It is wonderful that Fairbanks is publicly celebrating the life and accomplishments of the gentleman who brought aviation to the Interior of Alaska, and explored much of Alaska in the process.
If you haven't read his story, you NEED to! Ira Harkey did a great job telling that story:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/18899 ... untrypi-20I flew out of Fairbanks for twenty years, and virtually every direction I'd go, I'd recall some story in that book, and try to visualize what that had to have been like in an open cockpit Standard biplane......in the depths of an interior winter.
Seriously, if you want a glimpse into what a really stubborn and tough Swede did in the wilds of Alaska, read this book. Noel Wien was not only a great pilot, he was unbeliveably tough!
Sorry I'll miss the celebration. All my seaplane students were required to dock at Pikes' Landing after landing several times in the winding Chena River during their training. Other than the drunks on jet skis, it was tons of fun. I'm glad to see that Pikes is continuing their aviation support!
MTV
