Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum Audio Guide
Learn about Alaska's aviation history and the daring bush pilots who opened up the Last Frontier. This audio guide covers the highlights.
Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum Audio Guide
First of four aircraft in the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. The Seattle never made it out of Alaska. It crashed on April 30, 1924 near Port Moller and was recovered in 1961 to preserve what was left of the airframe.
Formerly a part of a fleet of 14 DC-6’s flown by Northern Air Cargo this aircraft represents the core capability for over 50 years to flying cargo to remote alaskan communities. DC‑6 aircraft continue to provide cargo support to rural alaska communities even to this day.
This Boeing jet represents the truly unique capabilities required of commercial aircraft to effectively operate in Alaska while supporting rural communities. This aircraft was also instrumental in opening up commercial travel to and from the former Soviet Union.
The Museum’s P‑40 is a true battlefield artifact with the forensic evidence maintained as it was on that fateful day, June 4, 1942 when the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked the Aleutian Islands. This aircraft marks the beginning of a 15 month battle by US and Canadian Forces to regain control of the Aleutian Islands from the invading Japanese forces.
After a very short period of passenger service these large single pilot aircraft paved the way for cargo operations throughout Alaska. This Pilgrim hauled everything from cattle into the Mat-Su Valley, asphalt for building runways during WWII and fish totes off the beaches enroute to the canneries.
The “Queen of Dago Lake” was the first major aircraft recovery accomplished by the early museum founders and it became the impetus for establishing a permanent home for the Museum.
Flown by most early Alaskan aviators the Stearman is the centerpiece for Pioneer Hall. Flown on the first rescue mission to Mt. Denali, on the search for Carl Ben Eielsen and Earl Borland and the primary aircraft flown on the Serum Mercy flights in Winter 31 – 32.
The early cabin Wacos were the mainstay of flight services in Alaska’s early aviation history. Equipped with wheels, floats or skis, these aircraft were at the heart of enabling the development of the state of Alaska.
Two small airline companies began operations nearly 80 years ago and grew into the world class airline known today as Alaska Airlines. This exhibit speaks to the perseverance and persistence of those early aviation companies to overcome obstacles and deal with the unusually harsh Arctic environment to provide service to communities throughout Alaska.