A route from St. Paul to Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, went into effect in 1931 – but an airport had not yet been constructed at the northern terminus to handle land-based aircraft. Fortunately, Duluth has a broad harbor on Lake Superior and NWA acquired a Sikorsky “miniature flying boat” to handle the run.
The eight passenger S-38 was an amphibian, meaning it could land on a runway for its Twin Cities stops, but could also land in the water and taxi up a ramp for its Twin Ports stop. NC199H was the first in the fleet, but was quickly replaced in 1931 with NC303N and NC304N.
The Duluth route was terminated in October 1933 due to cuts in the mail subsidy as well as ongoing lack of premium demand due to the Depression (as there was ample rail service between the destinations,) and the two Sikorskys were sold off.
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NC303N at St. Paul, either 1931 or 1932. Noted “from Mrs. A.T. Petersen” and via the James Borden Photography Collection.NC303N resting in front of the St. Paul hangars, in this unattributed shot from likely 1932, via the James Borden Photography Collection.NC303N and a Hamilton in front of the St. Paul hangars, October 1933. Photo from G. Johnson via the James Borden Photography Collection.NC303N in a dramatic flyover above Lake Superior. Photo supplied by Dick Palen, via the James Borden Photography Collection.NC303N alighting before the Northwest terminal and hangar on Lake Superior in Duluth. Photo from the James Borden Photography Collection.Zoom shot from NC303N landing on Lake Superior in Duluth. Photo from the James Borden Photography Collection.Inside the hangar at the Duluth base. Mechanic is unidentified. From the James Borden Photography Collection.NC303N at Duluth in this undated photo from Carl Griffin, via the James Borden Photography Collection. From left to right, Craig Timmerman, G.A. Sparboe, J. Woodhead, and Frank – the mechanic at Duluth Harbor.
