF-SAN)

2007-08-05T17:27:00.001-06:00

This Noorduyn Norseman was built in 1946 and has flown actively since it's delivery all across Canada, employed in Lynn Lake, Manitoba and then in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It joined Ontario Central Airways in Kenora, Ontario and moved on to Ignace Airways in Ontario, finally settling in to it's new home in the Northwest Territories, where I believe it's now privately owned. This airplane has undergone some extensive repairs, and has borrowed parts from other Norseman's to complete it's restoration. The engine was overhauled in Alberta, along with avionics installation and a pair of Edo's. This airplane looks as good as it did when it was manufactured and it's owners have taken a lot of time and effort to get it back in this condition. From what it's pilot said, it ended up inverted in Isle a la Crosse in 1960 and was not in great shape after that. They told me when they were going to be leaving the seaplane base and asked if we would appreciate a low pass. I was the first one out on the point when he did what I called his Chicken Run, and this airplane never seemed to get any bigger, just a whole lot louder. I've not spent much time with active Norseman, and it was interesting to be able to hang out with this one. No idea the serial number and I'm too lame to look it up.

Dynamic Wipaire Beav - (N9028)

2007-08-05T16:47:00.001-06:00

Tied down at Wittman Field...

...and rolling slow over Lake Winnebago.

Every new Beaver I meet and hang out with seems to be a new favorite and N9028 is no exception. You'd think by now the thrill would have worn off...Wipaire had this one ramped at the seaplane base for a few days during the show. Mark and I flew it a couple times, once from the amphib. parking at Wittman Field, and on demo flights at the seaplane base. It kept me warm on the night that I slept in it's back seat, and offered it's floats to me as a comfortable place to nap in the shadow of it's wing. The amount of pix I have of this airplane gives my considerable C-GKBW picture collection a run for the money. For me, every floatplane has it's place and all are great to fly; being in a Beaver, either in the air or on the ground, takes on a different dynamic than any other airplane. I guess it's a testament to all the time I spent with these airplanes growing up, and I'm fortunate to have friends who share the same attitude. This Beav was delivered in 1955 and has serial number 803.

A Week in Wisconsin

2007-08-04T20:37:00.001-06:00

I got back from Oshkosh about three days ago, and as much as it's good to be home, I realize that I miss the sound of airplanes taking off and landing during every available daylight hour. I camped at the Seaplane Base on Lake Winnebago this year, and didn't really spend too much time at Wittman Field. It's not that I've seen it all before, but my whole reason for going this year was to hang out with floatplanes, and in that respect I was successful. There was still some great airplanes up there though, and from what I could see of the airshows, they were impressive. It was wicked hot the whole week and I probably red-lined the beer meter, otherwise I would have gotten more proactive about the show. Most of the pictures I took were of floatplanes, with only about five pix of anything else. There were three Beavs, a Norseman, a Twin Beech, and a Murphy Super Rebel, along with so many other airplanes that I lost direction. Wipaire took care of me again this year, and I met some really interesting people from the company. Also got to know some folks who recognized me, either from the website or from knowing my parents. There's always a lot going on at the seaplane base, and as long as you have an interest in airplanes, you'll fit in.

A Bay Full of Beavs

2007-06-20T21:19:00.001-06:00

Kicked back on my front dock, watching Atikokan Aero's C-GDZH and CF-IPL figure out who takes off and who holds.

Up Close And Personal Beav - (C-FZXD)

2007-06-20T20:51:00.001-06:00

Gary G., another of my Beaver liasons, sent me these air-to-air pix of C-FZXD, which by any photographers standards are really impressive. C-FZXD is serial number 1336 and was delivered in 1959. It belongs to Samoset Lodge and these pix were taken above Lake Nipissing, near Sudbury, Ontario. This could possibly be a new favorite for me. Very classic paint job (blue's my favorite color), non-dorky prop spinner, and no visible modifications...all that and a pair of Edo's. Very cool. Gary's lucky to be up in the air with this one and to have such a great photo opportunity. Speaking of which, he's promised me Beav pix from his visit to Downsview for the Beav's 60th anniversary.

Thousands of Airplanes

2007-06-15T08:21:00.001-06:00

I have to represent a couple personal airplane websites that are worth mentioning. It's suprising how many folks like to stalk airplanes and make websites dedicated to them. Must be contagious... Anyway, take a look at Doug Robertson's page on Airport Data. Doug is like my Beav liason, and sends me pictures and information on different Beav's he's met. His Photo Gallery pages on A-D have great pictures with very conclusive statistics, and any other stuff he finds interesting. I've not gotten through all his pictures yet, but I'm working on it; there's a lot of them. It's simple to search his pages for specific airplanes because they're categorized in different groups. All the photos are copyrighted. I've got my own page on the A-D site but I'm clearly not on Doug's scale yet. I don't have a high-speed connection or the patience to wait while the pix upload. Click here to get directly to his Photo Gallery.

Another good place for airplane pictures is Mike B's website, which shows a lot of Beavs at home in the bush. He's sent me pictures before, and I think one or two have ended up on my blog. He's got a great line-up of floatplane pictures and some great shots of the Norseman on Red Lake, Ontario. Scope him out here.

Inside the Canadair CL-415

2007-06-11T22:16:00.001-06:00

My parents trying to figure out how to peel the Bombardier sticker off this airplane for me

As if missing the Turbo Beaver weren't bad enough, I also ditched out on getting into a Canadiar CL-415 at the Thunder Bay airport. My parents landed there after the evacuation, and found two of the MNR's 415's parked there, so they got to get up inside them and scope them out. The whole airplane is really complex, but I suppose when you consider all that needs to happen to make this airplane do it's job, it's not suprising. It seems I'm usually in the wrong place at the wrong time and I'm sure that my dad was wishing I could have been there.

