The VIA Seawind was a one-off conversion by Vancouver Island Air, seen here docked at its Campbell River home base. It had increased seating for 12 pax, 3-bladed props, enlarged floats, an extended nose and a PAC Tradewind single tail. It first flew as such on 23 August 1994. Unfortunately on 20 April 2007 this unique aircraft crashed immediately after lift-off from Topaze Harbour near Jackson Bay, BC, Canada. One engine lost power and the aircraft yawed and crashed back onto the water, causing one float to break off. It sank within a minute.

The VIA Seawind was a one-off conversion by Vancouver Island Air, seen here docked at its Campbell River home base. It had increased seating for 12 pax, 3-bladed props, enlarged floats, an extended nose and a PAC Tradewind single tail. It first flew as such on 23 August 1994. Unfortunately on 20 April 2007 this unique aircraft crashed immediately after lift-off from Topaze Harbour near Jackson Bay, BC, Canada. One engine lost power and the aircraft yawed and crashed back onto the water, causing one float to break off. It sank within a minute.

The VIA Seawind, seen here docked at its Campbell River home base, was a one-off conversion by Vancouver Island Air. It had increased seating for 12 pax, 3-bladed props, enlarged floats, an extended nose and a PAC Tradewind single tail. It first flew as such on 23 August 1994. Unfortunately on 20 April 2007 this unique aircraft crashed immediately after lift-off from Topaze Harbour near Jackson Bay, BC, Canada. One engine lost power and the aircraft yawed and crashed back onto the water, causing one float to break off. It sank within a minute.

Note this aircraft's nose extension which moves the engine about 23 or 30 cm (9 or 12 inches, depending on the version) further forward, so that more pax and load can safely be carried in the rear.

A Beech 18 on floats - not something you get to see every day.

Year built:- 1952

Another former US Army Otter delivered as 57-6114 February 12, 1958. Based in Europe until 1969, it was removed from Army inventory in June 1975. Registered N5325G, the aircraft served with the Civil Air Patrol, Island Airlines and Griffin Flying Service before coming to Canada in 1993, registered C-FQND. It has received a Vazar turbine conversion before coming to Vancouver Island Air in December 2013.