Slate Falls Airway's Cessna Caravan Floatplane
Just after getting home from a tour in Africa, I returned a
call from Vern Hollett, the owner of Slate Falls Airways based in Sioux
Lookout, Ontario. Slate Falls was running two Otters, a Beaver, and a
couple of Cessna for their mostly summer operation servicing the northern
native communities and flying the fishermen into their own fly-out fishing
camps. When an opportunity to get a good buy on a Caravan floatplane came
up, Vern couldn't resist. He decided to go for it and bring in the
relatively expensive Caravan to replace one of his aging single Otters.
Vern had
called me, hoping that I could help him check-out his pilots on their new
Caravan. I agreed, and drove out to Sioux Lookout. Within a few hours we
were airborne to try out the beautiful orange Caravan, C-GSFA. With the
675 hp and the cool air the Caravan fairly leapt off the water compared to
the 600hp Caravans we fly in Nigeria. We climbed up to 5000 feet and
leveled out to an indicated cruise speed of 152 knots. Definitely the
fastest floatplane around. At 9000 feet and with a tail wind, we reached a
ground speed of 198 knots breaking all floatplane speed records for the
trip between Slate Falls and Sioux Lookout.
In my hurry
to get to Sioux Lookout I had forgot to buy film, but luckily one of the
Slate Falls pilots, Rich Hulina, is an aviation photographer and was able
to provide me with some great images of their bright orange Caravan.
The pilots I had the time to fly with were serious in learning, keen in their interest, and certainly well qualified in what they were undertaking. These pilots renewed my belief that Canadian bush pilots are the best in the world. Of course, then, I am biased. I would like to thank them for their hospitality. I would especially like to thank John, the Beaver pilot, for the great ride he gave my seven year son, Logan, from the front seat. I would also like to thank Vern for the fishing trip. Logan caught a walleye on the second cast of his young sport fishing career. After a quick look and release, we enjoyed seeing the walleye swim away to be caught again another day.
Article by John S Goulet
Rich Hulina, pilot/photographer, liked the Caravan so
much he bought the company.
Slate Falls
Airways
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Last modified on
March 05, 2006 .
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