Back By Popular Demand (C-GKBW)

2007-06-11T21:37:00.001-06:00

In the past month or so, I've been flying quite a bit, and even though I spend a lot of time in the air and around airplanes, I never take for granted any time I get a chance to fly. Last weekend, I flew my soul Beav, the one that by now everyone's probably getting tired of hearing about. I grew up with this Beaver, so this obviously means more to me than most people understand. Kashabowie Outposts gave me the opportunity to fly up to Mack Lake with a canoe party they were taking in. In the co-pilot seat, with the window slid down and without a headset, I was in sensory overload. Completely flipped out. On our return flight, Jim gave up the controls, so I was able to feel a Beaver in my hands. With just Jim and I, we were basically at empty weight, but I never imagined that a Beaver would be so responsive. For such a heavy airplane, it takes very little pressure to make it do what you want it to. On a short flight like this, I didn't get much chance to maintain alltitude or hold my heading for any distance, but it's still an experience. Another thing I realized is that at just over 5 ft. tall, I'll never have much success reaching the rudder pedals in a Beaver. Getting to the floor in a Cessna is a challenge for me, and so I always have boat cushions handy. Thanks to Kashabowie for allowing me to fly with them. Next up- CF-OCC. I'm getting to be quite the little airplane groupie...

Rainy Day Beav - (C-FOMJ)

2007-06-11T21:09:00.001-06:00

This Beaver is owned by Melaire Ltd. and is based in Fort Frances, Ontario. It was born in 1968 and is serial # 1683TB51. It flew a crew of property assessors into Sag Lake to do some work at the Canadian Customs station. I went over and explained to the pilot, Gordie, that I was stalking his airplane and was able to get some good pictures. I mentioned to him that I missed my chance to fly in a Turbo Beaver during the fire, and understanding my big deal about Beavers, he asked me if I wanted to take it up. Whenever someone asks me this, my typical response is, "Dude, are you for real?", and no doubt he was, so I got my chance to fly a Turbo Beaver, and no longer feel jealous that my dad got his chance before I did. It was nice to be behind a whiny engine again. Flying in the rain is a whole different element, and I feel more comfortable with that than being up in the air when the sun is shining. The flat light allowed a good view of the burn area and we checked out an MNR helicopter doing infared fire spotting on our island. Gordie was awesome about letting me hang out with FOMJ and I really appreciate the fact that he made this flight happen for me. Melaire Ltd. offers fly-in outfitting to remote lakes and air charters. Their website can be found at www.melaire.ca , so scope them out and book a flight with this sassy airplane.

Evacuation in a Turbo Beaver - (C-FOPA)

2007-06-11T20:15:00.001-06:00

A Beav at my dock, and I'm not even there?...

I'm officially tired of discussing this fire, and am trying to get back to some airplanes. So naturally, I'll start off with some Beavers. My parents evacuated Sag Lake about one week after the fire started and they flew out in this Ministry of Natural Resources Turbo Beaver. My dad said they probably have the only dog in history that has ever puked in a Turbo Beaver. My mom also made the comment that the only reason he decided to evacuate was because he would get to fly in this airplane. At least someone's got their priorities straight. I wish I would have been on Sag when all of this fire activity was going on instead of being stuck in Grand Marais, because despite the tension of the country burning all around us, it would have been great to see all the airplanes. I ended up with about a million pictures of the airplanes that worked on the fire, just not this one. I stalked the CL-215's and got way more pictures of them than I can reasonably justify. My computer's hard drive is suffering. Also got pictures of the Sikorsky SkyCrane and some other private airplanes that were around. Forest fire equals great airshow...

Ham Lake Fire Update (14)

2007-05-20T16:41:00.001-06:00

The Ham Lake Fire is now 100 % contained on the U.S. side, with the Canadian side is being estimated at 65 % containment. There are still 3 hotshot crews working with the Canadian crews, doing clean up operations on the Canadian portion of the fire. Some of the final figures are coming in and no doubt this is the biggest fire in terms of the cost of fire suppression efforts and property damage. Also probably the most acreage burned. This country has burned so many times in the last 40 years that it's easy to lose track of statistics. In total, the Ham Lake Fire burned 75,851 acres, and with it, a total of 140 structures along the Gunflint Trail area. The total cost of fighting the fire, which includes everything and everyone on ground crews and air attack, is somewhere around $9 million. Total property damage is about $48 million, which gives you an idea of what the Gunflint Trail looks like now. In total, 456 U.S. personel worked the fire along with 354 Canadians. There were also several local and volunteer teams. There is still some concern about the Canadian side of the fire, but they are pulling their crews on Tuesday, May 22nd, so they are confident that it has mellowed out enough. Both sides will probably be monitoring the burn area from the air for awhile. As pessimistic as it sounds, I doubt that this will be the last fire we'll see this summer. For now we will reflect on how lucky so many of us were and how unfortunate it is that so many others have lost homes and buildings. It will be a long time before things are back to normal around here. That being said, I'm going back to Sag on Tuesday to open up the resort and try to get things back on track, while waiting for the next fire.

Ham Lake Fire Update (13)

2007-05-20T10:38:00.001-06:00

I confirmed with the Sheriff's Department this morning that as of Tuesday, May 22nd at 8:00 a.m., all restrictions will be lifted on the Gunflint Trail, meaning that everyone (tourists, property owners, etc.) will be able to travel all the way up the Trail. Also, I confirmed with the Forest Service that on Tuesday, May 22nd at 8:00 a.m., the Saganaga Lake entry point (BWCA # 55) will open up for day-use permit holders and exempt permit holders. For all of you coming up to Chippewa Inn: when you stop to get your permits, make sure you tell the Forest Service that you need to be issued an exempt permit, because you are staying in Canada.

Ham Lake Fire Update (12)

2007-05-19T10:14:00.001-06:00

Got some good news at today's fire meeting regarding restrictions being lifted for the entire Gunflint Trail and also BWCA entry point # 55 (Saganaga Lake landing). The Sheriff's Department anticipates opening up both on Tuesday, May 22nd. They have not yet confirmed this officially and expect to announce it at tomorrow's meeting. The Sheriff told me to tell my guests that they should plan to begin travel up the Gunflint Trail on Tuesday, as he is very confident that all restrictions will be lifted on that day. So, with that information in mind, I will tell all of you who still plan to salvage Canadian Walleye Opener to get your boat trailers hooked up. The Sag Corridor will be open at this time only to Day-Use permit holders, and visitors and property owners who are exempt because they are staying on the Canadian side of the lake. Overnight campers will be restricted until further notice. Anyone staying with us is considered exempt, and therefore will be allowed to travel on Sag. The entire fire is estimated at 50 % containment, with 85 % being contained on the U.S. side. Canadian crews are still focusing on the Sandstone Lake/Northern Lights area, and are planning on pulling out all of their crews in our area on Tuesday, so Sag Lake will not be restricted to travel. I will announce the official confirmation about the Trail and Sag entry point restrictions being lifted as soon as the Sheriff contacts me, and I will call all of the Opening guys today.

