Gearing up for a BIG 50th celebration

Posted on April 19, 2012 by toby

how'd you like to be painting this?!

Hey gang,

Sorry it’s been a while – I’ve been busy chasing geese!

Anyway, we’re well into spring here on the lake, and we’re ramping up for a great season.  What’s really exciting, though, is we have a ringside seat for one of the biggest parties in Seattle this year: the 50th anniversary of the 1962 World’s Fair!  That’s when they built the Seattle Center, and its crown jewel, the Space Needle.  And I can see it right from our dock!!

Known as the Century 21 Exposition, the Seattle World’s Fair introduced the world to the Pacific Northwest in a big way, putting Seattle “on the map” as it were.  It featured a glimpse into the future (mid-20th-century style, that is), and even gave inspiration to a movie starring Elvis!!  “It Happened At the World’s Fair“  (they shoulda had Elvis star as a seaplane pilot, though)  Wow!

The 50th birthday celebration is ramping up now, and the first touch is painting the Space Needle a retro golden color. Here I am checking it out from our dock:

Look – the Space Needle is turning gold!

The fun’s going to go on throughout the spring and summer, so why not take a flight with us?  You can get the best pictures in the world of a world’s fair celebration!

Cheers,

Toby James

 

Posted in holidays, Lake Union, Toby | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Springtime!

Posted on March 20, 2012 by toby

Hey, you geese! Get outta here!

Hey, everybody,

Happy Spring!  (or Happy Autumn, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, like my friend Merisha :)   We’ve got cherry trees blooming, daffodils popping up everywhere, and it’s almost time for the famous Skagit Valley tulips to be in full flower!  (they look even cooler from the air… or so I’ve been told!)

Another sign of spring:  my arch-nemeses, the Canada geese, are back!  There is a pair in particular who are trying to nest on our dock.  Just like last year, and the year before that, and so forth. I think it’s the same pair, anyway. (but what do I know?  I’m not a bird dog!)

So, I keep trying to gently (?) remind them that they should nest elsewhere, but they don’t listen!  The picture above shows me trying to be persuasive… without a lot of luck, I might add.

It’s life as usual, therefore, here at Seattle Seaplanes.  Why don’t you come fly with us to celebrate spring?

Cheers,

Toby James

Posted in Lake Union, Toby, Weather | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Turnin’ wrenches…..

Posted on February 29, 2012 by toby

The "girls" helping move the new engine out to the airplane

Hey, gang,

It’s been a busy few weeks here at Seattle Seaplanes.  We’ve got a project going on right now which is all the more exciting because it’s outside and over water.  AND, it’s being crewed by nearly all females!  And my dad, of course.

What am I talking about?  Well, those of you who know anything about airplanes know that those planes have to be inspected & maintained on a rigorous schedule.  (if you really want to read about it, you can do so here.) And, that at a certain point, crucial parts have to be replaced altogether, even if the previous part is working just fine. It’s the reason why airplanes are so safe for travel, and why a seemingly “old” airplane can go on forever!

My dad loves his planes.  No, let me say that this way:  he LOVES his planes. And he takes care of them that way – better than just the regulations call for.

So, it’s time to replace the engine in our trusty old Cessna 172, N5721T (or “Two-One Tango”)  And my dad Jim has his trusty crew of mechanics-in-training to help him with the work.  They just happen to all be female. :-)   Jennie, Heather, and Christine are helping with the work.

Those of you who know something about planes can also imagine that this kind of work usually gets done in a nice, heated hangar with a concrete floor, and a radio playing. Well, when you have an airplane on straight floats, that’s kinda hard to do. My dad knows what he’s doing, though, so he can do this work outside over the lake without any problems. Who needs a hangar?!

His faithful gang of workers soldier on through the cold and wet, and absolutely love the experience.  (me, I like staying inside next to the heater!)

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures to show what we’re up to.  Check our Facebook page to see more!

Checking out the new engine

Cheers,

Toby James

Posted in Toby | Leave a comment

Of Checkrides and Valentines

Posted on February 15, 2012 by toby

What a busy week it’s been!

We started off the week with great news: my pal Erik passed his ASES add-on rating checkride! Erik is a flight instructor at a flight school on Harvey Field in Snohomish, Wa.  I’m really pleased he decided to come have the fun of the water, too.

Celebrating with my friend Erik

Then, Tuesday was Valentine’s Day, and we celebrated that, too. We treated our scenic flight guests to a pretty red rose and a photocard capturing the romance of the day. Here are a few of the happy couples:

 
Valentine’s Day may be over for this year, but you can still surprise your sweetie, or anybody special, with a Seattle scenic flight. Don’t you think that sounds like fun?!
 
One last note: I was disappointed that the Doberman didn’t win the Westminster Kennel Club “Best in Show” award, but at least she made it to the final seven.  She (the Doberman) sure was pretty!  Sigh…
 
Cheers,
Toby James
Posted in Flight Training, holidays, Lake Union, Toby | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Love is in the air!

Posted on February 3, 2012 by toby

When you fly with your sweetie, everything looks like a big ol' heart from the air!

