A Brief Guide to Yellowknife’s Aviation History

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The first airplanes flew over parts of the Northwest Territories in 1921. Imperial Oil used two Second World War Junkers F 13s to support the oil-staking rush at Fort Norman (now called Tulita). At times, these ‘strange birds’ were riddled with bullets. Starting in the mid-1920s, aircraft were used to deliver mail (letters, fur and general cargo), and for mineral exploration. By airplane, previously unexplored remote areas of the North could now be accessed within a few hours, instead of weeks or months by canoe and dog team. The use of airplanes for mineral exploration led to the discovery of several new deposits, and the NWT’s first mine, Eldorado Mine at Port Radium on Great Slave Lake. Most were canvas-covered, single-engine airplanes made by Fairchild, Stinson, Bellanca, Fokker, and Junkers. They’re long gone now but they’ve been immortalized on Yellowknife buildings and street names (although interestingly, there are no streets called Fokker or Junkers).

A new generation of planes was designed after the Second World War. These all-metal airplanes with enclosed cockpits were better for remote northern areas. De Havilland of Canada produced a series of short takeoff and landing ‘bush’ airplanes with unique mammal names including the Beaver, Otter, Caribou, Buffalo and Twin Otter (initially called King Otter). By far, the most popular bush plane is the Cessna 172. Most likely, if you see a small, single-engine high-wing airplane on skis or floats, it is a Cessna 172. 

The northern skies are still traveled by many converted Second World War vintage airplanes. The Beech-18 is a small, twin-engine bush plane often seen on floats on Yellowknife’s Back Bay. Larger transports include the DC-3, DC-4 and C-46 operated by Buffalo Airways. These airplanes are easy to maintain, cheap, and tough bush planes on gravel runways. More modern twin-engine airplanes include the generically named Dash-8, ATR-72, Do-228, and Skyvan, while modern four-engines are the Dash-7, Lockheed Electra, and Hercules. Many Yellowknifers will recognize the sight and sounds of the bright yellow and red Canadair Cl-215 water bomber, since these were used to help extinguish the fires at the city dump. Finally, although not technically designed as a bush plane, the Boeing 737s used by First Air and Canadian North have been modified with extra-large cargo doors and rock-chip deflectors for use on gravel runways.

Graphic: This is my Right hand – I’ve done things with this hand I can’t talk About !

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It started with a a thank you card from a friend for helping her with some house maintenance. I can’t actually remember what i had helped with. At the time, this card seemed reasonably reasonably humorous.  

Little was I to know what was about to happen.

I do recall that I had recently found toy dinosaur (T-Rex) in the park. It sat menacingly on the picnic table where I ate lunch, with its mouth ajar showing all its teeth.   What fun I had with it. Posing it as if it had eaten a piece of my lunch, and even a piece of my plate which had an appropriately sized piece removed.

Ok – Yellowknife !. I know that we are at the end of the road on the edge of the middle of no-where. Where mosquitos are the size of a crow, the fish – northern pike resemble pre-historic sharks, and now these guys pop in for a visit while I am eating my lunch !. Talk about un-invited guests !. Lol. (July 25, 2018)

 

And having a ‘battle’ with a vintage wooden model ship in the garden.

Epic battle: HMS Unicorn (1790) vs T-Rex in my garden (a bed of weeds). Not really what I want to see. #mygardenisabattlefield (June 29, 2018).

 

Be warned – the following images are graphic !

Saturday July 28, 2018. The day my hand got bitten by the dinosaur.  

Nealy completed a small storage shed, and adding trim. I wanted to ‘rip’ a piece of wood to reduce the width. It seemed simpler to hold the circular saw in my left hand and hold the wood with my right hand. Seemed like a good idea at the time.  Part way though the cut the saw blade was pinched by the wood. On table saws there is piece of thin metal behind the blade to prevent pinching.  The blade on circular saws rotates upwards into the uncut wood. Within a blink – the circular saw was suddenly flung backwards towards me. I knew right away that something was wrong.

As the saw moved backwards it ran over my thumb that had slightly crossed over the previously cut wood. 