I flew the fire again yesterday afternoon, and everything looks fairly calm, although obviously it looks a lot different. We flew at 300o feet, and were able to scope out a lot of the damage. Due to TFR, we didn't fly anywhere into Canada, but we flew the border right over Sag in front of the lodge. The only smoke we saw was a little on the East end of our island, and some down in the Mayhew Lake area. We were talking with the AeroCommander spotter airplane, asking for permission to come in under his altitude, and he said that no other aircraft were in the area. Two of the heavy helicopters were pulled from the fire yesterday, and the Sikorsky Sky-Crane came in to the airport to refuel for the last time before leaving the fire. I guess it's positive that all the air attack is leaving. I'm flipped out about all the pictures I took of the airplanes and when things settle down, I'll get around to posting some.

Ham Lake Fire Update (11)

2007-05-18T09:59:00.001-06:00

The information I got at today's fire meeting was positive, at least regarding fire conditions. The fire is now 75 % contained on the U.S. side, and at this time, containment figures for the Candadian portion of the fire have not yet been released. We are expecting warmer temps, lower humidities, and southwest winds, so there is a possiblility of flare ups today. Rain is predicted through the weekend and if we make it through today without incident, the fire should settle down from this point on, but there is always a chance of it getting out of control again and we aren't yet in the clear. Both U.S. and Canadian fire crews remain on Sag to do clean up operations and prevent hot spots from getting out of line. My main focus right now is on the Gunflint Trail closure and BWCA entry point restrictions. The Sheriff's Department is fairly confident that the Trail will be open for all travel by Tuesday, May 22nd. The only other problem concerns the fact that the Saganaga Lake entry (# 55) is closed now. I talked with Forest Service officials at this morning's meeting and they are going up today to assess that area. They say they are focusing heavily on this area due to the usual heavy traffic during this time of year and that they will open it as soon as they are convinced that it is safe. I don't know when to expect an answer on that but I'll post it as soon as I get more information.

Ham Lake Fire Update (10)

2007-05-17T11:21:00.001-06:00

I just got back from today's fire meeting and am posting the latest information as of this morning. The fire has not progressed in the last two days, and right now there are crews on Sag Lake doing clean up on our island. We have southwest winds today and warmer temperatures, so there is a risk of flare ups today. Rain is predicted for tomorrow and through the weekend, so this will help fire suppression and may increase the chances of the Gunflint Trail being opened to all travel. There have been reports that the Trail will open as soon as Sunday or by the middle of next week, and certainly no later than June 14th, which doesn't do any of us much good right now. I know that the travel restrictions depend on the weather and the fire area, and I know that the Sheriff's Department is doing all they can to open it as soon as possible. This is still a high risk area and the main concern is that no one is in any danger by going North. Officials are talking about BWCA entry point openings to begin on May 20th, although I don't know if that will include the Saganaga Lake landing entries. As of today, Sag is restricted to boat travel in anticipation of needing to pick up water in the air tankers. Gunflint Lake is also included in this restriction. Property owners are being allowed up the Trail today to check on their cabins but are not encouraged to stay. Dick and Sherry went back up today, but I'm not sure if they will make it back to Sag or if they will stay with Paula tonight and go up in the morning. I am in constant contact with the Sheriff's Department, who understand our situation with the Walleye Opener and are assuring me that they will let me know as soon as possible when the Trail will be open again. I will post what I know as soon as I know it.

Ham Lake Fire Update (9)

2007-05-16T17:44:00.001-06:00

Today's report from the crews on Sag Lake suggest that the fire activity is mellowed out a lot since yesterday. They are still managing pumps and the MNR fire crews are still there. The most serious burn area on Sag yesterday was on Horseshoe Island, and the DNR had their CL-215's on it. Bob Hall flew over the fire area yesterday and called me today to let me know what it looked like. There has been confirmed one cabin lost on the East end of Red Pine Island, and that the fire had burned about halfway across the island from East to West, stopping near the old dump, where MNR fire crews set up dynamite for a fire break. The South end of Irv Benson's island has been burned but none of his cabins were damaged. Three fingers of the fire came up from the U.S. side and traveled North to reach Sag Lake. One from the Spoon Lake area that burned toward Curran's Bay, one from the Granite River, and one from the corridor, which is the one that reached our island. The Sag corridor has already burned about 4 times in the last 20 years. There is an MNR Command Center based at Sandstone Lake, which is off the Trout Bay Road on Northern Lights Lake. The Trout Bay Road is closed until further notice. Some of the Canadian fire crews are staying on Sag, others are driving up from the U.S. side, and apparently more are being flown in by helicopters daily. This is still an area of concern and remains at high risk. Weather conditions are favorable for now but wind and high temperatures will slow us down a bit in the next couple of days. The Sheriff's Department in Grand Marais has told me that they are allowing all travel up the Gunflint Trail only as far as Cross River today. Tomorrow morning at the fire meeting they will be discussing travel all the way up for property owners. The next step will be to find out when all travel can resume up the entire Trail, and I will let you all know as soon as possible.

Ham Lake Fire Update (8)

2007-05-15T10:35:00.001-06:00

This morning I had a meeting with the Deputy Incident Commander from the Great Basin Incident Management Team, who is a friend and owns property on Sag Lake. I'm trusting his information, because he is probably the most informed official I've talked to since this started and he also has a personal interest in our area. The fire on the Canadian side didn't move much at all yesterday due to the rain and humidity combined with calmer winds. As of yesterday, ground crews and arial teams were on that portion of the fire. Both Canadian and U.S. crews are working the Sag Lake area. The fire size is now 74,800 acres in size, with 38,371 acres now currently burning in Canada. The fire is estimated now at 20 % total containment, with 50 % of the U.S. portion contained. There are still areas of the U.S. side that are at higher risk of reignition, but the DIC feels strongly that this is under control at this time. Because of this risk though, they are still restricting travel up the Gunflint Trail and cannot predict when they will open it. The Projected Conatainment Date of the fire is being reported as May 20th. I have not been able to obtain decent fire maps so I've not posted any links here. The map that we looked at today showed burn areas on most of our island, but being such a small island in relation to the whole fire area, it's not clear exactly where the fire is burning now. Also, this can change in a matter of hours. Crews are managing pumps on Sag cabins, including the lodge and are working with helicopters and water tankers. As of yesterday, Chippewa Inn was still standing. The weather will cooperate for us, at least for a couple more days, with Northwest winds and humidity in the 85 % range. Regarding Canadian Walleye Opener, I know this is difficult for everyone who has made plans and taken time off work. I apologize for the inconvenience and ask everyone to be cooperative with us. I won't be able to make a prediction on Trail restrictions, and until I hear differently from officials, all I can tell you is that the Gunflint Trail isn't open to anyone but people working the fire and property owners at this point. This is the only thing holding any of us back from going to Sag and if they do lift travel restrictions on the Trail, I'll contact all of you as soon as I know. All apologies for such short notice. The Sheriff's Department in Grand Marais has established a hotline for fire information and that would be the number to call with inquiries on Trail closures. Their number is: (218) 387-3093.

