Island Wings DHC-2 Beaver - Ketchikan to the Misty Fjords

Video of my Misty Fjords flightseeing tour aboard the Island Wings DHC-2 Beaver "Lady Esther" and the photos captured along the way
Flown from Ketchikan, Alaska on July 7, 2016 while cruising the Holland America Nieuw Amasterdam
The scenery of the Misty Fjords National Monument was truly majestic. It's incredible to think mountains rising 3000ft high were once buried and ground smooth under massive ice sheets. Nothing quite captures this unless you are 3000ft up, looking across the horizon and can judge the height of the mountains by their pointed or rounded peaks. Michelle's knowledge of the geology and ecology made for a very educational flight.
The Lady Esther started life as a military plane built by DeHavilland Canada and delivered to the US Army Air Corps on July 23, 1959.
[source: www.dhc-2.com/id383.htm]
She was named after Michelle's grandmother, whom she credits as her inspiration. [www.islandwings.com/about-your...]
The DHC-2 Beaver is legendary in this part of the world and was designed to be perfectly suited to the harsh conditions in which many have operated for over 60 years. The distinctive rumble of the Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine is a familiar sound to Alaskans - many of whom live in remote areas only accessible by plane or boat.
My apologies if the video is long by YT standards. The 2 hour flight itself seemed to go by far too quickly and this video was a way for me to preserve the memories of the sights and sounds, both outside and inside the cockpit. To me, they were equally thrilling.

[@e-rj8984]

Skilled Lady pilot and sooo Beautiful Nature 👍🌷

[@Asta-wl8jz]

I was on this very plane with Michelle probably 10 years ago or more. We had the time of our lives. I hope Michelle is still doing this.

[@frankeimer3906]

My favorite aircraft .I was a AME and worked on CFFHB #1 beaver. Thanks for tour. From this canuck

[@pacerodi]

The most art-deco flying machine all around!

[@coldlakealta4043]

we took the duplicate of this flight in 2018. Your videography captured our memories beautifully. Thank you for posting. Long live the DHC-2 Beaver!

[@Adventure494]

Thanks for sharing! Great scenery

[@dnciz]

Thank you very much for this great video. I totaly enjoyed it!

[@lorriefequet7680]

Thanks for sharing. Love these old float planes...flew in many like these and otters in northern quebec in the 70's. Beautiful scenery.

[@xinvolume]

Thanks for a beautiful view of the country side, great video.

[@wagonmaster1974]

With over 20K hours, it is no wonder Michelle has such a touch. That was as smooth a landing as I've seen recorded on video. Just kissed the water. Definitely one with her DeHavilland. Great video. If I ever get up to AK, would love to fly with her. Only hiccup I see is the reg for the plane shows it to be a '58, not a '59. Paperwork...yeesh!

[@juemuri5448]

traumhaft schön...

[@greggb3079]

Sorry. I am a little late to viewing this video. The scenery is just amazing, but I am sure is doesn't compare to flying right above it. The bonus for me would be flying in one those awesome Beaver's... Thank you for putting this up.

[@mothmagic1]

Love the Beaver. Especially with R985 power

[@urdooinitrong7753]

fantastic landing! one of my favorite rc models. Actually hangs in my bedroom...

[@alanbstard4]

Lady Esther looks lovely in her colourful livery. Popular place going on those cruise ships at 3.26

[@hbunnie1120]

Thank You for letting us hear the Beaver..

[@propgator5107]

The sound of that big radial is what makes the experience special.

[@jetho69]

@@propgator5107 like a flying Harley

[@Aero360Aviation]

Stunningly beautiful. This is my dream...

[@HuskyDude58]

Great times in Alaska! It was very well done! will be watching it a few more times for sure!!! Thx for sharing. Husky

[@propgator5107]

Thanks Dave (Husky)!

[@noenthusiasts]

I noticed once she was airborne she really backed out of the throttle. The ability to climb in these seems effortless. I gotta find a ride in one.

