OTTER NEWS 2010
News Archives
Jan-December 2009
Jan
- December 2008
Jan – December 2007
Dec 05 – June 2006 | June – December 2006
2003 | 2004
| 2005
| December | 2010 |
The winter has come early and hard to the UK again and we are all huddled
around our puny heaters, unused to -17 degrees and several feet of snow
outside our doors. Now I know that - to most of you - this is no more than
the whining of a lightweight Brit, but this is the third year running so we
are catching up fast on the rails. Or we would be if they weren't iced up!
Now then. A little Christmas pressy idea. A couple of years ago on a trip to BC I happened to visit the Green Lake base of Whistler Air (as one does) and purchased a belt buckle from their reception showing a Turbo Otter. I have just found the little piece of paper attached with it and tracked down the maker. Jim Klement of Coquitlam BC (Grumman Goose Pilot of note) kindly returned my letter with a list of buckles he can provide and I have posted a photo of my buckle with full details HERE. Jim's Goose flying can also be found on YouTube if you search under "1939 Grumman Goose Landing at April Point" or "Grumman Goose Water Landing". Very Many thanks Jim and I hope this will be of interest to Otter aficionado's and others. Some time ago now (sorry Fred) Fred Barnes kindly sent in a shot of N2634Y (59) of Aeronautical Services Inc, taken at Friday Harbour 14.06.99. His colleague Fred Froude scanned in the image. Thanks guys. John Olafson thought you would all be interested in these recent photos of Otter C-FDNK (385). The aircraft has been fitted with Vikings new PT6 conversion. It has quite a few additional wing fences on it. John believes it is for sale. The aircraft was photographed at Victoria 14 Sept 2010. Many thanks John. Otter pilot extraordinaire Kent sent in some photos of the freeze-up in action HERE. Much the same outside my back door in the fish pond - but without the Otter. Drat! Have a good flying winter Kent. Keep them level. And finally, good to hear again from Rich Hulina with several shots taken at Sioux Lookout just last week. Thanks Rich. Have a good winter's flying. So there we are for now. Up to date with all your current submissions. Back to you again at Christmas time. Best wishes Ian |
| September | 2010 |
Yep. Its been one of those years. Cannot believe how busy life has been, with
so little to devote to the wonderful world of Otters. However, I will try
and redress the balance this month with a major catch-up. Firstly, I was delighted to meet with Ken and Bev Hurford from Ontario who travelled across the pond in August to visit relations in the UK. We arranged a get together in Liverpool and had a good old chat about aviation - I am very envious of their world travels; hunting down and flying in a range of Propliner, piston, floatplane and other interesting aircraft. Beaver and Otter flying is a regular event. I doubt there is an aviation museum they haven't visited. Good to meet you guys and I look forward to hearing from you again soon. August also saw a sudden deluge of emails and phone calls from news media in the States concerning the loss of N455A (206) with Ted Stevens on board. Yes, sad though the reason was, the website attracted the attention of CNN, New York Times and several others. My grateful thanks again to John Olafson who was able to supply CNN with a suitable picture. We featured John's pictures of 206 a few years ago. In deference to the families I'm not going to include shots of the crash. From my view though it seems the pilot did a pretty good job of getting her down even though in the end he lost his life. His bush flying experience was huge by the look of it. And talking of John, he sent in a shot of C-FHAD now fitted with panorama style windows and a nice fresh repainting. Shown arriving at Coal Harbour 13 May 2010. Way
back in June Jim Hansel from Beecher, Illinois wrote in: Great to hear from you Jim and many thanks for the information. Perhaps a shot or two of the new-look aircraft next time your fishing there? Jim Joyce flew in C-GBTU July 31, 2010 from Scout Lake to Bissett, Manitoba. She is still with Blue Water Aviation but is based out of Bissett for the summer. The piston engine has been converted to a Walter turbine. Jim says he has other photos of TU. Feel free to forward them Jim and thanks for a really evocative shot. David P. Doyon Jr. of Misty
Fjords Air & Outfitting, LLC. at Ketchikan, Alaska emailed to say that
Alaska is booming this summer and that he is spending many long hours at the
helm plus a little fun now and then makes the season go by fast! Delighted to hear from another Otter pilot/photographer Paul-M Grenier who wrote in; "Great your site on the
single Otter. I Flew bush plane several years ago..........I fly a chopper
now, but still in remote areas. After flying C-180, C-185, Beaver, like
others pilots in Quebec, I had my check on the Otter".
Zeke is posing on the banks of the Winisk River in Northwestern Ontario as
the floats grind steadily against the rocks. He may not look too threatening
in this pic, and would likely roll onto his back expecting a belly rub
rather than bite you, but he is a very widely travelled dog".
So there we are. I think that is everyone covered. My apologies for the less than regular updates this year but I trust this makes up a little. My grateful thanks to all contributors and do keep those shots coming.