Ham Lake Fire Update (7)

2007-05-14T10:48:00.001-06:00

Just contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources, who have confirmed to me that a fire crew has been flown back into Sag Lake as of this morning, and that two Canadair CL-415's are bombing the fire that has reached the south shore of Sag. The portion of the fire that is on the Canadian side has decreased in size overnight from 10,000 acres to 9000. We did get about an inch of rain in that area yesterday evening, but I can't confirm windspeed or direction at this time. I'm hearing so many rumors now, and I will not pass along anything until I can officially confirm it.

Ham Lake Fire Update (6)

2007-05-14T06:51:00.002-06:00

Reports I got yesterday evening from the remaining residents on Sag indicate that a spot fire has reached the south shore of Sag Lake and was burning on Connor's Island and Horseshoe Island. They said that the wind was blowing hard from the South, not a favorable direction for any of us. Because of the dangerous conditions and the possiblility of not only the fire but the limited visibility due to heavy smoke, the MNR pulled their last fire crews out of Sag Lake yesterday afternoon. Our neighbors at the resort next door were planning on immediate evacuations at the time I spoke to them, but I have not heard from them yet this morning. We did get some rain last night here in town and up the Trail, so maybe that helped bring up the humidity. Southeast winds are forecasted for today along with a possiblility of some rain. Larry tells me that there are dozens of spot fires burning all up the Gunflint Trail and that yesterday he saw more smoke than in previous days, despite the strong winds. Dick and Sherry are with us in Grand Marais. I cannot confirm anything else at this stage regarding the progress of the fire, our buildings, Trail closures, and the Canadian Walleye Opener. I will be in touch with all of you and will update you as soon as I can figure out what's going to happen this weekend. I know it will be short notice, but with a fire like this, no one can predict what it will do, yet we are all positive, knowing how things can change from day to day.

Ham Lake Fire Update (5)

2007-05-13T07:47:00.001-06:00

Spot fires on the East side of the Sag Corridor area on Saturday, May 12th.

From the reports I got yesterday, crews have kept the fire better contained, and cooler temperatures, higher humidity, and calmer winds have helped considerably. Mark Mathisen and I flew the fire yesterday, all the way up to Sag, and from what we could see, it has calmed down quite a bit. We were on the same communications frequency that air attack is using, and at that time, no tankers were flying or inbound. We could see two heavy helicopters dropping water near the Loon Lake area, and heard Ontario request permission to enter U.S. airspace with one of their helicopters, so both sides are still fighting actively from the air. There are still smaller fires as a result of flare ups, and Larry told me that there was still quite a bit burning yet in the Mayhew Lake area. He has been on the septic truck for the last three days so he's getting first-hand information from up the Trail. Still don't know where this fire will travel, or when it will be contained. There is some rain predicted for today, but only about a 35 % chance. I called the Sheriff's department, asking about the Gunflint Trail closure, and I still have not gotten an answer yet on when anyone will be allowed up the Trail. My parents evacuated Sag on Friday, and are staying with us in Grand Marais. A few people are still on Sag, and Ontario MNR fire crews are based there now. They have installed sprinklers on most of the summer homes on the Canadian side. Winds are predicted today from the Southeast at 15 -20 mph, so that won't help fire crews. As soon as I get more information, I will let everyone know.

Ham Lake Fire Update (4)

2007-05-11T18:30:00.001-06:00

Not too much statistically to mention about the fire. I called the MNR fire management this morning and was told that they are not ordering any evacuations on the Canadian side of Sag. The major part of the fire is burning to the Northeast of the Poplar Lake area, but there are smaller fires burning all along the road. Larry and I went to the end of the Gunflint today on the septic truck, and although there is a ton of activity and fire crews, not much of the fire is visible from the road, except for spot fires. The smoke is still thick because of the decrease in wind today. My parents flew out from Sag in the Ministry of Natural Resources turbo Beav today, but I haven't talked to them since they left Sag. My sister Paula went to Thunder Bay to pick them up from the airport and I'm not too sure where they're at now. I drove their car back down the Trail because it's anybody's guess as to how long we'll be here in town. I was told today that the fire has already burned 86 square miles and has destroyed 130 structures. I will probably attend the fire meeting tomorrow to get some more information.

Ham Lake Fire Update (3)

2007-05-11T11:52:00.001-06:00

There has been a Cautionary Evacuation ordered for the area from Poplar Lake to Swamper Lake, and the Gunflint Trail is closed to through traffic at Greenwood Lake, about 15 miles north of Grand Marais. Fueled by strong west winds, the fire burned 13 miles total yesterday, crossing the Gunflint Narrows and burning both sides of Loon Lake. I have heard that no structures were damaged yesterday, but not a one of us is in the clear yet. This fire could go in any direction, and today it is being influenced by east winds. No one really knows what to predict, as the fire is still not nearly contained. The front of the fire is about 2 miles wide now and current reports indicate 55,000 acres burned. There are about 550 people on the fire now. The Great Basin Management Team is taking control of fire suppression efforts, and the Ministry of Natural Resources is sending down another team today. We are getting fire trucks from Bloomington, Ramsey, St. Louis Park, etc. as well as hot shot crews from Utah and Washington. MNR Fire Management told me this morning that as of now they are not setting up a fire command center at Chippewa Inn, and are not going to evacuate Sag Lake yet. The scope of this fire is unbelievable, and I know we aren't the only ones who are having wildfires around the country. Not much rain predicted in the forecast, but plenty of wind.

