July 2007 Blog Archives

30 July 2007

Checked my radar earlier, and just by chance I spied N812LT (1578TB7), recent export from Canada, approaching Rapid City on a flight from MHE. Wish I had a current picture of her.

Photo: Neil Aird © 18:44 utc 30 July 2007

29 July 2007

This nice e-mail came in today with an image of "Blossom" in action.

Hello,

I just came across your web site and was surprised at how much information is available for the Beaver. While not a pilot myself I was friends with the late Jack Apsouris affectionately known as "Blackie" who along with "Blossom" CF-FAQ (94), were fixtures here on BC's Sunshine Coast. Having flown on "Blossom" many times it was nice to see photos of her all spruced up again for Seair.

C-FMPD (1510) another Coast Western machine was owned by Wendal Welander of Pender Harbour and he had named her "Bergie" after a well known pioneer who lived up Sechelt Inlet known as the "Cougar Lady". "Bergie" lived off the land and often snitched sugar cubes and toilet paper from Coast Western's operations office in Sechelt where she used to sit waiting for the weather to improve so she could head back to her cabin, a colourful character she was. Funny how an airplane can bring back some wonderful memories.

Note: Neil will soon add images by Roland's Dad, of "Bergie" which was applied to another Coast Western aircraft C-FMPD (1510).

Photo: Roland R. Lussier © May 1999

Below is "Blossom" in 1996 pulling into the Government dock at Pender Harbour.

Regards,

Roland H. Lussier

28 July 2007

As we approach the end of July, I'd just like to mention that the data on each of my aircraft pages may not always be current. I only update when I change or add an image to that particular page, otherwise I'd never stop adding info!! Current owners and operators can be found on the FAA Civil Aircraft Register page or Canadian Civil Aircraft Register. Other countries sometimes have register pages. A Googletm search will usually find those. I'm happy to help if you cannot find the information you require.

27 July 2007

Very sad news - I note the tragic loss of N995WA (1100) with her pilot and four passengers on 24 July 2007. My sincere sympathies to all connected with this terrible event and the also Ketchikan Aviation community.

Photo: via Alaska State Troopers © 25 July 2007

Just back from a few days in Ottawa, which included an all day NAPP Photoshop CS3 workshop with my Graphic Designer son Anthony along to share the experience. An intensive session, with a few more tricks learned by us both.

22 July 2007

Just added a story by Bob White "The Unlikely Heroes" that I have had "squirreled" away for a long, long time. Thanks Bob.

18 July 2007

Sorry for the lack of additions the last few days, been busy with other things.

Thought I'd add these images of "Olivia" arriving from her "Splash in" at Toronto Harbour. 08:35 on May 25th. Hard to believe that was almost two months ago!! Thanks to Jean-Pierre Bonin for his images. I have a whole CD of his work in front of me, so no excuses on my part for lack of photos to add to the web site. Merci J-P.

Photo: Jean-Pierre Bonin © 25 May 2007

16 July 2007

When I was visiting my friends at Sealand Aviation on the Campbell River Spit, I shot some images of C-FSCM (1583) receiving some TLC. I have added these to her page. I can see a whole new area of the website happening someday - "Maintenance" - but that will be an addition when things quieten down a bit!

Photo: Neil Aird © 06 June 2007

14 July 2007

Well, I've put two of my movie clips on the website for you to enjoy. If you have a fast connection, they work well, both in small screen and full screen. Turn up your sound. I'll be changing them as time goes by, more titles etc. To get to the pages, click on the links below. I'd appreciate some feedback from you. These might not be on the website for too long.

Olivia - Part One

Olivia - Part Two

Had a nice e-mail from Kihei Kitagawa this morning with this image of Pete Killin driving a Vancouver Island Air Beech 18 on the mail-run, just three days after my visit to Campbell River! Kihei also flew in C-FAOP and C-FZZJ of Saltspring Air, round trip to Ganges from Vanvouver. Looking forward to more pictures Kihei ;-)

Photo: Kihei Kitagawa © 11 June 2007

11 July 2007

Added a small short story "The Good Old Times" by Nathan Bonyun, I think it will strike a chord with many of us. Thanks Nathan.

I've been a bit busy with other things, including working on my PowerPointtm presentation of "Olivia Goes Home" for my family and friends. I will try to mount a similar item on the website, but it will not show in the same format, which is actually pretty slick in PowerPointtm! Here are just two pages to give you an idea of what it will be like. I have reached Sioux Lookout (Page 60), so today and tomorrow I will add the final day to Victoria. It is fun, the sounds are great too, bring it all back to this fella!

Danie has had to go to Montreal for a funeral, so I should be able to focus on the website and this project. It is a beautiful day here, clear blue skies and nice breeze. Just like my visit to Wawa with Don Berends in "Olivia".

Above: The bottom left image is a video clip with great sound you would expect from a taxiing Turbo Beaver.

Above: Again, a small video clip, top right, lets you enjoy our departure take off and climb-out.

note: The video does not work here, so don't even try ;-(

I am also keeping an eye on "NATO 10" an AWACS which is "tooling" around Ontario from CFB Trenton. LX-N90449 is the aircraft. As I write this she should be shooting an approach to runway 23 at Toronto's CYYZ. (13:23edt). He has just done that!

09 July 2007

It seems that every time I have an idea, someone jumps in and supplies the image I have in my head. Amazing stuff! Thanks to Pete Killin yet again for filling in the blanks. Here is a shot approachng Campbell River spit, this time from the flight deck of C-FSCM (1583). Thanks Pete. I'll be adding more shots later today after my other "duties" are complete!

07 July 2007

To complement the recent addition of C-FWCA (1285) by Pete Killin, here's a shot of Pete "in action" at Campbell River by John Caswell, taken yesterday.

05 July 2007

Watch for seven US Army images coming up soon from Robin A. Walker. These will again fill in some gaps in the histories of certain Beavers. Thanks again Robin, for your great contributions..

04 July 2007

I am always amazed about how things unfold over the course of a day or two, here at the lodge. My good friend Ian MacFarlane in the United Kingdon sent me a web link which he thought I would like to see. This led me to the wonderful webpages of one Ron Olsen in Oregon. I immediately (yesterday afternoon) fired off an e-mail requesting permission to use some of Ron's great period Beaver images. An e-mail came back with that permission. Later after a few e-mails went back and forth, Ron offered a spreadsheet of his Beaver collection. I digested this and to my great astonishment, he had some images of c/n 979 "Olivia" before she was even given that name.

Ron also had several Beavers that have never been included on this website. Needless to say, I'm over the moon!

Thanks Ron!! I'm sure many of you will enjoy his great Archives.

03 July 2007

I have just finished reading Alex Kimbell's great book, "Think Like A Bird". My thanks to Richard Grevatte-Ball for sending it along to me. I can thoroughly recommend this book. You should be able to buy it online. Published in 2000 by Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-175-7. Alex certainly evokes the joy of flying. I could not put it down!! Lots of Beaver tales too. Just heard recently from the author, book is available at the following website as Airlife is no longer with us!

01 July 2007

Happy Birthday to all Canadians around the world ! Can't believe we are half way through 2007 already, where does the time go to?