The Flying Firemen - who were they?
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Actually during the 12 years I worked for the Flying Fireman I always made my own agreements regarding what I flew and for how much and I was never short changed that way.
The union thing was something the pilots decided to do. Alex gave me an ultimatum the winter the union was certified.
Either I helped him break the union or he would make sure I would never fly a water bomber in Canada again.
I told him to go @#$! himself, the next thing that happened was Alex phoned me and told me I no longer had a job because the OMNR had sent him a letter stating I was unacceptable as a water bombing pilot in Ontario he sent me a copy and sure enough it was from R K and that was exactly what it said.
I went to the Ontario Ombudsman and had enough evidence that he did a full investigation.....R K was removed from his position and I was given an interview with the OMNR to fly the CL215.
I turned down the job after the interview and life went on.
The union thing was something the pilots decided to do. Alex gave me an ultimatum the winter the union was certified.
Either I helped him break the union or he would make sure I would never fly a water bomber in Canada again.
I told him to go @#$! himself, the next thing that happened was Alex phoned me and told me I no longer had a job because the OMNR had sent him a letter stating I was unacceptable as a water bombing pilot in Ontario he sent me a copy and sure enough it was from R K and that was exactly what it said.
I went to the Ontario Ombudsman and had enough evidence that he did a full investigation.....R K was removed from his position and I was given an interview with the OMNR to fly the CL215.
I turned down the job after the interview and life went on.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Good for you. I always heard smatterings of the story but finally it has all come together over the last few posts. A's ever so pleasent off spring tried to get me and a buddy over the barrel a few years ago when we did some work on those HS 748s he had. Its when AirBC had the strike and everyone was trying to get interm contracts to fill in. We rebuiilt some flaps to get one machine servicable and when we went to get paid we were arrogantly informed we werent getting paid. No excuse, they just felt we were nobodys and they were bigger than the world. I was going to rip the head off the bastard. But calmer heads prevailed and we quietly dissassembled the other aircraft flaps for repair ( as directed by the DOM who had no clue of our predicament with the Ws.) Once apart we left with a few key parts in our possession and waited. Well sure enough a couple days pass and I get a phone call from daddy all pissed off asking to have the parts back so the flaps could be reassembled. They wanted to get the second machine flying to make some money. I for the life of me couldnt remember where i put them and if i had some money come my way i think i could find them. WOW did that old man explode!!! He even threatend to have the police called. I laughed at the old man. I informed him his son had stiffed me for about a grand on the previous Flap job and if he wanted the parts to pony up the money owed and cash up front for me to put the flaps together. I guess his offspring neglected to inform his father of his business ethics which is where he learned it from. Ah nothing like watching a disfunctional family in action. Long story short, I got paid and the Ws got to feel the barrel on their stomachs.
How can you tell which one is the pilot when you walk into a bar?....Don't worry he will come up and tell you.
Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
[Stewart Wood had a gun battle with . in the summer of 82 in YGQ. . lived to fight another day by using the bunker mentality. Ok,ok . pulled the bunk over himself as Stu fired away emptying a six shooter into Chucks cabin wall and matress. I haven't seen Coln Flint in years but remember he was a really bad poker player.]
I believe it was 1983. No shots were fired at .'s cabin or matress, in fact 'bushed cassidy' and 'the sumdunce kid' did not even know (at that time) that . refused to fly that day due to their shoddy maintenance. Colin Plint actually took his poker very seriously.
[AAhhhh the good old days. I'll never forget the picture of Stewart and and the engineer standing against the wall hands and feet spread with the OPP swat team holding shot guns on them. By the way those idiots were firing a 44 Magnum and a 12 guage shot gun at two in the morning after coming home from the hotel.]
How did you see that . from hiding under your bed? The cops had 30-30's and it was a 357 magnum.
[The rest is history, they drank all day and all night and came back to Hutchinson lake at 2 AM and proceeded to shoot the place up..looking for me.]
Again, they weren't looking for you . because if they had of, you would be dead (under your bed).
[Those were the days for sure....if we got a call on a "Blue day " I would drive to the golf course and have the bird dog officer and the bird dog pilot and my F.O. extinguish the marajuana joints they were smoking and head for the airport.]
. you always were a bullshitter (or to put it politely - tend to exagerate). You should get your facts straight before you slander someone. And weren't you the little angel!
[Ah c'mon, you mean A W. was less than a saint when it came to conducting business and treating people with dignity?]
Yes, AW was all of that, but his son was worse.
[I informed him his son had stiffed me for about a grand on the previous Flap job and if he wanted the parts to pony up the money owed and cash up front for me to put the flaps together. I guess his offspring neglected to inform his father of his business ethics which is where he learned it from. Ah nothing like watching a disfunctional family in action. Long story short, I got paid and the Ws got to feel the barrel on their stomachs.]
