Flightline - Shelter

One of Alaska's most historical surviving aviation relics, the AAM Stinson SR-9 was owned & flown by some of the "who's who" of Alaska aviation pioneering.

Initially brought to Alaska by Linius McGee the SR-9 Gullwing was sold to Oscar Winchell, "The Flying Cowboy", Ray Petersen, "King of the Bushpilots", Bill Lavery of Lavery Airways, Albert Ball of Western Alaska Airlines and the legendary Bill Munz dba Munz Northern Airlines in Nome.

Donated to the museum in 1988 by Joyce and Dick Galleher of Nome. The plane had been sat at the Nome City field for about 10 years. Recovery team members included Dick Benner Jr., Don Robinson and Fred Robinson, sho received travel assistance from Alaska Airlines. MarkAir transported the plane from Nome. The Alaska Air National Guard moved the plane the last leg to the museum.

www.airbum.com - Pilot Report - Stinson SR-9

Skagit Aero Education Museum - Stinson SR-9

One of two examples surviving, the Senior Pacemaker is an improved version of the CH300 Bellanca Pacemaker. Although only the bare airframe survives today, this aircraft once flew with Pollack Air Service and Alaska Airlines.

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. It was used by the air forces of 28 nations, including those of most Allied powers during World War II, and remained in front line service until the end of the war. It was the third most produced American fighter ever, after the P-51 and P-47; by November 1944, when production of the P-40 ceased, 13,738 had been built.

This plane was assigned to the 11th Air Force, 343 Fighter Group, 11th Fighter Squadron. On May 12, 1943 it had a forced landing at East Clam Lagoon, Adak Island, Alaska. It was damaged beyond repair and left there. It was recovered in 1999 with the assistance of:

• Senator Ted Stevens Office
• 4-123rd Aviation Regiment US Army
• Alaska Air National Guar 144th Airlift Squadron
• Alaska Army National Guard 207th Aviation Detachment
• US Coast Guard - Kodiak Air Station
• Alaska Airlines
• PenAir
• Grand Aleutian Hotel
• Alaska Department of Transportation

pacificwrecks.com - 42-45946 Photos

Wikipedia - Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

National Museum of the US Air Force - Curtiss P-40E

nationalmuseum.af - Curtiss P-40E Virtual Cockpit

Aleutian Tiger | P-40K Warhawk

pacificwrecks.com - P-40 42-45946

N789 was in service with the US Navy until being surplused to the US Fish & Wildlife Service in 1956. The immortal Grumman has flown all over Alaska from the Aleutian Islands to the Arctic Ocean throughout its service life. The Goose, N789, was donated to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum by the US Department of Interior in 1997 through the efforts of Senator Ted Stevens.

The Grumman Goose was originally designed as a commuter plane for wealthy businessmen and sportsman located in and around New York City The aircraft first few in 1937 and was in production until 1945 Total production was 345 aircraft The aircraft had several designations, G-21A was the civil designation, in the Navy it was the JRF-1 thru 6 and the Army called it the OA-9 and OA-13. The G-21B did not have landing gear and at least five were built under this designation, one was sold to Portugal.

There were a number of post war modifications to the Goose; some of these added turbine engines, extended the fuselage to increase the seating capacity or did both There is one that added 4 Lycoming engines, one that added Garrett turbines and extended the cockpit to seat four.

This aircraft, Grumman JRF-5, Navy Bureau number 84807 was accepted by the Navy at the Grumman factory in Bethpage, NY on November 29, 1944.

US Fish & Wildlife Service - Imuruk Lake

Tom Wardleigh, then with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, departed Phoenix ferrying the aircraft to Anchorage, Territory of Alaska on 3 February 1956 His route was, Phoenix, AZ--San Francisco, CA--Eugene, OR--Portland, OR--Bremerton, WA--Port Hardy, AK--Ketchikan, AK--Juneau, AK--Anchorage, Territory of AK and it took ten days.

US Fish & Wildlife Service - Nadawim Lake

On the 5th of September, 1960 the aircraft was damaged by an explosion, in the cabin, while on the beach delivering fuel to a research camp at Karluk Lake, AK. Temporary repairs were made to return the aircraft to Anchorage, AK. Repairs were completed to return the aircraft to service in September 1964.

The aircraft was sold, transferring title to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum on 24 October 1996.

Wikipedia - Grumman Goose     bush-planes.com - Grumman Goose

Manufactured by Canadian Car and Foundry Co. Delivered to the USAF as aircraft No. 43-35433 on May 31, 1944. Flown to Statesboro, Georgia, arriving June 4. With the 3rd Air Force. Assigned to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, Bush Field, Augusta, Georgia on September 19, 1945 for disposal as surplus. Sold to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC., and registered as N725E. Sold to Northern Consolidated Airlines Inc. in Anchorage in 1951. Interior Airways (Fairbanks) purchased the aircraft in 1955 to use during the construction of the DEW (Distant Early Warning) line and for other bush flying. Donated by the Fairbanks North Star Borough and Jim and Dottie Magoffin on November 8, 1995.

