Help me identify this aircraft

[flyboyid]

Hello all. A friend of mine came across this photo likely taken in the early 1950's, at Bradley Field in Boise, ID. I'm not to certain as to the Make/Model of this seaplane. But an interesting design. Any ideas?



Thanks!

[Matt Gunsch]

Piaggo Pi 108 I think

[wendovertom]

It looks like a grumman with a custom engine set up. the piaggio 108 was a 4 engine deal wasn't it?

Tom P.

[Jerry O'Neill]

It's a Piaggo.
Jerry

[flyboyid]

My initial thought was Grumman, but the engine setup and Gullwing design were unfamiliar to me.
After a couple of you mentioned Piaggio, I did some more research. I've come up with Piaggio Royal Gull P136...just 5 still flying in the world?

[JBoyle]

My initial thought was Grumman, but the engine setup and Gullwing design were unfamiliar to me.
After a couple of you mentioned Piaggio, I did some more research. I've come up with Piaggio Royal Gull P136...just 5 still flying in the world?

Yes, a Piaggio....imported in the late 50's Used by Ari. Onansis (sp?) as a yacht to shore transportation. In fact, I belive his pilot son was killed in one.
I believe the date is wrong...they weren't built in the EARLY 50s. Suggest the photo dates from early 60s.

[TimAPNY]

Is that a JU-52 in the back ground? Kind of looks like a nose of one.

[JBoyle]

Is that a JU-52 in the back ground? Kind of looks like a nose of one.

It's a Ford Tri-Motor...(different windshield shape than a JU-52...and more to the point...what would a Junkers be doing in Boise years before the warbird movement started and Martin Cadin restoored his?)

Remember, in the late 50's-early 60's Johnson Air Service flew several out of Missoula, Montana as a jump ship for "Smoke Jumpers".
The Interagency Fire Center is in Boise, so I'm sure they visited regularly.

[bilwor]

The American version of the Piaggio P136 Royal Gull came out in 1949 according to the Piaggio web site, so they were around in the 50s.

bill word

[JBoyle]

According to my data the prototype first flew on Aug. 29, 1948. Early examples went to the Italian Air Force as rescue machines.

The US spec "Royal Gull" (imported by Kearney and Trecker...a Milwaukee machine manufacturer... who completed them with higher hp 260 hp Lycoming GSO 480 engines) were not imported until 1955 and remained in production until 1967.

It received US type certificate #813 on Aug. 15, 1955.
Definately not "early" 50s...

[HELLDIVERS]

2 of these are currently at Anoka County Airport,both belong to airshow pilot John Moore.One is airwothy in Italian markings the other may be the same one in the photo Thanks Mike

[flyboyid]

It received US type certificate #813 on Aug. 15, 1955.
Definately not "early" 50s...

The photographer is now deceased, the pictures were found after sorting through some family albums. Early 50's was just a guess by family members. Could have easily been late 50's or early 60's. Seeing as it didn't recieve type cert. until 1955, I'd now guess early 60's.

[airnutz]

2 of these are currently at Anoka County Airport,both belong to airshow pilot John Moore.One is airwothy in Italian markings the other may be the same one in the photo Thanks Mike

These ones, Mike? Dan Johnson photos from July..
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... ht=piaggio

[dj51d]

The one with the blue stripe is based at New Richmond, WI. The other Piaggio, the one with the green bottom, is one of the two that Mike mentioned

[airnutz]

Thanks for the clarification Dan. I remembered the thread and the nice
photos, but didn't have time to sort it out. Busy lately...