Draft Posts
The articles, photos and stories posted below are drafts and are not fully published and are not available for public viewing until finalized and approved.
November 2026 draft posts
(desktop view formatted / mobile view maybe scrambled until published)
It's hard to imagine that another year is drawing to a close.
As we get closer to the holidays, I want to express my gratitude to all of you for your support in sharing photos, stories, and feedback with the Antilles Air Boats website.
My Christmas greeting above is once again, Capt. Charlie Blair joining Maureen and cast of "Miracle On 34th Street"
Merry Christmas to all
Continuing to document the background of each of the Grumman G-73 Mallards. Each of the 59 aircraft built had a unique history.
J-7
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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.
Marijane Sipple comments on last months post.
"The wonderful photos of the St. John AAB ramp brought back many happy memories I felt like I was right there on the plane when I saw the one of the planes making its way through the always busy anchorage!
I always enjoyed our passengers, but the park ranger was a special favorite. He offered to give me a personal tour of the park if I came over on a day I didn't have to fly.
Below is a paragraph from one of my stories about how grateful he was to be able to use the seaplanes to get to St. John from St. Croix. It really brought home to me how important the seaplane service was to our passengers!
As Bob Hope would say, "Thanks for the Memories!"
Another passenger easily recognized by his uniform was the park ranger who was the dual superintendent of the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John and Buck Island on St. Croix. One time he told me how grateful he was to have Antilles Air Boats to commute to work. Before, he had to take a taxi to the St. Croix airport to fly to St. Thomas, then a taxi across the island to Red Hook to take the ferry to St. John. He said it was a lengthy and expensive
trip that he dreaded."
Beauty
Preserved
Good times remembered
The Grumman Widgeon first flew in 1940 and built 314 aircraft. The Maxwell M1 would be a current replacement for the Widgeon.
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Continuing to document the background of each of the Grumman G-73 Mallards. Each of the 59 aircraft built had a unique history.
J-9
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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.
Continuing to document the background of each of the Grumman G-73 Mallards. Each of the 59 aircraft built had a unique history.
J-11
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.
Holding posts for coming months
The Antilles Air Boats Goose operated with one pilot, Unlike most airlines, the pilot arrived with extensive experience, thousands of hours of flight time. This was to be their last flying job, a semi-retirement gig that would supplement in most cases their military retirement. With the addition of the Grumman Mallard which required 2 pilots, a captain and co-captain. The co-captain's flight experience was far less than the captain. While the person in the left seat was ending their career, the right seat occupant was just starting theirs.
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
A little bit about
A Seaplane and a pilot
The Antilles Air Boats Mallard N51151 (J-42) was originally delivered to C.F .Kettering as N2975 in early 1949.. The aircraft had numerous owners over the years and was owned by Chalk's International Airlines and loaned to AAB for a little less than 3 years. In 1982, Chalk's had the aircraft sent to Frakes Aviation in Cleburne, Texas for conversion to PT-6A-34 turbine engines.
"Pappy" Chalk started Chalk's Flying Service in 1919 and over the years there was variant names as well as various owners. In December of 1999, the airline was relaunched as Chalk's Ocean Airways.
Scott Adams was fortunate to arrive at Chalk's to have experienced flying the Mallard , now registered as N142PA. Scott began his flying career.....
Scott Adams was fortunate to arrive at Chalk's to have experienced flying the Mallard , now registered as N142PA. Scott began his flying career.....
Scott Adams was fortunate to arrive at Chalk's to have experienced flying the Mallard , now registered as N142PA. Scott began his flying career.....
Scott Adams was fortunate to arrive at Chalk's to have experienced flying the Mallard , now registered as N142PA. Scott began his flying career.....
photo credit Steve Kemper
