Proudly Made In Canada

A de Havilland Twin Otter, the 400 Series built by Viking Air at their facility near the Victoria Airport.

This is #100, built in 2016 - they have long passed that with around 125 of these planes now built.

They flew into the local airport yesterday, did 4 "touch and go" loops, landing for a brief 15 minutes before

taking a very scenic indirect route to Campbell River.

(A note: this is my first post in quite some time, as I've been dealing with some health issues, tendonitis

in the thumb being one, which means very, very little computer time. Unfortunately not done yet, so don't

expect a continuation in the short term. Apologies to those who have tried to contact me, with no reply.)

Not For Me

Have I ever been up in an ultralight? No

Have I ever had the opportunity? No

Given the chance, would I go? No

This is a Beaver RX550, and as you can see, a 2-seater amphibian. Locally-owned since 2010, though I haven't

spotted it before. It flew by Wednesday. And as noted elsewhere, maybe a bit too light and open for me.

SAR "Buffalo"

While one might think this is a shot of a Search and Rescue "Buffalo" in all the recent smoke we've been dealing

with, these were actually taken 2 weeks ago, before the smoke hit us, and that's just a normal cloud this

plane is breaking through.

These planes are regulars here, they come over from Comox on there practice runs. They are big and they are noisy.

Air Cadets

The Air Cadets, or more formally, the Air Cadet League Of Canada, British Columbia Provincial Committee,

have been flying around our airspace recently. They have 6 of these Cessna 182P's, conveniently numbered

1 through 6 on the tail sections. 

They are registered as being based in Comox, though every time I've seen them they've left heading South.

I think it's a safe bet to assume they're being used for pilot training. I've seen them here in groups of 3-4

on the week-ends, for a month or so.

.

Amateur Built

I take a fair number of airplane photos, and for me to snap a craft that was home-built from a kit, while 

not rare, is definitely not common, but to snap 2 in one day is a treat. The one above is an Avid Catalina,

and a quick search through Transport Canada's aircraft register suggests she might be the only one in Canada.

And yes, she's an amphibian.

This little helicopter is also amateur built from a kit - she's a Rotorway 162F. I suspect she was here to get

some work done at Oceanview Helicopter's maintenance shop. I caught both these machines on Saturday,

and Sunday I saw this little helicopter, sans rotor, on a trailer heading south.

Charter Service

I have many, many times seen a London Air Services helicopter flying by as they regularly head up and down the coast,

but it's been 7 years since I've seen one coming into the local airport, so when I spotted this one with her
landing gear down I made a trip up Duncan St to the airport, on Sunday.

She is an Agusta AW139, one of 3 owned by London Air. They also have 5 Learjets and 2 Challenger 604s,

all available for private charter. So if you have a full wallet, and want a ride ....

They weren't here long. The time stamps recorded by the camera show only 16 minutes between the first and last photos.

I was mildly surprised in that instead of just lifting off, they taxi-ed to the runway for take-off.

She's a very nice looking machine, but then I like these machines. Probably a guy thing.

Fly By

C-FWMS, a Cessna A185E Skywagon out of Fort Langley, "on approach" to runway 09 of the local airport,

Wednesday last. I do like her colours against that grey sky.

On Approach

I happen to live near the approach lane to runway 09 of our local airport, which gives me the opportunity

to take lots of airplane photos. This plane however, made me do a double take - a quick look, then grab the camera I keep handy,

a better look - what the .... !! No wheels. Don't know what this float plane was doing in the approach lane to the

airport, but it's a good bet it wasn't making a landing! This photo of a Champion 7GCBC "Citabria" was taken last month.

Eye In The Sky

With the word "Surveillance" on her side there isn't much doubt as to her purpose. She is loaded with much

electronic equipment, and flies up and down our coast as part of Transport Canada’s National Aerial

Surveillance Program, looking for pollution caused by marine shipping on our waters. A de Havilland

Dash 8, she flew by once again last Saturday morning.

Air Ambulance

One of the few downsides to living in Powell River is the lack of specialized medical care,

and the sight of an air ambulance leaving for the City is a common thing. These

photos were taken Tuesday, just as Helijet was leaving the hospital pad.

At Powell Lake

From the archives : watching floatplane C-GZCK leave the marina harbour and fly up the lake.

The photos were taken 6 years ago to the day, December 29, 2010. The airplane is a Found Bros. Bush Hawk XP -

according to the internet, only 31 were built.

Search and Rescue - 2

A CH-149 Cormorant stationed at Comox with what is now the 442 Transport and Rescue

Squadron. They fly over Westview regularly, and with their noise are hard to miss.

Pacific Coastal Airlines

 It says "Pacific Coastal" on her side, but her registration mark - C-GOIA - is attached to Connect Air of Lethbridge, AB,
so I'm assuming Pacific Coastal has only recently purchased her.

She is a Saab 340B, shown here on approach to the Powell River airport.

Search and Rescue

 CC-115452 - de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo leaving the Powell River airport

C-GEGY

C-GEGY, a 1958 Cessna 182A, on approach to the Powell River airport