1984 - Final year of scheduled airline passenger Grumman Goose service to Catalina Island.

The Grumman Goose served Catalina Island, for scheduled airline passenger service,  in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's and in 1984. I flew on Grumman Gooses to and from the Beautiful Island in the 1960's, 1970's, and in 1984. The Goose is such a beautiful aircraft, and Catalina Island is such a beautiful Island, the the two really complemented one another. The Grumman Goose became a fixture at the Island - it was an Icon there. I really felt that the hacylon decade for Goose service to Catalina, was in the 1960's. What a wonderful decade it was in terms of Goose Service to Catalina !  Prior to the round trip I took in the summer of 1984, I had not been on a Goose since 1975. Somehow I got wind that there was Goose Service to Catalina again in 1984. It was not long before I bought a ticket that summer, and was able to fly in a Grumman Goose again. What a treat !!!  That summer, I really felt that Catalina Seaplanes was operating on a limited schedule, with only one Goose: N143DF c/n 1153, based on the schedule, and both flights coming and going were on presumably the same Goose. This is the only time I have flown on this type of Grumman Goose,  with this style of retractable wingtip float: Panair, I believe. Sadly there has not been scheduled passenger Goose service to Catalina since. Also, sadly, this particular Goose is no longer around. In 1999, it burned in a hangar fire in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. ( Sigh )...... It breaks the heart.....         

Above: Grumman Goose N143DF c/n 1153 , at Long Beach Airport, 1984