Photo by Peter Fowler
Peter Fowler
Never one to turn down a great photo opportunity, The Mainstreeter’s photo
editor, Peter Fowler, braved the elements and the fear factor just before Halloween
to head up, up and away in the open cockpit of a 1939 biplane. Despite winds
gusting over 150 kilometres per hour, the helmeted and begoggled shutterbug
managed to snap some amazing images of Ottawa’s classic landmarks which we
present here along with his account of the eye-popping adventure.
Photo by Peter Fowler
I woke up with the sun in my eyes and I knew today we would fly. Our previous two attempts to go up in the 1939 Waco UPF-7 three seater biplane had been washed out due to rain. But today was perfect.
I met my thrill-seeking daughter-in-law, Odette, at the Aviation and Space Museum where we were fitted with flying helmet, goggles and hearing protectors. Out on the runway a beautiful sight – taxiing toward us was the vintage winged wonder! Two passengers upfront and the pilot behind them.
Photo by Peter Fowler
Our pilot explained our route and then we were off. It’s hard to explain the thrill of climbing into the sky in an open cockpit with the wind tearing at everything loose – like my camera!
Photo by Peter Fowler
We flew over the Gatineau Hills at a perfect time of year with the blaze of colours. Our pilot did a few dips and steep banks over Pinks Lake then headed for Ottawa. There below us was the Rideau Canal and the lovely Flora Footbridge; Lansdowne Park was so prominent as were the fabulous Parliament Buildings laid out underneath us.
Photo by Peter Fowler
The cruising speed of our Waco biplane was 153 kilometres per hour (95 miles per hour) – and that’s exactly how fast the windhit me each time I leaned out to take a photo of some of Ottawa’s classic landmarks.
Photo by Peter Fowler
