Simviation Forum - Bush Flying

Feb 21^st, 2011 at 9:56am

Flying Trucker Offline
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Good morning all...

There are many articles written on Bush Flying which started in Canada during the First World War and progressed to where it is today.

The military aviators were the original aviators to opening the wilds in many countries and were responsible for surveying and mapping of many many areas.

http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/explore/military-history/dispatches/into-the-blue-pi...
Please read the whole article...it is very informative and educational... Wink

Here is a paragraph taken from the posted link.

Historian S.F. Wise has described the RFC/ RAF Canada scheme as "the single most powerful influence in bringing the air age to Canada". The JN-4s left over after the war were less important than the pool of men determined to fly and service them. The public, at least in the Niagara-Hamilton-Toronto-Deseronto arc, became accustomed to aircraft and no longer viewed them as novelties or menaces. The RFC/ RAF Canada organization proved the feasibility of year-round flying in this country and even developed special winter flying clothes. The RFC/ RAF Canada program was a foundation on which was built the saga of Canadian bush flying as well as the RCAF of future wartime and peacetime achievements.

Like I said there are many many articles written on Bush Flying but where it began was right here... Wink

Today there are many Survival, Mountain Flying, Desert, Jungle, Water/Ocean and Float Flying training schools all over the world for the military and the avid civilian aviator.

Many right here in Canada.

For those who would wish to choose Bush Flying as a career and it can be a wonderful, beautiful career you might want to check out what Bush Flying is all about and especially insurance requirements before even thinking about approaching a company for hire.

A bush pilot is not a person who simply fly's an airplane in a "bush" environment or who can land on nice long and hard and reasonably well prepared dirt or grass strips. Just because you can fly into "bush" strips at game lodges or over remote and unpopulated areas does not necessarily make you a bush pilot!

A bush pilot is a person who is able to fly a light to medium size aircraft safely in and out of places that would normally be regarded by most other pilots as "marginal", "too dangerous" or "impossible". Generally these are area's that are inaccessible to most aircraft and other means of transportation. Furthermore, a bush pilot should be able to maintain and repair the aircraft and survive in the bush.

Bush flying is a term for aircraft operations carried out in remote and inhospitable regions of the world. Bush flying involves operations into unimproved and rough terrain, frequently necessitating bush planes be equipped with abnormally large tires, floats or skis. This type of flying, combined with unpredictable weather and distance from help means that bush pilots have to be very resourceful to be successful, or all too frequently, just to stay alive.

Bush pilots must fend for themselves because they are so far from help. Critical skills range from survival skills to mechanical and electrical skills for airplane repair to hunting, trapping and shelter building and survival.

Here is an interesting Link to the State of Alaska Aviation, United States:

http://www.akhistorycourse.org/articles/article.php?artID=177

So folks there is some information from the internet that I wanted to pass on to those of you thinking about a career as a Bush Pilot... Wink

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

« Last Edit: Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 11:21am by Flying Trucker »

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #1 - Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 4:28pm

Skunkworks Offline
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As pilots, we often talk about 'situational awareness'! Your take on "Bush Flying" is a profound enlightenment on retrospect! I would ask a question at this point, but the answer is obvious...take advantage of the wisdom of experience..then exploit!!!

FSX, we've come a long way baby! Skunk Works is an official alias for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP), formerly called Lockheed Advanced Development Projects. Skunk Works is responsible for a number of famous aircraft designs, including the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk, and the F-22 Raptor. Its largest current project is the F-35 Lightning II

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Reply #2 - Feb 22^nd, 2011 at 7:20pm

patchz Offline
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Very cool and informative Doug.

Have you ever flown a JN-4?

If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.

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Reply #3 - Feb 23^rd, 2011 at 8:51am

Flying Trucker Offline
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Goodly morning all...

Thanks for the comment Greg...much appreciated... Wink

Thanks for your comment also Larry...also much appreciated... Wink

Larry I never flew the Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" but both my grandfathers did and my father did also.

