This historic film shows air transport service known as Intermountain Airlines as well as other airlines operating in the rugged conditions of the North Slope of Alaska, the Yukon Territory of Canada, Idaho and elsewhere. The film begins with a Curtiss Commando C-46 being used (Tail number N9900Z — later flown by the CIA in the Iran Contra effort) for a flight to the North Slope. This takes over 2 hours across the Ukan River past Lake Chandelier, above the 9000 foot peaks of the mountain range to the Slope. Not long ago, this area was uninhabitated. More than 2000 workers are dependent on aircraft to deliver supplies. Lake 30 is not an easy site to find. It looks like all the rest of the snow covered the area except an area of ice that’s been cleared off by a seismographic group. The C-46 is not as fast nor can it carry much but it can land safely on Lake 30.
At mark 01:45, we see the C-46 landing on the site. The seismographic party is waiting and the flight crews are using a portable unloading ramp to quickly roll down the barrels under the arctic ice. Air crew precaution is taken whereby one engine is left on to keep running to provide heat to the cockpit and the engines. If both engines are shut off, they become cold in just a few minutes and the oil congeals and they can’t be restarted. Over 200 flights a day is made to the area. At 3:45, the wind strings up making the weather bad for flying. The flight crews communicate the situation. At mark 5:20, another unloading goes on in flight C46, and at 6:22 Pacific Western’s C-47 Hercules is seen.
At mark 6:51, we have the STOL DeHavilland Twin Otter making an appearance. It is a bridge between conventional airplane and helicopter. It carries more useful load over a great distance and less cost than the helicopters. The STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) takes off and landing aircraft and can operate out of strips that conventional aircraft cannot possibly use. The Twin Otter is a large airplane that has a gross weight of 11,579 pounds and can carry over 21/2 tonnes and can make incredibly short landing. It is a rugged aircraft capable of operating from unimproved fields to all environments. Its high power to weight ratio contribute to safe flying and its 2 turbo engines are so sharp that you can barely hear it approaching. At mark 13:00, we have a heliporter, which can carry a load weighing 2300pounds and can carry pilot, copilot and up to 9 passengers; 6050 shaft horse power turbo engine gives it its spectacular performance and a reversible pitch propeller which help it water land to 350 ft and can even be backed up.
The speed of the Jet Ranger is important here when taking gravity reading on higher altitudes. At mark 14:40, we have the Jet Ranger; it has closer range and unrestricted visibility which make it an ideal vehicle for search and exploration. Its small turbo engine requires less maintenance and higher useful on loads. It is used in rescue mission, it carries a sheriff, a doctor and 2 guards on a rescue mission and the only available side is an outlet in an avalanche lake. It maneuvers and landed and they rescued the patients.
Helicopters are extremely valuable; they deliver goods on string loads accurately and safely. Helicopters are expensive to operate and often times not the solution. At mark 18:10 we see an aerial delivery helicopter. They have developed aerial delivery systems capable of delivering up to 8000pds cargo into isolated area.
Intermountain Airlines, also known as Intermountain Aviation and Intermountain Airways, was a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) airline front company. Intermountain performed covert operations for the CIA in Southeast Asia and elsewhere during the Vietnam War era.
Intermountain is alleged to have been involved in the delivery of a number of A-26 Invader bombers to be flown by Cuban exile pilots supporting the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Intermountain used several types of aircraft including the Curtiss C-46 Commando, the Lockheed L-188 Electra, the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and a B-17 Flying Fortress.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
