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Father following a track log from a plane
| May 22nd, 2018 at 5:07:51 PM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4510 |
I have flown probably a couple of dozen times in a Beaver. Don't think I have never been above 10,000' and none of them were pressurized. A lot of the flying was quite close to the water when the visibllity was poor often only a few hundred feet. Lots of thermal change though even at a low altitude with -30 C or colder temperatures in the winter. Most of the flying I did was on BC's west coast flying into remote communities. I was first on or last off for the day many times and never saw one washed off and they spent the night at the wharf in the ocean on their floats. The expansion due to pressurization makes sense as a cause for any failures of the skin of the cigar tubes. "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |
| May 22nd, 2018 at 7:30:10 PM permalink | |
| Fleastiff Member since: Oct 27, 2012 Threads: 62 Posts: 7831 | Beavers are not pressurized but might have a supplementary oxygen supply installed if extended flight at higher altitudes was contemplated for some reason such as a freight flight where they knew they had to clear high terrain. It would indeed be rare for anyone to fly a Beaver at or even near that service ceiling of 18,0000 feet much less to do it for an extended period of time. Bush pilots often stay fairly close to the ground for better visibility purposes. I'm told that landing anywhere is better than climbing and having the weather close in around you. Navaids may be more rare in Canada and Radar Coverage as well as radio reception is less certain in Canada. In the USA one might get on the air and bleat like a lamb as radars and radios helped you but in Canada you might not be heard and probably would not be on anyone's radar screen. VFR On Top is generally legal in the USA because it is generally safe; but it is generally illegal in Canada because it is generally unsafe there. When VFR On Top the clouds and perhaps terrain are likely to rise and the gas gauge and night are sure to fall. |
| May 22nd, 2018 at 8:00:22 PM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 14 Posts: 4510 | Yes it was always VFR and seldom were we close enough to an airport with radar to get any help that way. We got pushed so low over water one time that we were virtually dodging the fishing boat masts. I was only on a plane once that got totally socked in. It wasn't a Beaver but a Normandy Islander (9 passenger) scheduled flight coming home from Bella Coola. I was the only passenger and was sitting up front beside the pilot. Flight services got us on radar and talked the pilot in for the last 60 miles. "but if you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." Benjamin Franklin |