This page covers many aspects of AAB, It is where new material is posted periodically.
The format below shows the most current post at the top and oldest at the bottom. Each entry is also posted to its relative page. Don't forget that each star represents another link to additional pages, articles, documents and photos.
personal opinion
About this site...
Over many years, the past employee's, passengers and friends of Antilles Air Boats have told stories and have shared photos of that special time in history.
We hope that this website will give everyone an opportunity to continue to share their stories, photos and comments.
We will share our collection of specific material on aircraft Antilles Air Boats used over the years as well as the many professionals that assisted its passengers to get from island to island.
October 2026
updates
has been an AAB website contributor sharing his stories of the large flying boats. His page has numerous images and articles of the Short Sandringham and Solent IV flying boat operating in the South Pacific, Tasman Sea and beyond.
Go to the Stephen Berry page and scroll down to read the many articles
Also an update to " Stephen's Southern Cross Adventure" and additional photos.
A room with a view
PBY
The views of the islands were always a treat each and every day. From an AAB seaplane just made it a little more special. Charlie Freehling took the above photo from a PBY leaving Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas in 1969.
photos credit Charlie Freehling
A new bird...
Headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida, Catalina Aircraft Company is developing the Catalina SPAR™, an FAA Part 25 transport-category amphibious aircraft platform for multi-mission operations worldwide. One platform, designed to operate from land and water alike, for transport, patrol, firefighting, rescue, and humanitarian missions.
Will this new entry make it to production? Will the demand equate to sufficient orders to allow long term support. We can hope that Catalina Aircraft Company will have success with a proven design with the newest technology.
B4 AAB
was a historic Southern California amphibious airline operating from 1953 to 1968,that flew passengers between the mainland and Santa Catalina Island. AAT started in the summer of 1953 by pilot Dick Probert and partner Jean Chisolm (later joined by Walt von Kleinsmid).Renamed to Catalina Airlines in 1963 before officially ceasing operations in 1968.
By 1960, the airline completed over 100,000 channel crossings Connected Long Beach Harbor, Burbank, and Los Angeles International Airport to Avalon on Catalina Island. In Avalon, they notably docked at the Green Pleasure Pier.
Charles Blair purchased several of Probert's airplanes which found there way to the Caribbean.
photos from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Al Blackman was a record breaking aircraft mechanic, retiring from American Airlines after 80 years of service.
1925 -2026
Al's career also had some connections with Charlie Blair and AAB.
Back in the early 1940's Al went to Aviation High School in New York City and after graduating joined American Export Airlines.
Al's first job was as a structural mechanic apprentice on the Sikorsky VS-44. The "Flying Aces" Excalibur, Excambian and Exeter were the three Sikorsky flying boats that launched the new airline with Charles Blair as Chief Pilot.
Another connection was the Aviation High School of New York. In 1980, AAB was hiring A&P mechanics and after placing an ad in aviation trade publications, we chose several individuals with 3 from the Aviation High School of New York...
nearly 40 years after "Al" left to work on seaplanes
My own career started as an Aviation Structural Mechanic working on seaplanes.
When the New England Air Museum took possession of "Excambian", Al Blackman was there to assist with the restoration.
photo credit Lyle Boyer / July 1980
A new photo of "Excambian" arrived this month from Sean Boyer. The Sikorsky flying boat is shown sitting outside at the Pensacola Navel Air Station in July 1980 This was just before Maureen O'Hara Blair negotiated a long term loan of the iconic aircraft to the New England Air Museum.
STX
new slides
St. Thomas
Antilles Air Boats operated 2 Grumman Mallards from 1974 into1978.
After Charles Blair's death in 1978 the Grumman Mallards were increased to 7. Below: Mallard and Goose on the ramp and N2442H arriving in St. Thomas.
1979
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1980
photos from Tom Anusewicz Collection
Cameos
- AAB / VISS airplanes make brief appearances in visitors home movies
1960's St. Croix with the Goose appearing at 4:18 into video.
1968 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas with Sikorsky "Excambian" and a Goose at 12:30 into video.
1979 St. Croix with Grumman Mallards departing at 0:52 and 2:17 into video.
1986 St. Thomas, Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle Mallard make an appearance at
2:25 and 24:20 into video
Antilles Air Boats flight schedules increased each and every year since its beginning in 1964.
Over those years, destinations were added and if not profitable were deleted.
This timetable of flights from May 5, 1978 indicates 125 flights on a given day.
One month before, on April 5th N8777A, crashed shortly after departure from St. John, killing both pilots. On June 4th, one month after this timetable, N323 ditched along the south coast of St. Thomas, after an engine problem. (no injuries).
On September 2nd, Capt. Charles Blair crashed enroute to St. Thomas killing himself and 3 passengers. From that day, The Goose schedule diminished dramatically and never returned to its robust flight itinerary.
The Goose wasn't the problem but the flying public as well as the economics made this aircraft questionable.
The Mallard became the airplane of choice for AAB as well as for Virgin Island Seaplane Shuttle.
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St. Croix's Yako LaPauta shares some AAB history on Deh Couch Podcast 8/31/26
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Yako Lapauta is a St. Croix-based digital creator, urban music artist, and host of the Deh Couch Podcast, which highlights the history, culture, and heritage of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Christiansted, St. Croix - AAB Seapalne Ramp 1980
Stephen Berry joined Qantas Airlines in 1966 at age 21 and spent the next 26 years working for the company out of Sydney. Eighteen of those years was as a Flight Service Director, a role that today is known as a Customer Service Manager.