Blood everywhere. At first i thought that my body had been struck by the blade.   Only my thumb – but how much was gone.  I couldn’t see as blood was everywhere. 

Gone ?. My mind flashed to the thoughts of What can a person do with no thumb ?. No more hobbies, paddling, photography…

I found some rags in the workshop to slow the flow of blood and went in the house.  My the time i got inside the blood had soaked the rags. Tea towels were next.

I was moving all over the house and was leaving a trail of blood. 

Take control of yourself …take control of your self.

Eventually I sat on the floor, closed my eyes and tried to slow my heart rate as each heart beat could be seen by a new drop on the floor.

A few minutes and the decided i had to go to the hospital. I drove myself, and drive a standard. Shifting with the palm of my hand and baby finder.  At emergency ….”Hi – Yes- I cut off my thumb…”

The nurse asked – “Do you have the piece ?”. A minute later i was a calling a friend – “Hey can you do me a favor…”.   Sure enough, he and his six years old son found the piece and delivered it to the hospital. 

Steve and his piece of thumb after being delivered to the hospital.

My luck ran out. The teeth got me. It would have been a good and funny story if the dinosaur in my garden nipped off the tip of my thumb while teasing him with a carrot.
But it wasn’t. Other teeth got me. Damn you circular saw ! (July 29, 2018).

 

First look at the squared off thumb…July 30, 2018.

First look at the squared off thumb…July 30, 2018.

August 12 i flew to the Netherlands on a pre- planned trip.  Had the circular struck bone, the trip would have had to be cancelled.  Missed it by that much…

Yes – I can still hold a camera and drink beer !.

 

Healing. (August 20, 2018).

Paddle boarding. (August 26, 2018).

 

More Healing. (September 14, 2018).

It took approximately 2 months to get full mobility back. The skin grew back, fingerprint too. Now, almost 4 years later, other than being a bit shorter,  and less sensitivity at the tip life is now almost back to normal.

48 hours in Toronto, Canada

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A short,  very short visit to Toronto !.

Partially to visit friends from high school days. A visit I seem to make every 4 or 5 few years. We are all a older now, greying, parents, and getting closer to the end of our careers.  Our ages are approximately 53-54, and our kids are 25 to 11, and a mix of forever single (artificial insemination), gay (womb for hire), and male-female relationship. These few hours together, sharing our lives and learning of each others lives, sharing the ups and downs of life.  I look forward to many more !!.

I digressed.

Other than visiting friends, the short visit gave the opportunity to recharge my wandering spirit, checking out the sights and sounds of a beautiful city.

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If you have any questions about the set up – drop me a comment.

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DANGER

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Last week (Feb 19/20) my attention was on Ottawa, watching the Police remove a Truckers protest that had occupied downtown Ottawa for several weeks. There were police in regular uniform, police in riot gear with helmets, batons and gas masks, police with assault rifles, police with sniper-type rifles, explosive sniffing dogs, police on horses, and a armored truck. In the end – it was more or less polite pushing match and the protesters were removed.  Earlier in the week there were arrests in Alberta and several people charged with intent to kill police, along with the discovery of guns, ammunition, bullet proof vests etc.   In the end – the situation was resolved, and most importantly, no injuries or deaths.

This week a new situation with the Russia invasion of Ukraine. Missiles, rockets, tanks, guns, and the potential for this conflict to expand beyond the borders of Ukraine. 

Danger !. 

Hopefully cooler minds will take over and the situation calms before it explodes.

Which way do we Go ?

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A picture of the monument to Samuel de Champlain in Ottawa. In his hand is an astrolabe, a navigational instrument that used the sun and prominent stars for navigation. Keen eyes will notice that the astrolabe is actually upside down !.   Apparently the sculptor made a mistake – or assumed that no one would notice.  Take it for what it is –

Which way do we Go ?.

Astrolabe have long since been replaced by GPS, and use satellites (artificial stars ;>) for navigation – But — Really – Do we really know which way to Go ?. 

