Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2016/01/30

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Subject: [Leica] Ketchikan float planes
From: hlritter at bex.net (Howard Ritter)
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2016 00:03:57 -0500
References: <mailman.1122.1454077067.2116.lug@leica-users.org> <07879711-26F3-4263-AF50-AF106EC159E9@netvigator.com>

Hi, Howard?

What cruise line/ship were you on? In 2003 my family and I took a flight to 
Fairbanks, train to Denali and Anchorage, and bus to Seward. From there we 
took a Princess cruise ship to Vancouver, with stops at Ketchikan and other 
ports along the way. At Ketchikan we had some hours for excursions, and I 
had one of the most memorable experiences of my life. We signed up for a 
flight into the mountains, and as a sailplane pilot and a fan of prop-driven 
airplanes, especially those with radial engines, I was delighted to find 
that we?d be flying in a de Havilland Beaver, the float plane shown in the 
first series of your photos. As the heaviest passenger, I was put into the 
right front seat, beside the pilot, and had just about my best flight ever. 
We flew into the interior, low over high mountain meadows, through valleys 
with slopes above our altitude, and landed on a glacial lake. The pilot 
brought the Beaver to a stop and killed the engine. I and several others got 
out onto one of the floats and stood there in perfect silence, taking in the 
lake and the mountains and the beautiful aircraft we were standing on. The 
whole flight was a transcendent experience.

I love those Beavers! Thanks for the stroll down memory lane. BTW, I too 
have the 80-400 VR, which I used on my trip as well.

?howard


> On Jan 30, 2016, at 9:56 PM, H&ECummer <cummer at netvigator.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Luggers,
> 
> When our cruise ship was docked in Ketchikan its position was alongside 
> the float plane take off and landing area.
> 
> I went up on the promenade deck at the back of the ship with the Nikon D4 
> fitted with the 80 - 400 VR zoom and spent a pleasant (if cool) couple of 
> hours
> shooting the float plane traffic. Here are seven of the best shots 
> starting with this one and then please shift right.
> 
> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/FloatPlanes2015/KetchSP7861.jpg.html
>  
> <http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/FloatPlanes2015/KetchSP7861.jpg.html>>
> 
> Please view large. C&C always welcome.
> 
> Howard
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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In reply to: Message from cummer at netvigator.com (H&ECummer) ([Leica] Ketchikan float planes)