photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Don Boyd | all galleries >> Memories of Old Hialeah, Old Miami and Old South Florida Photo Galleries - largest non-Facebook collection on the internet >> DOWNTOWN Miami, Bayfront Park and Port of Miami Historical Photos Gallery - All Years - click on image to view > 1921 - Aeromarine West Indies Airways Model 75 "Balboa" taking off from the bay in front of Flagler's Royal Palm Hotel
previous | next
FEB-1921 NASM Archives

1921 - Aeromarine West Indies Airways Model 75 "Balboa" taking off from the bay in front of Flagler's Royal Palm Hotel

Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida


Each Aeromarine Model 75 was a conversion of a Curtiss F5L or Curtiss H16 maritime patrol aircraft originally built for the U. S. Navy. As war surplus, these aircraft were bought and remodeled, some in the company's own workshops.

Aeromarine Airways was first known as "Aeromarine West Indies Airways" when founded in 1920. In the spring of 1921 the airline was reorganized with Inglis Moore Uppercu, who had the franchise for Cadillacs in New York City, as its president.

Aeromarine Airways established many firsts during its existence:

The first U. S. International Air Mail Service
The first Scheduled U. S. International Passenger Service (Key West to Havana, November 1, 1920)
The first Total-Service U. S. Airline (Passenger, U. S. Mail and Express Cargo)
The first In-flight movie (Chicago, August 1921)
The first Airline Baggage Label (1921)
The first U. S. Airline ticket office (Cleveland, July 1922).

Aeromarine's slogan was "Speed Safety Comfort". Their overseas flights in seaplanes named the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria brought passengers to popular destinations that still allowed drinking at the start of Prohibition. In 1924 they introduced the Aeromarine AMC Model, a 6-passenger new metal-hulled, six-passenger aircraft into service but it only operated a short period of time before Aeromarine ceased operations due to lack of money.


other sizes: small medium original auto
comment | share