photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> Miami and Florida AVIATION Historical Photos Gallery - Airports, Airlines, Aircraft - All Years - click on image to view > 1930s - Chalk's Airlines Loening C-2C Air Yachts NC133-H and NC134-H along Biscayne Boulevard
previous | next
1930's Courtesy of Alvin Lederer

1930s - Chalk's Airlines Loening C-2C Air Yachts NC133-H and NC134-H along Biscayne Boulevard

Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida


Thank you to Alvin Lederer for contributing this image of Arthur Burns "Pappy" Chalk's amphibious airline operation on Biscayne Boulevard. The aircraft are believed to be Loening C-2C Air Yachts which were manufactured starting in 1928. However, Wikipedia states that Chalk's moved their operation to Watson Island in 1926, which could very well be in error due to many other errors noted on Wikipedia.

Mr. Chalk started Chalk's Flying Service in 1919, two years after moving to Miami from Paducah, Kentucky. He had traded his mechanic skills for flying lessons from aviation legend Tony Jannus who pioneered scheduled airline service by launching a regular hop from St. Petersburg to Tampa in 1914. After serving in World War I, Chalk started his own flying service in Miami, then largely undeveloped, with a single Stinson Voyager seaplane. He charged $5 for sightseeing flights and $15 for flying lessons.

The Loening C-2C Air Yacht particulars: 1928 (ATC 90, 2-116), 525hp Wright Cyclone; span: 46'8" length: 34'8" load: 2006# v: 124/102/52 range: 550. Pilot and one passenger in an open cockpit. $27,900


other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share
Bill Bailey 24-Jul-2022 18:11
The Sikorsky is an S-38, not an S-39. The S-39 has a single engine mounted on the leading edge of the wing which would be visible here. The S-38 has two engines suspended under the wings.
BTW, the two Loenings were purchased from New York and Suburban Airlines who bought them new in 1929 and only lasted a short time. The airplanes still carry the NY&SA logo on them.
Mark Lincoln 25-Apr-2015 00:29
The Sikorsky is a S-39. Chalk's operated two of them. Arthur Burns “Pappy” Chalk was taught to fly by the world's first scheduled airline pilot Tony Jannus in 1911. Chalk was still Chairman of the Board when he died in 1977 after falling out of a tree he was trimming..
Don Boyd23-Feb-2009 20:32
Thanks for the correction. I don't know how Charles crept into the description.

Don
Guest 23-Feb-2009 18:49
One glaring error is that Mr Chalk's first name was NOT Charles. It was Arthur....
Larry Roberts 14-Oct-2008 20:23
Note that the leftmost aircraft with the twin tail booms sure looks like one of the Sikorsky twin engine amphibs/flying boats (S-36, S-37, S-38 for example). Pan Am and other airlines also flew these ships. Larry Roberts HHS '62