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Maintenance

Antilles Air Boats' maintenance department consisted of 3 locations (St. Thomas, St. Croix and San Juan, P.R.), 50 licensed and unlicensed mechanics and included various shops (engine overhaul / fabric). This page will focus on the people and criteria to maintain the AAB fleet.  

Grumman G21A Service Manual
Grumman JRF-6B Maint. Instructions
photo credit Tom Anusewicz

Developing additional database for Antilles Air Boats aircraft information which will include FAA Major Repair & Alteration  / Form 337 , supporting documentation, registration, ownership and other related information.

See below.

Grumman Goose G-21A

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Claude Austin, Maintenance Supervisor and Charlie Freehling, Chief Inspector... the very best in the business.

Grumman Mallard G-73

Registration
S/N
Records
4402

Vought-Sikorsky VS-44A

Consolidated Catalina PBY-5A

Registration
S/N
Records
548
920

Even though both aircraft received "N" numbers they never were certificated in the US. The FAA have recently (Jan. 2022) researched for any documents on file and found nothing. 

Shorts - Sunderland / Sandringham - S.25

Aviation Mechanics Journal - July 1980 advertisement

Grumman Albatross HU-16

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AAB recruited licensed airframe and powerplant mechanics from various certified aeronautical school from the east coast.  

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above letter sent by Don "Bucky" Dawson
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photo credit Jim Flanagan
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Hugh O'Donnell
Jean Smith

Dean Franklin Aviation Enterprises

Miami, Florida

Grumman Seaplane /Parts Dealer

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A busy ramp in St. Thomas.  A great photo of numerous AAB aircraft in maintenance. The photo includes VS-44 (out of service), Super CAT/PBY, 2 Gooses and a Cessna 185 (N169E) on floats registered to Don Schell and Bill Sorren, pilots at AAB.

Senior maintenance supervisors, Claude Austin on left engine and Victor Pinheiro on the right. with pilot Bill Sorren walking across the ramp.

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Jim Flanagan & Eric Crossfield performing a 100 hr. Engine Inspection
Leo Soto
Jim Flanagan
Horatio Belmar
Claude Austin, Mrs. Blair, Eric Crossfield and Andy Whitener
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photos by Steve Bell 
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photo credit Charlie Freehling
photo credit Charlie Freehling
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photo credit Kevin Murphy
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Hugh O'Donnell 
photo credit Charlie Freehling
Hugh O'Donnell & Eric Crossfield - G-73 Mallard N1208
photo credit Charlie Freehling
photo credit Charlie Freehling
Bonnie Austin
photo credit Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy
Victor Pinhiero - Maintenance Supervisor
at the maintenance shop in St. Thomas
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Charlie Freeling, Hugh O'Donnell and GOOSE in St. Croix
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