Sunday, January 11, 2015

Young Eagles take flight

TIMMINS - If you talk to Timmins aviation enthusiast Lloyd Richards, he will tell you that if there if one symbol that is truly iconic of Northern Ontario, it is the float plane.
Who hasn't been out in the bush to hear that familiar growl of a piston engine aircraft overhead, maybe taking some lucky fishermen to a remote lake or bringing drill samples from a remote mining camp back to the city?
Richards is a Timmins businessman who operates three airplanes, all of them land based. But he has previously owned a float plane.
On a Saturday morning in late September, several float plane pilots in Timmins got together through the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to carry out another Young Eagles flight day.
Normally the Young Eagles program involves getting youngsters to enjoy their first airplane flight in the hope that someday those young people will consider a career in aviation. Most often the flights involve land-based aircraft taking off and landing from a local airport. That's how the Young Eagles program has worked for so many years in Timmins.
The new twist locally invited young people to enjoy a ride in a float plane.
“Yeah, we've done it two years in a row now on the water, on Porcupine Lake. It has been very successful. The kids loved it,” said Richards.
The only disappointment, said Richards, was that the local flying partners had lots of room for more young people. He said roughly two dozen youngsters were able to enjoy a flight, but there was room for lots more. He said he's hoping things will improve next year.
“This is a great thing for the community and we'd like more young people to be part of it,” said Richards.
He said that most local airplane owners are members of EAA, or COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association), and that includes owners of the many float planes we see in Timmins.
“We live in a part of the world where I am sure there are a lot of kids who would aspire to being a float plane pilot,” he said. “There's people who work in the bush, the mining exploration people, people in natural resources. There's a whole segment of the aviation business which operates on floats.”
Richards said Confederation College in Thunder Bay has a program to teach float plane flying and is creating a whole new generation of bush pilots.
He said float-plane aviation has always been an essential part of business in many Northern Ontario communities. Richards recalled that the South Porcupine seaplane base was home, at various times, to Georgian Bay Airways, Austin Airways and is currently home to Ratcliffe Aircraft Ltd.
“Oh. by the way, we had the full co-operation of Mel Ratcliffe for our program this year and we do appreciate that,” said Richards.
He said the Young Eagles will be spinning up again in 2015 with the land-based planes at the Timmins Airport on June 13 and the float plane base again on Porcupine Lake in September, with the date to be announced.
Richards said the Young Eagles program can operate year round if necessary if there is a group of young people, interested in aviation, who might enjoy a brief flight and a look at some airplanes.
Richards said he can be contacted at Lloyd Richards Moving and Cartage at 705 267-7111.

Young Eagles Take flight

BRAD RATCLIFF/For The Daily Press
A float plane docks on Porcupine Lake during the recent Young Eagles program. This is the second year that a float plane fly has been added to the Young Eagles program in the fall, which uses land-based planes in early summer.
TIMMINS - If you talk to Timmins aviation enthusiast Lloyd Richards, he will tell you that if there if one symbol that is truly iconic of Northern Ontario, it is the float plane.
Who hasn't been out in the bush to hear that familiar growl of a piston engine aircraft overhead, maybe taking some lucky fishermen to a remote lake or bringing drill samples from a remote mining camp back to the city?
Richards is a Timmins businessman who operates three airplanes, all of them land based. But he has previously owned a float plane.
On a Saturday morning in late September, several float plane pilots in Timmins got together through the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) to carry out another Young Eagles flight day.
Normally the Young Eagles program involves getting youngsters to enjoy their first airplane flight in the hope that someday those young people will consider a career in aviation. Most often the flights involve land-based aircraft taking off and landing from a local airport. That's how the Young Eagles program has worked for so many years in Timmins.
The new twist locally invited young people to enjoy a ride in a float plane.
“Yeah, we've done it two years in a row now on the water, on Porcupine Lake. It has been very successful. The kids loved it,” said Richards.
The only disappointment, said Richards, was that the local flying partners had lots of room for more young people. He said roughly two dozen youngsters were able to enjoy a flight, but there was room for lots more. He said he's hoping things will improve next year.
“This is a great thing for the community and we'd like more young people to be part of it,” said Richards.
He said that most local airplane owners are members of EAA, or COPA (Canadian Owners and Pilots Association), and that includes owners of the many float planes we see in Timmins.
“We live in a part of the world where I am sure there are a lot of kids who would aspire to being a float plane pilot,” he said. “There's people who work in the bush, the mining exploration people, people in natural resources. There's a whole segment of the aviation business which operates on floats.”
Richards said Confederation College in Thunder Bay has a program to teach float plane flying and is creating a whole new generation of bush pilots.
He said float-plane aviation has always been an essential part of business in many Northern Ontario communities. Richards recalled that the South Porcupine seaplane base was home, at various times, to Georgian Bay Airways, Austin Airways and is currently home to Ratcliffe Aircraft Ltd.
“Oh. by the way, we had the full co-operation of Mel Ratcliffe for our program this year and we do appreciate that,” said Richards.
He said the Young Eagles will be spinning up again in 2015 with the land-based planes at the Timmins Airport on June 13 and the float plane base again on Porcupine Lake in September, with the date to be announced.
Richards said the Young Eagles program can operate year round if necessary if there is a group of young people, interested in aviation, who might enjoy a brief flight and a look at some airplanes.
Richards said he can be contacted at Lloyd Richards Moving and Cartage at 705 267-7111.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Out going Timmins Eaa and Copa President