Noorduyn Aviation Limited

Wikipedia - Noorduyn Norseman

Red Lake, Ontario: Norseman Capital of the World     NoorduynNorseman.com

The Stinson Aircraft Company was founded in 1920 by Edward Stinson. In 1925 the company moved to Detroit from Dayton and proceeded to produce more than 13,000 aircraft during the next 30 years. One of the most successful models built was the Reliant, more commonly known as the "Gullwing". 1,327 Reliants were manufactured from 1933 into the 1940's. They quickly developed a reputation as rugged, safe, and dependable aircraft and were soon a favorite of pilots everywhere. After WWII many Reliants became available to the commercial market in the United States. Northern Consolidated. Wien Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Munz Northern Airline all used the reliable Stinson.

The museum's Reliant was built for the British during WWII receiving the designation AT-19 or V-77. It was repatriated after the war and entered the civilian registry in 1946. It is an example of the last of the famous "gullwing" designs for Stinson, known in the civilian market as the SR 10 and represents a 1950's era Alaska Airlines aircraft. It was purchased from the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California by Don Rogers and Bob Wagstaff of Anchorage and donated to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, where it was fully restored by museum volunteers.

fiddlersgreen.net - Stinson Gullwing     Wikipedia - Stinson Reliant

The Widgeon is the smallest member of the Grumman family of amphibious aircraft and was originally intended for the civil market. The first prototype flew in 1940 and over 200 Widgeons were built between 1941 to 1948. The first production aircraft went to the U.S. Navy and during WWII the Widgeon was used as a small patrol, training, and utility aircraft. They also served with the Army Air Force, U.S. Coastguard, and the British Royal Navy who called it the Gosling. A Widgeon flying out of Houma, Louisiana was credited, in August 1942, with sinking the first German submarine sunk by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The museum's Widgeon was built in 1943. Its military record and history prior to 1967 is unknown, except that it was on the Canadian registry for a period of time. In 1967 it returned to the States and was modified by McKinnon Enterprises to become a "Super Widgeon". Improvements included two Lycoming GO-480 engines, Hartzell 3 bladed propellers, metalized wings and flaps, and an increase in gross weight to 5500 lbs.

N13122 was donated to the Museum by Mr. and Mrs. James Magoffin who were owners and founders of Interior Airways, Alaska International Air, and MarkAir. It was the Magoffins personal aircraft and they enjoyed flying it throughout Alaska, Canada, and the Lower 48.

Wikipedia - Grumman Widgeon

The Army bought this helicopter in August of 1966. This helicopter served 4 tours in Viet Nam before coming to Alaska with the US Army. It was used for approximately 23 years for search and rescue efforts in Alaska before being flown in and donated to AAM.

65-12849 UH-1 Construction Number: 5186

Helicopter UH-1D 65-12849

My Tour of duty in the Cold War

Wikipedia - Bell UH-1 Iroquois

In late 1943 Frank Piasecki got a contract from the U.S. Navy to design a large tandem rotor helicopter. The design was known as the HRP-1, which evolved into the H-21. This was the first successful tandem rotor helicopter, and the first helicopter designed for the Navy.

The H-21 was originally developed by Piasecki as an Arctic rescue helicopter. The H-21 had winterization features permitting operation at temperatures as low as -65°F, and could be routinely maintained in severe cold weather environments. With its Arctic winter capabilities, the H-21A and H-21B were put into service by both the USAF and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to maintain and service DEW (Distant Early Warning) radar installations stretching from the Aleutian Islands, through Alaska and across the Canadian Arctic to Greenland and Iceland.

The H-21 Workhorse was also known as the "Flying Banana". This model helicopter set world records in speed and altitude and was in service with the military for nearly 40 years around the world.

There are a few serial numbers related to this airframe, but searching the internet doesn't clear things up.

The FAA Registration says: N6869 - Serial Number 54-4404, but the data plate clearly says 54-4004

In this list from worldmilitair.com Piasecki Production Numbers the serial number has an extra zero.

PIASECKI H-21B-PH WORK HORSE (42) - 54-04004 - UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

USAF Serial Number Search Results: 4004 (c/n B.157) delivered Jul 17, 1956 by aircraft carrier DIXMUDE to French ALAT in Algeria as 8.000.132 and
became FR10. SOC May 17, 1968. Now on US civil registry as N6869.
Noted Summer 2005 at Alaska Aviation Heritage Museu, Lake Hood, Anchorage, AK

Complete (Historical) Civil Rotorcraft Register of the USA (N7001 through N8374) N6869 Piasecki H-21B-PH Workhorse B.157 (=FR10) 54-4004(N),8000132(F),N6869,'54-4004(N)' » [prs]

Wikipedia - Piasecki H-21

helis.com - Piasecki H-21