A Change of Pace 40 ,Years Ago

I found some of the shots that I took when I was in Friday Harbor. San Juan Airlines used a Stinson SR-10 , R985 and metalized, called the Bushman. I flew in this airplane many times helping to haul freight and mail to the islands from the mainland. I never flew as PIC because I lacked the status of a flying employee at the time. Controls were on the left side only so you got your dual and check ride all at the same time when you made your first flight. My most memorable flight in it was on the way to Anacortes to pick up the first load and the pilot did a loop while I sat on the co-pilot's seat, an apple crate...no belt but didn't need one because I was planted firmly on the floor all the way around. Great fun , great airplane, great bunch of guys.
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Thanks for posting those pictures Bob. Good stories.

 

I have to say.....I always enjoy reading your threads. Be it tales of flying, design, testing, or just talking about airplanes in general.....you are a wealth of knowledge and always present yourself in a positive manner. I wonder where that old Stinson is today? I've been into the R/C scene since 1982...Topflite makes a " builders " version of this bird.

Geffen

 

Great photos Robert! Thanks for posting....


Jedi

 

Thanks for responding. I realize that my recollections are old hat but to me they were unique and great fun. I go back to them every day and have something to enjoy instead of vegetating and contemplating my navel. I flew with those guys many times as a helper and at times took the wheel. I had some wonderful experiences that one could not have anywhere else. Like landing at Blakley Island where we had to call into their unicom to see if there were any deer on the runway. It had such a hill in the middle of it that you couldn't see the other end when you were on final. The deer were wandering on the runway many times. The funniest incident was a visit by an FAA " official" to shut the airline down because it was running single engined equipment when it was a scheduled airline. Roy Franklin, the owner and founder, took the guy on his morning route. The first stop was on Waldron Island, where the strip was the beach. Then they went to Shaw to land on a steep uphill strip with wires at the bottom end. Then they went to Center Island with 200 foot drop-offs at each end of an 1100 foot strip. The last landing was at Speiden Island where the strip was on the narrow spine of the ridge on the center of the island. At the end of the route demo the FAA guy was white and not interested in any more examinations of the route. Never heard from him again. Roy started his airline in 1946 with a Stinson 108, operating out of a pasture. When too many people started complaining about the cow poop splattered all over the wings and doors he decided to build a better strip close to town where it is today. Even though I wasn't employed by the airline I flew as a " helper" many times and I'm glad that I did. They were a marvelous bunch of pilots and I listened to them every morning when they left on their routes. One morning at 0600 when the fog was thick I heard the first flight leave and announce that he was going to follow " beach" out to Thatcher Pass at something like 100 feet " or less". Soon he came on the horn and said, " Jesus Christ! Watch out for the pile driver off of the ferry landing at Shaw, I had to lift a wing to miss him." The second flight out calmly said, " Yeah, I see what you mean." These guys never missed the schedule in less the wind was too much and I have seen it get to that point up there. They averaged about 50 -60 landings a week in all kinds of weather. A great bunch.
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Thank you geffen, I'm glad that I can share some of my past activities. That's about all I can do now. The last that I knew about the Bushman is that it has been retired and fixed up real pretty with fancy paint . I think that it is still in Friday Harbor. The " face" and aircraft operations in the San Juans is much different than it was in the 60's and 70's. More official scrutiny, fancy airplanes, and many more rich people. I am glad that I was there in the good ol' days.
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Awesome pics Bob, more more...keep em coming....especially if you have any of old biplanes.....travel airs, Wacos, KR's, Birds etc....sweet stuff.....

 

This is possibly my best shot of the Bushman coming in.The print is sharp but it certainly gets lost in the computer works.
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I had to look twice.....though it was a Lysander at first.
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The 1st picture clearly shows that the speed limit is 45mph.........is the plane obeyingthe law??? ;-)

Geffen

 

As with all the islanders we never paid attention to the sped signs. The Stinson was at 65 mph or there about.
I was wondering if anyone would comment on the speed limit sign.
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My friend Jack and the Travelair that he rebuilt from a wreck that he found in a swamp near Williams, Ca. The 1926 Wright J-4 on the front was built up from 4 different engines plus some parts that Jack had to make. It was a flying museum piece that now rests in the Port Townsend Aero Museum. Had some great flights with Jack in this bird.
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