Ex USAF 51-11698, became N7499C in Oct 1957 and reregistered to N888E a month later. This Beech was operated by Alaska Aeronautical Industries from 1961 until 1969 and still carries their titles, albeit very faded. It was later acquired by the Upper Valley Aviation Group and restoration was attempted at Big Lake, AK. Work on it had been halted by early 2002 and the aircraft was abandoned as seen here. By 2017 it was still at Big Lake, in much the same condition.

This Tracker is ex US Navy BuNo 144725. It was stored at MASDC in 1980 and sold to Terrance Cosgrove in 1995 as N8115V. It is said to have sustained damage in a landing accident (brake fire?) at Wasilla, AK. It was moved to Big Lake in late 2000 or early 2001 and was stored there as a restoration project with props and fin missing. It was still there in similar condition by May 2012, but its current status is unclear.

Ex USAAF C-45F 44-87128, became N8062H in 1961. Withdrawn from use circa 1972, current owner unknown. Has been in storage at Big Lake, AK in this condition since at least 2000. Was still there by 2017, in same condition.

Delivered to the USAF as 55-4558 and converted to C-123J with Fairchild J44 booster engines on the wing tips, for operation in the arctics. To the CAA/FAA in May 1957 as N123, reregd to N98 in 1973. Withdrawn from use in 1983, and donated to the Alaska Historical and Transportation Museum near Palmer, AK in the mid 1980s. Officially registered as N3144W, but never painted as such. In 1992 the museum became the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry (MATI) and moved to its current location at Wasilla Airport, taking this C-123 with them. Although not visible in this photo, it still has its C-123J wing tip booster engines.

This C-47A was delivered to the USAAF in Feb 1944. Later struck of charge and transferred to the United States Air Force Museum in Apr 1961. It has been on display in Alaska ever since, initially on loan to the Alaska Air National Guard Museum at Kulis ANGB, and since the early 1980s to the Alaska Historical and Transportation Museum near Palmer, AK. In 1992 this museum changed its name to Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry (MATI) and moved to its current location at Wasilla Airport, taking this C-47 with them.

This C-47 served with the USAAF from Jul 1942 until transferred to the CAA/FAA in Oct 1945. Initially registered as NC5, then N5 and since 1973 as N99. In Jul 1977 it moved on to the US Forest Service as N101Z, but they never used it. The registration was cancelled in May 1982, and by 1989 it was stored at Palmer, AK in complete condition and still in full FAA markings with FAA logo. In the mid 1990s it was acquired by the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry (MATI) and moved to Wasilla, AK for display. Unfortunately its current condition leaves much to be desired.

White-tailed Philippine Mars seen floating peacefully on Sproat Lake near its Port Alberni base, in the last days of its very long career (60 years!). It would be permanently withdrawn from use at the end of the 2006 fire season.

Philippine Mars is being readied for its launch into Sproat Lake, a time-consuming operation. The four TimberWest guys put the huge size of this flying boat into proportion. The photo shows this aircraft's uncommon side drop doors (two on each side), which sistership Hawaii Mars does not have. That has the more conventional system with dropping doors in its belly. This photo was taken 10 days before this aircraft's 60th birthday, and during what would be its final fire-fighting season. This amazing machine was withdrawn from use at the end of the 2006 fire season.

Red-tailed Hawaii Mars as it could frequently be seen during a fire season - moored on Sproat Lake in a great landscape near its Port Alberni base.

John Reffett bought this Flying Boxcar in April 1989. A failing engine resulted in an emergency landing at Port Lions, AK in July 1989, and the aircraft was abandoned there for many years. In 2002 it was restored to flying condition and flown to Palmer on 4 Nov 2002. It is seen here in storage with engine #1 missing and still fitted with a Westinghouse J34 jet pod.

Owner John Reffett flew this Flying Boxcar from Anchorage to Palmer on 12 Oct 2001, with the intention of using it for cargo flights. However, the aircraft never flew again, despite John's efforts. On 10 Dec 2014 this aircraft did three high-speed taxi runs at Palmer, and at the time the first post-restoration flight was expected "very soon". But by 2018 it still hadn't materialised...

Owner John Reffett flew this Flying Boxcar from Anchorage to Palmer on 12 Oct 2001, with the intention of using it for cargo flights. However, the aircraft never flew again, despite John's efforts. On 10 Dec 2014 this aircraft did three high-speed taxi runs at Palmer, and at the time the first post-restoration flight was expected "very soon". But by 2018 it still hadn't materialised. John's other Boxcar N1394N is seen behind.

Acquired by Bush Air Cargo more than a year earlier and operated by them, but titles not yet applied. Still has "44896" clearly visble on the fin (vertically), which indicates that this fin came from DC-3 NC44896 c/n 9665.

Tanker 46 relaxing in the nice Alaskan morning sun, still completely unaware of how busy the afternoon and evening would become following the outbreak of the Parks Highway Fire just a few hours later.

Recently acquired by the Alaska Department of Forestry and carries their logo, but it had not been painted in their striking yellow colours yet.

No titles on this smokejumper plane, but it does carry Bighorn's nice colours and has their logo on the fin.

Receiving some TLC in Alaska Department of Forestry's hangar.