Ham Lake Fire Update (2)

2007-05-10T20:23:00.001-06:00

Another day of windy conditions with low humidity have pushed this fire farther down along the Gunflint Trail, and 2 more mandatory evacuations have been issued. Chuck and I went up the Trail as far as Gunflint Lake, and while we were there, fire crews ordered an immediate evacuation from Gunflint Lake to Iron Lake. I have never seen a fire behave this way before. We watched trees on the north side of Gunflint Lake explode, with flames reaching about 100 feet in the air. The fire moved about two miles on the ground during the time we were at the boat landing on Gunflint and since it has reached Mayhew Lake and crossed the Gunflint Trail again. The Poplar Lake/Trail Center has been evacuated as of about 6:00 this evening. Looks like I might have a guest or two tonight. The fire is still only about 5% contained. Because of the wind conditions, today was a huge setback for fire crews and airplanes. The National Guard has two helicopters and there are still a few others using buckets to drop water. All the air tankers are still on the fire. As of today, somewhere around 30,000 acres have burned and it looks like this one might go on for awhile. Last report from Sag Lake was favorable at this time, although my parents are considering flying out with the Ministry of Natural Resources if things don't improve much overnight. I'll keep updating information as soon as I get anything confirmed.

Ham Lake Fire Update (1)

2007-05-09T13:58:00.001-06:00

I keep getting fire updates from the Forest Service, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the sheriff's department, in addition to talking to folks I know that are working the fire. The information I'm posting now is what I can currently confirm. As of today, over 22,000 acres have burned, much of it slash from the blowdown of 1999, when straight-line winds ripped through about a million acres in our area. The wind conditions are not favorable to firefighters and the humidity has been around 20 % and is not expected to increase within the next few days. In preparation for a northwesterly wind shift by tomorrow, ground crews are starting burnout operations today. The north side of Gunflint Lake was evacuated this morning because the fire is now burning back on itself. Still essentially out of control at this point. There are at least 300 people on the ground crews, in addition to the MNR, DNR, Forest Service, and other fire departments. I'm not sure what the percentage of containment is. At this point, 45 structures have been lost, and the cost of property damage now is estimated at $38 million. I keep hearing so many updates from so many different sources but I'm not comfortable with passing on what might be false information. My parents have already set up the water system at the lodge to increase humidity and soak the ground. We're running the striker pumps almost continuously. The Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources is asking us about setting up an incident command center at our resort, which would mean that they want to base their crews there for easy access to the fire, in addition to setting up sprinkler systems on the summer homes around the lake, and to evacuate people if that becomes neccessary. I talked to the MNR's fire boss this morning and if they need to, we will welcome their crews and airplanes. That means two turbo Beavers at my dock and possibly a helicopter or two on shore. I do know that the Canadians brought their air tankers in yesterday, and have fire crews stationed along the Gunflint Trail. This has been quite an airshow. So many organizations and people are working to contain this fire and hopefully the weather conditions will help us all out. Thanks to all of our clients who have offered their support, especially to my Canadian Walleye Opener crew. Here's hoping that in two weeks we can go fishing...

Ham Lake Fire

2007-05-07T08:03:00.002-06:00

Apparently I don't have enough tragic things on my mind or enough to worry about. On the afternoon of May 5th, the day after I brought my dog home for the last time, the fire season kicked off with a fire that started on Ham Lake in the Superior National Forest. Since Saturday, it has spread to over 8000 acres and has at this point burned businesses and summer homes belonging to people I know at the end of the Gunflint Trail. Our resort is only about 6 miles away from this fire, and so far the wind direction has been favorable to us, but I know that some of our friends weren't so fortunate. On Sunday, officials ordered a mandatory evacuation of the Gunflint Trail from the landing to the Seagull Guard Station, where the fire crossed the Trail. We came back into town before the fire was out of control, but I wish I had stayed. I wish I was there but I know there's nothing I can do. The information I have at this point states that the fire is only 5% contained. Low humidity and strong winds are making this difficult to fight, and as of now there are two helicopters, three CL-215's, 3 Beavers, and a P-3 Orion fighting from the air, as well as several fire officials, Hot Shot crews, and dozers on the ground. Because of the evacuation, I can't even get home at this point and when I finally do, I can't imagine what I'll find.

Bayshek

2007-05-06T19:37:00.001-06:00

Bayshek

10/13/98 - 5/3/07

Back in April, before I headed back to the lake to spend ice-out at the lodge, I posted "Super Puppy" because I thought it was important to honor a friend who was such an important part of my life. I never thought that I'd be writing an honor to his passing so close to that last post. I lost my Bayshek on May 3rd, 2007. I have never missed anyone as badly as I miss him. We spent this past month alone on the island, just him and I. I know I never could have accomplished that without him. I just wouldn't have wanted to be without a dog to keep me company. My lifestyle and the area I live in allow me to spend a lot of time alone without other people around, and having him by my side always made that so easy. We were quite a pair. Very few people ever saw me without him, or ever talked about me without mentioning him . I'm fortunate to have had so many years with such a good friend, and that his last month was spent alone with me. I wonder if I'll ever be the same person I was now that he's gone, because he made me a better person when I was with him. I miss you Super Puppy...

Super Puppy

2007-03-24T22:30:00.001-06:00

I have to give some credit to my German Shepherd, Bayshek, who stalks airplanes with me and never wonders why we have to spend so many hot hours on the flightline. He is generally welcomed by the pilots and makes a great impression until he lifts his leg on their floats. I have never had him fly with me and I never will. Being a Shepherd, he's not usually nervous about new things, loud noises, etc., but getting him into a sky-ride would be stressful for both of us. Super Puppy is good company to me when I'm chasing airplanes, I think because his heart is pure and he's the only one loyal enough to accompany me on what some consider to be pointless missions.

Twin Beech 18

2007-03-24T21:52:00.001-06:00

I can just barely remember seeing the last Twin Beech docked on Saganaga Lake in the early 80's, so it was great to be able to see these airplanes up close. I got talking to the pilot when he saw me with the Beaver and when he figured out that I was all flipped out about floatplanes, he asked me if I wanted to hang out with the Twin Beech. There were two of them in the hangar, both undergoing annuals in preparation for another summer season. I really didn't get a whole lot of information about these two, and didn't get their numbers or anything. What an airhead. I don't even know the size of the floats, only that they're Edo's. It was hard to get any good pictures of these airplanes because it was really crowded in the hangar.

