08/22/2022. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "This aircraft was the first Seabee handed over to a customer, in this case the well-known John G. (Tex) Rankin, president of Rankin Aviation Industries, Tulare, California. Tex accepted the aircraft at the Republic Aviation Corporation, Farmingdale, New York, on July 25, 1946. Rankin Aviation was a distributor of the type and sold the type to a Beryl Sprotts, who was also owner of the above pictured yacht "Breezin Thru". On August 30, 1951, the aircraft was reregistered toVick Kyle Jr. of Houston, Texas, the registration was cancelled on October 26, 1955."