Port Washington Aviation History

Greetings from Port Washington, L.I.

caroline — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:15:57 +0000

TUNING UP A U. S. ARMY AEROPLANE SERIES NO. 12 222671

[date unknown]

Allan Litty and Wife on Wing, 1949

fredi — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:17:51 +0000

Port residents the Littys sit on the wing of a Vultee BT13 at the Deer Park Airport (which no longer exists) on Long Island. For more information on the Deer Park Airport, see “Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields” (scroll down).

Photo from the collection of Allan Litty.

Bermuda By Air in 5 Hours via Pan American Airways

fredi — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:15:15 +0000

Pan Am's Sikorsky S-42B In Hangar

caroline — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:00:28 +0000

Photo from the collection of Willard Baker.

Republic Aviation F-84F Thunderstreak Postcard

caroline — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:52:23 +0000

The back of the postcard reads:

REPUBLIC’S F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber. Armed with six .50 caliber guns and more than 6,000 pounds of external armament. Carries nuclear weapons. Powered by J-65 turbojet engine with 7,200 pounds of thrust. Speeds over 650 mph. Set U. S. transcontinental speed record and world’s non-stop jet fighter distance record. Serves USAF and NATO air forces.

REPUBLIC AVIATION CORPORATION, Farmingdale, L. I., N. Y.

The aircraft was in production from 1952-1957. For more information, see the Cradle of Aviation Museum’s webpage about it.

Boeing 314, Known As "Dixie Clipper", Takes Off

caroline — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:14:53 +0000

The Dixie Clipper, a Boeing 314 flying boat operated by Pan American, was in service from 1939-1950.

See our post featuring artist John T. McCoy’s rendering of the Dixie Clipper here.

Pan American's Sikorsky S-42B in Water, 1937

caroline — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:32:56 +0000

The “Bermuda Clipper” had the Pan American number NC16735.

Paul Kotze and Volunteers with Sperry Messenger Replica

caroline — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:41:49 +0000

Paul Kotze (second from left) and other volunteers crafted a replica Sperry Messenger plane from original plans for Nassau County’s Cradle of Aviation Museum. Read more about the Sperry Messenger and the replica on the Crade of Aviation website here: http://www.cradleofaviation.org/exhibits/ww1/sperry/index.html.

From our book, People, Places, Planes (1997):

Paul Kotze’s father worked for the Curtiss Company when Curtiss was constructing the NC-4, the plane that, in 1919, made the first successful trans-Atlantic flight. Mr. Kotze remembers visiting the Curtiss plant witht his father and bringing home bits of wood and silk for building models. While still a teenager, he bought his first full size airplane for fifty dollars, which he had earned pumping gas for the Cadillac Company. The plane had no engine and needed extensive restoration, but Kote had engine experience from his work at Cadillac, and spent time at Curtiss Field watching others work on airplanes.

As World War II approached, Kotze was recruited to work for Grumman supervising airplane construction. During this time he developed tools, jigs, and guages to simplify and standardize the work.

In retirement, after spending 1940-1968 at Grumman, Kotze has donated his skill and his time to the Crade of Aviation Museum, doing reproduction and restoration work. As one of the more experienced volunteers, the 92-year-old Kotze must help train new volunteers.

Pan American Document Describing Port Washington Airport, 1937

caroline — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:21:52 +0000

[CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE]

PORT WASHINGTON, U.S.A. PAA AIRPORT NO. B-335-4

REMARKS: Station operated by Pan American Airways – At present used as port of entry for U.S.A.-Bermuda services by Pan American Airways & Imperial Airways -

Image from the Pan American World Airways, Inc. Records, Archives and Special Collections Department at the University of Miami.

The Cavalier Flying Boat, c. 1930s

caroline — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:10:57 +0000

This flying boat, manufactured by the Short Brothers and called the Cavalier (each individual plane was given a name that started with “C”) carried passengers between Long Island and Bermuda in the late 1930s until it was lost January 21, 1939 en route to Bermuda. There were 10 survivors and 3 fatalities.

Photo from the collection of Willard Baker.