The Beech Model 18 was built by Beech Aircraft Corporation for service in WWII, and during their years of manufacture there were over 8000 18's built. I believe that there was a few different models of the 18 manufactured. The Twin is a low wing, conventional gear airplane, with room for 6+ passengers plus the flight crew, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-985 engines. I read somewhere that the Twin Beech holds over 200 Supplemental Type Certificates, which is a record number of STC's for any airplane. This has been a total Pratt & Whitney day for me, with a Beav, a Norseman, and the Twins.

Chicken Bones (C-FFQX)

2007-03-24T21:13:00.001-06:00

In a corner of the same hangar that shelters N31357 sits Noorduyn Norseman C-FFQX, waiting for some tender loving care. When I went to the hangar a few months ago, I only saw part of this stripped down airframe through the window and I thought at first that it was a Beaver fuselage. It never occured to me that it was the Norseman I wanted to meet. Gerry O, who recently sold the brown Beav, bought this Norseman a couple years ago and is planning to restore it. I don't know the serial number or the date of manufacture for this airplane so I'll have to fire up some motivation to contact Gerry and get my facts straight. I hope that he'll eventually get FFQX back to airworthiness. It will be a massive project, but in the end it will be worth it for him. He told me once that as much as he loved to fly the Beaver, the Norseman is his passion.

Sky Harbor Score (N31357)

2007-03-24T20:51:00.001-06:00

Good timing... just as soon as I did the post for N31357, I got a chance to hang out with it in Duluth. I was able to get some good pix of it in the hangar, but do we really need to see any more of this Beav? Sure we do. With time to kill in Duluth today, I went out to Sky Harbor to scope out the airplanes and of course I went directly to the hangar where I know this Beav sleeps. The door was open and it was obvious that someone was around so I waited awhile until Rick L. came back and cleared me to get in. While I was at the airport I met 6 different guys who all either knew who I was or knew my dad. One of the great things about the aviation community is how it seems everyone knows everyone else, particularly the float flyers. A few of them brought me into the hangars to scope out the airplanes and the projects they were doing, so that made this visit completely worthwhile.

Scandia Bay Beav (N31357)

2007-03-23T14:58:00.001-06:00

N31357 stealing the show at Oshkosh's floatplane base (Photo by Tom Ford)

Sleeping in the hangar at Sky Harbor, Duluth, MN

At one time, N31357 belonged to a friend of mine who has a cabin on Sag Lake, and was then bought by a friend of a friend who has a cabin in the same bay on Sag. The brown Beav is at home on Sag but for whatever reason, I keep missing it. The picture above is the only one I've taken of this Beav and since it's so horrible, I put off posting this Beaver. Last fall I was bumming around at Sky Harbor, surrounded by horizontally opposed engines, when I found N31357. Since breaking into someone's hangar to take pictures has some unfortunate consequences, I settled for shooting through dirty glass, and finally broke down and asked Neil Aird if I could rip a clear picture off DHC-2.com. N31357 was born in 1957 and holds serial number 1126. Looking at this airplane reminds you that it's well suited for exactly the job it was designed for, and although it truly is a dependable bushplane, on the surface, I think the main attraction is it's looks - all clean lines and smooth curves, nothing square about it. As an artist, I'm hard-wired to notice this. I've had people tell me regarding a Beaver, that "form follows function" but I think they just like to use metaphors and really have no idea what they're talking about.

Sapawe Super Beav (C-GKBW)

2007-03-08T18:31:00.001-07:00

I feel as though I've not devoted a proper amount of space to C-GKBW so I'm going for another fly by. I have an unimagineable number of pictures of this one but I'll never deny a photo opportunity whenever I run into it. You never catch the Super Beav from a bad angle. I figure that I'll use the pictures as reference for drawing someday but I wonder, how many pictures of one airplane does a person really need? Because it's not like I don't have a hard drive completely crammed with pictures of all the other Beavs I know. My big deal is to be able to fly this airplane someday but with liability concerns, (among, I'm sure, other concerns it's owners might have), I'm not thinking that's going to happen.

The Grumman Grand Slam

2007-03-07T18:08:00.001-07:00

Wandering around at Oshkosh brought me to the Warbird field, and three of the sassiest Grumman amphibs made. I found the Goose and the Albatross right away and ran into the Widgeon later in the day, which brought the total Grumman count to three and completed my "hat trick".
Grumman Albatross

The Albatross was ordered by the United States Navy but was delivered late and never saw air time in WWII. Instead, it made it's mark in the Korean war and in Vietnam. There were a couple different models of the Albatross made, but here my information gets a little sketchy so I won't attempt any specs on that. I believe that including each model there were about 450 total airplanes manufactured. The Albatross is powered by two 1425 h.p. Wright R-1820 9 cylinder radials that burn about a million gallons per hour. No wonder the only outfits that can afford to keep them in the air are the military and the Coast Guard.

The Grumman Goose

The first Goose was born in 1937 and between then and 1945 there were about 345 of them built. With a wingspan of 49 ft. and seating for 6, this is a big airplane. So...it needs some horsepower and here the Pratt & Whitney R-985 steps in to deliver 450 h.p. times two. This airplanes growls like a bad chest cold -in a good way. A few of these have been modified with PT6 turbines, called the Super Goose. Yet another radial engine airplane that went for a turbine conversion.

The Grumman Widgeon

This is the only one of the three that was developed for civilian use, but the Widgeon found work with the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard, and the British Royal Navy. The prototype was first flown in 1948. About 270 were built but I can't imagine that there are that many around today, still in flyable condition. The Widgeon has two 200 h.p. Ranger engines on it and it would be interesting to know the cruise speed on it, in addition to all kinds of other facts that I'm too lazy to look up.

Four Legends

2007-01-02T14:11:00.001-07:00

This picture was e-mailed to me by Paul Hawkins, who tells me it was taken in Ignace, Ontario around 1987. deHavilland typically hogging the front row, with Beaver CF-LLX and Otter CF-APR. In the background is Norseman CF-DTL and Twin Beech 18 CF-XUO. It would be cool to hang out on this dock with four of these sassy airplanes. With all 5 engines combined, there is a total of 2,550 h.p. tied up here.

deHavilland DHC-3 Otter

2006-12-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

My dad scoping out C-GOFF at Canada Customs on Saganaga Lake. The main dock to our resort can be seen over his left shoulder.

