Pike's Landing in College in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

The Story of Cliff Everts, His Flying Machines and Our DC-6

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

1. The Story of Cliff Everts, His Flying Machines and Our DC-6 Marker

Inscription.
Cliff Everts was a pilot and entrepreneur from a young age. His love of flying motivated him to get a paper route and other odd jobs to finance ground school, and flight training. He took his first lesson at age fourteen and soloed at sixteen, before he received his driver's license.

In 1941, Cliff was at the airport when the war began. He signed up for the Civilian Pilot Training Program and began cross country instructor training courtesy of the US Government. In 1943, at 21, he was offered a flying job with Alaska Star Airlines. He fell in love with Alaska, its opportunities, and clear skies. In 1945, he began his 35-year career with Wien Air Alaska. It was an exciting time in the airline industry, and Alaska was the perfect place for aviators since there were few roads. Adventures and unique experiences presented themselves with every flight.

A favorite story of Cliff's was a flight with Sig Wien, flying north on their way to Umiat in the Bellanca. It was -40 degrees below zero and getting dark, with weather at Umiat dropping below minimums, making it unsafe to continue. They landed at an Eskimo village near

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Chandler Lake where they enjoyed a caribou dinner and slept in a caribou skin shelter with a nomadic Nunamiut Inupiaq family of twelve.

In 1960, as a side business, Cliff purchased his first C-46 aircraft from Wien Air Alaska when they upgraded their fleet. He leased it to an operator. In 1980, at 61, having flown 30,000 hours (about three and a half years) in numerous aircraft, Cliff retired from Wien and immediately began his next aviation career. He started Everts Air Fuel, and in February 1983 obtained a Part 125 certificate and began hauling fuel with his C-46, and DC-6 aircraft. In January 1985, he purchased the historic Wien hangar and Everts Air Fuel was in full swing. Everts Air Fuel was, and is primarily engaged in the fuel hauling business as well as approved cargo transports such as relocating a herd of reindeer from Nome to Colorado!

Cliff's life and adventures have been mentioned in many books about Aviation in Alaska. One of our favorite quotes is in "Heroes of the Horizon" by Gerry Bruder-"Aviation has been my life," he says as he folds his hands behind his head and gazes reflectively at the airplane photos on the

Noel Wien and his Cessna 140 Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

2. Noel Wien and his Cessna 140 Memorial

wall. "I'm in it every day and there's no way I can get out of it. I can't see any joy in doing anything else."

The Everts Family Summer 2024

[Photo captions, counterclockwise from top left, read]
• Cliff enjoying a moment in the sun with a Wien C-46.

• Enroute to Umiat with a weather stop in Chandler Lake.

• Cliff purchased the Wien Air Alaska historic hangar at the Fairbanks International Airport in 1985 for its primary administrative and maintenance base.

• Everts' DC-6 aircraft on display at Wingworld, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Erected 2024 by Pike's Waterfront Lodge.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 64° 49.93′ N, 147° 50.727′ W. Marker is in College, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is in Pike's Landing. It is on Hoselton Road 0.2 miles north of Airport Way, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1850 Hoselton Road, Fairbanks AK 99709, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

3. The Story of Cliff Everts, His Flying Machines and Our DC-6 Marker

Third marker from left

this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor,

in the Athabascan Region,

and in Interior Alaska.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Story of Noel Wien and Cessna Aircraft in Alaska (here, next to this marker); Wien Alaska Airlines Fairchild-71 1941 Spring Operations at Pike's Landing (here, next to this marker); Carnation Evaporated Milk (within shouting distance of this marker); Edward M. Keyes (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Hendrickson (within shouting distance of this marker); William Salmon & August Conradt (within shouting distance of this marker); Whiskers (within shouting distance of this marker); Alphonso L'Kievicz (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College.

Also see . . .
1. Everts Air Cargo. (Submitted on September 16, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Cliff Everts (Univ Alaska Fairbanks Project Jukebox Oral History, 2004).

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(Submitted on September 16, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 189 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 16, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.