Beaver Conversion
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Beaver Conversion
Hi all,
Anyone know of an FTO in the UK (pref. South) providing conversion courses on the Beaver, or even just famil flights?
Thanks in advance.
Anyone know of an FTO in the UK (pref. South) providing conversion courses on the Beaver, or even just famil flights?
Thanks in advance.
I won't ask what she converted from. 
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Would consider a conversion in Brazil, so if anyone has had a go in a Brazilian Beaver recently pls let me know of their experiences, particularly how hairy they found it.
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Good thinking...thanks for that. I was unable to find any mention of any UK FTOs with Beavers (of the aeronautical variety) on the web so suspected as much. Have to add a trip to Canada/Alasaka on my travel wish list then...
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Scottish Flying
I think I read in last weeks Flight International that a scottish operator was planning on utilising Beavers on their intra Scottish charter business, not sure how soon that's likely to be!
Your only other choice is the US or Canada, I can vouch for Kenmore Air in Seattle, fantastic outfit and they'll teach you all you need to know about the Beavers!
Cheers,
Spru!
Your only other choice is the US or Canada, I can vouch for Kenmore Air in Seattle, fantastic outfit and they'll teach you all you need to know about the Beavers!
Cheers,
Spru!
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It is generally believed that there's one in Norway (although we couldn't find it when we went looking), but that might be about it for Europe.
Even in Canada some of the operators simply laugh at you if you say you want lessons on a Beaver, and suggest that your best route is to buy one and then hire an instructor. After getting your floatplane rating and experience on something smaller and cheaper.
(I assume it's floats you're after; although a few of them have been put on wheels I have trouble imagining why anyone would want to do that.)
Even in Canada some of the operators simply laugh at you if you say you want lessons on a Beaver, and suggest that your best route is to buy one and then hire an instructor. After getting your floatplane rating and experience on something smaller and cheaper.
(I assume it's floats you're after; although a few of them have been put on wheels I have trouble imagining why anyone would want to do that.)
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I was fortunate enough to get about 5hrs in one pu/t while flying around the Islands off Vancouver on business a few years ago. I'd say the time to be let loose in it would be many more hours than that! And then finding an FBO willing to rent to a low timer, and insure it, would be much more difficult again.
But it was a truly memorable experience. Unsticking without redlining the huge radial engine, landing into dead-end inlets with enough inertia to coast to the dock and toughest of all, having enough way on to jump onto the landing stage without bashing it, and worse, the wind blowing the now empty plane back out to sea!
Not mention avoiding cruise liners while taxying out of Vancouver harbour, tying up to the floating gas station (the only one on Earth apparently), parking directly beside the tall buildings downtown and routeing directly to uninhabited islands and innaccessible lakes in the interior.
Unbeatable! (Assuming that's the type of Beaver you were enquiring about).
But it was a truly memorable experience. Unsticking without redlining the huge radial engine, landing into dead-end inlets with enough inertia to coast to the dock and toughest of all, having enough way on to jump onto the landing stage without bashing it, and worse, the wind blowing the now empty plane back out to sea!
Not mention avoiding cruise liners while taxying out of Vancouver harbour, tying up to the floating gas station (the only one on Earth apparently), parking directly beside the tall buildings downtown and routeing directly to uninhabited islands and innaccessible lakes in the interior.
Unbeatable! (Assuming that's the type of Beaver you were enquiring about).
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Not mention avoiding cruise liners while taxying out of Vancouver harbour
A: Tallest control tower in the world. (It's on the top of a skyscraper at the water's edge.)
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Beavers and Caravans
Some time ago there was a talk at my local airfield from a chap who was working for MAF. Attendance was some 50% pilots and 50% churchy people. The latter were utterly confused because this chap kept on going on about 'jumping in the caravan' and 'jumping in the beaver'. He never did explain to the god squad what he meant. It was hilarious.
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Another vote for Kenmore Air in Seattle. I did 3 hours of conversion training with them on the Beaver, and found them a truly professional outfit.
Not sure they'd let you go solo mind, which I've found to be much more of a problem in the US than in Canada. With my total float time of 40 hours, however, I'm equally not sure I'd blame them!
Not sure they'd let you go solo mind, which I've found to be much more of a problem in the US than in Canada. With my total float time of 40 hours, however, I'm equally not sure I'd blame them!
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Thanks all, half-expected the whole Beaver double-entendre thing of course, but useful to learn it really is likley to be an unpractical ambition. Just an hour up front in one would do me for starters, so I'll think about a trip to Canada next year...
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Beaver Conversion
Bandit 650
I take it you know of www.dhc-2.com
If not you will find it most interesting and the website owner Neil Aird (a Canadian Scot) maybe able to assist you.
Best Regards
Rod.
I take it you know of www.dhc-2.com
If not you will find it most interesting and the website owner Neil Aird (a Canadian Scot) maybe able to assist you.
Best Regards
Rod.