Mark Downham explains what it is like to work on a 70 year old aircraft such as the Mallard. He also talks about his career in the Australian Navy working on Seaking helicopters and his time in Fiji where he maintained 2 Twin Otter Amphibian‘s working for 7star resorts. He talks about how corrosion effects an aircraft and how to treat it. Complete a survey about On the Step to help it grow! https://forms.gle/rQ3bwFfJuVZqWN1P8 Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thatmallardguy/ Chec...
Jun 26, 2020•52 min•Ep. 20
Episode 1 in Maintenance Week focuses on the worlds largest seaplane company and how they manage to keep 50+ Twin Otters airborne. Nisham Ali, along with a close friend, run the amazing Instagram page @seaplanemechanic, sharing an insight into what happens behind the turquoise waters and white beaches to make the airline what it is today. From daily maintenance, weekly maintenance and heavy maintenance, Nisham tells gives us an idea of how it all works. Complete a survey about On the Step to hel...
Jun 23, 2020•55 min•Ep. 19
Lloyd Cofield began his career in aviation competing around the world as an Australian competition skydiver. After several years of jumping from the plane, he changed seats to start driving them! With his passion for adventure, flying seaplanes made sense, so a move to Air Whitsunday followed. After leading the pilot group as Chief Pilot, Lloyd then took the step up to fly the Mallard before finishing his career as a pilot for the Royal Flying Doctor. Complete a survey about On the Step to help ...
Jun 19, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 18
Deon Mitton's photographs can be found in most places. His exceptional talent at capturing the mighty Seaplane, or even just General Aviation aircraft in their natural habitats, makes him one of the best aviation photographers around. Put him behind a microphone, and Deon is not only inspiring, but can also take your mind to the rivers and the mountains of Alaska, with incredible detail into his bush pilot lifestyle. http://deonmitton.com Complete a survey about On the Step to help it grow! http...
Jun 16, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 17
Built in 1947, the Albatross was originally a military aircraft. With most of them retiring and being put in the desert by the late 80's, there is few that fly today. But Michael Barksdale and Stewart Lawrence are the exception. Owning their own Grumman Albatross to go partying, jumping off the wing and showing off at airshows. Not only that, when needed the guys are often first responders to disaster relief areas such as the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands after hurricanes. So, is the Albatross ...
Jun 12, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 16
Shayne McAulay is a bush pilot at heart. Growing up in Wanaka New Zealand, he was exposed to flying in both the airline and GA environment from a very early age. He got his dream job as an airline pilot, but floatplanes and bush flying were always in the back of his mind. After buying a Piper Cub on floats just to build some float time, he got his first seaplane job in remote Canada flying a Beaver almost 20 years into his aviation career, whilst on leave without pay for his airline job. His sto...
Jun 09, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 15
Flying boats attracted Michael Smith to aviation. He had purchased his first flying boat before he finished his private pilot licence. But at heart, he is a true adventure seeker. That trait found him on the adventure of a lifetime flying a single engine flying boat around the world, by himself! After discovering the 2 seat aircraft wasn't going to fulfil his future needs, Michael tracked down the perfect private seaplane money could buy, leading to another international adventure retracing the ...
Jun 05, 2020•58 min•Ep. 14
Being a 70 year old airplane, the Grumman Mallard has a long history of flying locations and drivers in the front seat. Kurt Miller was one of those drivers who flew our Mallard here at Paspaley, J-26, all over the West Coast of Canada for West Coast Air, who eventually became Air BC. He tells stories of icing up in the Mallard, comparing the Twin Otter to the Mallard, and even running out of fuel in a Found! Complete a survey about On the Step to help it grow! https://forms.gle/rQ3bwFfJuVZqWN1P...
Jun 02, 2020•49 min•Ep. 13
Using the inspiration of a shirtless Tom Cruise in the all time classic "Top Gun", Rob Ceravolo was destined to become a fighter pilot. He accomplished his childhood dream of flying (another Grumman product) the F-14 Tomcat made famous in the movie and had a successful career in the Navy resulting in his own stint at Top Gun. But once his career flying jets was coming to an end, Rob dreamed of starting his own aviation business. After selling everything he owned including the car and house to ge...
May 29, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 12
Peter Gash's 40 year aviation career has seen him achieve so much, including many hours of seaplane flying, completing his aircraft maintenance licence, gaining an Order of Australia medal in the General Division for services to ecotourism and aviation, and now being involved in the testing of magniX electric engines. Oh and don't forget that he owns and operates his fleet of Caravan's and Twin Otters to his own Island on the Great Barrier Reef! Peter has so much to offer to our industry and tel...