 
Hello, my friends,
 
Valentines Day is coming – and love is in the air!  Even though Dobermans have the reputation of being fierce, I’m “a lover, not a fighter,” as the saying goes.  I have a great idea for you and your sweetie:  a romantic, scenic flight over Seattle!
 
I want to share the romance of the day with  you, so I came up with an idea:  come take a flight with us on February 14, and we’ll give you a rose to give to your sweetie on that flight!  And a suitable-for-framing picture to capture the sweet memory.
 

Won't you be mine?

You know, instead of waiting in line at the florists, or the chocolate shop, you could be soaring above the city. Making memories that last a lot longer than a few days or weeks.  Think about it……..  
 
So, give us a call today, or send us an email to book your Valentines Day flight! 
 
(or any other flight, yeah?)
 
Cheers,
Toby James
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(cover photo courtesy of hrabaconsulting.com/blog/2010/08/10/queenslandtourism)
Posted in holidays, Lake Union, Toby | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Way to go, Daniel!!!!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by toby
Here’s Daniel, our newest private pilot!
 
We’re celebrating around here, because we had another successful checkride!  My friend Daniel joined the ranks of pilots, having learned how to fly in a seaplane.  Most pilots learn in landplanes, but around here, we get the adventuresome types who go “floats first.”   Daniel is that kind of guy.
 
Daniel grew up in the Seattle area, and his dad had an airplane back in the day. Daniel, therefore, has been around airplanes most of his life, and he took to the skies like a natural.  He’s a lot of fun to have around, and I hope we’ll see him again soon!
 
I’m very proud of Daniel – it’s pretty darn exciting to be able to call yourself a licensed pilot.  Congratulations to my friend!
 
cheers,
Toby James
Posted in Flight Training, Staff, Toby | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Did someone say…. SNOW?

Posted on January 22, 2012 by toby

Do you like my snow hat?

Click here to see a beautiful shot of people having fun at Lake Union. Photo courtesy of Wonderlane, Flickr Creative Commons

Hey, everybody,

You might have heard that it snowed in Seattle recently. Well, yeah, it did. A lot.  And when it snows in Seattle, things shut down.  Not just schools, but whole businesses.  Everybody battens down the hatches, and then grabs the gear for playing in the snow!  It’s a time for most people to turn into kids again.  Sledding down the (many) hills, cross-country skiing through the neighborhood, snowmen everywhere…. and hot cocoa afterwards!

I confess, my “brother” and I spent most of the time inside the house during this recent storm. I’m all for having a great time in the snow, but he prefers to be inside where it’s warm and dry.

Here’s my “dad” on our dock

Tobes, where's my snow hat?!

We’re flying now, though, and ready to take you where you want to go!

Meanwhile, if you think we’re snow wimps here in Seattle, I invite you to read this. Says it better than I could!

Cheers,

Toby James

Posted in Lake Union, Weather | Leave a comment

Cleaning up for the new year!

Posted on January 3, 2012 by toby

Kareen, the Cleanin' Machine!

Hey, everybody,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had good holidays.  I know I did!  Among other things, I got a stylin’ new collar – I’ll show you a picture in a minute.  Meanwhile, I have to tell you about my friend Kareen, because she did something really good for us recently.  She got into our little rowboat and rowed around our docks, picking up stuff that shouldn’t be there, and just generally tidying up the place.  Thanks, Kareen!  (You can thank her yourself if you drop by on Sundays.  Which would be a great time to take a flight…. hint, hint!)

Meanwhile, I’m keeping cozy inside by the heater.  See my new collar?

 

Keeping warm inside

Stop by to see us!

Cheers,

Toby James

 

 

Posted in Lake Union, Staff, Toby | Tagged | Leave a comment

Happy Holidays!

Posted on December 22, 2011 by toby
I think I see Santa Claus!!
From all of us here at Seattle Seaplanes, we wish you a Merry Christmas……
 

Is it time to light the candles?

Happy Hanukah….
 
Happy Hogmanay!!   “Should auld acquaintence be forgot…?”
And Happy New Year!!
 

Cheers,

Toby James

 
 
 
 
Posted in holidays, Lake Union, Toby | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Way to go, Jennie!

Posted on December 16, 2011 by toby
The newest certified Airframe mechanic!

I’m just so proud of our staff – they keep doing incredible things!  Our Jennie is now an FAA-certified Airframe mechanic!

 
Jennie has been studying and working really hard down at South Seattle Community College, and her hard work has paid off.  She passed her Airframe test, and has pieces of paper from both the FAA and SSCC to prove it!   There are not very many female airplane mechanics out there (I don’t know the percentages; I’m a dog, so I have to have help looking up stuff like that, and we will find out soon!)  But our Jennie is now one of them, in the Airframe department, and our Heather will be up next in about six months’ time.
 
Jennie’s taking some well-deserved time off over the holidays, and will return to start tackling the next phase of mechanic schooling: Powerplant. 
 
Congrats, Jennie, and Happy Holidays, everyone!
 
cheers,
Toby James
 
Posted in holidays, Staff, Toby | Leave a comment