(photographer not known)

In this image from the 'Helicopter Mapping of Alaska' series, US Army choppers are being assembled. Other photos show no less than eight H-23Bs, and a sign saying 'Tripod Airlines, non-scheduled'. Photo by: George Silk / Life

It's a bear! From a photo series entitled 'Helicopter Mapping of Alaska.' Helicopters made the mapping of Alaska a lot easier, dropping surveyors off on the peaks. US Army H-32Bs were involved, although details about this are hard to find. Photo by: George Silk / Life

(photographer not known)

Massive flaps and ailerons on the Helio make it a superb STOL aircraft

Fitted with skis for flightseeing trips from Talkeetna to Denali. Damaged in an accident the previous year, in June 2002. After an uneventful landing on the Tokositna Glacier, 30 miles to the northwest, and while repositioning up the glacier to disembark passengers, the tail wheel caught in a hole in hard-packed snow and the left elevator dug in. Repaired and recovered. Later more substantially damaged in July 2014 when fitted with a bulk fuel tank to supply remote communities. Overran a wet and muddy short grass strip while departing, the pilot unknowingly still carrying the full load of fuel

First flew in 1967 as CF-VQI and spent over twenty years bush flying in Quebec. Joined Temsco at Ketchikan in 1989 as N19TH. Acquired in 1994 by Soloy Dual Pac Inc, where it operated as N5010Y, then N32910, acting as a testbed for the certification of a Twin Pac powerplant comprising two P&W PT-6As. Converted by Ketchum in 1997 to a Vazar Turbine Otter, N342KA. Purchased by Pro Mech Air in 2005. Sold to Liard Air in 2009 as C-GNNP. Destroyed, together with two other aircraft, in a tragic Liard hangar fire at Muncho Lake, BC, in 2011.

What became of this 1940 DC-3 is unclear. It may have been leased to the US Navy as BuNo 99099, which is listed as lost over spurious 'Yamagaga in North Pacific' on 16 February 1944. NC25643 cancelled in July 1944. Alternatively it went to Mexico as XA-CAM. Photo from Clyde Smith, Pan Am station manager in Fairbanks, and probably taken at old Weeks Field which could be used by DC-3s 'with caution'. At times of bad conditions, airlines were allowed to use Ladd Army Airfield from 1940. Photo from: SFO Museum

Marine Airways was formed in Juneau in July 1936 and NC196N arrived in August. In 1939, Marine Airways and Alaska Air Transport joined forces, but their new name Alaska Coastal Airlines was not used until 1941 it seems. Photo taken on the Juneau waterfront, very close to the current seaplane base. NC196N operated on wheels occasionally and here they are about to hoist it up to put the floats back on. NC196N was called 'Shaky Jake' as it suffered from a persistent vibration. Nevertheless, it served the people of Juneau for over 30 years. It was preserved in Canada as CF-ATN. Photo by: Keith Petrich / SFO Museum