Dad and his father used to fly the Curtiss JN-4 prior to the Second World War somewhere near Tillsonburg, Ontario as a part time job.
They would fly the Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" just above the tobacco fields to keep the frost from killing the tobacco leaves...much a pattern like crop dusting...

At least that is what I think they were doing Larry, either that or they hit the wobbly pop real early... Grin

Me, no I never got to fly the JN-4 "Jenny". I sat in one back in the early 50s at a museum but do not remember exactly what museum it was now.

I do remember my father telling me they would judge their airspeed by the sound of the bracing wires in flight.
Much the same as the old Tiger Moth... Wink

Bi-Planes that I was checked out in and logged command time are:
DeHavilland Tiger Moth 82C...my parents owned one
                                    ...skis and wheels
                                    ...then I bought one...sold
Boeing PT-17 Stearman......younger brother owned it
                              ......put in about forty hours on it
                                 .....sold for Cessna 180 on floats
Waco-YMF-F5C Bi-Plane......older brothers
                                 ......put in about forty hours on it
                                 .....sold for Grumman Widgeon
Great Lakes Bi-Plane...........one of our son's
                                 ....put in about twenty-five hours
                                    I guess
                                 .....sold for a light twin...can't
                                       remember type right now

Like my grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters I have
bought and sold a few aircraft over the years and never lost a dime doing it. Got great satisfaction out of flying various types and it is good to see our children following in our footsteps.
We could never see the point in renting anything if you could own it.

I did try my hand at bug spraying with the Stearman but the person who owned the company sold it two days later and there went my two day about four hour illustrious career as a crop duster and bug sprayer.... Grin

There are several Bi-Planes I would still sell the children and the old girl to fly though... Grin

-Fairey Swordfish
-Royal Aircraft Factory SE5A from World War One
-Britol F2B from World War One

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #4 - Feb 23^rd, 2011 at 9:43am

TacitBlue Offline
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My boss's son is building a replica Jenny. When it's done I sincerely hope he offers me a ride. *fingers crossed* Cool

A&P Mechanic, Rankin Aircraft 78Y

Aircraft are naturally beautiful because form follows function. -TB

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Reply #5 - Feb 24^th, 2011 at 11:34am

Flying Trucker Offline
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Goodly morning all...

I am sure you will get your ride... Wink

Lot's of aircraft replications going on right now, not just the Jenny but many various types.

I wonder if General Aviation is springing back?

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #6 - Mar 1^st, 2011 at 9:26am

Flying Trucker Offline
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Goodly morning all...

Sorry no camera.

A small bi-plane just flew down the other side of the bay, now I am not totally sure what it was but a good guess would be a Pitt's Special.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitts_Special

I opened our balcony door to listen but could not hear it.
Being a cold crisp morning (-13C) I thought it would be possible to hear the engine.

I would say it was moving about the same speed as a high performance small Cessna and flying in a straight line, probably following the shore line.

There must be a cockpit heater of some sort in that aircraft.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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Reply #7 - Mar 1^st, 2011 at 10:34am

Skunkworks Offline
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An open cockpit at -13c, Ouch!
I have been fortunate to see 'the Pitts special' many many times at airshows in Calif. especially back in the late 70's
Thanks for the memories Doug. Cool

FSX, we've come a long way baby! Skunk Works is an official alias for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs (ADP), formerly called Lockheed Advanced Development Projects. Skunk Works is responsible for a number of famous aircraft designs, including the U-2, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk, and the F-22 Raptor. Its largest current project is the F-35 Lightning II

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Reply #8 - Mar 1^st, 2011 at 2:25pm

Flying Trucker Offline
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No problem Greg...

Perhaps a heated flying suit...I bet that is what he had...

I remember some winter balloon flights in very cold weather and once airborne the pilot and I would remove our coats...believe me it was very comfortable in that basket quietly moving over the heads of folks with snowmobile suits and heavy winter coats on...

I have been searching the sky most of the day to see if the aircraft comes back this way...nothing yet...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

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