I know which direction is North, and I know which street leads to my house. Ignore navigation, maps, compass, GPS and all the cool tools. It has been 407 years since Champlain made his solar observation at this spot during his expedition in 1615. Modern technology hasn’t made Finding Our Way any easier, You / Me still have tell the Tool which way you want to go.  

Ponder that for a Moment.

Even with the most modern technology, a pilot still has to turn the dial on the GPS to their destination before the airplane takes off, and the GPS shows the route.

For you – What is your Direction ?

What is your Destination ?

Which way are you Heading ? 

Which Direction are you Going ?.

Myself ? – I Really don’t know. Maybe I should ask Samuel de Champlain with his upside down astrolabe.

 

Instagram – Best of 2021

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It has become routine – each year many Instagram users create a mosaic of their Top, or Best (i.e. Most ‘Liked’) images.

Ok – I followed that bandwagon and did it too. I really don’t cafe about the total number of likes for each images or how many followers I gained in 2021.

For me – it is more the curiosity of which images were selected. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Top Row (left to right)

“Staycation” in Ivvavik National Park. Beautiful landscape, great Parks Canada staff, wildlife (dall sheep, wolf – no bears 🙂 (June 30, 2021).

2) Inaugural use of the 23zero RTT on the FJ80. October 30, first night of really cold – snow and small lakes were frozen the next morning. Totally comfortable in the 23Zero Walkabout RTT. Next trip might install the winter liner and use the Propex heater. (Oct 30, 2021).

After a long day in my office – (read cubicle land), I grabbed beer and headed to my outdoor office. Caught the sunset too. And – yes, a horribly over processed photo. Unfortunately it does a great job showing all the dents and wrinkles on my old truck (and my face too). Such is life, an accumulation of dents and wrinkles, each with an interesting story.(March 16, 2021).

Middle Row (left to right)

-43C (-45F) sunrise. I probably won’t be spinning my wheels today – no plans to start a car or biking. Instead – hanging out near the woodstove with a glass or two of a fine drink and a good book. (Feb 6, 2021).

Same truck (2017 & 2021). 1974 Toyota FJ55 Landcruiser. Still running strong – except for the paint:-). Better patina some say. Thanks to @the_cruiser_cult for picture. (Nov 14, 2021).

Enjoying the-36 Celcius sunset on the ice road. (Jan 24, 2021).

 

Bottom Row (left to right)

Winter camping with a “23 Zero” rooftop tent at 23 below Zero (Celsius). Heated with a Propex HS2800 heater built into a recycled metal box. Brown box supports exhaust pipes. Version 2 will use a simple bench instead of the brown box. Set up takes less than 10 minutes.(Jan 9, 2021).

Thanks to Aaron for taking me off roading in the new to me 1973 FJ55 ‘Iron Pig’ and with the new to him (formerly mine) 1999 4runner that he has since added 1980’s style stripes. Photo credit- Aaron Perrott. (Aug 16, 2021).

This got delivered today. For those that don’t know what it is – 1981 BJ60 Toyota Landcruiser. Well – sort of. The back end was cut off and converted into this. It has a few rusty parts, a few broken parts. It was a daily driver. Yes, this 40 year old truck needs a bit of TLC. It will probably never go faster than 70 km/hr (45 mph), it won’t win any drag races, and it certainly won’t win any awards for comforts. It is what it is.
I was still in elementary school when this truck hit the road, and my kids are nearly finished high school. That’s cool.
Should I have bought a 2021 truck loaded with all the gadgets and gizmos ?.(May 5, 2021).

 

Clearly, viewers ‘Like’ Toyota trucks; 3rd generation 4runners (x2), landcruisers (x5), including 1973 Fj55, 1982 chopped BJ60, 1991 FJ80.

Summer (x4), Winter (x4), Fall (x1)

People x1 (me)

The last one, People x1 (me) resonates. No images of other people, no images of canoe trips, no images dinner parties, or other social events. The sad truth is that there were very, very few social events during 2021. Blame it on the Covoid19 pandemic Has everyone become a social recluse ?. Does everyone keep to themselves ?. Have we become a population of introverts ?

Or – is there something else ?

