photo credit Tom Anusewicz
S/N 1187
Manufactured 1942
Cuban Navy 1942-1954
General Fulgencio Batista's personal aircraft
Sold by Cuba to USA Aug.1954 reg. N2720A
M.J. Boylen Engineering Co. - Toronto, Ontario 1965-1968 reg. CF-IFN
Abitibi Aviation Ltd. - Toronto, Ontario 1969-1970
Antilles Air Boats - U.S.V.I. reg. N8229 1970-1981
Caribbean Flying Boats - CFB (Charles F. Blair) ownership leased to AAB
Bob Bean - Hereford, AZ 1984-1987
John E. Mermis - Albany, OR 1987-1990
Robert J. Holmsted - North Bend, OR 1990-1992
Jeff T. Mermis - Eugene, OR 1993/1995 sales rep /sold to Canada, struck off USCR 1996
Pacific Coastal Airlines - Port Hardy, BC 1996-2008 accident 11/16/08 destroyed.
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photo credit Glenn Arveson
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
Above; N8229 sitting in the hangar at Alexander Hamilton Airport, St. Croix after fresh paint and prepped for departure 1981. Below; N8229 on the ramp in St. Thomas in 1971. You can see the Sikorsky "Excambian" in the background. on its cradle after its last flight 1969
1960 Ford Starliner not liking the salt water environment and lots of beetles as well.
photo credit Frank Strnad / Dawson Collection
Thank you to Anthony Gagliani for sending on this photo.
I have the photos but not the story. The date on the photo is November 1977. The damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator was substantial but with parts in stock and additional inspections the aircraft could be back on line within a few days. I will post the how's and why's soon.
