Chuck arrived in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in 1975 at the age of 25 to talk with Charles Blair, an old friend of his Dad's. Both the senior Charlies flew together at Pan Am.

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Chuck became one of the new first officers of the Grumman Mallard G-73 at Antilles Air Boats.

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Chuck spent about a year flying between the islands before moving on to expand on his flying career. 

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He got an early start with his love of seaplanes.