As I write this, a friend is a no-show for a coffee catch up.  Another friend, we were going to get together while walking their dog – two days ago. A couple of reminders along the way – and nothing. I could include a couple more examples – It it makes you wonder – is it Covoid and a fear of getting sick from someone else ?, or people don’t know how to socialize,or is there something else ?.  Maybe that helps to put vehicle obsession into perspective – vehicles break but don’t bail.

First day of winter vacation

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First day of winter vacation. It sucks a bit when the weather is almost as cold as I am old. If only I was 12 !.
A round of Dutch shuffleboard and a round of beer to bring in the New Year.

 

One week of vacation. Day 1 – it is -52C with windchill. My nose and cheek is still recovering from frostnip (low grade frostbite), and the whole week the temperature is predicted to by ‘extreme cold’. Drat – no working on trucks,skiing or fatbiking. I can’t take the cold like i used to.  Must be age ?.  School kids still only wear running shows, no toques (don’t want to mess their hair), and no winter pants !.

Today – some boredom. What to do all week ?.  Spent more hours surfing the internet, some useful research and plenty of mindless scrolling.  At least tonight dug out the camera and some studio lights, use me as the model :>

Used a now very ancient Nikon D700, Nikon 85mm lens and polarizer, two Paul C. Buff Einstein studio lights; behind the camera; circular reflector and 30% grid, and rear light has a 1×6 modifier with a grid. Hardest part was getting the focus – self timer, pose, click – check and adjust focus and repeat….

 

 

 

 

Project” I should probably get a girlfriend”

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Have you ever purchased a ‘Used’ item and wondered about its history ?

  • Who had it ?
  • How did they use it ?
  • Why did they get rid of it ?

If you buy a used vehicle – you can ask the owner about the vehicles history, and / or purchase the vehicle history report (e.g. CarFax) that includes accident and repair notes. 

The title of this post “Project” I should probably get a girlfriend” and the text below were written by the previous owner of a vehicle I now own. The previous owner “crawlin cruiser” had purchased the 1973 FJ55 Toyota Landcruiser and described the restoration and rebuild on the ih8mud forum (https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/project-i-should-probably-get-a-girlfriend.401231/) (July 23, 2010 – Sept 26,2018).

I have copied and condensed the text from the link above, and in bold some unique sections.

 

Project” I should probably get a girlfriend”          

 

Jul 22, 2010                                                        

I already have an fj40 buggy, a nice hj61 as a dd, my dodge cummins tow rig and now this……….

 

1973 FJ55

Purchased from previous owner in Keremeos, B.C.

 

fj55 June 09 001.jpg

fj55 June 09 003.jpg

Those are the pics from last summer when I picked it up.

 

It has sat in my yard till yesterday when I started work

july 10 090.jpg

Plans are

soa with lockers

ps(saginaw)

35s

might use my sm420 out of my buggy when I install my stak

 

and yes those ARE fj55 bushings

july 10 089.jpg       

july 10 087.jpg   july 10 088.jpg

For the steering I was just going with what I have and what i know. personally I think 60 series boxes suck the big one anyways. never used a scout though?

thnaks, the po did the turn signals. guess it works? this truck is all go no show good from far far from good. paint is done,

I actually bought a set of soa axles about two months ago dirt cheap. rear even has a locker . cut the old ones out, bolt the new ones in. done. I do need to add a set of ford towers though  

 

Aug 10, 2010

Paint finished and it drives.

Aug 10 030.jpg           

There are still rust issues in the rockers, rear fender lips and rear quarters but overall for what i have into it(which isnt very much) im a happy guy.

Aug 10.jpg

Any pics of the headliner. This looks interesting to me.        

i don’t think its stock. It looks good though

  Aug 10 039.jpg                     

Curtains !!                                                                            

Weird… What the heck is that headliner made of? Are those indentions where it screws in?

curtains= shagin wagin!

Wow. I’m surprised I didn’t think of that. I’m actually kind of bummed I didn’t think of that….

Sign you are getting old…

Curtains was one of my first up grades when I got my cruiser … I took them out! Of course mine didn’t look that good. They were 1970’s bandana red looking weirdness.

I have no idea how its held up. but its soft foam with the liner over top. if I flip the truck over it would be a great place to sleep.

