Philadelphia Seaplane Base

From AviationSafetyX Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Tropic Ocean Airways provides scheduled seaplane service from Florida to the Bahamas. They also offer charter service and are trying to expand to the New York and mid-Atlantic area. On August 3, 2018, they landed at the Essington Seaplane Base to pick up a passenger for a flight to the New York area.
Philadelphia Seaplane Base is a township-owned, public-use seaplane base located one nautical mile (1.85 km) south of the central business district of Essington, a community in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is situated on the Delaware River, west of Philadelphia International Airport.
The township of Essington is refurbishing the Lazareeto House and the grounds. This is a proposed layout that includes plans for seaplane operations.

Overview

The Philadelphia Seaplane Base, also known as Essington Seaplane Base, is a public-use seaplane base located on the Delaware River, west of Philadelphia International Airport, with a history dating back to World War I when it was initially named Chandler Field.

Location

Situated on the Delaware River, one nautical mile south of Essington, a community in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

History

  • Originally named Chandler Field, it served as a training field for seaplane aviators during World War I.
  • It was one of the first three Signal Corps military training airfields before the United States entered World War I.
  • The facility was named after 1st Lieutenant Rex Chandler, a student pilot who died in a training accident in 1913.
  • In 2006, Tinicum Township purchased the base, and it remains a township-owned, public-use seaplane base today.

Current Use

  • The base features one seaplane landing area.
  • It hosts a "Splash-In" event annually, celebrating seaplanes and the history of the base.
  • The Lazaretto Restoration is complete and occupied by the Township, with museum space being developed inside the building.
  • Landscaping and development of the waterfront is underway, but the floating dock is currently unusable.

Significance

  • The base played a role in training seaplane pilots, including those who came through Philadelphia International Airport on layovers.
  • It has a rich history, spanning from the early days of flight to the present day.
  • The base is a unique aviation destination, offering a different perspective on flying and aviation history.

External Links

Retrieved from "https://wiki.alsresume.com/index.php?title=Philadelphia_Seaplane_Base&oldid=27336"