Republic RC-3 Seabee - Operational History

Operational History

Seabees became popular in the USA and Canada and were also well-suited for operation in countries with long coastlines, many islands, many lakes and large areas of wilderness. By the time production ended, 108 Seabees had been exported to several countries and dealerships were established in Brazil, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Fiji, New Caledona, South Africa, England, Norway and Sweden.

In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, the Seabee became one of the most popular bush planes and air ambulances in countries like Canada, Norway, Sweden as well as the USA. Many life-saving missions were flown by Seabee pilots rescuing seriously ill people from remote locations, as well as Seabee pilots making "impossible" takeoffs and landings from small lakes to deliver supplies to hunters and trappers.

In 2006, over 250 Seabees are still registered and flying, a number that is increasing yearly as new aircraft are assembled from parts and wrecks. A few Seabees are still operating commercially as bush planes and air taxis. In the history of aviation few aircraft have had longer, or more successful, careers than the Seabee.