The Thurston Teal Story

Home | Teal Story | David B. Thurston | Teal People

N1968T

N1968T
Thurston TSC-1A Teal Amphibian Prototype
Photo: © Howard Levy courtesy of Gary Larson

 

It is not possible to discuss the history of the Thurston Teal amphibian without mentioning Dave Thurston's early amphibian design career with Grumman and his own company Colonial Aircraft Corporation.

In December 1946 a group of five engineering and shop friends from the Long Island-based aircraft manufacturers Grumman Aircraft Corporation and Republic Aviation Corporation, formed Colonial Aircraft Corporation to design and build a single-engine pusher amphibian flying boat in their spare time.

The two leading people of this group were David B. Thurston and Herbert P. Lindblad, former classmates at Guggenheim School of Aeronautics.  Dave Thurston became the president of the company.

The first Colonial amphibian design was given the model designation C-1 Skimmer.

The C-1 Skimmer prototype was originally powered by a Lycoming 0-235C-1 of 115 hp take off power, mounted on an engine pylon located on rear top of the cabin/fuselage, driving an Aeromatic pusher propeller.  The prototype C-1 Skimmer, registered N6595K, was first flown on 17 July 1948.

Several years of development followed.  There were many design changes between 1948 and 1955.  

When production started in 1955, the amphibian was powered by a Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 hp engine on an improved engine pylon.  Two side-by-side seats were installed in front, with a third optional seat mounted sideways in rear.  On 19 September 1955 the Model C-1 Skimmer was approved by the FAA, and issued Approved Type Certificate No: 1A13.

In January 1955 Thurston resigned from Grumman to pursue Colonial Aircraft Corporation on a full-time basis.   Colonial Aircraft Corporation moved from New York to Sanford, Maine, to start manufacture and marketing of the model C-1 Skimmer amphibian.  Colonial Aircraft would also undertake Department of Defense development and production contracts.

A total of 23  C-1 Skimmers were built, serial numbers: 1-14, 16-20, 22-25.  

During 1957 the C-1 Skimmer was improved and developed into Model C-2 Skimmer IV.  An 180 hp engine was installed, the cockpit was redesigned to accommodate four seats (giving the "IV" designation), the horizontal tail surfaces were redesigned for added area, the wing floats were modified, and structural improvements were made to the engine pylon and the wings for increased gross weight.  The C-2 Skimmer was approved on 24 December 1957, under ATC # 1A13.

Only 20 Model C-2 Skimmer IVs were built; serial numbers 115, 121, 126-143.  S/N 121 was later converted to LA-4P (flying boat version), and then the prototype LA-4, and retained its 121 serial number.

During 1958 total employment at Colonial reached more than 275 people.  In 1959 the Skimmer program was sold to Jack Strayer, a Colonial distributor and a former Grumman test pilot.  Strayer formed Lake Aircraft and developed the Skimmer into Lake model LA-4. The last two C-2 Skimmers built, S/Nos 142 and 143, were converted into LA-4As S/Nos 244 and 245.

TO BE CONTINUED!
...Some day soon in 2020!

N1968T

N1968T
Thurston TSC-1A Teal Amphibian Prototype
Photo: © Howard Levy courtesy of Gary Larson

 

TEAL AIRCRAFT COMPANY (ONTARIO; CANADA)

Company Name: Teal Aircraft Corporation
File Number / Entity No: 994481
Filing Province: Ontario
Filing Status: Dissolved
Filing Date: July 19, 1976
Principal Address: C/O Buttonville Airport, No. 10 Hanger, Buttonville, Ontario, Canada

  • Dianne Bird (Director); 5900 Yonge Street, Apt 206, Willowdale, ON M2M 3T8, Canada

  • Dorothy Anne Carson (Director); 790 Clark Blvd. Apt. 352, Bramalea, ON L6T 2E8, Canada

  • Ethyl Young (Director); 6171 Bathurst St., Apt 106, Willowdale, ON M2R 1Z6, Canada

  • John Clement (Director); 401 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4, Canada

  • Linwood Allen Wolfe (Director); RR #3, Caledon, Ontario, Canada

  • Raymond F. English (Director); 790 Clark Blvd. Apt. 352, Bramalea, ON L6T 2E8, Canada

  • Renie Ann Wagman (Director); 12 Goldfinch Court, Apt. 1211, Willowdale, ON M2R 2C4, Canada

  • Susan Patterson (Director); 1238a Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4T 1W3, Canada

  • Sydney D. Wagman (Director); 12 Goldfinch Court, Apt. 1211, Willowdale, ON M2R 2C4, Canada

  • Thomas H. Martindale (Director); RR #2, Rockwood, Ontario, Canada

TEAL AIRCRAFT COMPANY (FLORIDA; USA)

Company Name: Teal Aircraft Corporation
File Number / Entity No: 525083
FEI/EIN Number: 59-1719886
Filing State: Florida (FL)
Filing Status: Inactive
Filing Date: February 03, 1977
Annual Report: 1978; Filed Date: April 26, 1976
Last Event: Involuntarily Dissolved
Event Date Filed: December 05, 1979
Registered Agent: D. B. Thurston; Cathedral Street, Atlantic Bank Building, St. Augustine, FL 32084.
Principal Address: P.O. Drawer 499, St. Augustine, FL 32084.
Mailing Address: P.O. Drawer 499, St. Augustine, FL 32084.

  • D. S. McIntosh (President, Treasurer, Director); 11 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, Canada.

  • David B. Thurston (Director); Cathedral Street, St. Augustine, FL.

  • W. E. Tune (Secretary, Treasurer); 5456 Hickson Road, Jacksonville, FL.

  • Linwood Allen Wolfe (Vice President, Director); RR #2, Caledon, Ontario, Canada.


WASHAC INDUSTRIES, INC. (FLORIDA; USA)

Document Number: 519837
FEI/EIN Number: 59-1705553
Date Filed: December 07, 1976
State: FL
Status: Inactive
Last Event: Admin dissolution for annual report
Event Date Filed: October 11, 1991
Event Effective Date: None
Annual Reports: 1988 (08/12/1988), 1989 (04/26/1989), 1990 (02/13/1990)
Principal Address: US Highway 1 North, Drawer V, St. Augustine, FL 32085
Mailing Address: US Highway 1 North, Drawer V, St. Augustine, FL 32085
Registered Agent Name & Address: H. Davis Upchurch Jr.; 200 First Union Bank Blvd., P.O. Box 3956, St. Augustine, FL 32085-3956

  • A. J. Cammareri (President); 625 Queen Road, St. Augustine, FL.

  • A. R. Atwell Jr. (VSD); 10 Marilyn Drive, St. Augustine, FL.

  • T. L. Haney (VD); 20 S. 2nd Street, St. Augustine, FL.

  • G. A. Altenbach (VD); 5 Park Terrace Drive, St. Augustine, FL.

  • J. L. Wolf (D); 19 Del Rio Drive, St. Augustine, FL.

  • L. L. Stevens (D); 415 14th Street, North Beach, St. Augustine, FL.

N6595K

N6595K
The Colonial C-1 Skimmer prototype in original configuration!
Photo: © Howard Levy courtesy of Gary Larson
Home | Teal Story | David B. Thurston | Teal People

Updated: 2020-01-01

e-mail

© 2002-2020 Steinar Saevdal