SEABEE  HANGAR NEWS

  Vol. I ...No. 1                                                    "All the Seabee News that's fit to print"                                                                    Free

This page will be devoted to bringing you news and activities of the club members. You are invited to send in Seabee anecdotes and experiences. Notice of Bee fly-ins along with anything of general interest. We will be updating this page as newsworthy items develop. Your turn! This is whats happening in the Seabee world! Fly-ins, places to visit, and members escapades. If you have some news, let us know. Just e-mail us and we will be happy to add your adventure!
Archives on Page 2
Archives on Page 3

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Do you know this Seabee? Yes!
Chriscraft Ad 
This photo is from a Chriscraft ad in th early 70's. If you know this Seabee, please email me at smestler@pbtcomm.net. Thanks.
Possible answer from member Tim Mau:
"I believe there is a pretty good chance that is my airplane in the artwork. My Grandfather was a ChrisCraft dealer and did a lot of work with the (Seabee) in the 70's. No way to be certain but the look is right.

Tim Mau"

A definitive answer fom Mr. Don Weed:

"Tim Mau is precisely correct.  His (and my) Grandfather, Herman Mau, purchased N6429K back in 1968.

Herm was one of the largest Chris-Craft Dealers in the area, and this photo was staged with their unique new model of the Chris Craft "Lancer". Herm came to sell many of the Lancer models through his dealership "Mau's Marineland, Inc".

The particular boat in the photo was equipped with an Evinrude Outboard, mounted inside an aft compartment of the boat. A very unique model- believe this very boat may have remained stored and serviced at Mau's for it's eventual owner for many years.

The catalog was likely from the 1974-1976 era. I remember a number of them floating around the Dealership, and of course asked my Grandfather about it in detail.

None of the people in the image were family, but according to Herm Mau, he was seated at the controls of "Bluebird" (N6429K) as the photo was taken. The woman standing in the bow doorway was someone from Chris Craft.
Tim Mau is now the owner of Bluebird.

Thank you for sharing that image- been quite a few years since I have seen it!"
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Some of our Seabee members
Hammondsport Bluff
Seaplane guys and gals in Hammondsport
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Red Dragon found!!

Mr. Scott Schroeder from Michigan sent this article to us. Very interesting. Most of you are familiar with the "Red Dragon" painting below.
Well, this is that Seabee!
Thank you Scott!

Red Dragon Before
Before
Red Dragon
After
(Click on images for full size view)
Scott says, "Hello Steve, I am an aviation enthusiast, not a pilot, that used to fly alot with my brother in law. I finished and got through ground school but was not able to continue on to get my license.  I am heavily involved at my local airport in Michigan and I have been doing research on a Seabee a friend of mine here used to own. The demonstrator aircraft serial #108 known as the Red Dragon. My friend Scott owned the plane back in the early 90's and I was intrigued when he started talking about the history of that particular plane. I have found information on almost everything he has told me about except he mentioned a terrible crash involving the plane that heavily damaged it. He stated there was a notation in the log book regarding the repairs but all it stated was something to the effect of "replaced hull and wings". I was hoping you may know something about this incident.  I have attached a picture of the New York news article he has showing the damaged aircraft that matches the paint scheme of 108 but there is no mention of the serial number or registration number in the story.#108 is still here at a local airport close by but was damaged in a hanger fire. I have not looked at it myself so I'm not sure of the extent of the damage.
Sincerely, Scott Schroeder
Mecosta County Michigan"

Update
- I received this from Scott yesterday (1-14-2024):
"Hello Steve. I sent you the information on the Red Dragon S/N 108 back in 2019. At that time, I mentioned that the plane was damaged in a hangar fire at a local airfield but still intact. Unfortunately, that same hanger/shop burned again this fall taking the life of the airport owner and completely destroying The Red Dragon at Cain Field (38C) in Stanwood Michigan. Mr. Cain was 80 years old and was a very well known member of the aviation community here in Michigan as he had taught many people to fly at his airport over the years.

Regards,
Scott Schroeder"

Red Dragon
The "Red Dragon" is no more! 
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Member Eucid Benoit and crew do it again!
Euclid Benoit
First Flying Boat at Botwood, Newfoundland in years. Read the article here (PDF). Very interesting.
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Our newest member Mark Byrd
Mark Byrd
Mark's Twin Bee is S/N 22. Second to last one made.
Welcome aboard Mark!
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Member Bruce Hinds at an undisclosed location (somewhere near Seattle)
Spectacular!
Bruce says, "
That's Pewee Falls.  It's in the extreme NE corner of Washington State."

