THC 019 - DHC 2Mk III TB
"Eaton"

(Home base: CYKZ, . Chief pilot: Sir Troll)

THE EATON ACQUISITION STORY



It was December 23, 2000 and I found myself at CYVP airport in Kuujjuaq, Quebec. The day before, I had flown across from CYRE on Wallace Island to the tip of the Ungava Peninsula, down its West Coast to Kuujjuaq. It was the final big water crossing that I would have to do on my North Atlantic crossing from Norway to Toronto. The thing is, that the winds are legend on this crossing and said to be the strongest in all of Canada. I was lucky the day I left, I had light winds and fair skies.

I have heard Sir Snidely, on several occasions; mention his aversion to flying over water for any extended period of time. He is a man of great skill and wisdom and health respect of all things pertaining to safety. I have great respect for our Chief Soaring Instructor and I will admit that as I headed out over the North Atlantic from ENTO, it was with some reservation. However, throughout the many long hours spent flying over this big water I came to really appreciate the quality of machine that was the Norwegian... wood never a hint of trouble, and actually enjoyed the many faces of the great waters below. Anyway, I left the tiny airstrip at Resolution Research Base on the 22nd, with 11,700 lbs. of electronic equipment on board and delivered it safely to CYVP.

Talk about being right place at the right time! The next morning after completing the omnipresent paperwork, I stepped out of the of FBO and noticed the very plane I had been lusting after for some time now, the Timothy Eaton family deHavilland DHC Mk III turbo Beaver.

A while back, I got wind of the fact that the Eaton family business, Eaton's Department Stores, had fallen on hard times and was having to liquidate some of its assets. I immediately sent word to a trustworthy agent directing him to make some discreet inquiries on my behalf. I wanted to know the minute this turbo Beaver became available. Discretion was essential as deHavilland only manufactured 67 of these airplanes. They where a hot commodity that were snapped up immediately.

I asked around and found that the turbo's pilot had returned to Toronto and the turbo Beaver had been left due to lack of funds. A little fishing on my part discovered that the plane was for sale. I suggested I was interested but would have to give it a test flight first. Well, I spent the next hour-and-a-half putting her through her paces and when I brought her back in, I got right on the phone and started negotiations. I really had the upper hand here as the company was severely strapped for cash and we signed the deal giving me a $400,000 plus aircraft for a mere $100,000.

All was left was to get her back to Buttonville. For that she would have to be crated and placed in Norwegian Wood's cargo bay. From then on I was flying two airplanes. I continued on my way from Quebec to Ontario finally ending in North Bay, CYYB. Once there I had the turbo beaver and crated and assembled. This had been a very profitable trip for me. I made considerable cash hauling trash from Norway to Canada; I scored a great turbo Beaver and inherited a piston Beaver complete with its own business.

The turbo Beaver now sports the despair colours and Algonquin Air commemorative logo. I have named her the Eaton in honor of one of Canada's greatest family names. She is based at our Canadian dESPair Hub at CYKZ, Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. The Norwegian Wood stayed on at North Bay for complete maintenance and engine overhaul work.

Captain Troll