25 March 2016 © David Eyre
Providing a unique and memorable experience in Perth, Red Baron Seaplanes will use a 1964 Grumman G-164A ‘Sea-Cat’ seaplane, VH-KKD, on scenic flights over Perth, operating from the Swan River.
It is promoted as the only two-passenger, open cockpit biplane on floats in the world, though a similar Sea-Cat exists in Queensland, VH-CCK.
The company has been operating scenic flights from Townsville for over 10 years, but was recently purchased by WA-based entrepreneur Mack McCormack.
Based at Barrack Street Jetty, Perth, the company has already started advertising the flights on its website, charging $395 per 15-minute flight, with a maximum of two passengers (must not exceed a combined weight of 180kg). Seats are sold per flight, not per seat/passenger.
Flights options are:
- Perth to Fremantle – 20 minutes
- Perth to Rottnest fly over – 40 minutes
- Perth to Rottnest & Garden Island – 60 minutes
The aircraft will now spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville each year.
In 2016, Perth operations will run from Wednesday to Sundays until 30 May 2016, with Townsville operations from June 2016.
The aircraft has already commenced trial flights from the Swan River, opposite the Perth city centre.
Regulatory hurdles
After four years (!) of battling Government bureaucracy, Mr McCormack has finally gained all of the necessary regulatory approvals to commence seaplane operations from the Swan River.
Mr McCormack also owns a Grumman G-111 Albatross, VH-NMO, and until recently owned Cessna 208 Caravan seaplane, VH-OPH, under his previous company, Catalina Adventures. His Albatross has been stored at Jandakot since arriving in April 2012, as he could not obtain approval to operate it from the Swan River. Due to the significant delays in gaining regulatory approvals, the Caravan seaplane was sold in September 2015 to Outback Floatplane Adventures, operating tourist flights in the Kimberley region.
History of VH-KKD
The aircraft was was built in 1964 (MSN 286) as a G-164A Ag-Cat crop sprayer, and registered in the USA as N724Y.
It was registered in Australia as VH-KKD on 8 June 1989, and modified for sightseeing flights. The chemical hopper in front of the pilot was removed and replaced with two passenger seats. VH-KKD is powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine.
In 1992, the aircraft was converted to a Sea-Cat, with the tailwheel landing gear replaced by floats.
VH-KKD was used in the 1996 movie ‘The Phantom’, together with another Sea-Cat, VH-CCK, which has a Jacobs R-755 engine. (This was confirmed with the pilot who performed the movie flying).
In early March 2016, VH-KKD was dismantled, placed on a trailer and transported by road to Perth, where it was reassembled.
On 21 and 25 March 2016, the aircraft conducted trial flights from the Swan River, in front of the Barrack Street Jetty, landing and taking off, flying southwest down the Swan River, over Fremantle and back to Perth.
This seaplane will be doing joy flights from Barrack Street Jetty during the summer months.
Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross
This seaplane will be doing joy flights from Barrack Street Jetty during the summer months.
Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross
This seaplane will be doing joy flights from Barrack Street Jetty during the summer months.
Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross
This seaplane will be doing joy flights from Barrack Street Jetty during the summer months.
Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross
This seaplane will be doing joy flights from Barrack Street Jetty during the summer months.
Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross
This seaplane will be doing joy flights from Barrack Street Jetty during the summer months. NOTE: The aircraft was actually over the river when this was taken – the telephoto lens makes it look like the buildings behind are closer than they are in reality.
Photo © Nick Stubbs-Ross
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Scott Morgan
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Scott Morgan
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Scott Morgan
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Scott Morgan
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Scott Morgan
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Scott Morgan
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Scott Morgan
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Jonathan Williams
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Jonathan Williams
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Jonathan Williams
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Jonathan Williams
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Keith Anderson.
Second round of trial flights on the Swan River before commencing commercial sightseeing flights. Built in 1964 as an Ag-Cat crop sprayer, registered N724Y. In 1989, it was imported into Australia and registered VH-KKD. The chemical hopper was removed and two passenger seats were installed. In 1992, it was converted to a seaplane ‘Sea-Cat’. In 2006, it was acquired by Red Baron Seaplanes and based in Townsville, QLD and was recently moved by road to Perth. It is to spend 6 months in Perth and 6 months in Townsville, operating scenic flights.
Photo © Keith Anderson.
