Pioneer Air Museum, Fairbanks

Housed in a golden dome in Pioneer Park, by the Chena River in Fairbanks, this little museum is packed with interesting aircraft and displays. The staff kindly opened up specially for us on 12 May, even after we were delayed by a tyre blow-out in the middle of nowhere.

Despite the Museum's small size, there's an amazing amount of info and exhibits about the development of Alaska's bush and airline flying pioneers and their feats, and of Alaska's role in WW2 ferry flights to Russia. Well worth going out of your way for.

Aircraft Reg'n Thumbs Notes
Bakeng Duce FM1 N75FD 1976 homebuilt. The name for new-builds was changed to Deuce in 1999.
Beech D18S Expeditor (C-45H) N701FY Ex USAF 52-10690
Bell UH-1H Iroquois 66-0934 US Army
Carlos' Flying Saucer X3   Hovercraft
Curtiss-Wright Dehmel Flight Trainer model P    
Fairchild 24J N20617 Pollack Flying Service
Noorduyn Norseman VI (UC-64A) N55555 Alaska Airlines markings. Ex USAF 43-5237.
Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub N2586P A low-pressure tyre on the right, and a Whittaker twin-wheel gear on the left, both designed for rough ground operations.
Rutan VariEze N37840 Built by Fred Keller, who also built the KR-1 at the Museum of Alaska Transportation. Both were Oshkosh award winners.
Ryan ST-3KR (PT-22) Recruit N50880 (NC50880)  
Stinson Junior SR N13482 NC13482 Interior Airways
Stinson Vultee V-77 Reliant (AT-19) NC60924 (N60924) "Peter Pan"

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