By for
now. |
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Our illustrious Otter Pilot Kent has been out and about in Rich Hulina's
Turbo Otter this month putting a different
connotation on the term "on the rocks"!! As the longest day fast approaches
(tomorrow) I still await the appearance of summer, but in the mean time
these wonderful shots will, I hope, keep us all musing on the life and times
of the jobbing Otter pilot. Tough breaks Kent but someone has to do it.
Tuesday 22nd is as special
day for me as I attend a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the presence
of Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family. maybe I was a good boy
in a former life or something. Mind you, if there is no follow-up news in a
month, please direct all future mail c/o the Tower of London. |
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| June | 2010 |
Fred Sprenger has found an unusual shot of their Otter
being loaded into a Hercules - presumably in Egypt (see last month). Thanks
for searching this out Fred. Some of you may have heard already, but Otter SX-ARO (397)endeavoured to make a water landing with the wheels down and flipped. Details - including an all-action sequence - are here: www.aeroweb-fr.net/actualites/2010/05/biscarosse-2010-un-single-otter-secrase-sur-le-lac Looks recoverable and everyone seems to have exited OK. Pete Kovanda of Denny Island, BC, Canada also notes that according to the Aviation Safety Network http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20100516-0 DHC-3 s/n 397 was involved in a "nose-over" during landing and came to rest upside down. This is the same aircraft which was involved in a "nose-over" on Aug 4, 2005 while operated by Air Nootka. The aircraft was heavily damaged, and was exported to Switzerland for rebuild. Thanks Pete, very useful additional info. And my thanks to Ken Hurford for also picking up on this unfortunate incident. He's just had an excellent trip to NZ including flights in a DC3, Catalina and much more. Lucky fella. John Olafson has sent in some colourful Harbour Air shots from downtown Vancouver [HERE]. Thanks John. They're beginning to grow on me John. Whilst at Vancouver South recently John also watched C-FHAS launch itself into the Fraser River and then take off on its flight to Prince Rupert. It did not appear to have any passengers on board, so it was probably a repositioning flight back to its home base after receiving some maintenance at Harbour Air in Vancouver. And finally Craig "YAK" Yakiwchuk has sent in a fine picture of C-FHPE at the jetty in Laronge. He is flying this machine for the season. Have a great one Craig and thanks for the picture. All the best for now. Ian |
| May | 2010 |
Lars Opland has sent in an interesting Otter project showing his piston to
turbine conversion in progress!! Nice one Lars. [HERE]
Fred Sprenger (Chief Pilot at
Volcanicair in New Zealand) has been in touch and sent in some photos of
their Otter receiving a new 1340 earlier this year. He has also received
pictures of their Otter in Egypt some time ago. [HERE] And finally, I have just seen an advert for a new DVD "Alaska's Bush Pilots - The Real Deal" by Jim Oltersdorf which appears to have some excellent Otter flying sequences. There is a YouTube trailer with Otter extracts just to whet the appetite. Go to http://www.alaskasbushpilots.com/ for the information. Can't seem to see whether its available for UK purchase, but look well worth the effort. Well, that's it for now.
All the best. Ian |
| Easter | 2010 |
Oh Dear. So much to do and so little time. Here is an update of Otter info
received to date. Graham
Parminter took
photo’s of the first flights of N435B
after rebuild, and an engine swap. The photo’s where taken in 2007 in
Courtenay, BC, at the Courtenay Airpark. Overhaul was done by International
Aeroproducts. Another excellent if somewhat belatedly uploaded photo from Kent (sorry Kent) during his winter duties. [HERE] Greg Lynn kindly provides an early photo of CF-ODQ in Ontario Dept of Lands & Forests Air Service markings. And finally, Rob Murdoch has written in and asks a question. He enjoys flying the DHC3 Otter in Flight Simulator X, but thinks the fuel usage is off. Does anyone happen to have any information on the fuel flow rate for the DHC3 with either the original 600hp radial or the upgraded 1000hp engine? Let me know. Well, that's all for now.
