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Floatplane / seaplane services in Victoria - Harbour Air | Kenmore Air


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#521 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 02 December 2019 - 04:10 PM

indeed.

#522 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 10 December 2019 - 02:24 AM

from ha:

Due to changing weather conditions, the decision was made to bring the first flight forward by one day. The world’s first all-electric commercial aircraft will now take off tomorrow Tuesday, December 10th from our Richmond (YVR South) location at 8:30am*.

The Harbour Air and magniX team successfully completed taxi and skip tests on the Fraser River this morning in preparation for the first official test flight.

A live video stream of the first flight will be available beginning at 8:00 am, Tuesday, December
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#523 Sparky

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Posted 10 December 2019 - 09:16 AM

It lifted off shortly after 9:00 and it flew like any other plane. 



#524 aastra

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Posted 10 December 2019 - 02:34 PM

 

It lifted off shortly....

 

Didn't the "Spruce Goose" also lift off shortly?*

 

*don't disappoint me by not replying to this softball



#525 spanky123

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Posted 10 December 2019 - 02:58 PM

^ Yep. Flew for 3 minutes. Great PR exercise. CEO admits that electric planes are not yet approved by transport Canada and the battery technology does not yet exist to make the flights commercially viable, but hopes to have something in 2 years.



#526 North Shore

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Posted 10 December 2019 - 08:05 PM

First jet aircraft flew in 1939 with a range of ~ 200km; within 20 years, people were flying transatlantic on 707s..
Say, what's that mountain goat doing up here in the mist?

#527 Rob Randall

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Posted 10 December 2019 - 08:49 PM

^That was a pretty disastrous 20 years though. That's how we learned the phrase "metal fatigue".



#528 AllseeingEye

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Posted 10 December 2019 - 11:39 PM

^ Yep. Flew for 3 minutes. Great PR exercise. CEO admits that electric planes are not yet approved by transport Canada and the battery technology does not yet exist to make the flights commercially viable, but hopes to have something in 2 years.

 

And to be specific what "doesn't exist" are lithium batteries that can store a charge and provide power for (safe) commercial flights. They're limited currently to about 45 minutes in the air, max. That'll no doubt improve and improve quickly given all the cash being injected into the technology. Very cool.



#529 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 04:41 AM

It lifted off shortly after 9:00 and it flew like any other plane.

 

 

Bobby: I can't believe Bruce Dickinson digs our sound!

Bruce Dickinson: Easy, guys.. I put my pants on just like the rest of you -- one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records. [ the group laughs ] Alright, here we go. "Fear... Don't Fear the Reaper" -- take one. Roll it [ he exits into the control booth ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

nobody wants to suggest ha cut any corners on this historic flight.  but you'd think they'd use a whole truck to push/pull the craft in and out of the water.

 

https://twitter.com/HarbourAirLtd

 

 

all joking aside there is something strange and wonderful about this flight taking place with a 60-year-old plane.


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2019 - 04:45 AM.


#530 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 06:08 AM

How Harbour Air Beat Everyone Else to the Electric Aviation Revolution

Electric planes work for Victoria and Vancouver in a way that they just don't anywhere else

 

 

A pretty major aviation milestone just occurred in our backyard. On Tuesday morning, in front of an assembled crowd in Richmond, B.C., Harbour Air performed history’s first takeoff and landing of a commercial aircraft propelled exclusively by a battery-powered electric motor.

 

The aircraft, a converted de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, had been fitted out with an electric power system designed and manufactured by the Washington State company magniX. The test is all part of Harbour Air’s plan to go full-electric starting 2021.

 

https://www.capnews....ectric-aviation

 

 


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2019 - 06:08 AM.


#531 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 06:10 AM

apart from songhees condo owners going ape is there any reason not to have a seaplane flights to port angeles?  it's almost a full 1/3 of the distance the vic-van flights go (35 vs. 80 or 95km).  both pa and vic have customs people there for the coho.


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2019 - 06:14 AM.

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#532 spanky123

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 06:14 AM

And to be specific what "doesn't exist" are lithium batteries that can store a charge and provide power for (safe) commercial flights. They're limited currently to about 45 minutes in the air, max. That'll no doubt improve and improve quickly given all the cash being injected into the technology. Very cool.


What doesn’t exist are batteries with the energy density necessary to make commercial flight viable. Sure the stripped down plane we saw yesterday might be able to fly 45 minutes but that becomes significantly shorter once it has passengers and cargo.

Batteries are a mature technology. We are seeing gains in density of about 3% a year. Tesla, with their billions, has improved their capacity about 30% since they started nearly a decade ago.

I would be very happy to fly in an electric plane, I just don’t see us improving capacity 4-5x in 2 years. Heck, aren’t we all supposed to be traveling in self-driving cars next year according to the Mayor’s forecast 5 years ago?!

#533 Mike K.

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 06:14 AM

That's a great idea. I'd be all over that for day trips or weekend excursions.


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#534 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 06:24 AM

one way to squeak out some extra power would be for ha to install usb "charging" and even laptop 120 vac charging outlets.  so people plug in.  but what they don't announce is that these ports actually suck power the other way.  the 19 people on the flight actually help turn the propeller with all their collective phones and laptops.


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#535 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 06:24 AM

That's a great idea. I'd be all over that for day trips or weekend excursions.

 

and us tourists would like it.  maybe the plane can depart hurricane ridge that would be a cool flight.


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2019 - 06:25 AM.


#536 lanforod

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 08:32 AM

Why PA though? What do you do once you're there, without a car?



#537 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 08:35 AM

it’s for Americans to come here.

#538 lanforod

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 08:37 AM

it’s for Americans to come here.

 

From a town of 20k? Everett makes more sense.



#539 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 08:49 AM

it’s for summer tourists. the same that come on the coho Washington ferries or clipper. and it’s cheap because it’s such a short flight.

#540 Mike K.

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Posted 11 December 2019 - 08:54 AM

Port Angeles is a great place to hang out for a day. Two days would include renting a car and trekking into the mountains or a drive along the coast. It's fantastic for a quick getaway.


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