The Seaplane history
One of the fastest and most glamorous ways to get to Fire Island was and still is the Seaplane. Becoming more popular and visible in the 1960’s through today it was the only way to arrive. For celebrities it was not only fast, but indiscreet. Slightly soggy, but glamorous just the same. With the advent of the dock you could really arrive in style…
Seaplane history:
The word Seaplane was meant to symbolize two types of planes associated with the sea. The type that is still used today is the floating plane or the hydroplane that we still see and use today. In this type of a seaplane, the fuselage or the main body of the aircraft never touches water but rather the landing gear touches water. Although this wasn’t common at the beginning, it soon became a worked out and accepted model that can be still seen in service in smaller planes that needs to land on water today. The design of the hydroplane was also used to design aircraft that could land easily on aircraft carriers (which consequently made the United States the most powerful country in the world with the success of its aircraft carriers)
The second type of a Seaplane that was very popular in the 1920’s and 1930’s was the Flying Boat. As the name suggests, it was a design that allowed the planes fuselage to act as a boat when it landed on the sea or a body of water. Hence, it was termed the Flying Boat due to its ability to land and take off from water. When a flying boat landed on the water, its main fuselage would sink by 15% into the water for smooth landing and hence it would not use any landing gears. This model of a seaplane termed the Flying Boat was very popular in the 20’s and 30’s and it was even used in the World War I very extensively.
In time, seaplanes also became commercially feasible. The world’s biggest airline PAN AM used seaplanes as its main carriers for a long time until Boeing Aircraft became popular. Especially in the 20s and 30s, airports and airstrips were not very common due to lack of commercial investment. Thus, seaplanes were the perfect aircraft so that they could be used to land in a body of water especially near coastlines.
1970’s-1990’s. The Seaplane was a common occurrence here in the Pines. Somewhat affordable at the time and fast it was used by many. A luxurious way to travel as you left Manhattan and were in the Pines in about 45 minutes.
Circa 1970’s
Throughout the 1980’s there was conflict as there was not much Seaplane regulation going on in both Cherry Grove and the Pines. Residents were concerned as they saw seaplanes flying way too close to homes.
In 1983 FIPPOA takes control of the dock from Pelham Airways as they were not happy with the operation procedures.
As population grew and the traffic of boaters increased this deregulated industry became a bone of contention with many residents upset with the low flying planes and danger to homes and residents. It’s use was terminated in the early 90’s, but now has been revived.
2018.
