Name Noel Wien Role Aviator | ||
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Died July 19, 1977, Bellevue, Washington, United States | ||
Organizations founded Wien Air Alaska | ||
Noel wien interview part 1
Noel Wien (June 8, 1899 – July 19, 1977) was an American pioneer aviator. He was the founder of Wien Air Alaska, Alaska's first airline.
Contents
Noel wien interview part 3
Biography
Born Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, Wien learned to fly from Ray Miller in 1921 and became a barnstormer in Clarence W. Hinck's Federated Fliers Flying Circus. Wien saw an opportunity to fly in Alaska and migrated there, later bringing his three brothers up from Minnesota. In 1924, with his pilot license No. 39 signed by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Official Orville Wright in hand, Wien brought his Hisso Standard biplane to Alaska and began servicing the gold-rich territory.
His brothers Sig and Ralph Wien, were also bush pilots.
A legend among legendary pilots, when Wien first arrived in Alaska he had 538 hours of barnstorming and aerial circus stunt flying. He went on to build up a long list of firsts: he was first to fly from Fairbanks to Seattle, Fairbanks to Nome, and beyond the Arctic Circle, across the Bering Strait and was first to make a round-trip flight between Alaska and Asia.
He died on July 19, 1977, in Bellevue, Washington.