The souped-up Beaver Boss, one of the stars of the fly-in. The other side is painted with the Canadian flag. RELATED STORIES Dudley's Journal Welcome Spontaneity

Flying seaplanes is a fantastically fun hobby and the highlight of our trip so far.

The Flying Pilgrimage to Greeneville

• The Greeneville Seaplane Fly-In takes place annually, the first weekend after Labor Day.

• Fly-In pilots this year came from as far away as Alaska.

• Greeneville, Maine, is at the south end of Moosehead Lake, which is over forty miles long and perfect for landings, take-offs and incredible sightseeing from the air.

• From Moosehead Lake, there are great views of Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine.

On the Ground and In the Air

• Over 10,000 spectators come to the Fly-In each year.

• Flying competitions include a bush plane biathlon, a shortest take-off and landing contest, and a target contest.

• In the bush plane competition, a canoer paddles across the lake and is picked up by a taxiing float plane. The canoe is secured to the plane, which then taxis back to the other side of the lake. The fastest time wins.

• Fly bys are a favorite pastime for the pilots at the fly-in and a real treat for the spectators.

About the Planes

• There are two major types of seaplanes: Float planes have pontoons under the fuselage and look like normal small aircraft. Flying boats have a fuselage shaped like a hull and look more like a powerboat with wings.

• The DC-3 we flew in is the largest float plane in operation in the world.

• The 1947 Piper Cub Emily took a ride in has a skin made of painted fabric.

• Planes ranging in size from ultralights to the DC-3 are all welcome at the Fly-In.

Get on Board

• If you want to really go to the out-of-the-way places, try Folsom's Air Service. Their bush planes will take you to the hidden lakes of Maine, where there are no roads, phones, or other people.

Contact Information:

International Seaplane Fly-In
PO Box 1289
Greeneville, ME 04441
207-487-3730
www.seaplanefly-in.org

Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 581
Greeneville, ME 04441
207-695-2702
www.mooseheadlake.org

Folsom's Air Service
Moosehead Lake
Greeneville, ME 04441
207-695-2821
folsomair@prexar.com