Floatplane

ID: 311 ~ Source: Photo courtesy of the Orcas Island Historical Museums
This file appears in: Orcas Island Airport

Before airstrips and airports were built on the San Juan Islands, floatplanes like this one pictured on the shores of Orcas Island provided a practical means of air transit.

This file appears in: Orcas Island Airport

By Clairessa Walker
No story of the islands’ aviation history would be complete without mention of Roy Franklin. Originally a military pilot, Roy returned to Washington State after serving in WWII and soon became an air taxi pilot operating in San Juan County. His taxi…