SeptRepair, glad you got your money out of the Hawkers. I lost over 150k on those 748's due to the 'sumdunce kid' and his lack of morals and other difficulties.
I believe it was 1983. No shots were fired at .'s cabin or matress, in fact 'bushed cassidy' and 'the sumdunce kid' did not even know (at that time) that . refused to fly that day due to their shoddy maintenance. Colin Plint actually took his poker very seriously.
[AAhhhh the good old days. I'll never forget the picture of Stewart and and the engineer standing against the wall hands and feet spread with the OPP swat team holding shot guns on them. By the way those idiots were firing a 44 Magnum and a 12 guage shot gun at two in the morning after coming home from the hotel.]
How did you see that . from hiding under your bed? The cops had 30-30's and it was a 357 magnum.
[The rest is history, they drank all day and all night and came back to Hutchinson lake at 2 AM and proceeded to shoot the place up..looking for me.]
Again, they weren't looking for you . because if they had of, you would be dead (under your bed).
[Those were the days for sure....if we got a call on a "Blue day " I would drive to the golf course and have the bird dog officer and the bird dog pilot and my F.O. extinguish the marajuana joints they were smoking and head for the airport.]
. you always were a bullshitter (or to put it politely - tend to exagerate). You should get your facts straight before you slander someone. And weren't you the little angel!
[Ah c'mon, you mean A W. was less than a saint when it came to conducting business and treating people with dignity?]
Yes, AW was all of that, but his son was worse.
[I informed him his son had stiffed me for about a grand on the previous Flap job and if he wanted the parts to pony up the money owed and cash up front for me to put the flaps together. I guess his offspring neglected to inform his father of his business ethics which is where he learned it from. Ah nothing like watching a disfunctional family in action. Long story short, I got paid and the Ws got to feel the barrel on their stomachs.]
SeptRepair, glad you got your money out of the Hawkers. I lost over 150k on those 748's due to the 'sumdunce kid' and his lack of morals and other difficulties.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
According to the New American Bible, the Nephilim appear as part of the "increasing wickedness of mankind.
Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
I have to admit, this has become an entertaining (and interesting) thread.
Thanks, all
Thanks, all
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
- Amelia Earhart
Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Fallen angels, guilty as charged.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
I'm with Flybabe on this one ! Awesome read lolFlybabe wrote:I have to admit, this has become an entertaining (and interesting) thread.
Thanks, all
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
I think I probably have a different perspective on the Flying Fireman than anyone else could possible have. My Grandfather was the Chief Pilot and was caught in the middle of a lot of this stuff. He was the consummate pilot who certainly commanded the respect of the pilots that I met over the years. Being management I am sure that he made his share of friends and enemies amongst the crews but I know that he tried very hard to balance his responsibilities to everyone in the organization. Whether he showed it outwardly or not he spent most of his days and night trying to make sure that the crews were afforded a modicum of safety based on what resources he was allowed to deliver. Our phone never stopped ringing round the clock and his mind never left any of the pilots or the ground crew... it was an obsession for him.... if you have a story about Mike Pearson please post it in this or the other thread that I started and resurrected ... or pm me with it if you want. I am also looking for photos of the Cansos and all the people that he may have worked with at the FF. Please scan away and don't be afraid or shy. I want to hear and learn as much as possible.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
I flew for the F.F. for twelve years.
Your grandfather and I were as different as night and day as far as our backgrounds were concerned, Mike was ex air force and I was a rebel and considered to be " not a team player " by most of the forestry bosses......but both Mike and I were pilots first and last.
Poor Mike must have almost lost his mind trying to cover for me and all the shit I got into by refusing to suck up to the forestry bosses.
So he did the only thing he could think of he made me and my crew " A lone wolf crew" It worked just fine because every time I got into trouble in one district there was a fire somewhere else and I just fucked off and went to another province...worked like a damn because instead of sucking dick to keep my job I put out forest fires.
There was a four year period where I flew for Manitoba and was treated like a king and never told anyone to @#$! off...poor Mike he must have been really stressed as time went by wondering when the phone would ring and he would have to move me again.
Even though we were very different we worked together for all those years and had a real good relationship...except for the times he had to fire me to make it look good to some idiot in some forest district...which happened frequently.
When Alex fired me and got me banned from flying fire bombers Mike always remained one of my closest friends and the last time he called me he told me to never give up in my fight to get a fair resolution to my being blackballed by Alex and some OMNR bosses.
I had no idea Mike was dying from cancer the last time he phoned me.
He was and always will be someone I admired for the things he tried to do for his pilots.....like you said he was really limited in what he really could do.....being ex Air force he understood you cant beat the system, something I refused to accept.
So there is how it was between me and your grandfather FlyingFiremenC/PGSon and I am more than happy to tell it like it was.
Your grandfather and I were as different as night and day as far as our backgrounds were concerned, Mike was ex air force and I was a rebel and considered to be " not a team player " by most of the forestry bosses......but both Mike and I were pilots first and last.
