AAB operations in San Juan was adjacent to the Isla Grande Airport and originally next to the Naval Air Station (which included the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station). The location gave AAB another downtown to downtown terminal with ready made water ramps. The old Navy hangar was perfect for the larger flying boats (VS-44 & S-25).
photo credit Tony Pearce
photo credit Mick Bajcar
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photo credit Jim Flanagan
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
San Juan, P.R. Sept. 1980- AAB hangar on the left / seaplane ramp center / Old Coast Guard hangar on right. S-25 "Excalibur VIII" outside AAB hangar
photo by Tom Anusewicz
Tom Anusewicz and Southern Cross - May 18, 1977
Charlie Freehling and I went to San Juan to review G-73 N7338 Mallard incident from previous day.
photo by Charles Freehling
photo by Charles Freehling
Southern Cross preparing for its last Atlantic crossing
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Vieques, P.R.
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photo credits Fritz Henle
Isla Grande Airport (SIG) - San Juan, P.R.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Juan
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
Isla Grande
Aeroplane Magazine - July 2023
Personal Album features Phillip Pain's photos from a 1979/80 visit to Isla Grande Airport in San Juan, PR.
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AAB operations in San Juan was adjacent to the Isla Grande Airport and originally next to the Naval Air Station (which included the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station). The location gave AAB another downtown to downtown terminal with ready made seaplane ramps.
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Click on above article for additional info
and more about Isla Grande >
photo credit Tom Anusewicz
Thanks to Anthony Gagliani for sending on the Aeroplane Magazine article.
Earlier days...
Pan Am's Ford Trimotor (Tin Goose) flew into Isla Grande back in 1929. Read a story from the
Beaufort News 11/14/29.
The image of Pan Am's Sikorsky S-42 landing in San Juan. circa 1938. Not a photograph but an illustration.. The aircraft on the horizon would have been gigantic. The seas would be to rough to land outside of the mouth of San Juan Harbor. None the less a nice image of S-42 and El Morrow.
Pan Am's Douglas DC-4 flew into Isla Grande during the 1940's into the 50's. In 1952, a Pan Am DC-4 (N88899) had a serious fatal accident shortly after taking off from Isla Grande.
Read more below..
1948 photo of Isla Grande. Recognize the San Juan Terminal lower left with a number of aircraft on the ramp. Pan Am's seaplane terminal today is the Pan Am Pier for cruise ships.The Navy Base in the center of photo with to large hangars which later house the USCG and AAB.
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1939
The harbor at San Juan, Puerto Rico
A new slide arrived from Switzerland this week. The S.25 Sandringham - "Southern Cross" sitting in San Juan Harbor. The photo was taken June 5, 1975, nearly fifty
years ago. I included additional photos of AAB aircraft in the harbor and all show the container port in the background. I also included some photos of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station with the same view in the distance. The U.S.C.G. Air Station moved to Borinquen in 1971 and much of the old Navy and Coast Guard station became another container port.
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Flying boats and seaplanes operated in and out of San Juan Harbor for many years starting back with Pan Am 's early Sikorsky's and U.S. Military PBY's and then to U.S.C.G. Grumman Albatross's. AAB arrived in 1964 and for nearly 20 years used the same seaplane ramps to get in and out of the water. I have many fond memories with the U.S.C.G. Air Station and AAB in San Juan. Such a long time ago.
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As time went by more and more cargo would arrive in San Juan harbor and the container ports took over the majority of the harbor shore line.
2 Sikorsky's
in San Juan
photo from Tom Anusewicz Collection
See more about Antilles Air Boats San Juan of yesteryear and the marine terminals today.
San Juan Marine Terminals
The Crowley Isla Grande Terminal of today is an 87 acre facility which still includes the old Navy/Coast Guard hangar (AAB hangar removed) . The old neighborhood can still be recognized. Check put the videos
Crowley Isla Grande Terminal
Puerto Nuevo Terminals
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