May 26, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 11
Canadian David Radford loves aviation. His passion for flying, in particular seaplanes has seen him become a well known operator on floats in Asia, where he now calls home. He talks all about gaining that first seaplane job, moving to Africa to build hours flying Safari guests from camp to camp, where he is now and what the future of Asian Seaplane operators looks like. David is a very happy funny guy who loves to share his stories and advice to the aviation community. Complete a survey about On...
May 22, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 10
If the Catalina Flying Boat is one of the worlds most famous flying boats, then "Miss Pick Up" is one of the most famous Catalinas. But why "Miss Pick Up?" David tells his story as the editor of the Catalina Society website and newsletter, as well as his role as Crew Chief, the vital third wheel in the cockpit of this ageing beauty. David shares a real insight into the history of the aircraft, along with the complexities of owning such a beast regarding maintenance and finances etc. Happy 100th ...
May 19, 2020•56 min•Ep. 9
In 1981, Mallard flying boats graced the skies of the U.S Virgin Islands for the new company known as Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle (VISS). A young and enthusiastic Michael Steers followed his dreams to work on a flying boat and after selling all of his possessions to get his multi-engine seaplane rating, his dream came true. With 250hrs, Michael started his aviation career as a first officer on a radial Mallard in paradise. Like Hurricane Hugo, his stories will blow you away! https://www.antil...
May 15, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 8
Part 2 of 2: With debt climbing from high interest rates compounding an already large loan, Kevin talks about selling his beloved Mallards around Australia including two of them to where they now live, in Darwin at Paspaley Aviation. Finally he leaves his beloved Whitsunday Islands to finish his career teaching his art of flying boats to students willing to learn. Kevin also talks about his book that he is writing. Complete a survey about On the Step to help it grow! https://forms.gle/rQ3bwFfJuV...
May 12, 2020•45 min•Ep. 7
Part 1 of 2: Getting a flight on a Sandringham flying boat to Lord Howe Island at an early age sparked a keen interest in seaplanes for Kevin Bowe. After gaining some flight experience in random aviation jobs, Kevin saw an opportunity available in the Whitsunday Islands to start a seaplane company. Taking a chance, Air Whitsunday was airborne taking Kevin on a career long journey into floatplanes and flying boats. Kevin talks about buying airports, importing Mallards and throwing Lake Buccaneers...
May 11, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 6
After a stint in the Navy, Genesah was at a crossroads with where she wanted her career to go. A love of adventure got her into flying and with living in the lake and ocean state of Florida, she gained her float rating not too long after her CPL. After instructing for a while, a lucky break came her way when an interview style YouTube video for a flying magazine resulted in a job flying for the new kid on the block, Icon Aircraft. She is now the Chief Instructor at the company owning the seaplan...
May 08, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 5
Like most bare CPL holders, Michael Bostock followed the instructing path to gain employment within the industry. However, with a love for seaplanes growing and growing, a leap away from the norm saw him adventure around the world, once again chasing his "first job", this time as a seaplane pilot. He talks about flying until midnight in daylight, saving an aircraft from floating off the edge of a 90m waterfall and how he got his dream job in the cockpit of a multi-crew, multi-engine flying boat....
May 05, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 4
After scoring his start as a seaplane pilot he was long waiting for, Benny enjoyed flying Beaver floatplanes in one of Australia's most iconic locations. He upgraded to the Cessna Caravan, the pride of the fleet and continued to build experience until an unfortunate accident involving controlled flight into terrain put a stop to his unique lifestyle. Enduring months of self doubt and emotional hardship, Benny overcame those issues to pursue further employment within the seaplane industry includi...
May 01, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 3
Drew Daniell has flown seaplanes for over 15 years in Australia at four different operators. Drew talks about getting his first job scaring birds, flying Cub's as a mustering pilot, followed by a magazine article that changed the direction of his flying career towards floatplanes. Now Drew is a captain on the Grumman Mallard and calls this job his career job. Complete a survey about On the Step to help it grow! https://forms.gle/rQ3bwFfJuVZqWN1P8 Follow me on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com...
Apr 28, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 2
Andrew and I start off by speaking about why the Mallard was made and for what purpose. We then move onto the changes the Mallard took to be converted into a new STC now known as the Australian Turbine or G-73AT. We go in depth regarding the specific and unique changes to the aircraft, and finish by talking about the role the Mallard takes in both Pearling and Commercial operations in the north of Australia, based in Darwin. Give On the Step some feedback by completing this survey: https://forms...
Apr 25, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 1
