From Newsgroup: rec.aviation.military

On Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:30:41 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
<muratlanne@gmail.com> wrote:

In the early 70's I rode to remote Army field sites in among others a >Canadian Otter bush plane that seemed a relic of the 1930's. >https://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_366.html

When I was serving with Civil Air Patrol in Alaska back in the late
70s, we had one of those. We used to use it to fly cadets from remote locations to and from activities like their annual Encampments (The AK
Air National Guard also helped out using their C-130s for the really
long flights like to Ketchikan and the rest of Southeastern Alaska).
It also came in handy when we felt it necessary to have more than just
one or two Observers on board during a search, or when training
Observers as a group sometimes.

Pretty useful bird, but a little lacking in creature comforts. ;)
--
//Steve//
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From Newsgroup: rec.aviation.military

On 4/17/26 3:42 PM, Steve Silverwood [KB6OJS] wrote:

On Sun, 12 Apr 2026 07:30:41 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
<muratlanne@gmail.com> wrote:

In the early 70's I rode to remote Army field sites in among others a
Canadian Otter bush plane that seemed a relic of the 1930's.
https://www.dhc-3archive.com/DHC-3_366.html

When I was serving with Civil Air Patrol in Alaska back in the late
70s, we had one of those. We used to use it to fly cadets from remote locations to and from activities like their annual Encampments (The AK
Air National Guard also helped out using their C-130s for the really
long flights like to Ketchikan and the rest of Southeastern Alaska).
It also came in handy when we felt it necessary to have more than just
one or two Observers on board during a search, or when training
Observers as a group sometimes.

Pretty useful bird, but a little lacking in creature comforts. ;)

Back in the day, I had a job headquartered on Camp Edwards/Otis AFB on
Cape Cod in MA. I often had to fly from the Cape to Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard and other destinations in New England and New York.

We flew Air New England ["Scare New England", "Dare New England"] which
among some other small aircraft (where passengers would sometimes be
weighed to determine if they got on a flight), they flew the Twin Otter
which was a fantastic aircraft, and still is.

Note, this was a different company than the current Air New England that specializes in air charters. The company I flew on was having financial difficulties and the death of their VP in a crash and eventually went
bankrupt in 1981.

Maintenance was spotty. I recall looking out the window of a Twin Otter
on landing and watching the wheel on my side blow out has we hit the
runway. On another flight, one saw one of the two engines slowly
windmill to a stop after taking off with a quick aircraft turn around to immediately land! One of those experiences where you are actually
seeing something you don't believe you are seeing!

Quite a thrilling flying experience.

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From Newsgroup: rec.aviation.military

On Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:43:18 -0400, Stephen Harding
<smharding@verizon.net> wrote:

Back in the day, I had a job headquartered on Camp Edwards/Otis AFB on
Cape Cod in MA. I often had to fly from the Cape to Nantucket/Martha's >Vineyard and other destinations in New England and New York.

We flew Air New England ["Scare New England", "Dare New England"] which

Did you call them "Frights" instead of "Flights?" :)

among some other small aircraft (where passengers would sometimes be
weighed to determine if they got on a flight), they flew the Twin Otter >which was a fantastic aircraft, and still is.

Note, this was a different company than the current Air New England that >specializes in air charters. The company I flew on was having financial >difficulties and the death of their VP in a crash and eventually went >bankrupt in 1981.

Maintenance was spotty. I recall looking out the window of a Twin Otter
on landing and watching the wheel on my side blow out has we hit the
runway. On another flight, one saw one of the two engines slowly
windmill to a stop after taking off with a quick aircraft turn around to >immediately land! One of those experiences where you are actually
seeing something you don't believe you are seeing!

Quite a thrilling flying experience.

Indeed. That would render someone who was already afraid of flying a
terminal case. Not a pun, rather meaning that after that they would
rather die before getting on another plane.
--
//Steve//
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From Newsgroup: rec.aviation.military

On 4/21/26 3:39 PM, Steve Silverwood [KB6OJS] wrote:

On Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:43:18 -0400, Stephen Harding
<smharding@verizon.net> wrote:

Back in the day, I had a job headquartered on Camp Edwards/Otis AFB on
Cape Cod in MA. I often had to fly from the Cape to Nantucket/Martha's
Vineyard and other destinations in New England and New York.

We flew Air New England ["Scare New England", "Dare New England"] which

Did you call them "Frights" instead of "Flights?" :)

No I can't say I remember anyone calling them that. Seems justified
though.

I guess the moral of the story is beware of flying on airlines slowly
going out of business!


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