 

Dec 25, 2010

Well guys,

This project has taken a turn for the worst

Project” i should probably get a girlfriend” turned into “wholy fxxx, I landed a smoken hot redhead”

 

Lets just say progress has been slow.  I have stared on the rust repair, and ps.

Dec 26, 2010

Teaser of this weeks project

  fj55.JPG         

 Grinding, cutting, torching,welding…….. repeat x100

Jan 28, 2011

New rocker, floor, body mount           

   Jan 11 075.jpg        

  Jan 11 071.jpg         

  Jan 11 072.jpg                     

Tech question, what is the relation of a pitman arms lenth to its “home” steering box? I got a scout box as Jon sugested, but the arm is about 10″ !! i have shorted steering arms for saginaw boxes… what will this do to the steering raito?

I had no idea that you were this cool. Where did you find the 55?        

I’m soo cool….. I can have a project in every section (IH8MUD forums)

 

Jul 17, 2011

Long time no update. Finished off all the little stuff. took the swiss cheese passenger fender and gave it new steel.

Shotty fender repair

555.JPG                       

    556.JPG      

Jul 17, 2011

Finished product?.  I doubt it

558.JPG           

Jul 23, 2011

Few more little additions. I got the roof rack on, stereo installed and even got the tires ballanced 

 

Aug 1, 2011

Shot of the truck at the lake with the rack

image-316124322.jpg          

Jan 19, 2016

Well guys…. Time to dig this pig out of its ice sarcophagus and do some fixin. A bit of cosmetic, got the brass gear for the window. And a few small mechanical mods she will be as good as new!

image.jpg                      

Has it been sitting there since 2011?

No not at all. Only about a year. Only reason I parked it is because the clutch is gone. So instead of a clutch job it’s getting an sm420 with an EBI adapter kit

                                  

Clutch,trans,transfer. Front shocks. New hood Window gear

And probably a bunch of other crap while its in the shop haha.

Jan 23, 2016

image.jpg It has begun….

Jan 24, 2016 

GUESS GIRL FRIEND THING DIDNT WORK        

Sure did, getting married this summer. And she let me build this

image.jpg

Jan 27, 2016                               

A couple wheeling pics to keep you interested while I wait for parts         

image.jpg

                       

image.jpg

image.jpg

Jan 28, 2016

So after pulling the 4spd and transfer I found out my truck actually has an f engine. Now I know why it’s so slow haha. Has anyone put the 10 spline chev disc in the f clutch?? I’ve only done it on 2f components. Just wondering differance and whatnot.

 

Jan 31, 2016                                                          

Well The chev disc fits in the f flywheel but I don’t know how I feel about the old Style pressure plate. I think I’m just gonna tear into another parts truck and grab the 2fbits needed               

 

Feb 19, 2016

Hey guys I’m still having clutch problems. I’ve got ll my 2f bits on the f engine but I have 2 different throw out bearing hubs. One has a 1 3/4 for the bearing and one is 2″. Both came off 4 spds. Does it matter what one I use??

 

Feb 19, 2016

This part of the clutch fork assembly should determine which bearing.

003.JPG

Sep 25, 2016       

Not too much to report.. Sm420 swap worked out great. Drives good. Replaced the drivers door. But back in he shop right now for more body work. Just out for a Little rip at the river behind the farm!

                       

image.jpg

I’m also on the look out for a good drivers fender and affront rad support. Mine is beyond fixing

                       

 

             

 

Time for Something Completely Different

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Starting January 10th, 2022 – A New Career.  It is career number …Navy, Geologist, Mineral Development Advisor, Remote Sensing Analyst and and soon – Lands Specialist.