Lac la Croix's C-FNFI, taken from our front dock. The horrible quality of this picture hides the spectacular paint scheme of this Otter.

What is my problem? Can't believe that I haven't posted a piston Otter till now. I was hoping last fall to get up to Lac La Croix to meet some of the Otters and Beavs that haven't been to Sag in awhile, but I ran out of time and bad weather grounded me. I was also hoping to get some better photos before I made the big Otter post; obviously that didn't happen. The deHavilland Otter is kind of just a more mighty version of the Beaver. Production on the DHC-3 Otter began in 1951, and I think I remember hearing somewhere that around 450 were built. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine, the Otter delivers 600 h.p., making this such a cool no-nonsense airplane. DeHavilland didn't manufacture a single engine turbo Otter, although they did build the DHC-6 Twin Otter. Many piston Otters have been converted to the P&W PT-6 turbine engines that originally powered the Twin.

C-GOFF was flown by Kashabowie/Ignace Airways, and is pictured here at Customs with Jimmy Wyllie tying on the canoe. I'm not sure when this one was built or what the serial number is.

C-FNFI was flown by Lac La Croix Quetico Air Services, and I think that they still own this Otter, along with two Beavs that I'm currently stalking. C-FNFI was built in 1960 and is serial number 379.

When I was a kid, it seemed like there was always a floatplane on our lake landing or taking off, heading somewhere that I remember wishing I was going too. This was a common sight from our dock, and I think now that we might have taken for granted the variety of airplanes that we got a chance to see over the years.

Ministry of Natural Resources Beav

2006-12-26T15:18:00.001-07:00

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources flys Mk. III Beavers a lot in our area. They haul supplies into ranger stations, fly portage crews in to maintain portages and campsites, fly fire crews to fires, and conservation officers into remote lakes. I've only seen the MNR's turbo Beavs on skis before, and they're often in the air on busy weekends in the winter. They make a downwind approach on the lake, and if there's any wind at all, they can barely be heard. Quite a few ice fisherman have opened the door on their fishing shacks to see a conservation officer standing there, and wonder how they got there. The element of suprise could only be accomplished with a turbo Beav because the unholy racket made by a piston Beav would give the fisherman time to throw back any fish that put them over the limit. I'll have to try to get arrested in order to fly in one of these hyper black and yellow Beavs.

Mike B., thanks for the pix.

The Great White Beav

2006-12-26T13:56:00.001-07:00

A fitting name for this Beaver, since the engine cowling makes it look like a shark. I'm always going on about how many Mk. I Beavers are getting turbines instead of overhauls on their rightful radials, but since deHavilland manufactured the Mk. III as a turbo, I'm forced to admit that turbine power has it's place. Keep in mind that I'm not super practical when it comes to airplanes, and so I don't pay much attention to any technological advance that would create a more economical and efficient airplane. The turbo Beaver looks and sounds amazing though, with it's clean lines and whiny engine. I don't know the origins of the Beav pictured here. This photo was taken in about the 1992 to 1994 range, and is shown here on Saganaga Lake at Canadian Customs. No matter how I look at this picture I can't seem to figure out the N#, and so I can't track down this sneaky Beav.

The flashy cowling on the Mk. III houses a Pratt & Whitney PT-6 engine, which generates 550 shp. Because the turbine weighs considerably less than the piston engine, the Mk III's nose was elongated to balance the center of gravity over the landing gear. The prototype of the Mk. III was first flown in December of 1963, and in 1965, the Ontario government took delivery of the first of many Mk. III's that would fly for them. I've seen very few original turbs on Sag Lake, despite being in the heart of airplane activity when the Customs station was operating. With piston engines being so common for us, when you heard a turb in the air, you flipped out. The only thing better than that was a twin-engine turbine. Drop everything and go scope out the airplanes...

The Classic Beav (C-FODD)

2006-11-20T06:49:00.001-07:00

Shown here at an outpost camp somewhere in Ontario, C-FODD is classic because of it's lack of add-on modifications and it's paint job, showing the original "speed stripe" from the nose to the rear of the fuselage, and the thin emblem on the dorsal fin bearing it's registration numbers. Classic also are it's set of Edo floats, but Wipaire never heard me say that. C-FODD was built in 1951 and has serial number 128. It flew for Shebandowan Air Ltd. and is one of the many Beavs that I remember seeing docked at our resort. Somewhere along the line, it was repainted and it's registration numbers changed. It now wears N202KL. Last I heard it was based in Anchorage, Alaska. Some of the photos that I throw on the blog from time to time are pulled from my dad's collection, and because of their age, they don't show up here as clearly as I would like. Also, I can't credit photographers in many cases.

The Martin Mars!

2006-11-19T16:43:00.001-07:00

Mars in flight photos courtesy of Flying Tankers, Inc.

Like so many other airplanes that were originally designed for the military, the Martin Mars eventually found it's true calling serving in civilian operations. Out of the original six that were built, only two remain, currently based on Sproat Lake, Vancouver Island. They are flown on fire fighting missions and are renowned for their combined hours of accident-free operations. I believe there are only a handfull of pilots qualified to fly them. These airplanes are unimagineably large, as their statistics and specifications prove.

The Mars takes a crew of four, and during fire operations, the pilots and flight engineers are kept constantly busy monitoring each phase of the pick-up and drop run. The Mars is able to make a water drop once every fifteen minutes and is suprisingly speedy for such a heavy airplane. Each water drop can cover 3 to 4 acres at a time. They have a 200 foot wingspan and a gross weight of over 160,000 lbs. I would probably be able to walk upright inside one of the wings (maybe the ailerons too!) The Mars is on the water for about 30 seconds before the bays are full and then the water is mixed with a foam concentrate, which helps to disperse the water upon ejection from the airplane.

They are powered by four 2500 h.p. Wright Cyclone R3350-24WA radials and the propeller length is around 15 feet. Maybe one of the most sobering statistics about the Mars concerns it's fuel comsuption. During fire operations, the Mars burns over 750 gallons per hour. The company that owns them is planning to sell them, on the condition that they remain active. Wherever they end up, it would be great to be able to see them before their retirement, although I'm sure with the strict maintainance schedule they're on, they'll be around for many years.

