...by Jake Thiessen
In March 2007 I delivered a new RV-7 to GLO Custom Aircraft, Inc. in Texas to be painted. I had asked my friend John Howroyd, from Victoria, B.C., to accompany me in his RV-4 to fly cover because the -7 only had 29 hours on the Hobbs. A special ferry permit was issued by FAA Hillsboro, OR enabling me to fly off the final 11 test hours on the flight to the Dallas area. The first day we flew from Independence, OR to Tucumcari, NM . The following morning, March 14th we finished the remaining distance to 52F in 2 ? hours. We had to throttle back to ensure the Hobbs registered 40 hours at touchdown in Roanoke (home base to Doug Reeves). We were fortunate to pick that week for the delivery, because the following weeks were unflyable due to weather in NorthTexas.
During the return trip in the RV-4, with me in the back seat listening to Buddy Holly, John mentioned a trip to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NT) he was planning in July, 2007. The purpose of the John?s trip was to take his friend Carol to see the Yellowknife area, where she had been a flight instructor 30 years ago. John asked whether I would like to join them on the flight in my RV-9A. After returning to Oregon I checked my GPS for the straight-line distance to Yellowknife and answered in the affirmative. About 2 months later, John called to say he was now considering extending the trip to Tuktoyaktuk, NT. I generally knew my Canadian geography but didn?t know where this place was with a long name starting with ?T?. I did a Google search and found the place locals call ?Tuk?, with a population of 900 on the shores of the Arctic Ocean above the 69th degree latitude. At first I thought that Tuk was remote and too far to take my ?9A. I was also concerned about high fuel prices. The reason for John wanting to see Tuk was that he had spent one summer there 41 years ago working on a research ship out of Victoria. On Memorial Day 2007 I mentioned the planned flight to RV-9A builder, Kelly Wilson, living at the same Airpark where I reside. I asked whether he would be interested in the trip for the experience and to share expenses. Within a few days of my asking Kelly, he agreed to go with the plan. Kelly is retired after a career flying heavies in the US Air Force, Eastern Airlines and Airborne Express. Kelly is a CFI, and a good passenger to have in the right seat. He did a major part of the hand flying even though we had an autopilot onboard.
Fast forward to July 6, 2007. After loading the aircraft with survival gear, some food items, tools, some spare parts and personal effects we were ready to go. The contents of our baggage compartment weighed about 125 lbs. Canadian Customs had been notified that we would be arriving in Abbotsford, B.C. at 12 noon, and that we would have a rifle onboard. Kelly had researched the Canadian rules on firearms and knew what was legal. After filing our US flight plan, we were on our way at 10 am. The border crossing squawk code was obtained after we were north of Seattle. Upon arriving in Abbotsford, we were met by two Canadian Customs officials. My personal experience over many years has been that Canadian Customs officials normally don?t show up in person. After a brief disagreement about the legality of the rifle we were carrying, the officers checked with a higher authority, then issued a permit for a $25.00 fee. We left Abbotsford at 12:20 pm and made a short 15 minute flight to Chilliwack were we topped our tanks, had lunch, then departed for Prince George, B.C., about 2 hours away. Kelly and I stayed in Prince George at a bed and breakfast that was suggested by the FBO. The B & B came to the airport, picked us up and returned us the next morning. I highly recommend the ?Chalet Sans Souci? to anyone passing through Prince George and needing accommodations. Total flight time from Independence, OR to Prince George, B.C. ? 4.1 hours.
Saturday morning, July 7th, John Howroyd and passenger Carol departed Victoria, B.C. about 7:15 am in the RV-4 on a GPS direct flight, over the Coast Mountains, rendezvousing with us in Prince George at 9:30 am. After topping tanks we departed Prince George, crossing the Rocky Mountains shortly after, then continuing to High Level, Alberta for fuel. That leg took about 2 ? hours. The flight from High Level to Yellowknife, NT (largest city in NT) was 2.2 hours. Total flight time, Prince George to Yellowknife ? 4.7 hours.
We spent two nights in Yellowknife at the Bayside Bed & Breakfast. Highly recommended, as it overlooks the shores of Great Slave Lake with a lot of floatplane activity outside the window. For those unfamiliar with Yellowknife, it is the commercial center for Canadian diamond mining, with three producing diamond mines, located about 160 nautical miles north of Yellowknife. In the last 10 years, diamond mining in the NT has become the primary mining, producing billions of dollars in gems. Of course DeBeers, of South Africa is involved in one of the mines. Polishing of the gems is done in Yellowknife adjacent to the airport, providing local employment. Tight security is evident. There is also still a lot of gold mining in the area. For those interested, a Google search will provide a wealth of information about the Canadian diamond mining industry. The story of the two men that discovered the presence of diamonds in the Northwest Territories is in itself a great story. Canadian diamonds are equal to or better than African diamonds, and do not have the reputation of blood diamonds. Interesting points to visit in Yellowknife are the Legislative Building and the Heritage Museum, which includes a lot of early Northern Canadian aviation history.
