Flutter around the Dutch Antilles
A couple of hours at St. Eustatia
by Jan Koppen
In February 2020, my friend, Mr. Michael S. Prophet, and I traveled from Amsterdam to the Caribbean, the 'old-style'. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines brought us comfortably in their 27 years young Queen, "City of Nairobi," to Willemstad, Curacao. During our spotters-trip to the Caribbean, we took the opportunity to flutter around the Dutch Antilles to spot and photograph the aviation activity on these tiny islands. The last (no. 6) island we visited was St. Eustatius, which is only a 20 minute, DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter ride from St. Maarten. Enjoy the pics, video, and captions.
My flight WM501 was scheduled to depart at 07:10LT, but due to bad weather at St. Eustatius the flight was delayed for 45 minutes.
DHC-6-300, PJ-WII, stands illuminated under a rain laden sky.
Gulfstream G-650 N211HS of Star Bucks Coffee is pictured under a rain-washed south-eastern sky.
It pours with rain.
Just after a tropical shower pour down, Capt. Coblin leads us to his Twin-Otter, for our flight to St. Eustatius.
Departure from St. Maarten to St. Eustatius, onboard a Winair DHC-6-300.
Flight WM501 somewhere over the endless Caribbean Sea.
Fuel burn of the DHC-6 at flight level 100 with 146 kn (270 km/h) is: 468.2 lb (212.4 kg)/hour or 0.311 nmi/lb (1.27 km/kg).
Sint Eustatius is 6 miles (10 km) long and up to 3 miles (5 km) wide. Topographically, the island is saddle-shaped, with the 602 meter-high dormant volcano Quill (Mount Mazinga), (from Dutch kuil, meaning 'pit'—originally referring to its crater) to the southeast and the smaller pair of Signal Hill/Little Mountain (or Bergje) and Boven Mountain to the northwest. The Quill crater is a popular tourist attraction on the island. The bulk of the island's population lives in the flat saddle between the two elevated areas, which forms the centre of the island.
Capt. Coblin is the assessing the situation.
Over St. Eustatius, on a beautiful Caribbean morning.
Approach and landing at St. Eustatius o/b Winair DHC-6-300, Twin-Otter, PJ-WIP.
Front Office.
F/O Alverna, is seen here posing for the camara.
Twin-Otter PJ-WIP was delivered new Malaysia Airlines in 1983. This airframe served with the Malaysian flag carrier and its regional subsidairy's 31 years before being cancelled from Malaysian register. The aircraft was picked-up by Canadian aircraft broker Unity Group Winnipeg who sold her to Winair almost two years later.
Development of the Twin-Otter began in 1964, with the first flight on May 20, 1965. A twin-engine replacement for the single-engine DHC-3 Otter retaining DHC's renowned STOL qualities, its design features included double-slotted trailing-edge flaps and ailerons that work in unison with the flaps to boost STOL performance. The availability of the 550 shp (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-20 turboprop in the early 1960s made the concept of a twin more feasible. A DHC-3 Otter with its piston engine replaced with two PT6A-4 engines had already flown in 1963. It had been extensively modified for STOL research. To bush operators, the improved reliability of turboprop power and the improved performance of a twin-engine configuration made it an immediately popular alternative to the piston-powered Otter which had been flying since 1951.
Winair, an abbreviation of Windward Islands Airways International NV, is a government-owned airline based in Sint Maarten. Founded in 1961 by Georges Greaux, It has a fleet of seven aircraft serving ten destinations, all within the Leeward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles in the North East Caribbean. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Princess Juliana International Airport.
Freddy Johnsen. Until he passed away, he was the General Sales Agent of Winair in Saba, his family has handled Winair since the start of the airline and still do today.
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St. Eustatius tower in all her glory. The walkway below the tower is actually the beginning of the arrivals hall. Normally you wouldn't see those two that close to each other, but in the Caribbean, anything is possible!
F/O Alverna is seen here awaiting his passengers before the flight to Basseterre, St. Kitts.
Wow... this is old! - This Piper 32-260 is already 47 years old when I photographed her at Saint Eustatius. The Piper is operated by Lee County Mosquito Control District and flew on February 15, 2020 from Saint Eustatius to Castries, Saint Lucia and back that same day.
Another very efficient turn-round for this Winair DHC-6-300.
Captain Coblin having fun with the red haired ground-agent.
Chocks away... PJ-WIP is ready for departure.
Welcome to Statia.
Good afternoon at F. D. Roosevelt airport, Oranjestad, St. Eustatius.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Airport (IATA: EUX, ICAO: TNCE) is the airport located on the island of Sint Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands. It was opened as "Golden Rock Airport" in 1946 and renamed for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As of 2012, the only commercial aircraft that serves the island is the DHC-6 Twin Otter (can operate chartered flights with Britten-Norman Islander and Cessna 208 Caravan), although the runway can accommodate larger turboprop aircraft and some smaller jets. As of 2018, the largest aircraft type to operate at the airport is the ATR 42.
The diminutive airport parking is situated on the Theodore A. M Pandt Road.
Dutch immigration and customs are stationed on the tiny island.
Welcome to Statia.
