1970 cubic inches of love (plus Beaver content!)

[Gern_Blanston]

Flew the Falcon from the home 'drome to Dillingham, Alaska (PADL) last week.
Unloaded 10 pax and about 800 pounds of gear, libations, rubber boots, etc. and put 'em on this:

This is the charter outfit's other airplane:

Flew East for half an hour in the G-21 and landed in the Nushagak River, had some salmon chowder, and went fishin'.
At 06:00 the next morning, we loaded up the boats for our 1st full day (it was a little chilly)

Typical sight while running around on the Nushagak:

Another typical sight. A couple of Beavers anchored while the pax went fishing:

Another typical sight. Every nice beach spot had a couple of float planes tied up:

Yeah, I caught a couple. There are a lot of Chinooks up there (They insist on calling 'em "Kings.) Not as big as the ones in the Kenai, but plenty of fight. I kept 4 and threw back 62 (!)

After a week, the ol' Grumman came back to pick us up:

They lower the gear after landing and just drive the damned thing up on the beach like a jeep:


Pretty entertaining trip.

[32176G60]

T-28, Falcon 900/folding tray table, file pit in the "office". And now this? You're killing me!
Epic post! Great to see these pictures.

If I had to guess, you probably prefer Dos Equis?
"Stay thirsty my friends!"

[Gern_Blanston]

I have been a very fortunate fellow, I must say. A few perks that a guy couldn't have anticipated when I took the job.
That Goose was built in '42 and it still goes out and flies paying passengers every day. It really turns my crank that a 70-year-old airplane is still in commercial service. It is sooo cool that they haven't found anything that works better than a WWII surplus flying boat.
And damn that thing hauls a load. A thousand pounds of stuff and 8 passengers. It doesn't exactly leap off the water, but it gets right up on the step and slowly creeps up to flying speed and away you go.
The lightweights fly those 'newer' planes... The 50-year-old Beavers.

[WeenerBoy]

Damn Gern, your "adventure" posts are always so amazing, I still love the Cub venture you had awhile back..

I'm truly envious of you sir

[ATL_Av8r]

Love me some beaver pics

Oh wait.

[FlyinTurbo]

Love me some beaver pics

Oh wait.

LOL!


GERN, I'm soo envious! Lucky guy!

[DonL]

Awesome post, Gern! So that's what the North American Winged Gern looks like, LOL!

Have you seen Ice Pilots on TWC yet? C-46, DC-3, DC-4, L-188, all flown nearly every day, or at least on a regular basis, by what's portrayed on the show. More vintage iron doing what they were designed and built to do. I love seeing that Beav and Goose still doing duty.

[Gern_Blanston]

Love "Ice Pilots" too. All those old airplanes still earning their keep after 50, 60, 70 years.
Very cool stuff.

[Hybrid VW]

GERN, I'm soo envious! Lucky guy!

I think it's been confirmed that Gern is the luckiest guy on the board

[DonL]

I think it's been confirmed that Gern is the luckiest guy on the board

I'll bet he's shagging a supermodel or hot a-list actress...

[Gern_Blanston]

I think it's been confirmed that Gern is the luckiest guy on the board

I AM the luckiest guy on the board.
Here's a pic of what really makes me feel lucky. The fam with me on a trip last year.

As for the supermodels... Other than the fact that my wife would kill me and I'm generally considered unattractive by the opposite sex, it'd be great.

[OSD#15]

Yeah, I caught a couple. There are a lot of Chinooks up there (They insist on calling 'em "Kings.) Not as big as the ones in the Kenai, but plenty of fight. I kept 4 and threw back 62 (!)

I usually just lurk in this forum and occasionally post stupid questions but I had to comment on this:


Is that a typo?!?!

That would make ANYONE love fishing. My best haul was ~15 in one day with 90% of them being rays and sand sharks out in San Pablo Bay (Northern section of SF Bay).

That looks like the trip of a lifetime and by the comments on here, it would seem like you are always on adventures like this. I really really envy you and all pilots. My buddy took me up in his 172 and it was one of the best days of my life. When and if I ever finish college and finally have disposable income, a pilots licence and a plane are at the top of my list. Excellent pics! Thank you for sharing!!

[Gern_Blanston]

Thanks. I have been very fortunate. The fishing up there is really wacky.
As for flying... Get your pilot's license when you can.
It's the gateway to all kinds of fun.

[The Maytag Man]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing!

Lucky guy!

[Gern_Blanston]

LOL!


GERN, I'm soo envious! Lucky guy!

You woulda' loved it, Greg.

[butterface]

Damn, when I read 'beaver content' and 'Alaska' in the aviation forum, I just knew you shagged Ariel Tweto.

Leaving disappoint.

[FlyinTurbo]

Damn, when I read 'beaver content' and 'Alaska' in the aviation forum, I just knew you shagged Ariel Tweto.

Leaving disappoint.

She's a dork.. kinda cute though.

[Gern_Blanston]

Damn, when I read 'beaver content' and 'Alaska' in the aviation forum, I just knew you shagged Ariel Tweto.

Leaving disappoint.

Sorry. Kinda'.

[ATL_Av8r]

She's a dork.. kinda cute though.

There's a limited number of things to do during those cold, long Alaska nights. I'm guessing there's some indoor activities she's better at than lower 48 chicks.

[Gern_Blanston]

Could be.

[Brendan@bwalkauto]

Looks like an excellent trip JP! I love seeing the old WWII gals out there still pounding around.

[Gern_Blanston]

It was pretty cool.

[Jettavr666]

That Goose was built in '42 and it still goes out and flies paying passengers every day. It really turns my crank that a 70-year-old airplane is still in commercial service. It is sooo cool that they haven't found anything that works better than a WWII surplus flying boat.
And damn that thing hauls a load. A thousand pounds of stuff and 8 passengers. It doesn't exactly leap off the water, but it gets right up on the step and slowly creeps up to flying speed and away you go.
The lightweights fly those 'newer' planes... The 50-year-old Beavers.

I also find this amazing. Its crazy how much tech evolved during WWII, and how much was made during that time. What also boggles my mind is how quickly some of these planes, and other machinery was developed. Today its common to have a ten year development for a new plane, or a five year development for a refresh (787, 747-8, 737max, a350, a320neo come to mind) In the 1940's during WWII, new planes came out in six to nine months, and a refresh could be done in a matter of months. They were much more simple than airliners today, but they worked and were durable.