At age 5, Stephen was captivated by the Short Solent taking off and landing near his home in Wellington, New Zealand. His fascination with Shorts flying boats came in 1950, when TEAL began operating Short S-45 Solent 4s between Wellington and Sydney.
When Stephan began flying for Qantas, he was based in Sydney, bringing him closer once more to those magnificent flying boats. Ansett Flying Boat Service operated from Rose Bay, where he spent many hours photographing the Short Sandringhams.
In 1974, Charlie Blair arrived in Australia to take possession of "Beachcomber" and "Islander" and move them to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Stephen spent time at the Rose Bay flying boat facility, where he got to know Ron Gillies and Noel Holle. Once they recognized him as a devoted flying boat enthusiast, they gave him free rein of the two aircraft and the maintenance hangar while the planes were prepared for the ferry flight.. Ron and Noel worked for Ansett but agreed to continue with Blair's Antilles Air Boats. When the two iconic aircraft left Australia, Stephen thought he would never see them again. Two years later, however, he became part of an adventure he would never forget.
It was 1976, when Charlie and Maureen O'Hara Blair decided to utilize the Sandringham "Southern Cross" (formerly "Beachcomber") in Ireland for the summer months. The trip went well so it was planned to return in 1977. Stephen heard of the planned 2nd trip to Ireland and very much wanted to be part of it. Read more...
Stephen Berry had the opportunity during his career at Qantas to service its customers on some equally iconic aircraft. We will share more about Stephen, Qantas and other aircraft in the coming months. Stay tuned.
I am very pleased that Stephen found the Antilles Air Boats website and is able share his wonderful photos and stories of his Southern Cross trip to Ireland. We will continue to post new additions as they arrive.
click on above photos for more info
Capt. Charles F. Blair Jr.
photos courtesy of Stephen Berry
Stephen and Maureen enjoying the flight
revised and updated Sept. 25, 2026
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We will be hearing more from Stephen in the coming months
Offshore Islands...always find their way into AAB photos
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& Mallard N7338 noon departure
Hassel Island lies in the Charlotte Amalie Harbor just south of Saint Thomas and east of Water Island.
The roughly 136-acre island was once a peninsula of Saint Thomas, known as Orkanhullet (Hurricane Hole). Hassel Island was separated by the Danish government in 1860, and named for the Hassel family who owned much of the estate.
Antilles Air Boats' seaplane landings in Haulover Cut and take-offs occurred adjacent to the island .each and every day. Most photos of AAB aircraft in St. Thomas has Hassel Island as a back drop.
Read more about Hassel Island
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photo credit Charlie Freehling
photo credit Charlie Freehling
Protestant Cay...and some big birds
New slide obtained August 2026 - now part of the Tom Anusewicz collection
photo credit Tom Anusewicz 1980
photo credit Tom Anusewicz 1978
Take-off
above; colorful sails on the cay in the background
While the modern resort structure dates back to the mid-1960s, the island itself—Protestant Cay—has a much older history. In 1830, long before the resort existed, the island served as the official residence for the local harbor master. Previously known as Fort Sophia Frederika and later as Loot’s Kay (Dutch Creole for “pilot’s cay”), is a small four-acre island located about 150 yards northeast of the Christiansted boardwalk. In “St. Croix Under Seven Flags,” Florence Lewisohn states that in 1778, a fort named Fort Sophia Frederica was built on the cay and completed the following year. The fort was named after Sophie Frederikke, daughter of Ludvig, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She was married to the brother of King Christian and later became the mother of King Frederik VI. The fort had a battery of four cannons, matching those of Fort Louise Augusta on the opposite point, at the east end of what is now St. Croix Marina, providing crossfire protection for the entrance of Christiansted Harbor. Some reports suggest the fort was constructed in the 1780s and completed in 1788.
Anecdotally, locals believe the island was named for its use as a cemetery for Protestants in the mid-1600s. During this period, the French Catholic Church, which controlled St. Croix from 1650 to 1696, allowed only Catholics to be buried on the mainland, with all non-Catholics buried away from the mainland on what became known as “Protestant Cay.”
Antilles Air Boats most frequent flight was between St. Croix and St, Thomas with 35 flight between sunrise and sunset (based on May 5, 1978 schedule) and each flight took off just north of the cay.
Did the the hotel guest enjoy the wake up call in the morning? The sounds of Christiansted Harbor.
photo from Bill Bailey Collection
photo credit Frtiz Henle
Continuing to document the background of each of the Grumman G-73 Mallards. Each of the 59 aircraft built had a unique history.
J-6
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Through the efforts of those aviation historians of the past, we know the various owners and the years they operated J-6.
This page will go a little further into the individuals that recognized the Grumman Mallard as their aircraft of choice.
new photos
Charlotte Amalie
1971
photo credit Barry Nealis copyrighted / posted with permission
photo credit Barry Nealis copyrighted / posted with permission
photo credit unknown
"About this site" is where periodic updates and revisions are posted. Every month, I have posted new material , which over the past years have accumulated to hundreds of pages and thousands of images and documents that pushed the data to a point that it needs better management. I am working on various solutions that will allow the continuation of all material to be posted with out compromising the optimum versatility. The About this Site... page 1 & 2 are the early posts for the of the website. click to continue to view the many post and links.