Poor Mike must have almost lost his mind trying to cover for me and all the shit I got into by refusing to suck up to the forestry bosses.
So he did the only thing he could think of he made me and my crew " A lone wolf crew" It worked just fine because every time I got into trouble in one district there was a fire somewhere else and I just fucked off and went to another province...worked like a damn because instead of sucking dick to keep my job I put out forest fires.
There was a four year period where I flew for Manitoba and was treated like a king and never told anyone to @#$! off...poor Mike he must have been really stressed as time went by wondering when the phone would ring and he would have to move me again.
Even though we were very different we worked together for all those years and had a real good relationship...except for the times he had to fire me to make it look good to some idiot in some forest district...which happened frequently.
When Alex fired me and got me banned from flying fire bombers Mike always remained one of my closest friends and the last time he called me he told me to never give up in my fight to get a fair resolution to my being blackballed by Alex and some OMNR bosses.
I had no idea Mike was dying from cancer the last time he phoned me.
He was and always will be someone I admired for the things he tried to do for his pilots.....like you said he was really limited in what he really could do.....being ex Air force he understood you cant beat the system, something I refused to accept.
So there is how it was between me and your grandfather FlyingFiremenC/PGSon and I am more than happy to tell it like it was.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Thanks .... no one was sure what was wrong with Granddad until the final month of his life and I have often wondered if he did know but decided that the dignity of business as usual was far better than suffering the nonsense of treatment... I don't know this but I wonder sometimes about it. He was perhaps the most definable man I have ever known in my life. I have not known anyone who could so clearly be identified by his profession... flying and leading pilots was certainly his given talent.
I have been reading accident reports... stunted ones... on the internet trying to figure out what really happened to Joe Gant.... A powerful memory for me was when my Grandmother and I had to go to Eileen's shortly thereafter and share in their grief. I have seen conflicting reports of pilot fatigue and mechanical difficulties.... am not sure what to make of it> Anyone shed any light on this accident from many years ago.
I have been reading accident reports... stunted ones... on the internet trying to figure out what really happened to Joe Gant.... A powerful memory for me was when my Grandmother and I had to go to Eileen's shortly thereafter and share in their grief. I have seen conflicting reports of pilot fatigue and mechanical difficulties.... am not sure what to make of it> Anyone shed any light on this accident from many years ago.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
FlyingFiremenC/PGSon I am sure Mike knew what was happening because he had had an operation some years previously for the same problem as I recall.
When he called me that last time it was only about two weeks later I went to his funeral so I am sure he knew he was dying he just did not let anyone else know.
As to Joe Gant's accident this forum is not the place I wish to discuss this sad event.
I can tell you what I know of it when we meet this spring.
When he called me that last time it was only about two weeks later I went to his funeral so I am sure he knew he was dying he just did not let anyone else know.
As to Joe Gant's accident this forum is not the place I wish to discuss this sad event.
I can tell you what I know of it when we meet this spring.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Anyone remember Stan Fletcher.... chief engineer, around 1980/1.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Of course.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
I was reading an article entitled "Cansos over Canada" in which Stan's name was mentioned a few times. Also in that article was an anonymous pilot with a huge number of Cat hours ( Might be you .?)and Sonny Covin among others. The foundation of the article seems to be the sinking and subsequent recovery of # 4 which eventually ended up in Spain. Great article that I have in PDF format if anyone is interested.
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Thanks, HF - Lost in Saigon posted that on the first page of this thread.
Good to have it resurected though.
Good to have it resurected though.
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
- Amelia Earhart
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Ooops, didn't see it earlier. I guess I just demonstrated one of the Dirty Dozen in Human Factors... Lack of Awareness!
Will fix airplanes for food.
Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
We may have had some leniency had you realized the error and made steps to correct it..
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
- Amelia Earhart
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Flybabe has future TC inspector written all over her
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Flybabe had a lobotomy?
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not,knows no release from the little things; knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
- Amelia Earhart
- Amelia Earhart
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Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
Hi..I am new to the forum but i wanted to post that i have many great 8x10 shots of the Flying Fireman Canso at Pat Bay...I also have wreckage pictures from CF-FFY that crashed Aug 8 1968 around Lake Cowichan i believe......I would also like to put out there that i am a huge Mars fan and am very into them historically and am always looking for photos of them at Pat Bay/Fairey Aviation....Would love to talk with anyone who may have pics as i have a large archive as well and am always into sharing/swapping etc.......Thanks Dan
Re: The Flying Firemen - who were they?
In 1982 Mike Pearson hired me. I was running the Victoria Parachute Center at the time and my chief instructor had just got killed in a freak accident. I was looking for a bit of a change and Mike must have felt some compassion becuase I didn't have a lot of experience. It was one of the most interesting summers I have had in aviation. Mike was definetly a leader and a fine person. I was sad to hear that he died.