Stewart Collection ➔ Negative, Film
Archival Item
2008.5.78 a-c
a: Black and white negative of of Yukon Airways & Exploration Company Ltd. airplane, Queen of the Yukon II (CF-AHD). The wheels have been changed for floats for the trip up the west coast of B.C. The airplane is on top of a trailer beside water, getting ready to be launched. Eight men are standing around the plane; among them are Gordon Stewart and John Patterson.
"b" is sepia-toned and the back reads "Renton" in black ink. "c" is black and white.
Donor caption reads: "Queen of the Yukon II - 1929 on route from St. Louis - Whitehorse/ Changing from wheels to pontoons at Renton Airport, Washing ton. This particular airport is part of the Boeing complex. G.K. Stewart joined the crew."
"b" is sepia-toned and the back reads "Renton" in black ink. "c" is black and white.
Donor caption reads: "Queen of the Yukon II - 1929 on route from St. Louis - Whitehorse/ Changing from wheels to pontoons at Renton Airport, Washing ton. This particular airport is part of the Boeing complex. G.K. Stewart joined the crew."
Gordon Stewart joined Yukon Airways & Exploration Company Ltd. in the summer of 1929 when the company purchased a new Ryan B5, to be the Queen of the Yukon II. The plane was picked up in St. Louis, Missouri by pilot John Patterson and flown to Seattle, Washington. It was in Seattle that Gordon Stewart began his tenure with Yukon Airways. Floats were fitted on the plane at Renton airport and they began their barnstorming trip up the west coast of B.C. on their way to the Yukon.
Barnstorming was often a way for pilots and airlines to finance their trips or company. The pilot would fly over a small rural town and attract the attention of the local inhabitants. The pilot would then land at a local farm (hence the name "barnstorming") and negotiate with the farmer for the use of one of his fields as a temporary runway from which to stage an air show and offer airplane rides to customers. After obtaining a base of operation, the pilot would fly back over the town, or "buzz" the village, and drop handbills offering airplane rides for a small fee, usually from one to five dollars. Crowds would then follow the airplane to the field and purchase tickets for joy rides. The locals, most of whom had never seen an airplane up close, were thrilled with the experience. For many rural towns, the appearance of a barnstormer or an aerial troop on the horizon was akin to declaring a national holiday; almost everything in the town would shut down at the spur of the moment so that people could purchase plane rides and watch the show. From Wikipedia
Barnstorming was often a way for pilots and airlines to finance their trips or company. The pilot would fly over a small rural town and attract the attention of the local inhabitants. The pilot would then land at a local farm (hence the name "barnstorming") and negotiate with the farmer for the use of one of his fields as a temporary runway from which to stage an air show and offer airplane rides to customers. After obtaining a base of operation, the pilot would fly back over the town, or "buzz" the village, and drop handbills offering airplane rides for a small fee, usually from one to five dollars. Crowds would then follow the airplane to the field and purchase tickets for joy rides. The locals, most of whom had never seen an airplane up close, were thrilled with the experience. For many rural towns, the appearance of a barnstormer or an aerial troop on the horizon was akin to declaring a national holiday; almost everything in the town would shut down at the spur of the moment so that people could purchase plane rides and watch the show. From Wikipedia