Green Lake, British Columbia
Date: Saturday 31 July 2011
Seat: next to the pilot
Aircraft: DHC-2 Beaver
Registration: C-FMXS
Dad and I were looking around the Whistler area to see what's there.
Then we saw some floatplanes on the other side of a lake. So after going over and having a look, we saw an early model of the Beaver, still with a radial engine, not a turboprop conversion, like you will often see nowadays.
Quickly made the decision that we were going flying, however there is a minimum of three passengers required for the flight, so dad said he will pay the difference for the third person. Shows how determined we were to get on that plane.
Soon got going, I was sat in the front next to the pilot, and dad was sat in the back.
Water was calm so taxi and take off was smooth. Did not realize how high the nose was on take off, so could not see much ahead, only to the side.
Conditions were cloudy and there was bad weather on the way.
Was a bit bumpy in places, but that is expected in the mountains.
Flew over whistler and numerous lakes, can't remember all the names. One was Lake Garibaldi, I think the pilot said that it is something like 1000 feet deep.
Was probably the smoothest landing I have experienced. I don’t think I felt the landing. It was only the wake of the floats in the water that I knew we were down.
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 1421 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (8 months 4 weeks ago) and read 2782 times:
Hi
Nice to see a private plane report on here. And especially one on a DSH2-Beaver, I believe it's the first time we see one of these in the trip reports.
Greetings
Marc
Next trip report: Spectacular Southeastern sunset takeoff, US ATL-CLT-CDG!
Ps76 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 808 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 months 3 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2455 times:
Hi!
Many thanks for the report. I like flying the Kenmore Air beaver in flight simulator so can only imagine how cool a real one must be. Some very nice inflight pics in there. Nice to see something low and slow to balance out all the pics of diet cokes at 30,000ft!
YVRLTN From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 1761 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1500 times:
Cool! Note that aircraft was actually leased from Harbour Air for the summer, and is still in their colors. That Caravan used to be in a funky orange scheme previously belonging to Slate Falls Airways - hence the reg'o.
Quoting ryan h (Thread starter): we saw an early model of the Beaver, still with a radial engine, not a turboprop conversion, like you will often see nowadays
Fortunately, the majority of the Beaver's around here anyway are still powered by the original R985 radial. I like the ones with the original 2 blade prop, they make a lot more noise on full power! The 3 bladed props are a lot quieter, most have this, the Tofino ones are the exception. The only commercial operator that has the Turbo III'shere is Seair, plus Kenmore in WA have a couple I think. Most Turbo III's are private or corporate, from what I understand its a bit like owning a Porsche, great for a toy, but a bit too expensive for day to day slogging on the coast. Kenworth have one based at YVR, as did Telus until recently replaced by a Kodiak.
However, the Otter is almost exclusively turboshaft powered around here, I dont think I have ever seen a radial one. There are still two or three operating in Ontario & Manitoba I think. Most here have the PWC PT6A, but there are some with the Garrett TPE331 and even the Polish PZL engine.
ryan h From Australia, joined Aug 2001, 1430 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (7 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1438 times:
Later in the trip, spent some time at the downtown Vancouver terminal and saw the whistler air Beaver there. I think it is the best colour scheme I have seen on a Beaver so far.
Although I did not see any radial engined Otters in Canada, Volcanic Air Safaris in New Zealand had one when I saw it in 2006.
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