Celebrating a Hundred Years of Alaskan Aviation

When a group of Fairbanks merchants transported a biplane by steamboat from Seattle to their hometown in 1913, it was with the intention of putting on a show for ticket-holding locals…

Citabria

In 1964, Champion Aircraft Corporation rolled out the first Citabria, a two-seat high-wing airplane based on the Aeronca Challenger which had come out shortly after World War II. The fabric-covered Citabria is an excellent aerobatic and training plane, but bush pilots also favor its short takeoff and landing (STOL) characteristics whether it’s on wheels, skis, [...]

Float Planes

A floatplane (also known as a seaplane or hydroplane) can have one or more floats. The floats, or pontoons, are usually mounted beneath the fuselage but can also be mounted beneath the wings. (A flying boat uses its fuselage to create buoyancy in place of floats.) An amphibious plane has floats with retractable wheels, which [...]

Spring Flying Begins in the Far North – Airplanes

I live at a latitude that’s north of 60 degrees. Winter held its grip on us even longer this year than usual. It’s only been in the last few weeks that the ice has melted on the lakes. Several times a day now I watch float planes pass overhead. Many of them are seasoned bush pilots who make a hard living hauling people and supplies into and out of various camps. Others are simply pilots who live for those moments of flying.