A Legend has passed

[donttakeshi*]

On Thursday, May 28th a man by the name of Robert Howden of Lac la Croix, Quetico Air Services passed away after a battle with cancer. Anyone who has had the chance to meet him will know that he was the most loving and caring, tough guy you could know. You would have walked away a better person to have known or met him. He would be the first person to smack you in the back of the head for doing something stupid in the airplane and then hand you a captain morgan and pepsi when you get back on the dock and tell you that you did a great job. He has shown me that you can never have too many friends or loved ones in your life. I can only hope that I will be loved by even half the amount of people that loved Robert.
If there is anyone out there with a story about Robert, I am looking forward to reading about it.
Robert had the smoothest landings I have ever known... I will strive to the end of my days to be able to put an airplane down as gently as he did. Rest in Peace, Robert.

[angry inch]

Your description of Rob was spot on. A tough guy & a gentleman all rolled into one. I'm proud to have been smacked in the back of the head by the great silver haired man...

[CLguy]

Wow haven't seen Rob in many years but heard he was sick. Probably only a couple of times since my Rusty Myers days when he was flying the Otter at Lac La Croix. One hell of a guy and always a class act.

RIP Rob

[Probes Down]

Such sad news.Rob will be missed by many folks. He gave me my float rating on Handberg's Champ many years ago and passed along a lot of his knowledge during my years working there. I will always be greatful for that and the friendship he showed me.

I don't think there are too many people who flew in the Crane lake area that hadn't heard the radio crackle with "LaCroix Base...NFI" "Be there in 10".

[Driving Rain]

Sad to hear, Rob was a great guy. Loved to swap stories and he could really fly the shit out of a Dash 3.

[zero]

Very sad to hear.

Rob taught me to fly a Beaver on Lac La Croix and left with me lessons I'll never forget. Even on days when the weather was crappy with clouds at treetop level he didn't hesitate when I said I wouldn't do the trip...he would hop in NFI and get the job done...no questions asked, a sign of a great CP.

On one fine mid-summer day when Rob was ready to head home to Sandpoint I was tasked with the job of getting him there. Nervous as hell I did fine and he told me I did a good job with the flight. Trying to save a little time(or showing off, not sure which) he told me not to shut down the Beaver as I taxied by his dock and he would hop off. Sounded harmless so I idled back and switched to one mag and carb heat to get her slowed up for the old man. I made a perfect approach to the dock so as to not get a slap up side the head, he was down on the float in no time and hopped onto the dock. Within a split second I heard him say "Oh, the door" and he was back on the float quickly slamming the door shut...what a guy! Unfortunately, the end of the dock disappeared under the wing and then so did Rob with a yell and a splash, he had made a second leap for the same dock and this time missed. I looked out the window and up came Rob sputtering and pulling himself onto the dock with newfound energy. Luckily, he was still wearing his glasses and with a hearty laugh made his way up the dock and home...no doubt for a slug of Cpt Morgan Spiced Rhum, his favorite. We laughed about it around the campfire that night, especially Campbell and Curtis.

Regards to Jay and his family, couldn't ask for a better Chief.

[mattedfred]

RIP Newt

checked me out on the champ and C185 in 95'