My grateful thanks as ever for all your contributions and for visiting the
website. Here's to a busy Otter season. |
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Otter 151 Special: I was delighted to receive an email recently from Rich Harris who is the Public Liaison Officer for the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. Rich kindly forwarded some photographs and the following information about Otter No.151: "Good afternoon, The photos are HERE Well Rich, I am indebted to
you for contacting the site and many thanks for the photo's. I feel certain
that we may be able to return the favour with additional information. Any of
you Otterhounds out there with information/photo's etc can email me and I
will gladly forward it on. |
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| February | 2010 |
Steve Martin kicks of this first update of the month with a series of shots from a trip to Canada last year. Featuring the Harbour Air fleet as well as Tofino Air and Kenmore. [ Set 1 ] [Set 2 ] Thanks Steven. Some excellent shots. And continuing with Harbour Air, John Olafson has sent in shots of some new liveries which were taken recently by his good friend Bill Campbell in Vancouver. Otter LCP has a stunning celebratory livery to support the Canadian Team at the Olympics. ITF has a different look, proclaiming carbon neutrality. It is only a temporary stick-on membrane. Both are quite dramatic and no doubt stand out well at Coal Harbour. John also
notes that: Bill has more pictures of these Otters at www.airliners.net My thanks
to Steve and John for kicking off this month so well and, as we move into
more clement spring weather, I hope that all you Otterhounds are emerging
from your winter hybernation ready for a new year of DHC3 hunting. |
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A Fred Barnes
special this release. He has sent in a
photograph from Propliner 120 of LN-LMM c/n 31 taken in Bodo. and
provided to him by the Norsk Luftfart Museum. I sense Ruben Husberg's hand
in this shot too. How are you Ruben? Fred also
has a question for all Otterhounds; No Sooner said than done Fred. If you can help then do contact Fred on fredbarnes3@btinternet.com or myself and I'll pass any photos on. Breaking News: As I write this Jon Olafson has just sent me a Special Announcement from Kal-Air in Vernon that they are retiring from the aircraft rebuilding business!! Oh No. What is Jon going to do with his time? They are selling off all the assets and this is a great shame for a company that we have all enjoyed seeing produce as-new Otters over the years. Best wishes to all at Kal-Air and thank you for keeping such a venerable aircraft alive. Finally, a link to Dave Ferguson's stories about Otters in Enforcement has been added to the relevant section. Thanks Dave I am also
trying to find some time to add your photographs to the relevant aircraft
page as several of you have enquired. I have this in mind (no honestly I do,
really, not a word of a lie, scouts honour) but time and workload is against
me at the moment. I am also trying to decide how to keep the photo pages to
more manageable sizes and avoid duplication for the server whilst also
avoiding too many hyperlinks. But never fear -
as Baldrick might say 'I have
a cunning plan'. |
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| January | 2010 |
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL. Firstly, a big welcome back to the flight line for King Beaver (Neil Aird) who has braved an important refit. If you like the DH Beaver as well as the Otter and haven't been to www.dhc-2.com yet then you're in for a treat. Fred Barnes has re-forwarded photos of Wilderness Air Otters C-FODV and C-GLAB taken at Vermilion Bay on 18 Sep 09. Thanks for your patience Fred. Fred also alerted me to a crash report from Fiji News dated 29th December concerning DQ-GLL (288). The aircraft apparently tipped off the runway at Vomo Island with 6 on board. No one was hurt and the report confirms that the aircraft has now returned to Nadi. Sound like a minor mishap but a useful spot Fred. John
Olafson has forwarded one of his favourite
images taken last year. It was taken from the walkway around the new
Trade and Convention Centre at Coal Harbour in downtown Vancouver and it's a
fairly typical scene at the floatplane base. I look forward to hearing from you all during this year and don't forget to send in any Otter YouTube clips you like. I have also established a Twitter account so feel free to join in. Best wishes
for now. |
December
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2009
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A Very Merry Christmas to all
Otterhounds wherever you are around the World.
If life could have been more
complicated this year then I wouldn’t want to know about it. As a last straw,
just as I was uploading files for the Christmas posting the laptop gave out
and I have had to rebuild on a new one. I also lost a bundle of recent emails
from October to early December (the ‘leave a copy on the server’ box is so buried
in the depths of Outlook I forgot to check it before re-opening the programme
– word to the wise). Anyway, less of my (ba! Humbug)
grumblings; here are some of the recent photos, some of which are un-attributed.
Please accept my profound apologies and if you have sent me anything in the
last three months do re-send details to ianbutter@btinternet.com and I
will correct the position straightaway. Fred Sprenger from
Volcanicair in New Zealand has sent in a set of photos of ZK-VAS undergoing a
refurb with a new engine on its way. A very smart aircraft emerges from the
hangar. Love that big carb-heat dial. Should be a must on all engines (there speaks
a pilot who had to change his trousers after a badly rigged carb heat cable
nearly resulted in an emergency landing). By the way Fred, the missing mobile
phone is on the throttle quadrant! www.volcanicair.co.nz And for those of you who do
not subscribe to ‘Propliner’, you have missed a veritable smorgasbord of
Otter info and photos in the latest issue (No.120) with reports from the
venerable Fred Barnes, regarding Wideroe’s Otter operations, Martin Cooper’s
tour of numerous floatbases in western Ontario and Manitoba and the
Ottermeister himself Karl Hayes on the Woods Air Fuels operation with Otters
and much else. Excellent excuses for a morning read in bed with a coffee over
the last few days. Back issues are available at
£8.50 each (incl surface delivery UK and worldwide). Send orders enclosing
payment to: Propliner Aviation Magazine,
Penn Farm, Luppitt, Honiton, Devon UK EX14 4RX |
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