Wondering if anyone knows of places around Saskatoon and Prince Albert to land floats? I have heard the river is not a good option for Saskatoon but maybe Moon lake? What about Blackstrap? The river for Prince Albert?
Thx.
Float flying Saskatchewan
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Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
I used to fly off the river in PA with a 206.....there was a dock and fuel just below the old fire hall...not anymore...
they launch and recover aircraft on the south side of the airport on the river but it's never pretty and there was no dock just lotsa mud .The levels vary ,like most rivers,controlled by dams....
It's not a great option...check with Ernie Cockrin at the airport...he's the launcher master.....
Saskatoon was once used from time to time from time to time but I've never done it....
Nipawin has a spot on the river they use but it's full of logs.....
Probably not what you want to hear
Eater
they launch and recover aircraft on the south side of the airport on the river but it's never pretty and there was no dock just lotsa mud .The levels vary ,like most rivers,controlled by dams....
It's not a great option...check with Ernie Cockrin at the airport...he's the launcher master.....
Saskatoon was once used from time to time from time to time but I've never done it....
Nipawin has a spot on the river they use but it's full of logs.....
Probably not what you want to hear
Eater
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
AP advises you could also stop at Emma Lake....there is an old guy there with a beat up 180 and a rickety old Norsemen that may have gas and will most definitely have cold beer and some interesting other shit !!
Where are you coming from and where are you to?
Eater
Where are you coming from and where are you to?
Eater
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
Moving from Manitoba to Saskatoon and have to find a hiding spot for my 185. Straights in summer. Wheels/skis in winter. At some point will be doing some flying northern Sask doing some work maybe in PA and Flin Flon. I knew a couple guys who were on a Moon Lake by Saskatoon but wondered about Blackstrap lake as we may be living close to there. Corman park would be nice for the winter I think.
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
And I ll take the offer for fuel and definitely for beer...... 
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Antique Pilot
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Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
DHC2eater,DHC2eater wrote:AP advises you could also stop at Emma Lake....there is an old guy there with a beat up 180 and a rickety old Norsemen that may have gas and will most definitely have cold beer and some interesting other shit !!
Where are you coming from and where are you to?
Eater
Another fine mess you have gotten me into.
AP
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
AP, no worries. I always replace what I drink. ? PilsnerAntique Pilot wrote:DHC2eater,DHC2eater wrote:AP advises you could also stop at Emma Lake....there is an old guy there with a beat up 180 and a rickety old Norsemen that may have gas and will most definitely have cold beer and some interesting other shit !!
Where are you coming from and where are you to?
Eater
Another fine mess you have gotten me into.
AP
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lost in the north
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Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
I believe Ernie retired years ago,try his son Ron at Elite Areo, also Dave has a dock in the river. It's not as bad as posted operating of the river in PA, done it over the last 30 yrs when passing through or for maintenance. Blackstrap is doable as well. Try track down Janet who used to own Mithinson's, if not her Glen Hunter, or Guy Deviny will be able to help you.
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
Is there any place in or close around Saskatoon to land and keep straights on for a weekend? My Sister lives there and I’m curious about making the trek on floats.
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
Fueling a float plane in southern Sask/Alberta is a bigger issue....
I may have to bring an aircraft from the southern BC out east....there is a reservoir a mile east of Springbank with ramp/dock etc...I phone the Esso dealer and he won't bring his truck down(no plates) and won't/can't fill 5 gal cans....
I believe there is a law about them filling cans on an airport or something...anyone up on that??
I may have to fill the aircraft on the coast...siphon the fuel into the cans then fill the tanks again to have enough fuel for the trip east......there must be a better way....I'm needing 100ll
This may be an issue a Stoon also
Eater
I may have to bring an aircraft from the southern BC out east....there is a reservoir a mile east of Springbank with ramp/dock etc...I phone the Esso dealer and he won't bring his truck down(no plates) and won't/can't fill 5 gal cans....
I believe there is a law about them filling cans on an airport or something...anyone up on that??
I may have to fill the aircraft on the coast...siphon the fuel into the cans then fill the tanks again to have enough fuel for the trip east......there must be a better way....I'm needing 100ll
This may be an issue a Stoon also
Eater
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
Hey Tips Up......
Transitioning the river in PA is one thing....Leaving a aircraft in the river in PA is another.....
That river ,like most, changes with the seasons .....one day it's flooding and the next it's a foot deep an full of sand bars....
A few years back the guy with the Norseman declined beaching his machine and having it brought up for static display due to that recovery operation they have....he just did a fly past instead...
