Flew the Goose from St. Croix to St.Thomas early seventies. Pilot had lost left hand but was fitted with mechanical device-

Hello Everyone,Quite interesting history of AAB s.I remember as a child my Dad"RIP" always telling me wonderful stories about AAB s at the Isla Grande Airport.He used to fly tourist s there to St Thomas and St Croix.Its a fascinating story and how the services of AAB really became entrenched in the history of St Thomas,St Croix and P.R.All the way from Ferrying the airplanes from Australia and developing the ramp s to launch the commercial service.Its great to see all these pictures and videos of a bygone era in aviation in which I was made aware and actually took up aviation as it fascinated me.Thanks all for the great pictures and comments of this legendary Airline and it's rich history.

Working for the ABC in Sydney in 1974, I interviewed Charles Blair at the Rose Bay flying boat base prior to his flying the Sandringham and converted Sunderland back to the Carribean. The ex Ansett aircraft became available for purchase when the Lord Howe Island service ceased.

Thanks for this, Tom. This and the 63-70 edition certainly bring back fond memories. -Chris Blair

I met Capt. Blair at the Isla Grande Airport in San Juan many years ago. He was always very friendly and confident of his aircrafts. He was one of the few Captains who you would call Captain without a doubt. He is still missed. Hope there are Gooses in heaven for you to fly. Blue skies with no CAT.

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My mother sent me and my brother to st croix to live with our father in 1966 i was only 6 years old, my dad and charlie blair and maureen were close friends and i would often hang out by the sea planes while my dad was at work, i often flew in the co pilot seat to st thomas and back with charlie and back st croix just for the ride, this was a very special part of my life and growing up in paradise and to be friends with both charlie and maureen.

I remember seeing them come in to Isla Grande Airport in that era. It helped me to get the desire at 11 years old to go into aviation at 16 in the USA military academy in Ft Lauderdale that empathized in aviation called Florida Air Academy- where eventually led me to get my pilot’s license! But this all began seeing these big machines going up the ramp from sea to land. The roar of those engines. Too cool!

Flew with them back in the '70s. I was the only passenger on one flight and Charles Blair let me sit in the co-pilots seat. A bucket list memory.

Wow..!! It's easy to see that this 8 minute video was a labor of love , as it couldn't have been done any better, in my opinion..... Even the calypso music is perfect for helping one to find yourself really longing for those days which memories of, these pictures and sounds re-awaken in the hearts of those of us who were lucky enough to have been there then...Antilles Airboats really was something special based on every thing i've ever heard about what it was like to have been a part of it........I know my parents would have loved to have seen this excellent compilation of people and planes........Thank You..!

Chris:

Tom,

Charles and Maureen are quite the attractive pair.. and the ending photo of your license was priceless.. Absolutely brilliant video and no doubt I’ll be teeing this up and enjoying your glimpse into a fascinating time and place ! Cheers

As I used to commute between St Thomas and St Croix on those Airboats it brought back pleasant memories.

Love the videos. Brought back many great memories of flying the Goose between the islands from Pan Am Pavillion to Charlotte Amalie and then from the "new" ramp in Christiansted. Also recall when Charles, Maureen and Bill Maple (I believe) brought the Sandringham to the islands. That didn't work out because, as I recall, the Sandringham required passengers to be tendered to the seaplane. Never realized at the time I living in history. Often got to ride right seat on the goose. Oh, and they had a PBY as well. That was an adventure

Great video! I've been the Mallard and Goose, way too many times to remember, when we'd fly to St. Croix to spend summer, Christmas, and other breaks with my grandmother.

Thanks for sharing this Video Tom

I was in St Croix for a weekend away from work in Puerto Rico during this period. I had a crappy night on the island and stopped by the AAB station downtown. They took in my rental car and sold me a seat to St. John. I got to sit in the second seat and loved my first flight on an airboat, When picking up a rental car in Cruz Bay, the attendant noted that you could always tell when Captain Blair was the pilot, "He comes straight-in to the ramp. The other pilots land outside the harbor and taxi in to the ramp."

What a lovely video! I never got down to that part of the world, and never flew in a flying boat. Must have been magical. I rode in a Twin Otter on floats in Canada on one vacation, and spent 1100 hours flying ordinary land planes and gliders. Never got my feet wet. Quite the adventure, I am sure. The images and songs gave me a little time-traveling mini-vacation, thanks!

My first experience with Antilles Airboats and the Goose started when i was about 7 years old i was at first extremely terrified of the white black and red sea monster that my mother convinced me was a safe and exciting way to get from Fajardo Puerto Rico to St. Thomas and St Croix. I remember screaming like a banshee as it taxied into the water off the ramp it was as if someone hit the off button on my wailing when we took off as i immediately fell in love with it. That love still continues and am now 51 years old. I fly radio controlled scale models and as of Friday evening August 5 2022(not sure when anyone will read this) i purchased a radio control scale model of a Grumman Goose and plan to finish it in Antilles Airboats Livery as a tribute to an amazing airline that will always have a place in my heart and as a tribute to my late maternal grandparents who were the reason why i had a childhood in Puerto Rico