VH-BBJ  (2)   Republic RC-3 Seabee                                    (c/n  972)

                             

                                  VH-BBJ was imported from India in 1959 where it had been VT-CSU.  It was brought in by Gold
                                  Coast Holdings of Sydney, along with another one, VT-CST (c/n 973) which was unfortunately
                                  destroyed in a hangar fire at Bankstown on 22 September 1960 before it could be registered in
                                  Australia.    Both were late model Seabees (only 1050 of the breed were built) and VH-BBJ began
                                  life as NC6689K.    Darryl Connell's photo (above, via the Geoff Goodall collection) shows -BBJ
                                  at Pelican, NSW circa 1962.  It had been purchased by East Coast Airways of Coolangatta, Qld,
                                  and became VH-ECZ shortly after this shot was taken (June of 1962).