Jack, thankfully, has reached Iqaluit. The rocks were closing in on him in Pond inlet.
A wonderful place to visit and amazing people there, so many good memories but it was time to move on. He is just about at the half way point of the trip.
The weather was going to turn worse in Pond so at noon he decided it was time to go when there was still a window and he is glad he did. He flew under the clouds along the coast to Clyde River.
2 This is Clyde River
When Jack flew into the airport at Clyde all the North Air staff came out and were taking pictures.
Some had not seen a small plane like his there before. One man asked if he could take it up?
Jack asked if he had a license, oh yes and pulls out his drivers license, a real bush pilot that guy!!
Then on to Iqaluit over the clouds at 9000 ft. In an effort to save battery power he had turned off the ipad which he uses to navigate and used his iphone instead.
With his Foreflight program he entered the destination airport CYFB for Iqaluit. Well at 9000ft when the Foreflight tells you you are going the wrong way a moment of panic sets in!!! How can it be?? with nothing but clouds below and blue sky above you can't tell. He checked with the ipad & he realized he had entered CYRB... back to Resolute Bay!! Limited gas made that impossible. Phew he said that was a test for his heart!! All was well.
3. A bit chilly at 9000ft
A wonderful place to visit and amazing people there, so many good memories but it was time to move on. He is just about at the half way point of the trip.
The weather was going to turn worse in Pond so at noon he decided it was time to go when there was still a window and he is glad he did. He flew under the clouds along the coast to Clyde River.
2 This is Clyde River
When Jack flew into the airport at Clyde all the North Air staff came out and were taking pictures.
Some had not seen a small plane like his there before. One man asked if he could take it up?
Jack asked if he had a license, oh yes and pulls out his drivers license, a real bush pilot that guy!!
Then on to Iqaluit over the clouds at 9000 ft. In an effort to save battery power he had turned off the ipad which he uses to navigate and used his iphone instead.
With his Foreflight program he entered the destination airport CYFB for Iqaluit. Well at 9000ft when the Foreflight tells you you are going the wrong way a moment of panic sets in!!! How can it be?? with nothing but clouds below and blue sky above you can't tell. He checked with the ipad & he realized he had entered CYRB... back to Resolute Bay!! Limited gas made that impossible. Phew he said that was a test for his heart!! All was well.
3. A bit chilly at 9000ft
4. Coming near Iqaluit he was able to see the Cumberland Strait with its thousands of small islands
One of the biggest challenges was the fuel planning and where he would be able to get it.
Many of the northern airports only service twin turbine planes or jets. Different fuel for a piston plane, AV gas. It took alot of arranging prior to leaving Chilliwak to be sure some of the sites would have the AV fuel there for him. So in the days he had in Pond Inlet he called ahead to Iqaluit to be sure the barrel he had ordered from home would be there. He was not able to reach the service tech in Iqlauit, could only leave messages.
Knowing he could not be without fuel he made an alternate arrangement. He contacted Frobisher Bay Touch Down Services, a company that will look after all a pilot might need when landing at the airport there, fuel, taxi service, plane wash, repairs etc etc. Jack ordered a barrel for $1,300 from them as he was not sure the barrel he had ordered from home would be there. Can't be without fuel ! When he arrived in Iqaluit he was so happy to find out the barrel he had ordered from home was there and only $400.
Tomorrow time to replenish the plane, fuel, oil and fix the oleo ??? ( the pilots will know what that is)
He has made so many connections with all the North Air and Nunavut Air pilots that he probably will have that plane looked after by their people. Word of his trip has spread the airwaves up there and they all seem to know what he is doing. After some good food he is now safely tucked into a real bed at the Nanatak B&B .
A well deserved rest for flying over 800 miles today.
Good Job Captain Jack.
posted by Jo
3 comments:
Glad you got your bearing corrected..... Betcha that got the heartrate up a few points. Cheers . Jeff McMurrer
I am friend of Louise's. Wow this is one incredible trip. I am enjoying your updates! Thanks for posting.
Estelle
The oleo is part of the landing gear suspension
Aaron
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