The second biannual Midnight Sun Seaplane Fly-In Weekend began Friday at the Northern Heritage Centre.

A host of former pilots and their wives were on hand to share some stories of the early years in the NWT.

Bush pilot Johnny Dapp recalled the time he was out on a search for a lost pilot on Great Bear Lake. He was out for such a long time looking for the lost plane, that when he returned he asked where everyone went and the worker at the airport said " They're all out looking for you!"

Nearly rained out

On Saturday there was a remote control bush plane show and auction planned, but they were cancelled due to bad weather.

Luckily though, the winds died down enough to get one plane up in the air.

Radio Shack owner Roy Williams took his "Highwing Trainer" model plane up for a short spin to the delight of the whole crowd. He said his plane had a range of "as far as the eye can see."

All weekend long and at every event numerous old-time bush pilots shared stories, including those of Henry Hicks, who recalled the time that he went out looking for a pilot who had been missing for a week and presumed dead.

Henry says it was a "sixth sense" that made him take the same short-cut that the downed pilot had taken. He found the pilot, who was still alive.

Upon arrival back at camp, Hicks received a call from a Montreal newspaper asking him what the first words they said to each other were. Henry said, "Well, he grabbed me around the legs and said 'Am I glad to see you,' and I replied, 'You're supposed to be dead!'"

Sunday brought along a beautiful day as well as the Royal Canadian Legion memorial service and fly-past. A crowd of about 100 gathered on top of Bush Pilots Monument to witness the event.

Wreaths were laid to honor pilots who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

After the memorial service, about a dozen seaplanes of various types flew by and overhead, taking the same route they would have years ago to land on Back Bay. Water bombers were also on hand, offering a display of the techniques they use to fight forest fires.

Fascinating though the hobby may be, bush planes are not cheap. One can be had for about $500,000 and a starter kit for a remote control plane sells at around $300.