N5584V St. Thomas - Cessna 180 on floats in background
photo credit William Sierra
Charlie Freehling
Aero Digest / Sept. 1939 ad
Eclipse Aviation's engine accessories.
American Export Airlines where Charlie Blair was Chief Pilot.
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1968 - Christiansted, St. Croix - The PBY landed in STX, and while taxing hit the large drainage pipe flange in the harbor and damaged the hull. This was before the AAB ramp and terminal was completed,
so a crane was brought in to lift the aircraft for repairs.
N5588V
Antilles Air Boats began with the Gooses in 1964 and the business continued to grow. The increase in demand for seats between the islands required an aircraft which could provide for more seats. The choice was the Consolidated PBY Catalina.
N5588V was the first PBY to arrive at AAB
in September of 1967.
N5588V
N5584V
photos of PBY in St. Thomas taken by Charlie Freehling
PBY
N5584V arrived a little less than 2 years later in 1969. It was the first of 2 PBY's from Alaska.
This aircraft flew at AAB for 14 months and when landing at Alexander Hamilton Airport, the left main gear failed resulting in severe damage. The flight was crew only which both walked away to fly another day... not so much for N5584V.
N2763A
November 14, 1970
N5584V
N2763A arrived in February 1971, just 3 months after loosing N5584V.
Even though the passengers increased each year, by 1973 it was determined the cost of operating the PBY's on the relative shorts hops between the islands were more than AAB wanted. More Gooses were purchased and increased the frequency of flights. The Grumman Mallards (N7388) & N7356) arrived in March of 1974 to assist with additional passengers on each flight as well as quicker turnarounds.
Read more about all the PBY's below and on individual pages.
N5588V 10/17/67 - 8/31/73
N5584V 9/19/69 -11/14/70
N2763A 2/23/71 -9/11/73
N5588V
Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines in Juneau had a very rich history for the many seaplanes that flew the skies of Alaska. Over the years the airline saw mergers, name changes with various owners. It was when Alaska Airlines purchased the airline in 1968 that most of the amphibians were changed out for land based aircraft.
Ten of those aircraft found their way to Antilles Air Boats (2 PBY's / 8 Gooses) including
N2763A
N5584V
photo approved for posting by Ketchikan Museum Tongass Historical Society
Litchfield Park, Arizona
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The conditional sale of N2763A took place on February 23, 1971 at Litchfield Park, AZ. Charlie Freehling as Vice President of Tri-Air Corp. was contracted to prepare the aircraft to be ferried to St. Croix. He arrived in the desert with a small toolbox to ensure the big airplane could make the journey. Within a few days, Capt. Bill Sorrens arrived to take N2763A to the next fuel stop on the trip to the V.I. They arrived in Lake Charles, Louisiana and pulled up to the pumps. Charlie Freehling paid for the first fill-up in Arizona and Bill was to pay for this fill in Louisiana.
Bill got a bonus on his fill...lots and lots of S&H Green stamps. What was his catalog choice?
The next stop was Ft. Lauderdale for quick fuel and no stamps before moving on to St. Thomas.
The ferry flight from Arizona to St. Thomas was all you would hope for with the aircraft performing well. After the usual fan fare of a newly arriving aircraft to the AAB fleet, the aircraft flew to St. Croix to Tri-Air Corp for the work required before it began daily operations.
click on the above photos to review
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N5584V
Engine Change / March 1970
The left (#1) Pratt & Whitney R2600 engine is being removed and replaced in St. Thomas.
The crew Charlie Freehling, Jim Oats, Jim Schroder, and _____ with Ron Gillies looking on.
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photos by Charlie Freehling
FAA-Oklahoma City didn't have complete airworthiness records for N5584V. The FAA Form 337 Major Repair and Alterations were utilized for engine changes. This particular 337 is interesting that it spans over many years. It was originated by Bristol Aero-Industries, Ltd in Vancouver, BC., the approved engine overhaul facility in 1959. The dates go to 1964 with Transport Canada approving the engine for service. Then Juneau, Alaska - FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in 1969 and then San Juan, P.R. FSDO in May 1970 accept engine as overhauled. Antilles Air Boats and N5584V written in along with L/H (left hand installation) indication at top of page. Without additional documents, I have posted this 337 as engine being installed on N5584V in above photos.
