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 undertook seaplane flight training at Twitchells Seaplane Base in Turner, Maine, drawn by the state's numerous lakes and the unique experience of floatplane operations.
- Training involved mastering various maneuvers, from taxiing in strong winds (including "sailing") to performing challenging landings on glassy water and in confined areas.
- Despite a humorous mishap involving getting wet during the final docking, the author successfully passed their check ride and earned their seaplane pilot certification.
- The author highly recommends Twitchells for aspiring seaplane pilots, enthusiastically endorsing the unparalleled enjoyment of landing on water.
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