Chasing Seaplane History!

[KittyHawk]

Yes, Bill Champlin was the owner of NC975M, hiring a young Bill Harmon as a pilot/mechanic to work on rebuilding the Kitty Hawk and to fly for him at Skyhaven Air Service. From what I read from Bill Harmon, the Kitty Hawk and Bill Champlin gave him a leg up in flying which led to a tremendous career as a pilot for American Airlines.

Skyhaven owned the Kitty Hawk, rebuilt it and flew passengers from the Lake for just a short time before selling it to Bill Muzzey. Muzzey made real use of her for almost a decade, flying from Paugus Bay Seaplane Base, according to his notes in the airplane logbooks. At the end, Bill had one very tired airframe, which he sold to Bill Harmon and Mr. Pashley.

They rebuilt her over the course of many years, finally flying in 1973 for a total of 4 hours before the engine quit and she went down just past Mr. Lyman Rice's grass strip. Bill Harmon put the pieces in his garage until 2007, when he sold it to a gentleman from CT who moved it into another storage garage.

I found her in 2011 and began restoration in earnest with hopes to fly in 2014 - " Lord willin' and the crick don't rise." Then, we'll head up Lake Winnipesaukee way for a reunion.

[SIKSUKR]

Can't wait. Make sure you make an announcement here when you intend to fly in.

[KittyHawk]

Just completed Jane Rice's book on Bob Fogg and New Hampshire's Golden Age of Aviaiton. Found it on Amazon.com. Found it informative and instructional on several levels. Primarily, it tells of a time in early NE aviation when heroic actions, rescues, sub-arctic adventures, daredevil flying, triumphs and tragedies were apparently the norm for this WWI aviator and his associates. The primitive flyers' world was filled with seemingly insurmountable challenges - which Bob Fogg took on in the normal course of his daily flying world. Great book to glean a better historical perspective about pioneer aviators as well as the times in which they prospered.

Secondly, and of great interest to me, is the intellectual pathway Jane Rice followed to compile and compose each chapter of this book. She brings us along with her while researching and discovering lost facts and archival notes, sleuthing that is intriguing and informative. This makes the book much more than simply a good read about old guys and airplanes hanging out at a neat Lake.

Next question from someone from where we still say "ya'll" - is Weirs pronounced as in its German derivative - "Wires" or is it "Weers"? Just asking. Thanks!

[ApS]

Originally Posted by KittyHawk

Just completed Jane Rice's book on Bob Fogg and New Hampshire's Golden Age of Aviaiton. Found it on Amazon.com. Found it informative and instructional on several levels. Primarily, it tells of a time in early NE aviation when heroic actions, rescues, sub-arctic adventures, daredevil flying, triumphs and tragedies were apparently the norm for this WWI aviator and his associates. The primitive flyers' world was filled with seemingly insurmountable challenges - which Bob Fogg took on in the normal course of his daily flying world. Great book to glean a better historical perspective about pioneer aviators as well as the times in which they prospered.

Secondly, and of great interest to me, is the intellectual pathway Jane Rice followed to compile and compose each chapter of this book. She brings us along with her while researching and discovering lost facts and archival notes, sleuthing that is intriguing and informative. This makes the book much more than simply a good read about old guys and airplanes hanging out at a neat Lake.

Next question from someone from where we still say "ya'll" - is Weirs pronounced as in its German derivative - "Wires" or is it "Weers"? Just asking. Thanks!

"Weird Beach" is still pronounced "Weirs Beach". (Hopes this helps )

Using this source to benefit this forum, I ordered my copy yesterday—and sent it to my Dad in Wolfeboro for his 96th birthday.