End Part I
In March 2007 I delivered a new RV-7 to GLO Custom Aircraft, Inc. in Texas to be painted. I had asked my friend John Howroyd, from Victoria, B.C., to accompany me in his RV-4 to fly cover because the -7 only had 29 hours on the Hobbs. A special ferry permit was issued by FAA Hillsboro, OR enabling me to fly off the final 11 test hours on the flight to the Dallas area. The first day we flew from Independence, OR to Tucumcari, NM . The following morning, March 14th we finished the remaining distance to 52F in 2 ? hours. We had to throttle back to ensure the Hobbs registered 40 hours at touchdown in Roanoke (home base to Doug Reeves). We were fortunate to pick that week for the delivery, because the following weeks were unflyable due to weather in NorthTexas.
During the return trip in the RV-4, with me in the back seat listening to Buddy Holly, John mentioned a trip to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NT) he was planning in July, 2007. The purpose of the John?s trip was to take his friend Carol to see the Yellowknife area, where she had been a flight instructor 30 years ago. John asked whether I would like to join them on the flight in my RV-9A. After returning to Oregon I checked my GPS for the straight-line distance to Yellowknife and answered in the affirmative. About 2 months later, John called to say he was now considering extending the trip to Tuktoyaktuk, NT. I generally knew my Canadian geography but didn?t know where this place was with a long name starting with ?T?. I did a Google search and found the place locals call ?Tuk?, with a population of 900 on the shores of the Arctic Ocean above the 69th degree latitude. At first I thought that Tuk was remote and too far to take my ?9A. I was also concerned about high fuel prices. The reason for John wanting to see Tuk was that he had spent one summer there 41 years ago working on a research ship out of Victoria. On Memorial Day 2007 I mentioned the planned flight to RV-9A builder, Kelly Wilson, living at the same Airpark where I reside. I asked whether he would be interested in the trip for the experience and to share expenses. Within a few days of my asking Kelly, he agreed to go with the plan. Kelly is retired after a career flying heavies in the US Air Force, Eastern Airlines and Airborne Express. Kelly is a CFI, and a good passenger to have in the right seat. He did a major part of the hand flying even though we had an autopilot onboard.
Fast forward to July 6, 2007. After loading the aircraft with survival gear, some food items, tools, some spare parts and personal effects we were ready to go. The contents of our baggage compartment weighed about 125 lbs. Canadian Customs had been notified that we would be arriving in Abbotsford, B.C. at 12 noon, and that we would have a rifle onboard. Kelly had researched the Canadian rules on firearms and knew what was legal. After filing our US flight plan, we were on our way at 10 am. The border crossing squawk code was obtained after we were north of Seattle. Upon arriving in Abbotsford, we were met by two Canadian Customs officials. My personal experience over many years has been that Canadian Customs officials normally don?t show up in person. After a brief disagreement about the legality of the rifle we were carrying, the officers checked with a higher authority, then issued a permit for a $25.00 fee. We left Abbotsford at 12:20 pm and made a short 15 minute flight to Chilliwack were we topped our tanks, had lunch, then departed for Prince George, B.C., about 2 hours away. Kelly and I stayed in Prince George at a bed and breakfast that was suggested by the FBO. The B & B came to the airport, picked us up and returned us the next morning. I highly recommend the ?Chalet Sans Souci? to anyone passing through Prince George and needing accommodations. Total flight time from Independence, OR to Prince George, B.C. ? 4.1 hours.
Saturday morning, July 7th, John Howroyd and passenger Carol departed Victoria, B.C. about 7:15 am in the RV-4 on a GPS direct flight, over the Coast Mountains, rendezvousing with us in Prince George at 9:30 am. After topping tanks we departed Prince George, crossing the Rocky Mountains shortly after, then continuing to High Level, Alberta for fuel. That leg took about 2 ? hours. The flight from High Level to Yellowknife, NT (largest city in NT) was 2.2 hours. Total flight time, Prince George to Yellowknife ? 4.7 hours.
We spent two nights in Yellowknife at the Bayside Bed & Breakfast. Highly recommended, as it overlooks the shores of Great Slave Lake with a lot of floatplane activity outside the window. For those unfamiliar with Yellowknife, it is the commercial center for Canadian diamond mining, with three producing diamond mines, located about 160 nautical miles north of Yellowknife. In the last 10 years, diamond mining in the NT has become the primary mining, producing billions of dollars in gems. Of course DeBeers, of South Africa is involved in one of the mines. Polishing of the gems is done in Yellowknife adjacent to the airport, providing local employment. Tight security is evident. There is also still a lot of gold mining in the area. For those interested, a Google search will provide a wealth of information about the Canadian diamond mining industry. The story of the two men that discovered the presence of diamonds in the Northwest Territories is in itself a great story. Canadian diamonds are equal to or better than African diamonds, and do not have the reputation of blood diamonds. Interesting points to visit in Yellowknife are the Legislative Building and the Heritage Museum, which includes a lot of early Northern Canadian aviation history.
End Part I