Grumman CS2F / CP-121 Tracker

Grumman produced 1,185 Trackers, and another 99 aircraft carrying the CS2F designation were manufactured in Canada under license by de Havilland Canada. The Canadian built Trackers entered service starting in 1956, and were built to the earlier “A” model airframe design with a length of 42 feet in order to fit in the hangar of HMCS Bonaventure.

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The beautiful Grumman CP-121 Tracker at the Comox Air Force Museum. I’ve also been up close and personal with the Tracker at the National Air Force Museum of Canada, and the Tracker at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.

  • Power Plant: Two 1,525 HP. Wright R-1820 82 WA nine-cylinder air cooled radial engines driving three-blade constant speed metal propellers.
  • Wing Span: 72ft. 7in.
  • Width Folded: 27 ft. 4in.
  • Length: 42 ft.
  • Height: 17 ft 6 in.
  • Wheel track: 18 ft. 6 in.
  • Wing Area: 485 sq. ft.
  • Weight Empty: 18,315 lbs.
  • Max. Takeoff: 26,147 lbs.
  • Max. Landing: 23,435 lbs.
  • Max Speed (S.L.) 280 mph
  • Patrol Speed: 150 mph
  • Service Ceiling 22,000 ft.
  • Range: 1,350 miles
  • Endurance: 9 hours
  • Min T.O Run: 1,112 ft.
  • Armament: Two homing torpedoes or depth charges located in the bomb bay and six under wing
    attachments for torpedoes, depth charges or rockets.
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Englishman River Falls – winter

A beautiful winter day and the upper falls are covered with ice at Englishman River Falls Provincial Park.

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Filberg Lodge

A look inside the historic Filberg Lodge.

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Comox harbour – a winter day

A beautiful day enjoying the views of the Comox harbour and the Insular Range.

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A window on the fish

A bit of fun while experiencing on the displays at the Quinsam Hatchery, near Campbell River.

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Baynes Sound – the boats

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Fishing is not easy on people, equipment, or boats – on the other hand it provides many opportunities for employment, and photography. Fishing is an important part of the west coast economy and it has played a huge part in the development of Vancouver Island.

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It’s something that we should understand and respect – and enjoy…

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Baynes Sound – the birds

These cheeky and brazen Sea Gulls paid little attention to me – they were more interested in grabbing an easy meal from the leftovers that Baynes Sound Oysters was providing.

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I don’t Sea Gulls – they are nature’s scavengers and are just doing what they do best – scavenge.

Baynes sound,Georgia Strait,vancouver Island,sea gulls,boats,oysters

Baynes sound,Georgia Strait,vancouver Island,sea gulls,boats,oysters

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Newcastle Marina

Reflections of the past, and of boats, at the Newcastle Marina in Nanaimo.

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Tsolum River bridge

When I first moved back to the Comox Valley I had thought that there were two bridges that could take me across the river and into Courtenay – this was of course incorrect as there are more than two bridges and both ends of the 5th Street and 17th Street Bridges are well and truly in Courtenay.

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Tsolum River, Farnham Road

I can also sneak into Courtenay by crossing the Tsolum River at Condensory Road, Dove Creek Road, or here at Farnham Road. If I was in the mood for a longer trip I could drive along highway 19A into Campbell River and then come back along Highway 19 as long as I don’t get distracted by Mt Washington, Strathcona or the fossil beds at Oyster River.

Bridges… lots of them on the Island.

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Winter in the Comox Valley

I was rushing about yesterday, trying to get some last minute Christmas shopping done, and somewhat bitterly thinking that I’d rather be out with a camera enjoying the day – especially on a day that was almost identical to a day many years ago.

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It’s a Christmas morning on Vancouver Island and I’m unwrapping one of the presents, which as it happened to be was a Voigtlander rangefinder 35 mm camera. Self timer, match the needle light meter, fixed 50 mm lens, and a brown leather case, and a couple of rolls of black and white film.

Zoom – to heck with stuffing my face with candy and cookies – I’m out the door, down the road, across the Island Highway and following the E&N train tracks into the forested area that paralleled  Jingle Pot Road.

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It was a day just like this, with gray skies, fog and mist, white snow and evergreens.

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I made a quick turn away from downtown Courtenay and headed toward Comox, found a spot where I could enjoy and marvel at the beauty of winter, and hauled out a couple of cameras.

Christmas rekindled…

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