We had to use a crawler tractor ...a Case 310, small but none the less....for the recovery...it's all mucky
Maybe better now( I doubt it ). it'll never be anything like the operation by the Flying Beaver and other places similar in BC
JMHE & O
Eater
Transitioning the river in PA is one thing....Leaving a aircraft in the river in PA is another.....
That river ,like most, changes with the seasons .....one day it's flooding and the next it's a foot deep an full of sand bars....
A few years back the guy with the Norseman declined beaching his machine and having it brought up for static display due to that recovery operation they have....he just did a fly past instead...
We had to use a crawler tractor ...a Case 310, small but none the less....for the recovery...it's all mucky
Maybe better now( I doubt it ). it'll never be anything like the operation by the Flying Beaver and other places similar in BC
JMHE & O
Eater
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
[quote="DHC2eater"]Hey Tips Up......
Transitioning the river in PA is one thing....Leaving a aircraft in the river in PA is another.....
That river ,like most, changes with the seasons .....one day it's flooding and the next it's a foot deep an full of sand bars....
A few years back the guy with the Norseman declined beaching his machine and having it brought up for static display due to that recovery operation they have....he just did a fly past instead...
We had to use a crawler tractor ...a Case 310, small but none the less....for the recovery...it's all mucky
Maybe better now( I doubt it ). it'll never be anything like the operation by the Flying Beaver and other places similar in BC
Currently I fly off the good old Red in Manitoba so have seen muck but I know the good and bad places and as you say be careful with the seasons and time of yr. I just really really really don't want to go amphibs.......
Transitioning the river in PA is one thing....Leaving a aircraft in the river in PA is another.....
That river ,like most, changes with the seasons .....one day it's flooding and the next it's a foot deep an full of sand bars....
A few years back the guy with the Norseman declined beaching his machine and having it brought up for static display due to that recovery operation they have....he just did a fly past instead...
We had to use a crawler tractor ...a Case 310, small but none the less....for the recovery...it's all mucky
Maybe better now( I doubt it ). it'll never be anything like the operation by the Flying Beaver and other places similar in BC
Currently I fly off the good old Red in Manitoba so have seen muck but I know the good and bad places and as you say be careful with the seasons and time of yr. I just really really really don't want to go amphibs.......
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
Yes I hear you re the Amphibs ......I do a little flying on wip Amphibs .....the maintainance to the gear is high and the analogy about it being like flying a"shopping cart" during ground handling is accurate,not to mention the perf penalty,but they do have there place..
Blackstrap might be a good option ...there are also subdivisions going up around it so there is housing....
I haven't flown into YXE for a while....but there was a pond a few miles NE of the airport that was built for boat testing etc....it might be big enough for a floatplane I just can't remember!
Eater
Blackstrap might be a good option ...there are also subdivisions going up around it so there is housing....
I haven't flown into YXE for a while....but there was a pond a few miles NE of the airport that was built for boat testing etc....it might be big enough for a floatplane I just can't remember!
Eater
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
Antique Pilot might have something to say about river operations...
Where is he?
Eater
Where is he?
Eater
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Antique Pilot
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Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
Sorry for the delay. I am on a long road trip with spotty internet service. I don't really have anything to add as I know very little about float operations in southern Sask. An oxymoron if there ever was one. DHC2eater is much more familiar with that area. You might be able to set up a fuel cache at Emma Lake.DHC2eater wrote:Antique Pilot might have something to say about river operations...
Where is he?
Eater
AP
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
I used to land in the river at Saskatoon to drop TB patients at the San. Then I recall fuelling at Emma Lake. That was in '75 or so, so likely you should read the Supplement now as that's a bit out of date.
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
I think they have some kind of pond at the North Battleford airport that can be used for float planes, check with them
I refuse to go bungee jumping... I came into this world because of a broken rubber, I'm not leaving because of one
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pilotboy99
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Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
I flew my (new to me) Maule back to Vancouver from Ottawa a number of years back, and was told of a doctor who have a floatplane, dock and fuel just west of the PA airport, behind Bateman Island (you can see the floatplane on Google Maps). He shared his little dock with me, sold me fuel at cost, and drove me into town and back (I stayed in PA for the night). Unfortunately I've lost his contact info.
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biggerfish
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Re: Float flying Saskatchewan
I know this is an old post, but I just moved to Saskatoon and am looking for a place to park my float plane. Did you ever find a place? I tried Moon Lake, but they no longer allow float planes at the golf course.
