Vought-Sikorsky VS-44A
"Excambian"
Manufactured 1940-1942 Mfg. No. 4403
Registered NC41881
1940-1943 American Export Airlines
1943-1946 U.S. Navy - designated JR2S-1
1946-1947 Tampico Airlines
1947-1949 Skyways International Airways
1949-1950 Seaboard Commercial Finance Corp.
1950-1950 J.L Boland
1950-1951 Harry Bomstein
1951-1951 Huestis Wells
1951-1952 Aviation Exchange Corp.
1952-1955 arrives at Baltimore Harbor Field for repairs
1956 aircraft being repaired in Lima , Peru
1957-1968 Avalon Air Transport
1968-1976 Antilles Air Boats
1976-1983 U.S. Navy - Pensacola Naval Air Museum
1983- New England Air Museum - Hartford, CT
long term loan from U.S. Navy
Hugh Wells
CAA Certification Granted
On July 14, 1943, the CAA granted the VS-44A an approved Type Certificate #752 (transport category) with the following limits:
Maximum take-off gross weight 59,534 lbs.
Airspeed limit 185 mph
Maximum landing weight 51,809 lbs.
Airspeed limit 211 mph
Fuel capacity 3,820 gals.
Maximum baggage weight 9,920 lbs.
Engines: Four Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp S1C3-G
Engine limits: Max except take-off: 1,050 hp/engine
Take off limits: 1,200 hp/engine (2 minutes)
It was fitting that Excambian was sold to Antilles Air Boats. Charles Blair had been the first pilot to fly the VS-44A as a test pilot on the Excalibur. At that time he was the Chief Pilot for American Export Airlines and performed duty with AEA's blessing, as Sikorsky's chief test pilot on the VS-44A. He later contracted with both the Aviation Exchange Corporation and Skyways to check out their "44" pilots. He had established many world records with the VS-44A's. It was fitting, therefore, that as owner of Antilles Air Boats, "Charlie" would provide the last operational home for the last of the "Flying Aces".
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Harry F. Pember
Sikorsky VS-44 Flying Boat
Of all the AAB aircraft, Excambian had the most incredible history!
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Sister ship Excalibur NC41880
Records Established by VH-44A's flown by AEA
Excalibur / Excambian / Exeter
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While in service with American Export Airlines the "Flying Aces" established notable records.
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The "Flying Aces" were the longest-range commercial aircraft in service of any airline, and were the only aircraft that flew commercial schedules non-stop with a capacity payload across the North and South Atlantic on flights in excess of 3,100 miles.
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1. Transatlantic Record, USA-Europe: 3,329 miles in 14 hours 17 minutes (non-stop)
2. First to fly non-stop Foynes-New York, June 22, 1942: Capt. Charles Blair pilot, Capt. Bob Hixson, co-pilot.
3. First non-stop flight New York-Lisbon: 3,383 miles in 20
hours 14 minutes, Capt. Charles Blair.
4. First to fly non-stop Baltimore-Europe: 3,380 miles in 16 hours 2 minutes.
5. Fastest westbound Atlantic Flight time, Europe-USA (with refueling stop at Botwood, Newfoundland) in 17 hours 45 minutes.
6. Fastest non-stop flight between Europe-New York in 18 hours 5 minutes.
7. First to fly non-stop Bermuda-North Africa: 3,362 miles
8. First to fly non-stop Bathurst (Africa) -Port of Spain (Trinidad): 3,384 miles
9. First to fly non-stop Bathurst-San Juan, P.R.: 3,384 miles
10. Fastest westbound crossing Foynes to LaGuardia (with refueling stop at Botwood): 17 hours 57 minutes. Capt. Edward A. Stuart, pilot
11. Fastest non-stop flight New York to Foynes: 14 hours 17 minutes: Capt. Charles Blair, pilot
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Harry E. Pember, Sikorsky VS-44 Flying Boat / Flying Machine Press
Excellent read!
Dick Probert
"Mother Goose"
Christiansted, St. Croix
photo credit Fritz Henle
photo credit John Egan
Great book !
Complete history!
American Export Airlines
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AEA Crew List
photo credit Fritz Henle
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AAB Seaplane Ramp -Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Excambian at AAB's San Juan, P.R. station and its neighbor the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station (3 - HU16E & 2 H-52)
Ted Pfeiffer's account as interviewed and published by Henry Pember plus additional consideration.
Mrs. Maureen O'Hara Blair at the dedication of "Excambian"
at the New England Air Museum
Converted PowerPoint Presentation to video without narrations
Will add narrations in time.
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On-Line Flight Simulator includes AAB's N41881
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Project Mohole
April 1959, Excambian makes it into a movie
another job for Excambian
see more below
see more below
1961
Remebering the Excambian by Capt. Mike Craig
The VS-44 Ken Dineen's Memories
Maureen O'Hara Blair speaks at the event that launched the restoration of Sikorsky VS-44 Excambian N41881 in Connecticut back in 1987.
Maureen O'Hara says...
transport along the way
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Seaplane & Flying Boats - Presentation to Pan Am Association -Aloha Chpt.
10/27/15
Christiansted, St. Croix
Photo by Charlie Freehling
Dan Styer sent in photos from January 1970. VS-44 "Excambian" sits on its beaching gear after its accident of 1969. Later years show it on its concrete cradle. Additional photos show its many years in service. Photo from Veterans Drive also shows the PBY on the ramp.
I always enjoy the additional features of earlier photos, vehicles, etc.
see more about this print below
"Excambian" leaving N.Y. LaGuardia Airport's Marine Air Terminal
Andy Whyte print part of my collection
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Excambian on the ramp in St. Thomas after its final flight. This photo is significant because it sits on its beaching gear and has all four engines. Most photos after the accident show it sitting on its concreate cradle and only three engines.
Photo by Charles Freehling
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Popular Science / Nov 1941
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contributed by Anthony Gagliani
photo by Pat Patterson
Excalibur?
The nose says Excalibur" and the tail says, "Excambian (N41881). While in Baltimore, in 1953 for repairs, the owner decided he preferred the name Excalibur. The original Excalibur crashed in 1942. When Dick Probert and Walt von Kleinsmid purchased the aircraft in Peru, the name Excambian returned. When it returned to Long Beach to join his fleet of Gooses it gained the nickname of
"Mother Goose"
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In 1959, Excambian became an actress. Dick Probert recalls her debut in a Hollywood movie; "In April of 1959 a motion picture entitled The Galant Hour was made. The motion picture company, MGM, advised that the entire aircraft had to be painted a dark navy blue for the picture. This movie was to be the World War II story of Admiral William "Bull" Halsey and was to be shot at San Diego. After the picture was completed, the studio, who had contracted to remove the paint was unable to accomplish that task. This made it necessary to repaint the entire aircraft. The repainting of the airplane caused the fabric on the wings to shrink to the point where it tore loose at the corners where it was attached. Our mechanics repaired the fabric enough to see us through the coming summer and after summer was over we removed all the wing fabric and covered the entire wings with metal."
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Dick Probert (excerpt from Harry E. Pember's Sirkorsky VS-44 Flying Boat
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Andy Whyte's Print
There is more than one story regarding Andy Whyte's print #209 of 900.
Read about the artist, the print, the signatures and a little more.
N41881
