G44 wrote:Mike,

We gave all of my grandfathers photos to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. They are available for public viewing thru UAF. I am not sure if they have the photos posted online yet, that is the plan.

Many do not realize but my grandfather was quite the photographer, he had a camera with him almost all the time. We had thousands of his photos and negatives that we turned over to UAF for archiving.

Kurt

It looks like some have been uploaded, though the scans don't appear to be very high resolution, which is troubling.



http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm/singleitem/ ... 3460/rec/9

Zane,

Many of these photos were taken with large format and the negatives are big, some are 8x10 if you can believe that! So I do know the original resolution is good on many of the photographs, I would imagine if someone wanted a higher resolution pic they could request one. I would assume the lower resolution is for quicker viewing, just a guess.

Kurt

G44 wrote:Zane,

Many of these photos were taken with large format and the negatives are big, some are 8x10 if you can believe that! So I do know the original resolution is good on many of the photographs, I would imagine if someone wanted a higher resolution pic they could request one. I would assume the lower resolution is for quicker viewing, just a guess.

Kurt

Yeah, it all depends on the foresight of the archival technical staff. Easy to scan those big negatives at super high res. And storage is cheap.

I'm guessing you're right and they prob just don't make really high res versions available without request.

I just finished reading "Follow The North Star" by Tay Thomas (wife of Lowell Thomas Jr).
Merrill Wien played a pretty big part in Lowell & Tay's 1958/59 trip around Alaska.

Bumping this thread because I stumbled onto it this morning while Googling for airmen show past threads. Great book and one to snag while ya can. Nice to have Kurt here participating every day too.

Please hold on while I sideslip the thread a bit... I pretty much abandoned my family for two days reading The Story of Noel Wien. Just couldn't put it down.

I love the old Bantam Air and Space series paperbacks; these great reads preserve history and inspire.

Noel Wien’s story is even more remarkable if you have the opportunity to fly the country he flew for years.

For several years, was curious how a bluff near my cabin southwest of Fairbanks came to be names “Wien’Lookout”. Then I read the book......dang! He walked (and that’s a misnomer when you consider he did so in early spring, with deep snow.) some forty miles after running out of gas and landing on a gravel bar. Broke a landing gear in the landing. I won’t spoil it for you by telling how he got to that point....a story unto itself.

But, consider that at the time, he was the only pilot in that country. And there was only one other airplane......is, in Fairbanks.

For years, I flew past Wickersham Dome almost every day. Noel regularly supported a mining operation near there and landed on the Dome with his Standard. I never figured out where he landed.

Get the book, and read it. Fantastic story.

MTV

Mike,

Noel’s ashes were spread over Wichersham dome as were my grandma’s. I would love to see the spot from where he walked out from. Could one say, land near there, if they were so inclined?

Kent wrote:Mike,

Noel’s ashes were spread over Wichersham dome as were my grandma’s. I would love to see the spot from where he walked out from. Could one say, land near there, if they were so inclined?

Kent is my brother in case anyone was wondering.

Kurt

onthegas1 wrote:Please hold on while I sideslip the thread a bit... I pretty much abandoned my family for two days reading The Story of Noel Wien. Just couldn't put it down.

I love the old Bantam Air and Space series paperbacks; these great reads preserve history and inspire.

I bought that book about 25 years ago and somehow never read it. Bought it during a PSC move and it had gotten packed into boxes that went into long term storage. Ironically I knew I had it 'somewhere' and searched boxes for it. Finally found it last month and have it laying on the coffee table now.

Really a big history buff and anything to do with bush planes is that much better. Glad to have a descendant of the Wien family on this forum, makes it that much better. Hopefully I will meet you someday Kurt.

Kent wrote:Mike,

Noel’s ashes were spread over Wichersham dome as were my grandma’s. I would love to see the spot from where he walked out from. Could one say, land near there, if they were so inclined?

Kent,

Yes. Your Grandfather landed a gravel bar on the Toklat River. He then climbed up onto a bluff just to the east, trying to figure out where he was. He’d been caught on top of a cloud layer, trying to get back to Fairbanks from Wickersham Dome.

From the top of that bluff, he was able to recognize the bluff above Nenana, and knew that there was a Telegraph in Nenana, so he started hiking.

The name Wien’s Lookout appears on the USGS charts I believe.

MTV

WWhunter wrote:

onthegas1 wrote:Please hold on while I sideslip the thread a bit... I pretty much abandoned my family for two days reading The Story of Noel Wien. Just couldn't put it down.

I love the old Bantam Air and Space series paperbacks; these great reads preserve history and inspire.

I bought that book about 25 years ago and somehow never read it. Bought it during a PSC move and it had gotten packed into boxes that went into long term storage. Ironically I knew I had it 'somewhere' and searched boxes for it. Finally found it last month and have it laying on the coffee table now.

Really a big history buff and anything to do with bush planes is that much better. Glad to have a descendant of the Wien family on this forum, makes it that much better. Hopefully I will meet you someday Kurt.

Hope to meet you too. I was in Cook last August just kicking around, went Walleye fishing on Vermilion and went out to the family farm and Cook airport. I sure like the area. I live in SW Michigan now.

Kurt

That’s quite a family legacy that you and Kent have, Kurt. You were extremely fortunate to have grown up immersed in aviation and Alaskan aviation history like you did. You learned well from some of the best and I really appreciate all that you share on this forum.

I always enjoy reading about the pioneers who developed aviation in Alaska so I will have to pick up a copy of your Dad’s autobiography.

My wife is active on Instagram and Kent found her photos of your Uncle Richard’s old Widgeon that she took last summer, as it is now owned by one of our neighbors.

It’s nice to see you two enjoying your Huskys together

Ross

Kent,

I answered part of your question, but: the Toklat has lots of good bars. It can be a little hard to find a landing spot sometimes, due to the dead trees, etc. it’s a glacial stream, so subject to very high and very low water....sometimes the same day.

MTV

pipeliner wrote:My wife is active on Instagram and Kent found her photos of your Uncle Richard’s old Widgeon that she took last summer, as it is now owned by one of our neighbors.
Ross

Ross,
I knew that Richard sold his Widgeon, but never heard who bought it. Glad to hear it’s still in Alaska.

MTV

G44 wrote:

Kent wrote:Mike,

Noel’s ashes were spread over Wichersham dome as were my grandma’s. I would love to see the spot from where he walked out from. Could one say, land near there, if they were so inclined?

Kent is my brother in case anyone was wondering.

Kurt

Kent, welcome! Updating the original post to be all inclusive of the generational membership on BCP...

Thanks Zane.

If you move out east we’ll have to get together! I’m in New York.

mtv wrote:

pipeliner wrote:My wife is active on Instagram and Kent found her photos of your Uncle Richard’s old Widgeon that she took last summer, as it is now owned by one of our neighbors.
Ross

Ross,
I knew that Richard sold his Widgeon, but never heard who bought it. Glad to hear it’s still in Alaska.

MTV

It was sold in the past year or so, to the second owner since Richard sold it. Burke Mees (author of Notes of a Seaplane Instructor and many other articles and books now owns it. He is a very experienced Goose instructor, so a fitting owner. Both owners were/are good caretakers of that great aircraft.

Ross

Richards Widgeon N90727 is a good one! Glad Buerk has it.

Kurt

G44 wrote:Richards Widgeon N90727 is a good one! Glad Buerk has it.

Kurt

You missed your opportunity Kurt as it was for sale for quite a while before Burke bought it last year.

Ross