Flying around the Candian Arctic

planedriverplanedriver Registered Users Posts: 31 Big grins
edited October 4, 2009 in Journeys
Hi all, This is my first post. All the kinks are worked out. The photos are of the 2 years of my life "on the job" as a Medivac / Charter Pilot in the Canadian Arctic. In Canada "up north" is where you get your start in aviation after you got your new shiny licenses from " down south" . For me, I wanted to go far north. I ended up in Yellowknife NWT, and thats where it all started for me.

They were all taken with a little 5MP compact so please excuse the quality.

Enjoy the views that not to many get to see.

Cheers,
Rob


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DASH 7 in the non setting Sun.

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The biz end of the DASH 7 departing Yellowknife

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The back end of the DASH 7 carrying fuel up to the remote Arctic communities. What fun it is hand loading these at 400lb's ea. This was the Fourth trip that day if i remember.

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2am 60nm east of Resolute Bay. One of the remote communities on Earth.

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One of two hotels in Resolute Bay. At $210 a night it's the classy joint. Hot food, place to sleep, away from the Polar Bears.

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Colorful tundra with Mould Bay Environmental Weather Station behind. If you watch LOST, this place is like the "hatch"

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Child's grave from 1959 at Mould Bay Weather Station

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Leaving Resolute Bay

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11pm returning to Yellowknife with a nice sun-un-set.

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5 year old sea ice.

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Sunset from altitude.

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In the summer moths the sun never sets. See.

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My Chariot. The Beechcraft Super King Air B200. The world's most popular Medivac Aircraft. Great on short off strips, like a little airliner inside.

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Somewhere between Edmonton and Yellowknife after an all night medivac.

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Short final into Lutsel'Ke NWT, amazing fishing here in the East Arm of Great Slave Lake.

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Calm winters day in Wekweti NWT.

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Diavik Diamond Mine strip.

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Yours truly getting fuel in Goa Haven Nunavut. It was -48C that day.

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Kugaaruk Nunavut. A very cold and windy day.

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Crossing over Hudson's Bay @ 27'000ft. Over allot of nowhere.

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Iqaluit, Baffin Island, Nunavut. The largest city in the Eastern Arctic. To this day the coldest I have ever been exposed to. It was -47C before the 30 knot wind chill. Altogether it was around -65C. Note the drifts over the runway.

Comments

  • TWOLOSTTWOLOST Registered Users Posts: 22 Big grins
    edited October 1, 2009
    Fantastic!!

    Thanks for sharing. thumb.gif
    Cheers,
    ---Bruce---


    My Content Home Base:... McCallum Racing Enterprises
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2009
    clap.gif wonderful set of photos ! will love to see more.

    Thanks for posting these.
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • planedriverplanedriver Registered Users Posts: 31 Big grins
    edited October 1, 2009
    Thanks, I have a bunch of them. Here is my site.,

    www.robgrootarz.com

    Cheers,

    Rob
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2009
    Congratulations! Great series!

    ann
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited October 1, 2009
    Fantastic series and the weather is just so different from anything most of us have experienced!

    This shot is just marvelous:
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  • planedriverplanedriver Registered Users Posts: 31 Big grins
    edited October 1, 2009
    Thanks a lot Shmoo. I was at the back of the plane as we blasted off for home (not flying this one) and thought the reflection was cool. That little 5mp pentax captured some of my best shots of places i will never be going back to. Wish i had my rig now back then.

    Hey, your sites great. How so you get your home page like that. Thats exactly what im trying to do.

    Cheers

    Rob.

    www.robgrootarz.com
  • bike21bike21 Registered Users Posts: 836 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2009
    Great photos! Wanna trade jobs? You can have my CRJ driving job. I promise it isn't boring or anything rolleyes1.gif
  • skysailorskysailor Registered Users Posts: 139 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2009
    Be gentle with JLI while you guys have it for the winter. Great photos. I sure don't miss the winters up there though. Did it in Daks and Hawkers for many years....fly safe. Lyle
    Gear: D200, G9, Sigma 10-20 f/4-5.6, Nikkor 35 f/1.8, Vivitar Series 1 28-105 f/2.8-3.8, Sigma 18-200 f/3.5-6.3
  • SnowgirlSnowgirl Registered Users Posts: 2,155 Major grins
    edited October 4, 2009
    Brilliant photos and a wonderful glimpse into another lifestyle altogether. Thanks for sharing.
    Creating visual and verbal images that resonate with you.
    http://www.imagesbyceci.com
    http://www.facebook.com/ImagesByCeci
    Picadilly, NB, Canada
  • planedriverplanedriver Registered Users Posts: 31 Big grins
    edited October 4, 2009
    bike21 wrote:
    Great photos! Wanna trade jobs? You can have my CRJ driving job. I promise it isn't boring or anything rolleyes1.gif


    No Point, where I work now we have 65 CRJ's. I fly a DASH 8 now and love every minute of it.
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