A brief video from Vancouver

This is a brief video of my visit to Coal Harbour in Vancouver and the water aerodrome. The video consists of a brief view of the aerodrome, followed by a DHC2 Beaver and a DHC3 Turbine Otter.

Out of Vancouver and off to Ganges Harbour on Saltspring Island

While in Vancouver, I took a return flight with Harbour Air from Vancouver to Ganges Island [on Saltspring Island]. It's around a 30-minute flight each way, and in my case, both flights were in a DHC3T Turbine Otter, C-FODH. 

First up is the aircraft for the flight, then the control tower, pictures of the flight then from Ganges Harbour itself.

De Havilland Canada DHC3T Turbine Otter, C-FODH, operated by Harbour Air

The control tower

The cockpit of the DHC3 is clearly functional rather than lavish. I like it!

The cockpit of C-FODH

Part of Vancouver

Lion's Gate Bridge

Another picture of Lion's Gate Bridge

The harbour area

The Water Aerodrome wharf at Ganges Harbour

De Havilland Canada DHC2 Beaver, C-GMKP, operated by Harbour Air

Harbour Air, Vancouver

I am on holiday at the moment and for the next couple of days I'm in Vancouver. For today's walk-around I went down to the harbour area and took a number of photos of Harbour Air float planes at and in the vicinity of Coal Harbour, downtown Vancouver [ICAO code CYHC].

First up is Harbour Air's Coal Harbour base, followed by three of their fleet.

Harbour Air base at Coal Harbour, CYHC

De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Mk 1, C-FJOS, operated by Harbour Air

De Havilland DHC-3T Vazar Turbine Otter, C-GVNL, operated by Harbour Air

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De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver Mk1, C-GFDI, operated by Harbour Air

Now the great news is that I've booked myself into a flight with Harbour Air tomorrow. I'll be on the "Mail Run", so heading out to Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island. There's sure to be some photos up in the next week or so.

Also, I've got a few hundred photos from around Canada, many of them aviation related, so stay tuned as the next month is likely to be busy with posts!

Trip to Rotorua!

This past weekend I spent in Rotorua. It was a chance to catch up with friends [Hi Andrew, Anita and Tahi!], as well as to have a break before returning to work tomorrow.

There were a few things of interest to aeronautical types. Firstly, there is a helipad [ICAO: NZLF/ Rotorua Lakefront] on the lake front nearest the city area, and the lakes [several of them] are designated as a water aerodrome [ICAO: NZRL/ Rotorua Lakes]. Most of these are located within the Rotorua Control Zone, although a couple of the lakes are within the Tarawera MBZ [Mandatory Broadcast Zone].

The main operator of these is Volcanic Air Safaris, who run both fixed and rotary wing aircraft from these and Rotorua's main airport [ICAO; NZRO].

First up are some pictures of the lake front heliport/ seaplane base on Lake Rotorua. Pictures include the following [all aircraft registered to Volcanic Air Safaris]:

Cessna U206G, ZK-FEO and de Havilland Canada DHC3 Beaver, ZK-VAS

Robinson R44 II, ZK-HAD

Bell 206B, ZK-IVS

Pictures of the seaplane base/ heliport and the "terminal"

Lastly, and despite all the signs, there were hundreds of  flying garbage collectors/ seagulls in the area... along with ducks, geese and goodness knows what else. The seagulls could be fed by hand [which is how I got these photos - while others were feeding them...]

Brussels Air Museum - Smaller Aircraft

OK, so here are some of the smaller aircraft at the Brussels Air Museum. Top to bottom we have:

De Havilland Canada DHC3 Otter on skis!
Morane-Saulnier MS 315
Percival Gull, G-ACGR
Morane-Saulnier MS 892 Rallye, OO-TAU
Piper PA18 Super Cub
Nord 1002 Pingouin 2 [version of the Messerchmitt Bf108 Taifun]
Dornier DO 27
Tipsy Trainer