Buffalo Joe's Electra

[The Inspector]

The Season 4 trailer was released today on their FB page, although I'm guessing only us Canucks can view it... http://www.facebook.com/icepilotsnwt

Although it was stated a film crew was not on board the Electra for the mishap, it looks as though they still got it on tape. (screen shot from trailer)


Oh, and it looks like Chuck is returning as well. Can't wait for Nov. 7th!

Yeah, those of us South of the border are still somewhere in season 1.5 thru 2.3 on the Weather Channel (which is owned by NBC and should have enough money to pick the whole thing up and run weekly instead of weakly (Can't say how many times I've tuned in only to discover it's 'Frozen 4' again). Oddly enough I was surfing a couple weeks ago and S.O.A.B. if NAT GEO wasn't running some episodes from season 1 (and none since).
Has anyone else noticed a trend on cable networks in British style programming? A 'New' season of a popular show runs about 6 episodes and disappears and then we're stuck with 37 weeks of solid, everyday block programming of crap like Swamp People or some Dumb a-- gold mining show? Let me tell you where to park that pirrouge!

[JohnB]

Considering the damage, I'm surprised they didn't write it off.

I think ther are still plenty of old Electras out there.
Does Air Atlantic still have the ones shown on Ice Pilots for sale (the one not bought by Buffalo) ?

[WallyB]

Considering the damage, I'm surprised they didn't write it off.

I think ther are still plenty of old Electras out there.

Not so sure. Airspray, Buffalo and Conair have snapped up most if not all of the flyable ones, going to great lengths to find them (UK, Honduras etc.).

Don't know how recent this survey is http://www.oldprops.ukhome.net/Electra%20Census.htm but it suggests there aren't many left.

[JohnB]

If Electras become that rare, I wonder if P-3s could be stripped out to haul fuel?
Shorter fuselage, but same basic aircraft...they might be useful as a bulk fuel tanker?
Since fuel is heavy, the shorter fuselage may not be a problem since I'd guess the aircraft would hit weight limits before running out of space.

[The Inspector]

If Electras become that rare, I wonder if P-3s could be stripped out to haul fuel?
Shorter fuselage, but same basic aircraft...they might be useful as a bulk fuel tanker?
Since fuel is heavy, the shorter fuselage may not be a problem since I'd guess the aircraft would hit weight limits before running out of space.

It would all come down to whether or not someone could get them away from the Canoe Club since all of them world wide I believe remain property of the DoD no matter who the operator is/was as that stipulation was a part of the contracts. Wasn't the Navy behind the cessation of P-3's as water bombers?
I recall reading someplace that when ZANTOP quit flying theirs they were getting really serious money per prop blade from other ELECTRA operators.

[shrike]

IL-18's anyone?

[The Inspector]

IL-18's anyone?

No FAA issued C of A, never submitted for certification like the An-2 COLT

[shrike]

IL-18's anyone?

No FAA issued C of A, never submitted for certification like the An-2 COLT

CAA issued in this case, but point taken. Wouldn't the same thing hamper P-3 use as well?

[The Inspector]

IL-18's anyone?

No FAA issued C of A, never submitted for certification like the An-2 COLT

CAA issued in this case, but point taken. Wouldn't the same thing hamper P-3 use as well?

A danged good question since the C-69 became the CONSTELLATION, the C-54 became the DC-4, and C-118's are operating as DC-6's, L-182's are civilian C-130's- and they all sprang from a common airframe design at one point in time.
If some solution isn't found, it won't be long before those who live in the bush and who's survival depends on flown in freight and medivac are headed for a serious collision. Not every operator can afford the upkeep on a 737 or even a DC-9 box hauler and not everything will fit in a CARAVAN or be economical to operate on a multi trip system when the weather can go to crap in seconds and lock you out for days or weeks.Hard to haul bulldozer parts in a CARAVAN.

[JohnB]

For fuel haulers, (Buffalo would have to use real Electras for any pax runs...but P-3s could stretch their fleet) I'd assume P-3s would be operated under a Restricted license. No paying passengers, but okay for freight.
Since it's a variant of the Electra (at least its major structure) the FAA might allow it. An example of that is the surplus YC-97s...(the ones with B-29 tails and structures) that were considerably different, but similar from the later civil Stratocruisers.

But I'm expecting a bureaucracy to do something logical...