Floatplanes galore!

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Polecat
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Floatplanes galore!

Post by Polecat »

Heya,
Back from a great holiday in the NW USA and and Vancouver. Here some pics I made of floatplanes. Probably standard stuff for local spotters, but for a first timer in the USA/Canada it sure was great sight to see these oldies in action.

Lake Union in Seattle, home of Kenmore Air. Just 10 minutes walk from city center!

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we took an Otter flight here in
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allowing shots like this...
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Great value for money I can tell you, just a pity its a turboprop, during our stay they tended to use the Beavers more for charters than for scenicflights.

Some other companies operate from the east side of the lake.
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and there this 1947 vintage stinson was found as well..
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We went to Vancouver Island as well, there is a small floatplane airfield near Comox where this Cessna was waiting for a new prop.
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You can not go to Vancouver Island an not visit these big birds!
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In Victoria a similar sight as in Seattle....
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....same goes for Vancouver..
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All in all a great experience...
Greetz
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aerovet
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Post by aerovet »

Thanks Polecat for sharing your pics...

It sure looks like you had a great trip!

Greetz
Proud to be a boomer!
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Gonzo
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Post by Gonzo »

Polecat,

Thanks for showing these pictures, they are realy great.
Nice to see those old planes still doing there job.
Gonzo

When nothing goes right.......go left.
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Polecat
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Post by Polecat »

Thnx guys, Indeed a great trip..
Actually it was quite funny, I talked to some crews discussing the age of these a/c, and they said there is simply no replacement for them that performs better, cheaper and more reliable! One guy even mentioned that there is talk about taking the DHC-2/3 in production again!
A Kenmore pilot said they operate some 30 Otters and about 18 Beavers..
I'll post some more pics soon...
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Herbertvh
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Post by Herbertvh »

See http://www.vanisleva.com/forum/viewtopi ... aa4c110b8f on possible new production of several DHC types of aircraft.
Enjoy!
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Thermal
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Post by Thermal »

Great pics
A very nice addition to the ´normal´stuff.
I always say a boy can learn more at an airport than at any school.
- Homer J Simpson -
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canberra
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Post by canberra »

Very nice shots. You got to love those flying tankers 8)
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Polecat
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Post by Polecat »

The Mars are great yeah, never thought I would see them, especially since they were for sale or retirement not so long ago. The company that owns these two grand'ole ladies has a very nice visitor centre where you can buy reasonably priced souvenirs. They also have one hangar as a sort of a museum where they explain everything about the Mars, the company and Aerial Firefighting.
Also they have a Piasecki HUP-3/H-25A (147630, 51-16572) on display...

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and the nose of what was to become the seventh built Mars...
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All in all worth the three hour drive from Victoria harbour.

okay, last one.....
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Grtz
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tva2
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Post by tva2 »

Hi Polecat,

Nice shots indeed, and did you succeed buying the K64 slide films in the USA you asked the forum earlier preceeding your holiday?

Anyway, its a very nice surrounding you have chosen to photograph those floatplanes.
Groeten
Tim Voerman
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Polecat
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Post by Polecat »

Hi TVA,
A friend of mine sent me seven films, six of which I used, so problem solved.....
For the rest I think digital is slowly taking over..... I am quite happy with my D-80, especially since non-hardcore clean Kodachrome shots are so much more fun with a DLSR , like shooting through glass or tricky light conditions...
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xm717
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Post by xm717 »

Very nice pictures/trip, I visited Vancouver Island in 2004 and had some similar experiences (see www link to my homepage for a photoreport)
Greetings Michael
My photosite
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Polecat
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Post by Polecat »

Hey XM,
Just checked your site, great trip and great shots!
We didn't have that mucht time, we just spent two days on VI, but I surely would like to return there some day...
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Caz
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Post by Caz »

Great pictures! Looking very much forward to read the story.

Jimi
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Polecat
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Post by Polecat »

as in...printed in a certain black and white magazine in the issue after the UK story :-) (sorry folks, inside joke..)

Caz, did you shoot any floatplanes whilst you were in Canada years ago?
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Caz
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Post by Caz »

Yep, one, a Stinson.
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