Seen pausing between loads in the cargo area at Red Lake Airport. Operating with Sabourin Lake Airways, though still in the basic colours of North Cariboo Air Flying Service. Built in 1943 as a Douglas C-47B-5-DK and first flew with the USAAF as 43-48719.

Operating a shuttle freight service to the north out of Red Lake, together with all-white North Star Air colleague, C-FWUI. Still wearing the now sadly faded late colours of the US Forest Service where it operated as N142Z. I had photographed this aircraft in a earlier version of the livery at McCall, Idaho in 1999.

Operating a shuttle freight service to the north out of Red Lake, together with North Star Air colleague, C-GKKB, which was still in its last US Forest Service colours. Seen here refuelling while waiting, with upward- hinged freight door open, to receive its next load.

Acting as the "bird dog" spotter aircraft for a fire fighting team of three Northwest Territories Firebosses on an out of area deployment to Red Lake to reinforce the Ontario Fire Service, while they faced a higher local forest fire threat. Like the Firebosses themselves, operated by Buffalo Airways of Yellowknife, NWT, and carrying the identity "Buffalo Patrol 101".

On an out of area deployment as part of a fire fighting group of three Firebosses. Catching the Ontario morning light at Red lake. Carrying the bombing number "40" and the polar bear logo and titles of The Government of The Northwest Territories, operated on its behalf by Buffalo Airways of Yellowknife, NWT. A recent replacement for their retired CL-215s. On detachment on "back-filling" duty, reinforcing the Fire Service in Ontario, which was experiencing a higher Forest fire threat at that point.

1965 vintage and very well travelled 'Budgie' with a long and varied history. Built as G-ATAM for BKS Air Transport. Later flew as XA-SEI (Aerotaxi), PI-C1020 (Philippine Airlines), 9G-ABV (Ghana Airways), OY-DFS (Maersk Air), 9J-ABL (Zambia Airways), ZS-HAS (South Airways) and TR-LQY (Air Gabon) before moving to Canada with Austin Airways in May 1976 as C-GMAA. Later to Air Creebec and joined Wasaya Airways in May 1999. Believed withdrawn in early 2020

Registered to the Province of Ontario, Ministry of Natural Resources 8 June 1999.

Leased from Bombardier Aerospace Defence Services.

This aircraft was landed at this airport without lowering the float wheels 17 August 2013.

Ex N799B. Registered to North Star Air Ltd 8 April 2003. Fitted with the ungainly looking belly pannier system. Cancelled 13 February 2018. To N208PG 16 February 2018.

Ex N30154. Registered to Bearskin Lake Air Service LP 1 February 2011.

Ex N59763. Registered to Northern Skies Air Service Ltd 10 July 2015, i.e. the day before this photo was taken!

Intended for the USAAF as 43-35395 but diverted to the U.S. Forest Service as N28699 in 1944. Registered CF-JEC in 1956 and here with Sabourin since 1964 during which time the fuselage was metalized. In 2022 it is current and based at Amos/QC.

Built in 1960 and acquired by Buffalo in 1993. Joe McBryan himself flew the Travel Air down to the Norseman Festival from the NWT. In 2020 it was sold to the Victoria Flying Club (with two others) and became C-GGMF.

Built in 1960 as N9374Y and imported in 1991. On 24 August 2000 it was wrecked during a runway excursion at the North Spirit Lake/ON airstrip.

Built in 1968 as N749A for Altair Airlines then, after numerous ownership changes was imported as above in 1990. Sold to Prince Edward Air in 1997 then exported as N899AE in 2011 and UK based as a paradrop aircraft. Cancelled as expired in 2019.

Delivered to the RCAF in 1951 as serial 1428 then bought by the B.C. Government in 1960 as above. After retirement in 1973 it spent five years as an instructional airframe at Selkirk College, BC. Then made airworthy and continued its flying career until it crashed on takeoff from Red Lake (CYRL) in November 1992 while carrying eight full 45 gallon drums. Aircraft was 500lb overweight with CofG beyond aft limit. Unable to climb, it settled to the ground. Supposedly it overturned, but here it looks remarkably unscathed, so who knows! Deleted from the register in 2018 having previously been scrapped.

Built in 1967 for the Province of Ontario - Ministry of Natural Resources. Still active in 2022.

Operated by the Province of Ontario - Ministry of Natural Resources. Exported as N65TF in 2006 and current as N49MW in 2022.