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Fort Oranjestaat 24, Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius.
Oranjestad.
17th-century Fort Oranje.
"LIBERTATE VNANIMVS" (Latin for 'United in Freedom').
It is thought that the island was likely seen by Christopher Columbus in 1493. From the first European settlement, in the 17th century until the early 19th century, St. Eustatius changed hands twenty-one times between the Netherlands, Britain and France.
In 1636, the chamber of Zeeland of the Dutch West India Company took possession of the island that was then reported to be uninhabited. As of 1678, the islands of St. Eustatius, Sint Maarten and Saba fell under direct command of the Dutch West India Company, with a commander stationed on St. Eustatius to govern all three. At the time, the island was of some importance for the cultivation of tobacco and sugar.
In the 18th century, St. Eustatius' geographical placement in the middle of Danish (Virgin Islands), British (Jamaica, St. Kitts, Barbados, Antigua), French (St. Domingue, Ste. Lucie, Martinique, Guadeloupe) and Spanish (Cuba, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico) territories—its large harborage, neutrality and status from 1756 as a free port with no customs duties were all factors in it becoming a major point of transhipment of goods, and a locus for trade in contraband. Its economy developed by ignoring the monopolistic trade restrictions of the British, French and Spanish islands. St. Eustatius's economy, under the Dutch, flourished. The island became known as The Golden Rock.
There are still many ships at anchor in Oranjestad bay.
The island sold arms and ammunition to anyone willing to pay and it was therefore one of the few places from which the young United States could obtain military stores. The good relationship between St. Eustatius and the United States resulted in the noted "First Salute".
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Superba et Confidents is the motto used in heraldry by the people of St. Eustatius.
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The St. Eustatius museum.
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The only 'open' lunch-room at Oranjestad, St. Eustatias. The lovely lady served a good breakfast!
Beautiful situated cemetry of Oranjestad.
The infrastructure of St. Eustatius is clearly not the same as in her 'motherland', The Netherlands.
Winair, vintage DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter, PJ-WIQ, on short finals to land at St. Eustatius with a another load of vacationers.
Steep approach.
Over the piano-keys.
PJ-WIQ seen here just about to touch-down at F.D. Roosevelt airport, Sint Eustatius.
Picture perfect landing at St. Eustatius in a strong and gusty headwind.
Winair, Twin-Otter, just arrived here in St. Eustatius. The size of this airport and the tranquility makes this airport unique. A very peaceful environment.
Rush-hour at St. Eustatius airport!
I love Eustatius.
Winair ticket-office and the check-in hall at St. Eustatius F.D. Roosevelt airport. It's a very small but nice airport. The quietness can even be felt in the air, a totally different feeling compared to airports like Amsterdam, Schiphol.
St. Eustatius airport 'Grand Cafe'.
Trans Anguilla Airways, one of the few airlines operating into 'Statia'.
The bright colors of Winair DHC-6-300, caught by the camera, on a relaxing sun-drenched day at St. Eustatius.
DHC-6 Twin-Otter PJ-WIQ. The aircraft first flew on November 17, 1979 as PJ-WIQ and was accepted by Deutsche Luft Transport (DLT) on December 07. This airframe enjoyed a long and various career. Next to DLT, she operated respectively for; - Skytrail in Tanzania, Winair (PJ-WIN), Unity Group, Kenn Borek Air Ltd., Planes & Parts Ltd., Air Bom (Borneo), before returning to Winair at Sint Maarten.
PJ-WIQ is named after Gerrit Draai. Mr. Draai is a member of Winair's supervisor board.
Wing fences, also known as boundary layer fences and potential fences are fixed aerodynamic devices attached to aircraft wings. Often seen on swept-wing aircraft, wing fences are flat plates fixed to the upper surfaces parallel to the airflow, typically wrapping around the leading edge. By obstructing span-wise airflow along the wing, they prevent the entire wing from stalling at once, as opposed to wingtip devices, which increase aerodynamic efficiency by seeking to recover wing vortex energy.
PJ-WIQ, turning away from its hard stand to depart back to St. Maarten via Basseterre, St. Kitts.
St. Eustatius Red Cross facility is situated next to the airport's runway.
Wow... a former Dutch Army Landrover series III ambulance. Landrover's serie III's are another hobby of mine. In the background the runway and the Quill, a dormant volcano.
Winair, Twin-Otter PJ-WIP, ready to depart her stand at St. Eustatius with another load of vacationers.
The Winair Twin-Otters are hard working aeroplanes.
A small ground power unit pumps energy into a stationary DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter, as it sits on the ramp at St. Eustatius.
Between 07:50LT and 15:00LT, PJ-WIP, flew the following routing; St. Maarten - St. Eustatius - Basseterre, St. Kitts - St. Maarten - Saba - St. Maarten - Saba - St. Maarten - Beef Island, BVI. - St. Maarten - St. Eustatius. Impressive, knowing the afternoon is still young!
Departing from EUX, for the short 20 minute flight to St. Maarten.
F/O Oliver is handling pilot of flight WM536.
Winair DHC-6-300, PJ-WIP races, into the afternoon light, enroute to St. Maarten.
