I started going to Catalina in 1974 when my moms boyfriend moved there. He was a L.A County Deputy Sheriff and transferred there and eventually retired and stayed there and married an islander. Lol not my mom.. I visited him almost every weekend and would stay the whole summer. I worked at the Busy Bee snack bar and the Airport n the Sky. Paul was the airport manager then. What great great memories I have of those days. I sure miss Catalina. Thank you Dave Gardner for allowing me to visit you and I'll always cherish those times we shared roaming all the trails and back roads and beaches. Thanks so much. Greg A Glace
great footage.......I spent a few of the best years of my life in SPD and LGB loading Gooses for Air Catalina. I remember, with great affection, being in the company of the pilots like Jasper, Bill Kilgour, Moose Krebs, Stoney, and all the rest. It was great to see Brian Dawes recount his time on the ramp in Avalon. I can remember running a Goose full of beer over to the guys the day we broke 1,000 passengers. Good times!
Nice historic aviation lecture on the seaplanes flying to Catalina, Island. I really like the incredible color film footage of the "Mother Goose" Sikorsky flying boat (nice to see it was finally saved and fixed up for display). I flew out of Long Beech, CA to Catalina Island and back in a Grumman Goose in 1988 (don't recall the airline name). Great experience landing and taking off in the Pacific Ocean especially since I got the co-pilot's seat on both trips!
Jim Watson, thank you, some great footage. You did not mention the last regularly scheduled seaplane operation - California Amphibious Transport (CAT) which flew a Grumman Mallard (N42DA, formerly N36DF - Trans Catalina Airlines) from LGB to Avalon. They did not use the ramp, but moored outside the bay and loaded/unloaded by boat to the dock. This story would have been perfect for your subject on why there are no seaplanes. On January 15, 1982, CAT flew the last regularly scheduled flight between LGB and Avalon, with Bill Kilgour and Lisa Thomas as the pilots. Lisa Thomas is the only women in the Knights of Avalon "Fraternity" as noted on catalinagoose.com After the mallard operation discontinued, CAT, changed their name to All Seasons Air Pacific (ASAP Airlines) and flew Piper Chieftains to the Airport in the Sky. The airport operation lasted until May of 1983.
I started going to Catalina in 1974 when my moms boyfriend moved there. He was a L.A County Deputy Sheriff and transferred there and eventually retired and stayed there and married an islander. Lol not my mom.. I visited him almost every weekend and would stay the whole summer. I worked at the Busy Bee snack bar and the Airport n the Sky. Paul was the airport manager then. What great great memories I have of those days. I sure miss Catalina. Thank you Dave Gardner for allowing me to visit you and I'll always cherish those times we shared roaming all the trails and back roads and beaches. Thanks so much. Greg A Glace
Back in 92 I flew an Albatros to Catalina and what a crowd we gathered. It was like we were in back in the day.
great footage.......I spent a few of the best years of my life in SPD and LGB loading Gooses for Air Catalina. I remember, with great affection, being in the company of the pilots like Jasper, Bill Kilgour, Moose Krebs, Stoney, and all the rest. It was great to see Brian Dawes recount his time on the ramp in Avalon. I can remember running a Goose full of beer over to the guys the day we broke 1,000 passengers. Good times!
Nice historic aviation lecture on the seaplanes flying to Catalina, Island. I really like the incredible color film footage of the "Mother Goose" Sikorsky flying boat (nice to see it was finally saved and fixed up for display). I flew out of Long Beech, CA to Catalina Island and back in a Grumman Goose in 1988 (don't recall the airline name). Great experience landing and taking off in the Pacific Ocean especially since I got the co-pilot's seat on both trips!
Jim Watson, thank you, some great footage. You did not mention the last regularly scheduled seaplane operation - California Amphibious Transport (CAT) which flew a Grumman Mallard (N42DA, formerly N36DF - Trans Catalina Airlines) from LGB to Avalon. They did not use the ramp, but moored outside the bay and loaded/unloaded by boat to the dock.
This story would have been perfect for your subject on why there are no seaplanes. On January 15, 1982, CAT flew the last regularly scheduled flight between LGB and Avalon, with Bill Kilgour and Lisa Thomas as the pilots. Lisa Thomas is the only women in the Knights of Avalon "Fraternity" as noted on catalinagoose.com After the mallard operation discontinued, CAT, changed their name to All Seasons Air Pacific (ASAP Airlines) and flew Piper Chieftains to the Airport in the Sky. The airport operation lasted until May of 1983.
Didn’t see any mention of Catalina Airport with the turnaround at Hamilton Cove
Just a note on the question having a Grumman albatross
Most all albatross planes was not civilian registered. It was military build.
What about the Twin Otter on floats?
Celebrity Lectures!
Seaplanes and the island of romance