The "Phillippine" Mars, C-FLYK, featuring a side drop system for water bombing.

The "Hawaii" Mars, C-FLYL has it's water drop system on the bottom of the hull.

Thanks to Ian Wilson, who was lucky enough to spend some time with the Mars and take some great pix, which he shared with me for this post.

Ryan Aviation Beav (N450RA)

2006-11-19T15:57:00.001-07:00

This stunning Beaver belongs to Ryan Aviation Seaplane Base Inc., based in Palm Coast, Florida. Ryan Aviation specializes in Private, Commercial, Multi-Engine, and Seaplane training, and also has a program dedicated to training in the Beaver. No doubt this is the pride of their fleet. N450RA is serial number 526 and was restored in 1998 by AOG Air Support out of Kelowna, British Columbia. They installed the Alaskan door and the cabin extension. This Beav also has a Baron STOL kit installed and wing angle mods added on. It sits on Wipline 6100 amphibs. Tripp e-mailed me this picture ages ago and I've finally gotten around to posting it after a long period of down time, brought on by my lack of motivation and the fact that my web host has not been working well. Bring on the Beavs!

Visit http://www.ryanseaplanes.com and scope out their program. Thanks to Tripp for sending me the pix and information.

Consolidated PBY Catalina

2006-11-18T13:17:00.001-07:00

Consolidated PBY-5A water tanker borrowing water from Saganaga Lake, Ontario

Consolidated Aircraft Corporation began production of the PBY Catalina in response to demand from the U.S. Navy. Between 1936 and 1945 there were about 4000 manufactured. Although they were heavy and slow, and could easily be detected on radar, they were essential to the Navy during wartime. The PBY flew in almost every maritime battle during WWII and after the war, they were used as tankers for fire fighting operations. The PBY-5A has two 1200 h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radials. This is an unbelievably large airplane, with a 104 ft. wingspan and room for a crew of 7. The U.S. Forest Service retired the last PBY from it's fire fighting fleet, so seeing them is not common anymore. I remember scoping out the 5A pictured above, fighting a fire on Mowe Lake near the resort.

Steeprock Beav (C-GDZH)

2006-09-06T05:40:00.001-06:00

C-GDZH is one of the main reasons I went up to Atikokan, thinking that it was the only Beav owned between these two fly-in outfitters that I hadn't gotten pictures of. CF-IPL was docked at the base on Steeprock Lake when I got there, but I had a half hour wait before DZH landed. Both Atikokan Aero's Beavs wear the same paint scheme, but DZH has had a few stickers slapped on, including the original deHavilland Canada beaver logo on the tail, and the "Garmin Equipped" Beaver sticker on the door. On the pilot's door, there is a sticker that lets you know that "Yellow is Beautiful". C-FDZH was built in 1951 and has serial number 356.

The Bonus Beav (C-FEYR)

2006-09-02T09:59:00.001-06:00

I was not expecting to see this Beav during my visit to Kashabowie Outposts, probably because I wasn't even aware that they owned it... C-FEYR has been to our resort before but I didn't know that it belonged to Kashabowie. They don't fly this one in to Sag Lake much because it has no canoe racks on the floats, and most of the fly-ins to Sag involve canoe groups. The last time I remember seeing FEYR at Sag was a few years ago when it flew in a health inspector. This beautiful Beav was built in 1953 and has serial number 497.

Floatplane Fantasy Tour - Atikokan Aero

2006-09-02T09:26:00.001-06:00

Atikokan Aero's line-up of yellow floatplanes

Although it isn't really that hard to find, I got amazingly lost trying to get to Atikokan Aero. I guess you need to read the signs! When I finally got to the seaplane base, I found only one of their Beavs, CF-IPL. C-GDZH, the one I haven't seen on Sag in ages, was out on a flight and due back to base in a half hour or so. I waited on the dock until it landed, and then got the pix I wanted. It would have been easy to ask the guys to send me photos of this one to put on the blog, but it wouldn't have been the same. It's just better to see them in person. Thanks to Atikokan Aero for showing me around.

Floatplane Fantasy Tour- Kashabowie Outposts

2006-09-02T07:43:00.001-06:00

Kashabowie Beavs at home on Eva Lake, Ontario

I got up yesterday morning and decided I needed to see some Beavs. Two of the fly-in outfitters have a couple Beavers that I haven't seen on Saganaga Lake in quite a while and I needed pictures. So, like a junkie in search of a fix, I drove up to Atikokan, Ontario and visited these outfitters and their airplanes. A totally worthwhile trip for me but a really long day. I got a chance to see Kashabowie's C-FEYR, which I've only met a couple times and didn't even know belonged to them, plus their Cessna 172, and 206. I met their pilots, who I've seen but never really been introduced to, and one of the owners that I didn't know. The general consensus was "So you're the girl with the German Shepherd who comes to take pictures of the airplanes when we land at Canadian Customs". Thanks to the Kashabowie Outposts crew for welcoming me and allowing me to take a million pictures...

Solo Beav - DHC-2 MK II (C-GHGN)

2006-08-31T21:02:00.001-06:00

The DHC-2 MK II was built in 1950 when deHavilland Canada decided to produce a "better" Beaver than the MK I already in production. This airplane had almost the same basic airframe but had a higher horsepower engine, a three blade prop, and a different tail design. This new design never went into production so the prototype is the only one in the world. This sole Beav has had a few different paint schemes, been all over the world, flown on floats and wheels, and has had about 10 different registration numbers! Certainly a Beav that's been around the block. My dad and I saw this Beav years ago at the Grand Marais, MN harbor, but at the time I didn't realize it's signifigance. I couldn't figure out why my dad made such a big deal out of this one-just another Beav to me. I think it's quite an honor to have met the only MK II. I wish I would have seen it for what it was at the time... I would have flipped out and taken about a million pictures. The MK II is currently registered as C-GHGN and the last I heard, it was for sale somewhere up on the Yukon.

Photo Credits - Photo # 1: deHavilland Canada Archives, Photo # 2: Clarence Hogan, Photo # 3: Kevin Wiggins, Photo # 4: Dave Qually. Thanks to Neil Aird for giving me permission to rip these pictures off his website.