Initially in military service as 57-6163 of the US Army. Civilianised in 1976 as N9262Z, operating with Alaskan Government Authorities. Sustained substantial damage in an accident in 2001 when it nosed over while making a forced landing, following engine failure. Recovered and repaired, it was re-registered N904K in 2002. Seen here on its base at Palmer, in the colours of the Forestry Division of the State of Alaska's Department of Natural Resources.

Wartime service with USAAF as 42-23509. Joined the Czechoslovak Government in 1946. Transferred from the Czechoslovakian Air Force to France's Armée de l'Air in 1960 as 23509. Bought in 1972 by Rousseau Aviation and registered F-WSGY. Sold in the US in 1974. Seen here as N18262 in transit through Prestwick to its new owners, the Aircraft Surplus Company of Tucson, AZ. Sold again in 1975, to Canada as C-GWIR. Moved from Northwest Territorial Airways to Buffalo Airways in 1994. Suffered an engine fire and crashlanded at Yellowknife, NWT in Aug 2013. Still there by 2016, reportedly awaiting repairs.

Built in 1955 as 138280 for the US Navy. Transferred to the State of Alaska's Division of Forestry, whose fin logo it carries, in 1985. Operates as a " bird dog" spotter aircraft for firebombers.

In transit through Prestwick to be re-registered as N145RA with Royal American Airways in the United States. Entered airline service in 1959 as Lufthansa's D-ANIP. Returned to the UK in 1973 to become G-BAPE with British Midland. Sold to Royal American in 1981.

Taxi-ing with cockpit hoods open and flight refuelling probe extended, about to begin a flying display at Prestwick's 1979 Airshow.

Operating for Talkeetna Air Taxi, which describes itself as "The Glacier Landing Company". Ski-equipped for flight-seeing tours within Alaska's Denali National Park, focusing on the Alaska Range and Mt McKinley, America's highest mountain, and including optional glacier landings.

In its original standard tactical transport colours, XV304, a Hercules C.1 of the RAF's Lyneham Transport Wing, taxi-ing for departure on Prestwick's then Runway 31. Later upgraded to C.3A standard. The airframe was damaged beyond repair in a wheels up landing at RAF Brize Norton on 6 May 2010. Subsequently served as an instructional airframe until finally scrapped in 2021.

At an advanced stage of construction on Scottish Aviation's production line, still identified by its pre-service registration G-31-647. Delivered to the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm at Yeovilton in late 1986 as ZE438, a Jetstream T3.

Taxiing out from Prestwick's Main Terminal. Sporting the badge of 46 Squadron and the RAF's then standard colour scheme for tactical transports, comprising Dark Earth / Mid-Stone / Black, reflecting their main focus of operation in the Far / Middle East. The White on the cockpit roof was intended to keep the interior heat down.

Built in 1962, operated in Japan for twenty years. Joined Willow Air of Willow, Alaska, in 1982, where it provided transport for bear and moose hunting. Later converted to a Turbo Beaver by Viking in 2000. Seen here in the summer of 1990 at Willow Air's base on Willow Lake, just across the road from Willow Airport, on Alaska's George Parks Highway from Anchorage to Fairbanks, 70 miles north of Anchorage.

Built in 1959, flew with Eastern Airlines for ten years. Then served with several operators in Honduras, being converted to freighter around 1977. Joined Conair Aviation in 1997 serving as a fire bomber, "Tanker 53". Transferred to Air Spray, in the same role, in 2000. Seen here on a brief detachment to Campbell River in the summer of 1999, to fight a forest fire which had broken out locally.

Built in 1956. Converted to a Vazar Turbine Otter in 1993. Now a long-serving member of Kenmore Air's fleet. Seen here returning home to base at Seattle's Kenmore Air Harbour on a summer evening in 1999, even at that time more than forty years old.

Now late in its career with USAF Military Airlift Command and in the hands of the Minnesota Air Guard, seen smoking and creaking its way along the taxiway to the holding point for departure on Prestwick's then Runway 31. I can hear it still, fifty years on !!

Departing Prestwick on COD, Carrier Onboard Delivery, duties. Carrying the codes JM-22 of Naval Squadron VR-24

Wind conditions favoured a takeoff from Campbell River's inner harbour beside the seaplane docks. Seen here climbing out and turning away past Tyee Spit at the river mouth.

Built in 1958 by Fairchild, under licence from Fokker. After use in Canada, flew with Pacific Alaska from 1978 till early 1990 as N222DG. Seen operating in Alaska with Empire Airlines.

US Army Air Force 43-16028. Civilianised as N100 with the Civil Aviation Authority in 1947 before being transferred to the US Forest Service, becoming N100Z. Converted into a turbine-powered Basler BT-67 and re-registered N142Z in 1991. Subsequently sold and re-registered C-GKKB in 2013, flying with Kenn Borek Air and North Star Air.

Built as a military Lockheed PV-1 Ventura, initially USN 34880, then diverted from an RAF order as FP841 to the SAAF, serving as 6441. Executive conversion carried out by Howard Aero Inc to Howard 500 standard with a new pressurised fuselage and uprated engines. Seen in transit at Prestwick parked in the Main Terminal's old Bay 4. Arrived from Geneva and departed transatlantic, initially for Keflavik.

Entered service in 1958 with United Airlines as "Mainliner Lincoln". Still in the basic colours of Ports of Call Travel Club with whom it served 1967-1975. Transferred from TBM Inc to Butler Aircraft in 1982 for use as a fire bomber. Seen here as "Tanker 66", at Butler's headquarters base, Robert's Field, Redmond, Oregon. Subsequently continued in active operation with Erikson Aero Tanker.