Invitation: June 18, 2016, 10AM – 2PM. High tide: 12:30PM. We are planning a Splash-In and cook out at the seaplane base on Saturday. Drop us a line if you are interested in this event. If you think you might fly in, we’d love to know. mailbox@phillyseaplanebase.com Pilots: The floating doc is in good shape and can […]
Fall Picnic, 2015
Fall Picnic & History Event: Invitation: October 3, 2015, 10:00AM – 5:00PM. Activities will move inside for this event on Saturday to the community room at the fire house at 77 Wannamaker Avenue. Activities will take place at the Essington Seaplane Base including a picnic and a history event celebrating 100 years of aviation at this location. […]
A Priceless Lesson
By Robert Dant Edited by Mark Twomby May 23, 2004 It was a calm morning at the Essington Seaplane Base near Philadelphia when I arrived for my second seaplane lesson. I met up with instructor extraordinaire Hank Grenfell, who gave me some pointers on the preflight. The 65-hp Cub on floats looked raring to go. […]
Tribute to Bob Mills
By Walt Ellis, March 2008 Frank Mills had already been operating the Philadelphia Seaplane base for 5 years when, in 1920, his second son Bobby, was born. If anyone ever grew up in aviation it was Bob Mills. In his early years Bob lived right up the street from the Seaplane base where his father […]
WALKING THE TRACK
By C. Robert Mills, Jr. I’m pretty certain that anybody reading this article who earned their seaplane rating at Philadelphia Seaplane Base, knows that the J-3 Cub or C-140 that they flew was launched and recovered much like a trailer-able boat. The plane—on its wheeled dolly—was simply pushed down an earthen ramp into the water […]
100th Anniversary Splash-In (9N2)
Invitation: June 13, 2015, 9AM – 2PM. High tide: 11:00AM. The Essington Seaplane Base near Philadelphia has been operating since 1915. Although activity at the base has been limited since Bob Mills retired, it is still a licensed seaplane base, owned by the township. We will be celebrating a century of seaplane flying with a […]
A Few Seaplane Base Photos
A Few Seaplane Base Photos: Bob Mills Luncheon, November 2000 Millville Airport, 2000 Bob Mills, Naval Aviator Philadelphia Seaplane Base Seabee and Other Photos
Bob & Hanks Excellent Adventure
After Bob’s retirement in 2000, he and Hank flew the seaplanes down to Florida, in November 2000. Here is their story… http://www.phillyseaplanebase.com/images/bobhank/
Bob Mills Magazine Articles
Bob Mills was featured in a number of aviation mags and local newspapers. Here are a few from AOPA Pilot, Dec 1991. Inquirer Mag, Jan 2000, Seaplane Pilots Assoc, 1997 http://www.phillyseaplanebase.com/articles.html