International Seawind Pilots Association

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This photo of the 200 hp Seawind prototype was sent out with some
of the early Creelman promotional brochures. Notice the engine
nacelle, and the main landing gear position (behind the step).
ISPA member Gordon Granse was good enough to send
me his original photo for scanning. Thank you Gordon.

The Seawind design was originally developed by Roger, Len, and Kirk Creelman in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada. The effort started in the early 1970s. The composite pages found below, are compiled from a few of Creelman's original newsletters that were sent out during the 1980s.

The ISPA is collecting these original newsletters, and any other material from the Creelman days and the origins of the Seawind to post on this site. If you have any of the first newsletters, or if you have any of the literature about the first 1/4 scale models, very early magazine articles, drawings, tech sheets, or anything, and are willing to provide me with a copy, please email me.

(Watch this page for more original material from the Creelman days!)

The photo above was included in the early Creelman Seawind promotional brochure (circa 1982). Long time ISPA member Paul Rockel sent me his original 1982 brochure which will be scanned and included on the site in the near future. (Thank you Paul.)

Above is a sketch that was included with the newsletters (circa 1986-7). Note the MLG redesign details.

As far as I can tell from the information I have, the image above is the first published conceptual sketch of the Seawind on paper. According to our recent letter from Tony Irwin, the original conceptual design was drawn on sheetrock wall panels which we now believe have been destroyed or lost. The above sketch was sent to me by John Borman. I believe it is the earliest Seawind document I have to date. If you think otherwise, or have an earlier sketch, please send me a copy. (Thank you Tony Irwin and John Borman.)

The three photos above were included in a 1984 Creelman newsletter. They are photographs of the first 1/6 scale model prototype to be built. I believe these are the first published photographs of the Seawind as we currently know it. (Thank you John Borman)

Shown here, one of the earliest public appearances of a full size Seawind was at the Expo '86 in Vancouver BC, Canada. This full scale model was made from the first production molds. (John Borman photo, thank you)

This page is a composite from original Creelman material compiled by Brent Carlson on October 29, 2002. The logo is from the July / August 1987 newsletter when it first appeared. Likewise, the Letterhead is from the March / April 1987 newsletter, and the articles are from the January / February 1987 newsletter.

Here are some trivia questions for you: (An asterisk after a trivia question below means that the answer is on another page somewhere on this site. Hint: keep an eye on newly added pages.)

	Who signed the newsletters that the above material came from?*
	Have all Seawinds been made of fiberglass?
	What date did the first Seawind fly?
	Where are the Creelman Brother's prototypes now?
	Who was the first test pilot?
	What was the first year that Seawind appeared at Oshkosh?*
	What is the date of the first Seawind promotional sales brochure?
	How many kits were sold by the Creelmans?

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*Trivia question answers from "Test" page: What was the first year that Seawind appeared at Oshkosh? Like most questions, the answer is... "That Depends!" After more than ten years of development, A flying Seawind prototype was taken, by truck, to the Oshkosh fly-in in August of 1983. Check out this excerpt from a short article, "History of the Seawind," written by Len Creelman, dated "Fall 1987:"

"...Because of the tremendous interest that had been building up over the development period, it was decided to take the Seawind to the Oshkosh Annual fly-in August of 1983. The prototype still had to have some hours flown off in order to meet government approval and be able to fly to Oshkosh. Due to some problems encountered the week before the show, (i.e., starter problems, pilot availability, and of course, the weather) the aircraft could not be authorized to fly and, therefore, the prototype was brought to Oshkosh by truck. Over 800,000 friendly people attended the fly-in and it seemed like all of them stopped by the Seawind booth. The exposure and encouragement that Seawind received at Oshkosh were terrific. It was a tiring but very educational trip..."

A model of the Seawind, and a promotional Seawind booth, were at Oshkosh in 1987. Check out this excerpt from an article that appeared in Len Creelman's newsletter dated Sept. / Oct. 1987:

"...Dick Moore (Southeast) and Carlos Font (Northeast) shared a booth at Oshkosh 87 last month. They had a 1/6 scale model of the production aircraft, a videotape of the prototype flights and examples of the materials used in the aircraft and the bonded flange construction technique..."

Who signed the first Seawind newsletters? "Len Creelman."

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Nope, this isn't a Seawind. This is the Aerocat, designed by Kirk Creelman and featured in the May 2004 Kitplanes Magazine. They ask: "Is this Seawind's Successor?" (Photo property of Creative Flight, used with permission)

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