Aviation – Hobbies Hobo

WooHoo! Heliqwest Strikes Again! This time I drove by they had a Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk Aircraft Callsign: N601HQ (US) Helo converted for Firefighting sitting out front. Check out the short vid!

At the Nanaimo, BC Airport, located in Cassidy, BC, just South of Nanaimo.

While touring the Nanaimo, BC, Canada, Airport I spotted these Beauties. (Fall 2024)

This heavy lifter is registered as an, Evergreen CH-54A known as (Tarhe), In Civilian Terms, it’s a Sikorsky S-64 “Sky Crane). Aircraft Callsign : N795HT (US), Operated by Helicopter Transport Services.

This little plane is a Thorp T-18, and Yes! I made the mistake of not getting a good shot of the callsign!

Also spotted this Robinson R22 on my second stop at Nanaimo Airport, (Winter 2025)

This one is Registered as a, Robinson, R22 Beta, Aircraft Callsign: C-FZWQ

The pilot of this Robinson, R22 Beta, was in the middle of doing a long distance trip that started at Campbell River, BC, I spoke with him for about 15 minutes and then we both continued on our way!

On my way out I spotted this Robinson, R44 II, in the Flying Club Hangar, beautiful machine!

Robinson, R44 II, Aircraft Callsign: C-FOTY, Privately Owned from Duncan, BC.

Got bored one day so I stopped at the Duncan Flying Club! See the video here or on the Youtube Channel!

Spotted this beauty while I was in Victoria, BC in early April, 2023!

This Medevac Machine is a, Mcdonnell Douglas, MD900, Aircraft Callsign: C-GWXP, Operated by Ascent Helicopters in Parksville, BC.

I had to get a few more shots of this while I had the chance.

I took factory training at the MD Facility in Arizona but not on this model.

Aviation Speak!

Aviation is a hobby now, but at one time it was a fulltime career. I was a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and spent time working on Fixed Wing as well as Rotary Wing Aircraft. Water Bombers, Helicopters & General Aviation Aircraft. I also spent time as a “Spotter” on board military aircraft.

Water Bombers

This was where I got my start. Working for Conair Aviation on CL215’s, DC6’s, Piper Aerostars & Cessna 337 Birddogs. As I find more pics, I’ll add them to the page.

Helicopters

Most of my time in aviation was spent working on helos. I had most of my experience on remote ops with light aircraft (Bell 206, 206L, Astar 350. Astar 355, MD 500). I did go on for more training and eventually become certified to work on Mediums as well (Bell 204, 205, 212). Never really got a chance to work on the “Heavy’s” (S 61’s) though.

Bell Helicopters

Bell Helos were the “Primary” first line helos I worked on!

Edmonton, Alberta Base

An old bird below, a Bell, 204, Huey!

Flir installation on a Bell 206 to be used for Fire Fighting in Alberta!

**Bell 206 on Floats, working on board a “Drill Ship” in McKinley Bay, NWT**

**Pilot / Engineer I worked with (Mike), all work done outdoors on the deck, this was a compressor swap.**

My first love! Aircraft Callsign: C-FPOD, Bell, 206B, Made in 1971, first Operated by Okanagan Helicopters.

**Tuktoyaktuk, Polar Shelf Research Base, NWT**

**Coppermine, NWT, Grizzly Bear Research**

Sikorsky Helicopters

Never worked on these, I did help unload them on multiple occasions though! Sikorsky Helicopters S-61N, Operated by Canadian Helicopters.

MBB Helicopters

Never worked on these either but one stopped by the hangar one day for some light maintenance. From what I recall it was one of the few machines that could perform a full roll in flight!

This was listed as a, Messerschmitt, BO 105 S CDN BS-4, Aircraft Callsign: C-GTMN

McDonnell Douglas Helicopters

These were the second “Primary” helos I worked on! Hughes 369D or more commonly known as a MD500D

**Tatsamanie Lake, Northern BC, Gold Exploration Camp**

A-Star Helicopters

I did work on these but less often than the others. This is an, Aerospatiale AS-350, Aircraft Callsign: C-GALD, no longer on the register.

**Fix it, Fuel it, Fly it. This is the jobsite!**

Fixed Wing Transport for Helo Ops

I spent a lot of time traveling to and from remote worksites in a variety of fixed wing aircraft. These are just a few.

**Buffalo Air, Curtis C46 Commando, Cargo Plane**

**Buffalo Air, Douglas, DC3, Cargo, Landing at a remote “Diamond Mine, Exploration Camp**

**DeHavilland, Twin Otters were very popular in the arctic, Floats, Skis, or Wheels.**

Scenery

Some misc. pics of some of the things you can see in the Canadian Arctic & elsewhere.

**The remains of a crashed Canadian Air Force, DC3, Crashed in storm while on Search & Rescue Ops**

General Aviation

I also spent time working on General Aviation Aircraft for a small AMO that regularly saw small privately owned aircraft like, Cessna 150, 172, 185, 210, 340, Misc. Piper Aircraft, & a few oddballs. Like I mention above as I find some pics I’ll put them up.

Aviation Training

These are just a few photos of some of the training courses I attended. Enjoy!

**Northern Lights College, Dawson Creek, BC, AME Apprenticeship Course. (2 Years) (1990)**

Helo Bases

A little look into life at a “Helo Base” (Sometimes in the Bush)

Bell 212, Edmonton Base, Fitted with Ski Basket, Getting ready to deploy for Heli-skiing in BC

**Looking for Diamonds, NWT, Late Spring**

Unleashing your “Inner Artist”

So, What do you do when you’re stuck living in Tuktoyaktuk for the whole summer. Well, you eat well, sleep a lot, watch all the movies you can, do your job & “Unleash your Inner Artist” haha