Bruce Hinds  Bruce Hinds
                                       Bruce's Bee on the left
Bruce Hinds

Bruce Hinds
Notice the Cub just to the right of the falls.

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Seaplane-a-Palooza 2019

Tavares, Florida March 29-30th - It was a beautiful day for a splash-in at Tavares! An event that gets bigger every year thanks to the town of Tavares and Rob Galloway of the Jones Brothers Seaplane Company. Below are the photos from the event.
Tavares: "America's Seaplane City".
Tavares
East ramp: The nicest Beaver I have ever seen! The Seabee ain't bad either!

Tavares
West parking area
(Dave Bloyd's Seabee shown)
Tavares
Rest stop for member "ET" and Super Dave at Miller Monarch's
Tavares
"ET" with Seaplaners the day before.
Tavares
West ramp. Member Brian Bossier's Seabee
Tavares
"ET" and Super Dave flew Brian Bossier's Seabee to Tavares
Tavares
East parking area
Tavares
Member Miller Monarch with wife Alice. Super Seabee people!
Tavares
L-R: "ET", Miller, Super Dave, Alice, Shon, Dave Bloyd
Your photo here!
Great shots from member Jeronimo Chiecchio
Jeronimo Jeronimo
Jeronimo Jeronimo
Thanks Jeronimo!
All photos taken by Jeronimo via drone!
 ===========================================================Miller Monarch and me (Steve)
Milller Monarch
Two Seabees at I93 (eye-93)

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Israeli Seabee
Israeli Seabee
Mr. Leigh Lewis sent this to us. He is also asking about a Vietnam Air Force paint scheme. If you have any information on this let me know. He says Vietnam had three of them.
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Member Bruce Bishop made the cover!
Bruce Bishop
I know it's kind of late as Bruce sent me this a while ago. Durango, Colorado. You need a big engine there! Thanks Bruce, great shot!

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Photo from the past
Bob Porter Photos

Top left to bottom right:
Richie Brumm and ?,
Richie and Karen Brumm,
Richie, Bill Bardin, Edgar (ET) Tello, Henry Ruzakowski,
Jim Poel (My hero!)

Bob Porter Photos
Jim Poel and ?
Bob Porter Photos
Bob Porter's back yard!
Bob Porter Photos
Richie Brumm
Bob Porter Photos
Steve Lantz
(Tahoe Special Builder)
The photos above were sent in by member Bob Porter
(Thanks Bob!)

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Member Eucid Benoit makes news!

Euclid Benoit
We have just started our Eastern Canada Seabee tour and it looks like we with my Seabee will be the guests of honour at the 80th anniversary celebration of transatlantic flying boat operations at Botwood Newfoundland on August 5. Article below (PDF):


Great job Euclid! A great testament to the Seabee's ability.
(and your team's)
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Wingman Bruce Hinds and Lead Tom Hoag fly formation
Formation Video
Click on photo for video (MP4)
Thanks Tom!
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Our newest Member!
John Oberholtzer and Eve Dunaway at Lake Berryessa
John Oberholtzer       John Oberholtzer
They're having too much fun already! Welcome John and Eve!

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Hammondsport, NY 2018

Hammondsport 2018
Original restored 1914 Curtiss "Model F" flying boat.
Flown by Rob Kenyan on September 15th, 2018.
(Photos by member Bill Bardin)
Hammondsport 2018 Hammondsport 2018
Hammondsport 2018 Hammondsport 2018
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Members Bruce Hinds and John Cuny at Lake Isabel north of Seattle...Beautiful!
Isabel
John's, Bruce's and Mike Arntzen's
Isabel
Isabel Isabel
Mike, Janie and John Cuny
(Looks like Gilligan's Island!)
Isabel Isabel
Isabel Isabel
John, Janie, Bruce and Ollie
(Click on photos for full size view)
Bruce says, "This lake is one way in, one way out but there is a gap at the far end you can pass through if things don't look right. Water is crystal clear and no noise, bugs or people."
Sounds really fun.
John says, "Nice day at an Alpine Lake, 3200' MSL. Nice to have the big engine on the Seabee. Peaks in the area 5000+."

All photos by John Cuny except for the lower right corner by Mike Arntzen (Sportsman pilot).
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Updated March 4, 2024 (Updated The Red Dragon, Added Bruce Bishop photo, Added photos from the past, Added photos from home page, Added John Oberholtzer)