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Harbor Air, out of Gig Harbor. What type aircraft did they operate?

Navy Chief

Navy Chief

Senior Member
Harbor Air, out of Gig Harbor. What type aircraft did they operate?

In 1994, the squadron I was with (VQ-1) transferred from Guam to NAS Whidbey Island. The BRAC Commission had closed NAS Agana, Guam.

Squadron personnel were flown from Guam via Continental Airlines to SEATAC, and some of us (myself included) flew to Oak Harbor Airport on Whidbey Island, where a squadron duty van picked us up to take us to the base.

I cannot remember what type of aircraft we flew on from SEATAC to Oak Harbor Airport.

I thought maybe if anyone lives near Whidbey, they might know?

Best as I can determine, the carrier that operated at that time was Harbor Air, based out of Gig Harbor. The owner, Rick Boehlke, is a controversial figure by himself. But that is another story.

Anyway, if anyone can help me solve this mystery, I'd appreciate it.

NC
 
NC, I suspect the plane you flew in was a Britten-Norman BN2 Islander, Harbor Air flew them for many years.
 
I do recall it was a twin engine, TARPSbird. You may very well be correct. I also remember landing at Oak Harbor Airport (Wes Lupien). We dropped down over the tree tops, just before the runway. It was almost like making a carrier landing. My squadron's XO was riding in the copilot's seat, and snoozed the entire trip from SEATAC.

NC
 
The local nickname for Harbor Air was "White Knuckle Airways" for the firm grip passengers often have on their seat armrests during take-offs and landings. :d Wasn't really so bad after you made a couple trips with them, just took getting used to the small size of the BN2's.
 
I haven't been flight simming in many months. I download files from Flightsim.com (and used to from AVSIM) almost every day. But things on the home front are so unstable right now, I just can't enjoy simming. But hopefully that will change. Leastwise I am praying they will. And the BN2 Islander looks like a fun aircraft to fly.

NC
 
I was going through some of my USN records, and found a copy of my orders when VQ-1 moved from NAS Agana, Guam to NAS Whidbey Island. The last leg of the transportation reads:

Alaska Airlines
Operated by Harbor Airlines
Aircraft: Piper Prop
LV Seatac 1225P
AR Oak Harbor 1250P

But I know at least it was a Piper, and positive a twin-engine. Just not sure which type exactly.

NC
 
I found this through Google images......

Note the wording at the bottom of the brochure: "Driving Is Beneath Us"

NC
 
navychief said:
In 1994,

Best as I can determine, the carrier that operated at that time was Harbor Air, based out of Gig Harbor. The owner, Rick Boehlke, is a controversial figure by himself. But that is another story.

NC
Click to expand...

Here's a note about Mr. Boehlke and the end of Harbour Air
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/27743_harbor16.shtml

and here's a Harbor Air Piper Navajo at SeaTac in... August 1994
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Harbor-Airlines/Piper-PA-31-...-Navajo/0036131/M/
 
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