Hello to all

As you may have heard from our last meeting ,our members have voted for our new board of directors for the next two years. Congratulations to Marc Talbot and all the directors, Marc is our new President, David Shale for Vice , Yvon Lecour for Treasurer and John Huggins for memberships. As my term came to a end 3 years in the making,  I would like to thank all the help that I received from our members and directors . I  believe that we have a strong membership we do great things together as a group. Our group has organized many activities over the years, with the Young Eagles program and most recent the air tours and breakfast. These activities are bringing our provinces together Quebec and Ontario. I look forward to the upcoming year as we have new ideas to promote aviation, and getting our membership involved when we meet once a month.

In closing  Good luck to Marc and I will see you all at the meeting. Thanks Again!!!!

Mike Mageau

Monday, January 2, 2012

Happy New Year 2012

Well another year has passed ,out with the old in with the new, welcome to 2012 .This photo of my son when he was only 1.5 year old tells us that your never to old to learn how to fly, now he's enrolled in Seneca College in southern Ontario, out of Buttonville Airport to pursue a career in aviation. He is in his second year of the flight program of four. If you like more info about his program you can go to the Seneca College website or contact jasonmageau@gmail.com

Our Eaa Chapter 1126 is a group of pilots and non pilots enthusiasts who come together once a month  every second Tuesday, we are looking for new members to join our club if your thinking about a flying career this is the place to be. Join us and will start your journey together, into a  possible flying career, or just for pleasure, it's all fun.Any questions contact myself mageaumike@gmail.com

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Christmas is coming Santa neeeds an Airplane

How can you tell Christmas is coming?  Santa is looking for help. These volunteers from C.A.S.A.R.A.  Search And Rescue were all ready for the Christmas parade held in Timmins,Ontario Saturday November 5,2011 along with Eaa chapter 1126  Mike Mageau who pulled the float for them, Santa can rest easy this year knowing that these people are keeping him safe. Big Thank You  to them for keeping the spirit of flying alive." Save our Highways Fly Instead".







Sunday, October 16, 2011

New president voted in for Eaa chapter 1126



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 Eaa chapter 1126 Timmins held their general elections on Tuesday October 11,2011.
Mike Mageau was elected President of the chapter for two years,treasurer is Yvon Lecour,secretary is John Huggins.We also voted in a newsletter/ program Chairman Lloyd Richard also a chairman for our young Eagles Day which is Lloyd Richards and Mike Geoffroy,our official photographer is Jeff Smereck.Other topics was brought forward at our meeting was our Xmas Supper which will be held on Nov 25,2011 At the Dante Club. We have  room for 100 hundred. The cost for the Dinner will 40.00 dollars per person. The dinner is set  for 7:00pm and cocktails will start at 6:00 pm. We will have a guest speaker to be announced this week.  So bring your family, friends and spouses, come and enjoy a night out on the town and enjoy some music and laughs. You can contact myself mageaumike@gmail.com  or  705 268-7930 for reservations.Our next meeting will be held November 8 the agenda will be special for this time so stay tuned for now.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

TIMMINS MAN FLIES 2300 YOUNG EAGLES


Congratulation!!!  We like to thank Lloyd Richards for all his devotion and compation to fly all these kids as he celebrates 2300 children from the age of 7 to 18 yrs of age that join the ranks as Young Eagles. This program was started many years ago to get interest in young kids that never had the experience of flight. Hoping one day that they would become pilots themselves.
 
Were starting a new  winter season for our club our first meeting is on Tuesday October 11,2011 behind the Shania Twain Center at 7:30pm come and join us for coffee and cookies. We will be electing our new board members  for two years so come and  join us even if you don't fly, hear the stories that go around the table. If you have any Questions e-mail mageaumike@gmail.com