ALASKA
Page 1

ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and MERRILL FIELD

Alaska is still in the beginning of this new millennium a refugee for old propliners. They are however quickly
declining. If you have chance to go there -do it! Lack of spares, maintenance costs, exceeded lifetime
and occasional accidents quickly reduce these birds from the Alaskan skies.

Freight West Airways Beech 18, N62TP, at Merrill Field, Anchorage 5 May 1991
Minolta Dynax 7000i, Tokina 28-70/f2,8 and Fujicrome 200. Digitized to Kodak Photo CD.

Piper Super Cub N4147E at Anchorage Int. general aviation ramp May 3 1991
Minolta Dynax 7000i, Tokina 28-70/f2,8 and Fujicrome 200. Digitized to Kodak Photo CD.

Northern Air Cargo (NAC) ramp in the evening of May 3 1991. NAC had 12 Douglas DC6 freighters
in use at that time. Today they are still using 12 DC6 and has added 3 Boeing B727-100 freighters.
Why not visit Northern Air Cargos web site: NORTHERN AIR CARGO
Minolta Dynax 7000i, Tokina 28-70/f2,8 and Fujicrome 200. Digitized to Kodak Photo CD.

Swing tail DC6 freighter N867TA getting it's load before a flight to Bethel in the evening of May 3 1991.
The swing tail DC6's ability to take outsized loads and also it's ability to take off and land on dirt strips,
sandy beaches and, during winter time, frozen lakes with strip length less then 1000 meters, makes
one understands why NAC want to keep these birds airworthy as long as possible.
There are simply no replacement aircraft's to buy for a realistic price.
Minolta Dynax 7000i, Tokina 28-70/f2,8 and Fujicrome 200. Digitized to Kodak Photo CD.

Preparation of N867TA before takeoff to Bethel at Anchorage Int. in the late evening of May 3 1991.
Minolta Dynax 7000i, Tokina 28-70/f2,8 and Fujicrome 200. Digitized to Kodak Photo CD.

Grumman Goose N4763C at Merrill Field, Anchorage at May 5 1991.
Minolta Dynax 7000i, Tokina 28-70/f2,8 and Fujicrome 200. Digitized to Kodak Photo CD.

Merrill Field, Anchorage is said to be one of the most busy general aviation airports in the world.
Due to Alaska's lack of infrastructure, general aviation is of most importance. With tundra tires,
like on this Super Cub N63848, you don't necessarily need an airfield to land on. May 5 1991.
Minolta Dynax 7000i, Tokina 28-70/f2,8 and Fujicrome 200. Digitized to Kodak Photo CD.

author: Lars Wahlstrom
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This page was last updated 24 July 2000