Alaska's First Bush Pilots, 1923-30. Jim Rearden

      In October, 1928, there were eight licensed pilots in the Territory of Alaska, of which six were at Fairbanks. There were seventeen airplanes (not all used commercially) in the Territory, and twelve licensed aircraft mechanics, of which nine were in Fairbanks. “The aviation” in the Territory was still a struggling, but clearly a growing, infant, and Fairbanks was its center.

      THE HAMILTON METALPLANE

      The Wiens continued to fly the Detroiter cabin biplane through the spring, summer, and fall of 1928. By the end of 1928 Noel had logged more than 1900 hours of time in the air, most of it in Alaska. He had the most air time in Alaska of any pilot, and was among the most experienced Far North aviators in the world.

      In late fall, 1928, a smallpox epidemic struck Native villages in northern Alaska. With the Stinson Detroiter cabin biplane, Noel flew Dr. J. A. Sutherland of Fairbanks to check it out and administer vaccine at various villages, including Ruby, Russian Mission, Marshall, Mountain Village, Kaltag, Unalakleet, and Nome. On his return to Fairbanks in early January, waiting for him Noel found the Hamilton Metalplane, ordered months earlier. The Wiens were in good company with that modern airplane; Northwest Airlines had ordered eight of the new Hamiltons for their passenger service.

      The December 28, 1928, News-Miner’s announcement of the airplane’s arrival read, “The task of assembling the giant Hamilton monoplane of Wien Airways which arrived in pieces on the freight train yesterday will take five days or so say mechanics for the company.”

      The News-Miner’s detailed report continued enthusiastically: “The most striking features of the craft are its size and luxury. The fine quality of its fittings and its suggestion of comfort make apt the name of ‘air yacht.’ Nothing that might make for the ease of the passenger has been overlooked.