Reid first became interested in sea planes as a child, growing up in San Francisco, watching the Pan American clippers flying in and out of the port at Treasure Island. Many years later, his interest was reawakened when he purchased a Grumman Mallard and dreamed of flying the early Pan American routes. The Mallard wasn’t capable enough so he found a derelict Albatross and spent several years restoring and upgrading it. Plans changed and, in 1997, Reid helped to re-create Amelia Earhart’s around-the-world-flight with the Albatross as the chase plane–carrying cameras, reporters, and educational materials. Unexpectedly, this resulted in a world record: his Albatross was the first amphibious plane to circumnavigate the globe–with Reid piloting it most of the way. Recently, Reid donated the Albatross to the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, Calif.   Click here for the whole story.

Reid W. Dennis CdeP 1944