On the Step with thatmallardguy

Mark Downham explains what it is like to work on a 70 year old aircraft such as the Mallard. He also talks about his career in the Australian Navy working on Seaking helicopters and his time in Fiji where he maintained 2 Twin Otter Amphibian‘s working for 7star resorts. He talks about how corrosion effects an aircraft and how to treat it.

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Episode 1 in Maintenance Week focuses on the worlds largest seaplane company and how they manage to keep 50+ Twin Otters airborne. Nisham Ali, along with a close friend, run the amazing Instagram page @seaplanemechanic, sharing an insight into what happens behind the turquoise waters and white beaches to make the airline what it is today. From daily maintenance, weekly maintenance and heavy maintenance, Nisham tells gives us an idea of how it all works.

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Lloyd Cofield began his career in aviation competing around the world as an Australian competition skydiver. After several years of jumping from the plane, he changed seats to start driving them! With his passion for adventure, flying seaplanes made sense, so a move to Air Whitsunday followed. After leading the pilot group as Chief Pilot, Lloyd then took the step up to fly the Mallard before finishing his career as a pilot for the Royal Flying Doctor.

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Deon Mitton's photographs can be found in most places. His exceptional talent at capturing the mighty Seaplane, or even just General Aviation aircraft in their natural habitats, makes him one of the best aviation photographers around. Put him behind a microphone, and Deon is not only inspiring, but can also take your mind to the rivers and the mountains of Alaska, with incredible detail into his bush pilot lifestyle. 

http://deonmitton.com

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Built in 1947, the Albatross was originally a military aircraft. With most of them retiring and being put in the desert by the late 80's, there is few that fly today. But Michael Barksdale and Stewart Lawrence are the exception. Owning their own Grumman Albatross to go partying, jumping off the wing and showing off at airshows. Not only that, when needed the guys are often first responders to disaster relief areas such as the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands after hurricanes. So, is the Albatross the ULTIMATE private seaplane!?

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Shayne McAulay is a bush pilot at heart. Growing up in Wanaka New Zealand, he was exposed to flying in both the airline and GA environment from a very early age. He got his dream job as an airline pilot, but floatplanes and bush flying were always in the back of his mind. After buying a Piper Cub on floats just to build some float time, he got his first seaplane job in remote Canada flying a Beaver almost 20 years into his aviation career, whilst on leave without pay for his airline job. His story is one of adventure and fun!

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Flying boats attracted Michael Smith to aviation. He had purchased his first flying boat before he finished his private pilot licence. But at heart, he is a true adventure seeker. That trait found him on the adventure of a lifetime flying a single engine flying boat around the world, by himself! After discovering the 2 seat aircraft wasn't going to fulfil his future needs, Michael tracked down the perfect private seaplane money could buy, leading to another international adventure retracing the steps of a flight completed exactly 100 years prior.

To get Michael's book and DVD follow the link below.

http://www.southernsun.voyage/store

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Being a 70 year old airplane, the Grumman Mallard has a long history of flying locations and drivers in the front seat. Kurt Miller was one of those drivers who flew our Mallard here at Paspaley, J-26, all over the West Coast of Canada for West Coast Air, who eventually became Air BC. He tells stories of icing up in the Mallard, comparing the Twin Otter to the Mallard, and even running out of fuel in a Found! 

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Using the inspiration of a shirtless Tom Cruise in the all time classic "Top Gun", Rob Ceravolo was destined to become a fighter pilot. He accomplished his childhood dream of flying (another Grumman product) the F-14 Tomcat made famous in the movie and had a successful career in the Navy resulting in his own stint at Top Gun. But once his career flying jets was coming to an end, Rob dreamed of starting his own aviation business. After selling everything he owned including the car and house to get his dream off the ground, Rob now owns one of the worlds fastest growing seaplane companies.

https://flytropic.com

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Peter Gash's 40 year aviation career has seen him achieve so much, including many hours of seaplane flying, completing his aircraft maintenance licence, gaining an Order of Australia medal in the General Division for services to ecotourism and aviation, and now being involved in the testing of magniX electric engines. Oh and don't forget that he owns and operates his fleet of Caravan's and Twin Otters to his own Island on the Great Barrier Reef! Peter has so much to offer to our industry and tells some amazing stories about his journey so far, as well as a glimpse into the future of what we have to look forward to in the general aviation sector.

https://seairpacific.com.au

https://ladyelliot.com.au

https://www.magnix.aero

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