While having coffee on the beach Thursday morning, we heard the sputter of an odd-sounding motor and looked up to view a big fat sea plane. It wasn't the plane from the TV series "Fantasy Island" ("Da plane! Da plane!")... At least I don't think it was. And, thankfully, no one was dropped off on our beach. But it did land (it did water?) before quickly taking off again. It appeared to come awfully close to some jet skis and sailboats, but my viewing must simply have been deceiving.
I was able to snap my first picture from our table before the plane headed back into the sky. It circled and returned, splashing down a few more times and giving me the opportunity to run down to shore for more shots.
(Click for a closer look.)
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| AND OFF AGAIN INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER. |
I'd like to ride in one of them one day....
ReplyDeletemistress maddie:
DeleteI've always thought it would be fun. Our friend Judy used to take one from Seattle to her family's cabin in the San Juan Islands. We always ended up driving and taking ferries.
You did good getting photos... maybe you can sell them to some expose paper about some celebrity or maybe an illegal or alien landing in your area. Hey, who knows what it was all about? You could be back in the States and one of the presidential candidates was making some kind of statement. Maybe I better put the wine away?
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteOh, don't get me started on a certain presidential candidate right now. Although I think I saw what looked like a dead yellow cat swimming to shore.
I've landed on water in planes before but they were much smaller than this one.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteI've always thought it would be fun. Have never had the opportunity.
no ricardo montalban? no D-list actors?
ReplyDeleteanne marie:
DeleteTattoo and Mr. Rourke are no longer with us... although I think Ricardo Montalban's pecs will never die.
How bloody 1930s
ReplyDeleteJohn:
DeleteIt was, wasn't it?!? I keep watching every morning hoping to see it again.
Exciting!
ReplyDeleteJim:
DeleteAnd something I hadn't yet seen off our beach. I wonder what's next.
That is a huge seaplane! Looks like the pilot may have been doing touch-and-go landings for training. Bet it was fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteIt was! And it looked like he cut it really close to some jet skiers and sailboats. But I have a feeling that was simply the perspective.
The French have a word for "landing" on water: amerrissage, "mer" being the word for "sea." A regular landing is called atterrissage, "terre" being the word for "land." Is it the same in Spanish?
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteI'll have to find out. I forgot to ask today and that's beyond my knowledge level!
exciting experience
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteIt was. I hope to see it again.
Looks like fun, I have ridden in planes on floats a couple of times, this configuration is known as a flying-boat, the bottom of the aircraft is a hull with retractable landing gear. Reminds me of the Jimmy Buffet tune, "Jamaica Mistaica" "Landing on the water - is about my favorite drill"
ReplyDeleteTravel:
DeleteI learned tonight that that's one of several planes used to fight fires. They scoop water from the sea (we did noticed the release of water each time they took off again). Apparently, they were practicing.
One might entitle this as photo as 'Beyond space and time'
ReplyDeleteHeron:
DeleteThat would be much too highbrow for me, obviously, with my sad American TV references!
LOL you are dating yourself (and your readers) when you/they know what 'the plane! the plane!' means.
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteMy references to Abbott and Costello dated myself. Fantasy Island came around when I was already too old to bother watching it!
Just like the old days Mitchell.
ReplyDeleteRachel:
DeleteI learned tonight that this is one of the planes used to fight fires. It scoops up sea water and drops it on the fire. Jerry had noticed it dropping water as it took off each time (I thought it was smoke at first). This pilot was practicing. Apparently, multiple planes have been seen doing the same thing (for real and for practice).
We regularly view old biplanes and snazzy new ultralights taking off and landing from our little regional airport.
ReplyDeleteCranky:
DeleteWe learned tonight that this was used in firefighting (scooping water from the sea and dropping it on fires). I hope to see more practice runs... and no real action!
Great series of photos, Mitchell!
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteThanks. I saw the plane again this morning and hoped to get photos from the terrace but they simply flew by without touching down. I'll have to look for something else today.
Living by the water certainly affords us the views of some unusual happenings too Mitch!
ReplyDeleteI viewed 12 jet skies churning up the water where the surfers congregate. All very strange and then off they fly!
Ron:
DeleteAmazing. I thought the ski jets were prolific here! I've never counted that many at once. I sure hate that noise. Most of the other views are fun and constantly changing.