the sea bird was an amphibious utility aircraft designed in 1934–1935 by james c. reddig for fleetwings, inc., of bristol, pennsylvania. while the aircraft's basic configuration had a precedent in the design of the loening "monoduck" developed by the grover loening aircraft company as a personal aircraft for mr. loening (for whom reddig worked from 1929 to 1933), the sea bird was unusual because of its construction from spot-welded stainless steel. it was a high-wing, wire-braced monoplane with its engine housed in a nacelle mounted above the wings on struts. the pilot and passengers sat in a fully enclosed cabin. fleetwings initially planned to manufacture 50 production units, but at a price approaching $25,000 during the depression, there proved to be no sustainable market.