It Began in 1942 During WWII ...
In 1982, Air North Training & Charters based in Whitehorse, YT Canada, purchased the 40 year old plane and used it as a passenger airliner for another 16 years. Eventually it was purchased by Stephen & Malcolm Van Kirk, from EAA in Oshkosh Wi in August of 2001. The intent was to offer sunset dinner flights over Washington DC. A couple weeks later aviation was forever changed by the 9/11 terrorists attacks and sunset flights over the capital would never happen due to newly imposed airspace restrictions. In 2009 Yukon Sourdough was damaged in a storm while parked outside at Washington County Regional Airport Hagerstown, MD. The airframe was significantly damaged in the area of the tail. The airplane was a total loss.
After 11 years of being a “Gate Guardian”, a team dedicated pilots, maintainers, and crew worked tirelessly restoring “Yukon Sourdough” with the goal of getting it back to the airshow circuit. 2 & 1/2 years later, everyone at the airport stopped what they were doing came out of the buildings on the airfield to watch our maiden flight.
Honoring Military & Civilian Aviation History
”Yukon Sourdough” only remaining DC-3 in the Air North livery. It is operated by the 501©(3) nonprofit “Ensign Dean R. Van Kirk Aviation Heritage Museum,” based in Frederick Municipal Airport, Maryland, with the DC-3 stored at Hagerstown Regional Airport, Maryland. The museum’s collection, which also has multiple record-holding Piper Cubs, a German Fokker DR-1 triplane, and an extensive collection of early 1900s U.S. Airmail, helps honor and tell American and Canadian military and civilian aviation history through flight, exhibition, education, remembrance demonstrations, and events, allowing the public to experience first-hand the sights and sounds of vintage aviation.
“Yukon Sourdough” is an extremely expensive endeavor to steward. We rely on donations to preserve it and continue to bring it to airshows and events. We typically don’t fly during the airshows unless we are departing, but we do not consider ourselves a static display either. Our volunteers find it exceptionally rewarding to interact with upwards of 1500 children and parents during airshow events. What most don’t see are the sleepless nights that go in to making it all happen.
Our Team
- Malcolm Van Kirk
- Derek White
- Kent Casady
- Mike & Bunny Macario
- Rick & Seth Van Lehn
- Cliff Davis
- In Memory of Captain Stephen Van Kirk
We Thank you for Your Support to Fly ``Yukon North``
Now Flying in Air Shows Across the United States
Our mission is to steward this 80 year old aircraft. “We want it to be an active control gear…not hanging from the ceiling somewhere in a museum.” Our hope is that people will donate a small amount to keep the plane aloft, just as many support the United States Memorial Air Force, which also owns a number of vintage planes.
Contact Us to learn how you can help our cause or for information on Air North events.