37-year-old Winair DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter PJ-WIP on approach to St. Maarten’s runway 10.
On short finals. The first officers hand is on the roof mounted throttle control.
Approach and landing on St. Maarten's famous runway 10, onboard a Winair DHC-6-300 Twin-Otter.
Winair, an abbreviation of Windward Islands Airways International NV, is a government-owned airline based in Sint Maarten. Founded in 1961 by Georges Greaux, It has a fleet of seven aircraft serving ten destinations, all within the Leeward Islands group of the Lesser Antilles in the North East Caribbean. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Princess Juliana International Airport.
The Britten-Norman Trislander (more formally designated the BN-2A Mk III Trislander) is an 18-seat three-engined piston-powered civilian utility aircraft produced in the 1970s and early 1980s by Britten-Norman of Britain. These STOL capable aircraft were produced on the Isle of Wight. They were also produced in Romania, and delivered via Belgium to Britain for their certification. A number of commuter airlines operated the Trislander in scheduled passenger services.
Designed by John Britten and Desmond Norman, the Trislander is a further development of Britten-Norman's better-known Islander aircraft in order to give it a larger carrying capacity. In comparison with the Islander, the Trislander has a stretched fuselage, strengthened, fixed tricycle landing gear and a third engine on the fuselage centre line atop the fin. The Trislander has exceptional low speed handling characteristics, extended endurance, increased payload, low noise signature and economical operating costs. Capable of taking off from a 492-yard long landing strip, the Trislander can readily operate from unprepared surfaces.
Designed by John Britten and Desmond Norman, the Trislander is a further development of Britten-Norman's better-known Islander aircraft in order to give it a larger carrying capacity. In comparison with the Islander, the Trislander has a stretched fuselage, strengthened, fixed tricycle landing gear and a third engine on the fuselage centre line atop the fin. The Trislander has exceptional low speed handling characteristics, extended endurance, increased payload, low noise signature and economical operating costs. Capable of taking off from a 492-yard long landing strip, the Trislander can readily operate from unprepared surfaces.
Anguilla Air Services (AAS) is certified scheduled carrier and charter airline with base operations in Anguilla. AAS flies to any Caribbean destination including St. Maarten, St. Barths, Antigua, Tortola, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Barbados, St. Kitts and Martinique among other destinations. The primary aircraft in the fleet is the Britten Norman Islander. This versatile aircraft allows AAS to offer a wider array of services outside of scheduled and charter flights.
Capt. Doeuer and F/O Oliver.
Another quick turnround for PJ-WIP as it disembarks passengers from Oranjestad, St. Eustatius, at St. Maarten International airport.
St. Barth Commuter was founded in 1995 and began services to Saint Maarten with a single Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander. In 2005 the fleet was increased and added new routes to San Juan, Puerto Rico and the French side of Saint Martin, Marigot. The airline is wholly owned by Bruno Magras.
Storm clouds are brewing.
The final passengers are boarding this, 1991 build Boeing 757-232, operating flight DL919 to Atlanta Hartsfield.
Next point-of-call that afternoon, was a visit to the small airport of Grand Case, at the French site of St. Maarten.
L'Espérance Airport (IATA: SFG, ICAO: TFFG), also known as Grand Case Airport (French: Aérodrome de Grand-Case Espérance), is a public use airport located in Grand Case, on the French side (Saint Martin) of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. The airport is mainly used for flights by regional passenger aircraft (ATR) flying to Guadeloupe and Saint Barth, as well as used by private aircraft. It is the second and smaller airport of Saint Maarten, after Princess Juliana.
Skywest Aviation Piper PA-28RT-201T N2879C caught in the evening light.
In fore-ground we see Cessna 310 N628BW of Morros Inc. In the background, privately owned Piper PA-28-180 N5176L, appears in the evening twilight.
A U.S. registered Piper PA-32RT-300 sits forlornly at Grand Case.
N4649T, this aircraft, a Cessna R182 Skylane RG, is pictured at Grand Case airport on February 15, 2020.
Parked in a remote corner of Grand Case is this Cessna 150M N66704.
This cute little Piper PA-23-250, N580SP, was sitting on the flight line at Grand Case airport on February 15, 2020.
Pictured in the twilight of its career, Hawk Sky, 1961 build, Cessna 182D, N9014X, stands idle on the ramp at Grand Case on February 2020 with its cockpit covers on.
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West Indies Helicopters AS350-B2, F-GFLL, rests at Aérodrome de Grand-Case Espérance on February 15, 2020.
Air Caraibes ATR-72, F-OSIX, is seen arriving at Grand Case from Pionte-a-Pitre, under flightnumber TX310, during a picture-perfect sunset.
The long fuselage of Air Caraibes ATR-72-600 reflects the Caribbean evening light.
Here, St. Bart Commuter Cessna 208 Grand Caravan F-OSBS taxies to the stand after arriving at Aérodrome de Grand-Case Espérance airport on the late afternoon of February 15, 2020.
St. Bart Commuter Cessna 208 Grand Caravan F-OSBS races off Grand Case runway into the evening light enroute to St. Jean (SBH).
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