Category: Flying

Stories about flying planes and helicopters, discussions of technique and teaching.

Maine coastal aerial photos: Vinalhaven to Westport

by philg

After departing Vinalhaven towards KRKD

This photo is a favorite (steep bank in the helicopter to get the straight-down perspective):

Enough power for your Tesla, near Westport, Maine (but where does all of this power come from and what is it needed for in an apparently deserted part of the shoreline?):

Gourmet breakfast sandwich stop at Owl’s Head General Store:

From our Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine trip in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow and I were flying.

Also available as a streaming 8K video.

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Maine aerial photos: Deer Isle Bridge and Vinalhaven

by philg

From the Bar Harbor Airport we proceeded southwest to the Deer Isle Bridge (cost $900,000 to build in 1939, $17 million in today’s mini-dollars):

And for the sailors, North Haven and Vinalhaven:

From our Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine trip in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow and I were flying.

Also available as a streaming 8K video.

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Sunrise over Bar Harbor aerial photos

by philg

Departed BHB just before sunrise, south through Somes Sound and then around the east side of Mound Desert Island:

The Jackson Laboratory, a great place to stop for mice:

And then on to the main town for this part of Maine, so to speak… (Bar Harbor itself):

And finally a fly-over of the BHB airport:

From our Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine trip in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow and I were flying.

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Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor Aerials

by philg

Bass Harbor to Southwest Harbor:

Northeast Harbor, a not-intolerable place to suffer through a summer 2020 COVID quarantine:

From Northeast Harbor to the core of Acadia National Park and the Park Loop Road:

Late afternoon light on Bar Harbor, Maine itself and then to the airport and Columbia for an overnight stop.

From our Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine trip in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow and I were flying.

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President Biden delivers on his promise to shut down the United States…

by philg

… well, the Washington, D.C. area at least. From the FAA:

It is still possible to go IFR into three airports:

But VFR pilots and those based at GAI, for example, are denied the use of their aircraft during this most joyous of days.

Related:

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Maine coastal aerial photos: Castine to Mount Desert Island

by philg

Castine to the causeway from Trenton to Mount Desert Island, home of Acadia National Park:

Down the west coast of Mount Desert Island to Bass Harbor:

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From our Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine trip in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow and I were flying.

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Rockland and Camden, Maine from the air

by philg

Foliage season in the art center of Rockland, Maine and north to Rockport and Camden:

Camden, Maine (#1 prettiest according to Downeast magazine!) and up to Belfast:

From our Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine trip in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow and I were flying.

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Coast of Maine aerial photos: Saint George to Owl’s Head

by philg

Saint George to the Knox County Airport (KRKD):

Lunch stop at KRKD, home of the Rockefeller-grade Owls Head Transportation Museum. Thanks, Downeast Air, for the crew car.

Monument to lost sailors next to the Keag Store (our lobster roll source):

A TripAdvisor comment from Debi J, a September 2020 visitor:

NO social distancing at all!!!!! NO masks on staff, cooks or register persons or CUSTOMERS. Customers place take out orders and stand right next to the check out register while they wait for their food to be prepared. No limits to how many people may enter in the store, they had about 20 people in a tiny store, no way you could social distance if you wanted to. STAY AWAY IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN HEALTHY, IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME, UGH!!!

Some people would be happier if they stayed in Massachusetts! (with lots of social distancing and 8X the COVID-19 death rate compared to Maine)

Onward to Owl’s Head per se….

From our Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine trip in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow and I were flying.

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Maine aerial photos: Boothbay Harbor and up the Damariscotta River

by philg

Our series continues … from the mid-October Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine flight in a Robinson R44 helicopter. Tony Cammarata was in back with a door removed and a Nikon D850. Instrument student Vince Dorow was with me in the front seats.

Boothbay Harbor and up the Damariscotta River:

Damariscotta, Maine and down to Muscongus Bay:

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