Sightings: Consolidated Aeronautics/Lake LA-4-200 Amphibian

By Carmelo Turdo

Recently, a Consolidated Aeronautics/Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer, owned by Patrick Murphy of Lacon, IL was sited at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, IL.  The aircraft is a legacy of the Colonial Aircraft (later Lake Aircraft) C-1 Sea Skimmer of the 1950s, and the LA-4-200 was born in the late 1960s when the Lycoming 200hp IO-360 A1B was chosen to power the aircraft.  Production of the LA-4-200 ranged from 1968-1981, and the company changed owners again several times during this period.  For a comprehensive look at Lake Seaplane development, visit the Lake Amphibian Flyer's Club website at http://www.lakeflyers.com/lake_history.htm.