NewsBite

Sea plane makes a splash in Cairns before heading overseas to serve remote communities

The water-adapted aircraft dazzled onlookers on the marina as it made its final preparations before an important trip overseas. Find out more.

Sea plane makes a splash at Trinity Inlet

A sea plane has made a splash landing at Trinity Inlet ahead of being deployed to fly health workers to remote communities in Papua New Guinea.

With sunny skies and a beautiful clear blue ocean, Cairns Esplanade and the marina formed a picturesque backdrop for the aircraft, named P2-WET, to make its final test flight on Tuesday before it headed overseas.

The successful test was the reward for months of effort for a team of engineers who carried out refurbishment and mechanical works on the plane at the Mission Aviation Fellowship International (MAF) base in Mareeba.

MAF, a Christian organisation, operates in 29 different countries to bring “help, hope and healing” to remote and needy communities.

The "P2-WET" Sea Plane comes in to land at Trinity Inlet before heading to PNG to service remote communities. Picture: Angus McIntyre
The "P2-WET" Sea Plane comes in to land at Trinity Inlet before heading to PNG to service remote communities. Picture: Angus McIntyre

“We’re really excited about this, because this float plane is going to add to the ten aircraft (we already have) in Papua New Guinea,” MAF Chief Operating Officer Norman Baker said.

“There we are working to open up access to the Western Province, where we will open up a lot of the waterways.

“There’s more than 100 communities that are completely isolated, and don’t have access to things like healthcare and education and some of the basic needs of life.”

The "P2-WET" making its final preparation to take off before heading to PNG. Picture: Angus McIntyre
The "P2-WET" making its final preparation to take off before heading to PNG. Picture: Angus McIntyre
The aircraft did a few loops around Cairns, wowing spectators positioned at the marina. Picture: Angus McIntyre
The aircraft did a few loops around Cairns, wowing spectators positioned at the marina. Picture: Angus McIntyre

Mr Baker said the plane would make a huge difference to the remote PNG communities, which relied on boats to access essential items.

“What we do is we provide the ability to bring cargo and materials and people in and out of the communities,” he said.

“There’s no way to get in, except by boat, it takes forever and sometimes weeks to get access in to provide much needed help in these communities.

“With aeroplanes, we can come in and out, sometimes multiple times a day.”

Engineers at the MAF base in Mareeba has spent months refurbishing the plane Picture: Angus McIntyre
Engineers at the MAF base in Mareeba has spent months refurbishing the plane Picture: Angus McIntyre

The plane is a modified Cessna Caravan, fitted with floats which allow it to take off from and land in water.

P2-WET was previously used in aid-delivery missions in Bangladesh.

“The Cessna Caravan is a workhorse in the industry, there’s more than 3000 of them flying in the world,” Mr Baker said.

“This one’s been outfitted obviously with what we call floats, so there are pontoons that are on the bottom of the aeroplane that allow it to be able to land on water.

“If you look closely you’ll see rudders and it also has landing gear so we can land it on land (as well).”

Originally published as Sea plane makes a splash in Cairns before heading overseas to serve remote communities

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/cairns/sea-plane-makes-a-splash-in-cairns-before-heading-overseas-to-serve-remote-communities/news-story/8f133e47468753753a8c29d7fdef05c1