As I write this – Three days to go. It has been a run of 20 years. Bitter sweet to be leaving, especially after the release of the Long Term Change Detection (LTCD) dataset, development of the LTCD User Guide and doing a CBC radio interview. Leaving on a good note, and it is time to move on. The commute will be to the other side of the building, new colleagues, and a completely new job.
Thinking back of the projects I have worked on since 2002. A ton of writing computer code and data processing, creating seamless mosaics of topographic data for all of NWT, forest fire burn severity, identifying and counting caribou and bison using satellite images, flood map predictive models, PM for collection of air photos over proposed Mackenzie Gas project and Mackenzie Delta, mapping coastal erosion at Cape Bathurst (360m in 38 years), and the highlight – the LTCD project for developing scripts to process 40 years of satellite data using Google Earth Engine.
Over the years technology and computer systems evolved from needing high end desktop computer, specialized remote sensing software and having to download satellite data (100’s of Gb per day) to cloud enabled computing – I can run the scripts and process satellite imagery using my phone !. My Thanks to the many colleagues, and my classmates at COGS (2000-2001). 

 

Mapping Coastal Erosion at Cape Bathurst, NWT.

Mapping coastal erosion – the Old way. Converting the raster (satellite picture into a line layer). 1972 coastline in red, satellite picture (blue outline) from 2010.

Schematic of the changes in the coastline at Cape Bathurst, years and coastline shown.

Coastal erosion shown in blue using the LTCD script. Takes 20 minutes to run – instead of 3 days of eyeball strain !.

Counting wildlife using a satellite image. Satellite is in orbit approx 800km above earth.

 

Wildfire Burn Severity mapping:

2014 Wildfires in NWT.

Wildfire Burn Severity analysis.

Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Airphoto Project:

Wrote specifications and contract managed for 1;30,000 scale airphotos covering Mackenzie gas Pipeline route (pipeline yet to be built) and Mackenzie Delta,and creating of 1 meter contours and digital elevation model (DEM).

1:30,000 scale airphoto tile.

Area covered by MVAP tiles, contours and DEM (extends down Mackenzie Valley).

 

Long Term Change Detection (LTCD):

Long Term Change Detection – User Guide.

LTCD User Guide. Description of colours for wildfires.

LTCD User Guide. Sample images of slope movement.

 

Read more about the User Guide and ESRI ‘App’ of the Month, and CBC Weekender radio interview here:

https://www.geomatics.gov.nt.ca/en/newsroom/long-term-change-detection-wins-esri-canadas-app-month-december-2021

 

Sold: 1997 Toyota 4Runner

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There goes another one…

Rare 5 speed Manual and E-locker 1997 Toyota 4Runner SR5.

 

Bought it in May 2020 – sight unseen in Calgary.  Because of Covoid, didn’t get to it until August 2020. By then, it had been picked up and moved to a new location outside of town. Did a few repairs and drove it back to Yellowknife. 

Definitely fun as heck to drive. Short shift 5 speed transmission, and straight piped (no muffler – straight pipe exhaust). Great sound from the engine. It also had a forward tilt, slightly nose down. Two inch lift and 17″ tires, and a crazy blinking light pole at the rear.  Like any used vehicle, it had its share of surprises.  In retrospect I should have known. It had a rebuilt engine installed.  Last winter i had a heck of a time starting it. It had an electric battery blanket and cord for the engine block heater.  Cord….I assumed it was plugged in. But i discovered a week later that the cord wasn’t actually plugged in – it was left over from the previous engine !. New engine didn’t have a block heater.!.

 

The power windows didn’t work, and still don’t. Checked the fuses, and same circuit as the sunroof – and that works !. Power locks work, except from drivers door.  I opened up the side console and checked the controller. It was dirty, worn out and sooty. Cleaned it, and figured it was the problem – Not !. Broken wire somewhere?.

I replaced the brakes. All new parts; pads, rotors, calipers and drums, and the entire parking brake system (removed by previous owner) – Wow. That was a bit of work, and so much better !.

Also did a bunch of smaller jobs; sway bar (removed by previous owner), end links, replaced all the fluids, and fluid film on rusty bits. The truck came with a cargo rack, that was replaced with a DIY roof rack for canoes and roof top tent.   Never got around to doing body work – seemed as though every panel had a big dent.

The ARB bumper and 12,000 lb winch for a bit of use moving other vehicles around the yard – but not real use off road.

Of the original 5!!  4Runners in my fleet, this was number 4 (4-4). One remaining ;>

 

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