My wife Elaine and I love Alaska. Our sons Ken and Brian own Preferred Airparts, in Kidron, OH, and have a booth at the Alaska Aviation Expo, put on by the Alaska Airmen's Association. This year it was Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1.

By this time in life Elaine and I have figured out how to make a two-day Expo into a 12-day experience and I've been able to convince my sons that I still remember enough about Preferred that I'm a worthy representive at their booth. So, they pay my way and I pay Elaine's!

Except for the fact that "any time is a good time to go to Alaska," this might not be thought of as a good time. The ice on Lake Hood is rotten and there were only four airplanes out there on skies when we arrived, and they were soon taken off. We're in that "tween" stage between skies and floats. The upside though is that one gets some interesting shots of ski planes on bare ground and floatplanes sitting high and dry.

I'll post very few accompanying notes. If an owner sends me info on his/her airplane I'll add them. (ken@flyinghigher.net) So, here we go.

- Soldotna: Cessna 152 and 175 taildraggers; Beavers; Cessna 120's and 140's; Stinson 105's and 108's; Luscombe's and all the ordinaries!
- Kenai: Three DC-6's; Curtiss C-46; turbine Beaver on amphibs; piston Beavers; turbine Otter; PA-11's; Cessna 206's!

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- Homer: Cessna L-19 on floats; Aeronca Champ; Aeronca Sedan; and more
- Kasilof: One lonely Cessna 180
- Nikiski: Turbine Otter; Islander; Cessna 336 and 337; two Beech Twin Bo's; plus the routine Cessnas, Pipers and others.
- Quartz Creek: One lonely Cessna 140
- Girdwood: Beech Twin Bo; Pilatus PC-6; Lake Amphibian and more