 My
First Flight - Prince Rupert has terrible weather in the winter months.
After waiting ten days, the weather cleared enough that the single engine
pontoon equipped Norseman would take off for Sandspit, my destination, as soon
as I and the pilot F/L Hyslop could load the AC. The cargo was mainly large
laundry bags that were being returned to Sandspit. The pilot and I were the only
souls on board. The laundry was soon loaded and then my two kit bags were handed
to Hyslop who was standing on the pontoon. The first one he loaded easily, but
when I handed him the second one he lost his balance and ended up straddling the
pontoon with both feet in the salt water. Well, I sure learned some new “cuss
words” that morning. “What in h___ do you airmen have in those bags??,
books, lead, etc.. He cursed my mother, my father and anyone who knew me and
threatened to leave me on the dock. Our flight was delayed as he emptied the
salt water out of his boots. This was to be my first flight and I certainly
wasn’t looking forward to it. We taxied away from the dock and he gave it full
power and road the water for about a mile. The A/C did not lift off and this
brought on another round of cursing as to the capabilities of this one engine
useless bird. No comment from me in the co-pilots seats. I was frozen stiff. The
second try, it lifted off and we headed across the Hecate Strait for Sandspit.
We landed safely, unloaded our cargo and Hyslop headed back to Rupert. I
never heard of or seen him again and I am not sure I want to.By Ron Rockey, Master Warrant Officer, MMM CD, Retired  |