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.
Draft Posts
March 2026 draft posts
(desktop view formatted / mobile view scrambled until published)
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J-1
K.C. Irving was a entrepreneurial industrialist that built a business empire in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada. For over 60 years K.C. had many aircraft in the Irving fleet. Read more...
The first Grumman Mallard arrives in 1946 and flies as a demonstrator until K.C. Irving purchases the amphibian in 1949
N40R
STT
photo from the Bill Bailey Collection
Claude "Bonny" Austin
Alexander Hamilton Airport, Christiansted, St. Croix
Charlie Freehling and Claude Austin along with John Alvy, Jim Schroder and Jack Wood began Tri Air Corp. back in 1970.
Charlie started with Antilles Air Boats in the late 60's but left to open the new aircraft repair station.
Tri Air Corp.
Tri Air Corp's Bonny Austin works on the DC-3 (C-47) Pratt & Whitney R1830 - Twin Wasp engine. See more about this DC-3 below.
Tri Air Corp was immediately recognized as group of experienced professionals that could handle any aircraft maintenance and repair requirement to maintain the airworthiness of the old birds that found their way to this hangar in St. Croix. Antilles Air Boats recognized their abilities and sent some of their aircraft to Tri Air Corp. They were contracted to assist with the ferry of the AAB PBY N2763A back to STX and make appropriate repairs to begin schedule service. Read more about some of the aircraft that are in the images of Tri Air Corp.
Left to right / standing; Claude Austin, Lou Ellen, Jerry Boyce, Art Machel
front, Jasper Henry, ______, and ______.​​​​
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STX photos credit Charlie Freehling
Airlantic Transport - San Juan, Puerto Rico (1970 -1974)
Curtiss C-46F s/n 22533
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Caribbean Island Airways - N349V
A long history of flying freight for many different operators until it was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992.
photo credit Jay Sherlock
photo credit Werner Fischdick
photo credit Propfreak Collection
photo credit Richard Werno
1971 - PBY N2763A arrives from Arizona and is being prepared for AAB schedule service​​​​
Volpar Turboliner conversion in CA
photo credit Charlie Freehling
photo credit
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photo credit Mick Bajcar
Some of the Islanders operating in the region were Vieques Air Link - N457JA, N588JA, N589JA, N861JA, Air Best de Sa Juan - N862JA, N866JA and San Juan Air - N852JA, N855JA. Dorado Wings also operation the BN-2A.​
Another aircraft in the photo above is a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander What look like N868JA. There were many BN-2 Islanders between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The photo here shows N858JA in St Thomas.
Some Caribbean Mishaps
The DC-3 in the top photo came to Tr-Air Corp from Miami enroute to the French island of Guadeloupe for inspection and various repairs. J.P. Le Coannet purchased the aircraft from Frank Englert in Miami in 1970.
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photo credit
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photo credit
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DC-3 / C-47 N2111M USAF s/n 41-7820
photo credit Michael Bajcar
Like all the photos posted to the many pages of this website, whether they are of people or airplanes, they tell a story. I like to know more...where did they come from and where did they go in the years to follow. Everything has a beginning and an end. I like telling the stories, I like trying to connect the dots. So the above started with photos from Charlie Freehling and I just try to fill in the blanks. Sometime I give answers and sometime just more questions but I enjoy the journey. Charlie sent me a box of vintage slides (225) and this article completes the posting of those great images. Thank you.
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.
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.....
DC-3 / C-47 N2111M USAF s/n 41-7820?
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