[@danwaldie4661]

noenthusiasts Go to Tofino or VIctoria.

[@robfraley4210]

W O W ... That was a Great Trip... Thanks.

[@shanemcdonald3191]

That P&L sounds so sweet 🎶

[@attilahorvath9452]

It's my dream! Amazing!!!

[@kerenchadwick9697]

Lovely views...

[@MrTimman85]

great video of our company thank you for sharing

[@propgator5107]

Thanks Tim. Keep living the dream and keep an eye on those bears!

[@randymxer65]

Will be going on that tour this Sunday. Can't wait. Weathers looking good. hope its as awesome as seen in your video.

[@propgator5107]

Hope you had a great time. Glad it was Sunday and not Monday. Sad news about the crash.

[@randymxer65]

Had an Awesome tour. Michelle was great. crash was sad and scary that something like that could happen.@@propgator5107

[@maureenmurphy]

I just booked to fly with Michelle in June!

[@propgator5107]

That's great! You will not be disappointed. Michelle does an excellent job and the Lady Esther is the prettiest float plane you'll see in Alaska.

[@valeriitomashevskyi5548]

Первое видео , где Ди Хевиленд , динамичен и манёвреный . На остальных видео он статичен , не динамичен , летит низко и только прямо , как приклееный ! Вы прекрассный пилот , и самолёт отменный , спасибо , что показали его краму и силу . И спасибо за море удовольствия и позитива !

[@kennietravelmemories4619]

super beautiful clear images ! what brand of camera you used ? thanks sharing.appreciate.

[@arturasstatkus8613]

So nice:)

[@edwardmiller6353]

Very Nice!

[@tombrennan3973]

I have several scale models of this very plane and dream of that left seat one day :-) or right seat tbh ...

[@PaulGrc]

Lucky guy, I love every second of your video :^)

[@propgator5107]

Thanks Paul

[@benyessin7424]

nice Beaver...

[@billkrause4585]

Gave a thumbs up, but the tinker bell music has to go. What control adjustment are made overhead at the headliner?

[@Hockeyfan9884]

When and where do I book ? Are there fly in / fly out trout fishing tours available ?

[@propgator5107]

Hi Steve. www.islandwings.com/index.html Contact info is on the home page as well as links to the various tours. Hope you have fun!! (BTW, I'm not affiliated)

[@quikstop4347]

Great video... did you ask the pilot about the Koala (seen cuddling the compass!)?

[@propgator5107]

QuikStop I actually did ask her. I believe she said she gave a tour to a group from Australia and they gave it to her as a gift.

[@quikstop4347]

I thought that may have been the case! It came from my neck of the woods, would love to do that tour... Cheers!

[@stoneblue1795]

What serial number is this one?

[@propgator5107]

Hi JP. It's 1369. There's a link in the description to some info on her history.

[@ghdbx4289]

บรรทุกได้กี่ตัน

[@GMC6523]

wide open take off

[@truenorth5711]

Nice shots! What camera/ gear setup did you use?

[@propgator5107]

Thanks. Video was shot on my phone - which at the time I believe was my LG G3. Stills were shot with my Nikon D5000 with Sigma 18-200 lens. All aerials were shot through the plexi windows. Good thing Tim keeps them clean!

[@martinharceg1868]

Via Google maps it is 1,5 miles. Taking an airplane for this distance.......but coooooool because of Beaver. Very strange:((((

[@tanisherman5633]

that pilot has a nice beaver

[@kookamunga2458]

The video is tops but the music sucks . It's trite childish music akin to elevator music and Muzac and it ruins the atmosphere of the whole video.

[@clayz1]

Another bored video editor makes a music video. There should be a youtube class for these so we wont mistake them for airplane videos

[@Desjardins50]

The video might suck but I have flown there with Michelle and it was a lifetime experience. I fly often. You don’t know what you missed.