1

Touting the aircraft as the private plane of the future, Jim Eastman had just begun production when the Great Depression struck. With 16 machines built, sales at nil, and rumors rampant about easy gold mining in Francis Lake in the Yukon, Eastman and a prospecting party of 35 men set out from Detroit with five of the flying boats, to make their fortune in the Yukon. While the expedition did not strike it rich, and soon disbanded, Jim Eastman kept three of the aircraft and settled in Atlin. Throughout the 1930's and 1940's Eastman was frequently seen flying one or the other of his creations, around Atlin, Carcross. Whitehorse and Telegraph Creek, as he pursued his mining interests, Eastman died in 1945 and was buried in Atlin. Two of his flying boats were left derelict, one in Atlin and the other in Carcross. Eventual they were bought for a song, dismantled and scrapped. The forward hull section of one was converted into a boat. Some parts of these historic aircraft have since been found and recovered, scattered from Teslin to Fort St. John.

2

Eastman Flying Boat
1953
Carcross, Yukon, Canada

3

Eastman Flying Boat CF-AST lying derelict at Carcross, with in 3 years it and CF-ASY lying in similar condition in Atlin would be bought for a "song" dismantled and scrapped. The forward hull section of the one was converted into a boat. Some parts of these historic aircraft have since been found and recovered, scattered from Teslin to Fort St. John. The last remaining Sea Rove, created by parts form Whitehorse, Florida, and B.C. resides at the British Columbia Aviation Museum
George McLeod Photo
R.B. Cameron Collection

4

Jim Eastman in the cockpit of his E2 Eastman
1953
Yukon, Canada

5

Jim Eastman in the cockpit of his E2 Eastman "Sea Rover", more commonly known as the Eastman Flying Boat. An aircraft with excellent flying qualities, it was plagued with chronic mount failures, due to the inherently rough running six-cylinder Curtiss Challenger engine.
Brian Burke Photo Collection
R.B. Cameron Collection

6

Aircraft designer and pilot Jim Eastman
1950
Dease Lake, BC, Canada

7

Aircraft designer and pilot Jim Eastman (on top of wing), fueling his E-2 Eastman Flying Boat at Dease Lake. Charles Raine is standing on the bow, while youngster Joan Callison watches from the beach.
E.P. Callison Photo
R.B. Cameron Collection

8

Two Eastman Flying Boats
1950
Atlin, BC, Canada

9

Two Eastman Flying Boats Beached at First Island in Atlin, B.C., during the Mitchell Expedition fiasco.
Brian Burke Photo Collection
R.B. Cameron Collection