Re: [Paddlewise] Vintage Randel Washburne: Paddling Gwaii Haanas

From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:19:01 -0700
On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 6:42 AM, Darryl Johnson <Darryl.Johnson_at_sympatico.ca
> wrote:

>
> Can't help you with the Beaver, Craig, but there is a west coast Canadian
> company that has 'tweaked' the design of the old deHaviland twin Otter and
> is currently put the new model into production. Got a multi-engine licence?
> Then you're good to go.
>

Here it's just a "rating" that you pile on top of your basic license. One
reason why it's cheaper to get your SEL (single engine land) first.... then
just add ratings (rotorcraft, MEL, etc.). Unlike the chap I once knew who
was stubbornly focused on getting his helicopter rating from the beginning.
As the price of fuel went up so did the hourly cost of the chopper and that
out-paced his savings abilities.

The best way to get a pilot's license is to buy an airplane, get all your
single-engine ratings in that, and then sell it and move towards the next
step. That's how I did it and the airplane (a Taylorcraft BC12D) had
appreciated enough to pay for all my flying, lessons, and commuting to the
airport.

I personally prefer single-engine; half the stuff to go wrong.

>
> I *do* know that people strap canoes to the floats of bush planes to access
> lakes and rivers "up North". So I suppose you could strap a kayak on just as
> easily. With one of each float, there's even room for a kayaking friend,
> especially one who pointed out that you could do this. Just saying, you
> know....
>
> I've had two people I knew who had single-engine Otters on floats; one on
amphibs. One was parked about three houses away from me here on the lake.
Huge airplane. The one on amphibs was set up as an adventure airplane and
based in Auburn, WA (just east of SeaTac). They used it as a camper for
fishing trips into Canada complete with canoes strapped to the floats.

Dream airplanes for outdoor enthusiasts, that's for sure.

Craig Jungers
Moses Lake, WA
www.nwkayaking.net
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Received on Tue Oct 27 2009 - 08:19:09 PDT

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