Like many out-of-the-way places, Maine is a victim of its geography. Tourists will sometimes venture inland for encounters with moose and Français-speaking locals, but most prefer to stick to the glittering coastline and the quaint towns, picturesque inlets and islands up and down bustling U.S. Route 1. But Maine is also home to some 6,000 lakes and ponds across a vast wilderness from its western mountains — still capped with snow when I arrived in mid-May — to the pictorial Kennebec Valley and the Maine Highlands to the north, the site of Baxter State Park, a 200,000-acre protected wilderness area that is home to more moose than people. Farther north still is what residents refer to simply as “The County” — Aroostook County, a huge expanse of isolated bush country along the Canadian border that is larger by total area than the state of Connecticut.
Seaplane Flying in Maine
We explain the popularity of seaplanes in New England's most inaccessible state.
Key Takeaways:
- The author traveled to Maine to fulfill a long-held ambition of earning a seaplane rating at the renowned Twitchells Seaplane Base.
- Training involved mastering unique water-based aviation techniques, such as taxiing in high winds, "sailing" with the engine off, and performing various types of landings (including on glassy and rough water), which the author found particularly enjoyable.
- Despite encountering distinct challenges and a humorous mishap during the final check ride, the author successfully became a seaplane pilot and highly recommends this unique flying experience.
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