pacificmarine

Pacific Marine Airways (1922-1928) Converted World War 1 Curtiss Hydroplane, Model HS-2L carried six passengers from 1925-1931. Later the route from the Mainland was taken over by Western Air Express in 1928.

In 1919, Syd Chaplin, half brother of Charlie Chaplin, started Chaplin Air Lines with a Curtiss "Sea Gull." It had a single Curtiss K-6 150 H.P. engine and was capable of flying at 76 m.p.h. while carrying two passengers. Syd Chaplin is seated on the left and Art Burns is in the cockpit.

Goodyear Pony Blimp, 1920-1923. The airship was 95 feet long and powered by a single Ford Model "T" engine and carried two passengers. The pilot, passengers, and engine were all crowded together in a small open compartment, suspended below the airbag, which was inflated with non-flammable helium. The Blimp was also a popular way to fish for Barracuda.

Avalon Rotary Club members gathered at Catalina's Airport-in-the-Sky to greet the inaugural of a United Airlines DC-3 in 1946. Philip Wrigley was a board member of United Airlines for many years and also had a great interest in aviation.

The S-43 remained in the lake until it was salvaged in 1981 by Gary Larkins. The aircraft has been at the Pima Air and Space Museum since 1985 as a static display after undergoing an extensive restoration.

Amphibian Air Transport's Sikorsky S-43, serial #4325 (right). This aircraft was acquired by Amphibian in 1947 by from Inter-Island Airways (later Hawaiian Airlines) and flew with Amphibian until May of 1948. The aircraft changed hands several times and later crashed and sank in Lake Tetlin, Alaska in 1951.

These two photos (left) show the unusual floating barge and ramp system that Amphibian Air Transport devised to load and unload their airplanes. The aircraft would pull itself out of the ocean via a steep, floating ramp and onto the barge, then after loading and unloading, the aircraft would roll down the other side of the ramp, back into the ocean to depart. This floating ramp and dock system was nicknamed "Hanley's Folly" after Amphibian Air Transport pilot Bob Hanley. Shown in the photo is one of Amphibian Air Transport's Sikorsky S-43s. This photo may show the inaugural ramping. Note the "Bathing Beauties" in the foreground.

Thanks to Stuart Hanley for these photos.

Amphibian Air Transport was the earliest airline to fly the rugged Grumman Goose to Catalina Island, as well as flying three Sikorsky S-43 amphibians. The airline flew 12 round trips daily from Long Beach to Avalon and six round trips from Burbank. Extra flights were flown as needed on Sundays and Holidays. Amphibian Air Transport used an unusual floating barge that was tied up near the Casino, in Avalon Bay to board and disembark flights. The owner of the airline was Ken Brown and Vice-President was C.E. Hunsinger.

Amphibian Air Transport Fleet:

Grumman Goose:

NC95467, NC95468,

NC68157

Sikorsky S-43:

NC53294, NC53295, NC16934

Amphibian Air Transport Goose at the dock in Descanso Bay in the late 1940s. Captain Bob Hanley is in the cockpit. Photo courtesy of Stuart Hanley.