Our Float Plane Fleet
We operate a fleet of DeHavilland Beavers; the most rugged and reliable workhorses the bush has ever seen. Able to carry large loads and both take off and land in very short distances, the Beaver is the perfect airplane for the flying we do, and we are proud to fly these iconic aircraft over 70 years after they were first introduced for this very purpose. Our rigorous maintenance program ensures that our aircraft are always performing at the highest possible level. Come see these amazing airplanes at work! Contact us today!
N123EF
Serial Number 735 Manufactured 1953
735 Was delivered to the US Army December 21, 1954. After serving in the military for 19 years, it was sold to a private owner in Quebec, Ontario Canada in 1973 and registered C-GUIG. Then, after 4 years it was put to work in Atlin, British Columbia where it worked commercially for a brief stint, and then it was re-registered as C-GSRS and flown until it was brought to Alaska in 1994 where it has been hard at work ever since! Chad Hewitt has flown this airplane for over 20 years, and looks forward to another 20!
N62230
Serial Number 707 Manufactured 1953
707 Was delivered in October of 1954 to the US Army where it served 20 years. Then, it was sold do North Orange County Community College in California where it spent 11 years. In June of 1985 the airplane was purchased by Iliamna Air Taxi where it was used heavily to haul freight and both hunters and fishermen during the boom of Bristol Bay. Caribou hunting is where this airplane made its mark as a workhorse. This airplane was bought by Rainbow River Aviation in September of 2015, and since then, Ben Bunn has been at the reins leading her through the remote skies of the Last Frontier.
N65223
Serial Number 996 Manufactured 1955
996 Spent from June, 1956 through 1976 serving in the US Army for the Kentucky National Guard, and spent 4 more years working for the USDA. From 1980 to 1983 the airplane was stored at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona prior to a Wipaire restoration in 1984 where it picked up its unique and more modern features such as electric flaps, a key-operated ignition system, and the moniker “Super Beaver.” Then, it was sold to a private owner in Chico, CA in 1989 where it spent 11 years. In 2000 No-See-Um Lodge in King Salmon brought the airplane to Alaska where it has served ever since. Rainbow River Aviation purchased the airplane in 2019, and she has been a well-performing machine for the company since!
N338TP
Serial Number 932 Manufactured 1955
932 Was delivered to the US Army on June 11, 1956. It served in the Army until 1973 where it was stored at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona for a year. From 1974-1979 the airplane was used by the Genessee County Sherriff Patrol in Flint, Michigan. After that, it was sold twice in the next year, eventually ending up moving to Canada where it was registered C-GKII, and bounced from Takyesi Lake, British Columbia, to Air North Charters in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, then to a private party in Frasier Lake, British Columbia prior to a restoration at Kenmore Air Harbor in Washington State. After its restoration, the airplane was registered in the US as N338TP, and it moved to Alaska where it lived in the Lake Clark area in Port Alsworth. Rainbow River Aviation picked up this gem of an airplane is 2019, and Chris Hartis, proudly displays her gorgeous colors every summer against the wild background of Southwestern Alaska.
N9RW
Serial Number 1095 Manufactured 1956
1095 is the newest of Rainbow River Aviation’s fleet, and was delivered to the US Army in May of 1957. While specific records are unavailable, it’s likely that this airplane served some very unique purposes for the Army as it still has it’s hard points on the wings where wing mounted rockets were once held. After its time in the military, it was sold to Sabourin Lake Airways in Cochenour, Ontario in 1980. The airplane bounced around from 1980 until 2002 working for Selkirk Aviation in Selkirk, Manitoba, Air Park Aviation in Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba, Green Airways in Red Lake, Ontario, and finally Keyamawun Lodge in Deer Lake, Ontario. It was then sold and brought to Alaska in 2002, and has been the workhorse of Royal Wolf Lodge ever since. This great performer is the airplane Forrest Carpenter flies, and the two will likely be inseparable for decades to come.
N103JB
SN 1344 Manufactured 1959
Nicknamed “Justin Beaver”, this great bird was delivered in 1959 to the US Army where it flew until 1962. C-FGHY was then imported to Canada where it served Orillia Air Service and then Nor-Land Aviation in Ontario. Between the years of 1992 to 2003, the plane served 3 different air services in Saskatchewan. In July, 2003 this bird was ferried to Anchorage and re-registered as N103JB to serve JB Leasing company. JB received a new paint scheme in 2024 and was added to the Rainbow River Aviation fleet.
N4600Y
SN 993 Manufactured 1955
00Y was used by the US Army for 6 years before being stored long term at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona. The aircraft was auctioned in 1976 and acquired by Thompson Flying Service but then sold six months later to Dan Futrell Aircraft & Sales in Arizona. 00Y then disappeared, unregistered, into Canada for 5 years before reappearing in Anchorage. The aircraft wasn’t home yet though because it was sold to Soaring Inc. in Montana where it served several individuals before moving to California to join San Francisco Seaplane tours in 2004.
Rainbow River Aviation acquired the aircraft in 2024 to be stationed in Dillingham and is piloted by our Dillingham Base Manager Stephan Robinson.
N918SL
SN 198 Registered 1952
N918SL is one of our most flown beavers in the fleet, amassing almost 20,000 hours. This bird has almost spent more time in the air than it has in the water! Back in the 1970’s N918SL was used for many kinds of radar navigation testing for the Canadian Government. She was registered in the US. back in 2011 making Anchorage, AK her new home. She was later bought by a pilot down in Montana where she stayed for several years. You can take an airplane out of Alaska, but you can’t take Alaska out of the airplane. As Rainbow River Aviation’s newest member of the fleet, N918SL was purchased in 2025 and returned to her rightful home in Southwest Alaska.
N185LT
Lima Tango
Lima Tango has been flying for Rainbow River Lodge since 2021, but in 2024 made its debut onto the Rainbow River Aviation 135 certificate so that its amazing capabilities could be fully put to use. Piloted by Derice Hochstetler, there are few loads and locations that this bird and pilot can’t take in stride. Referred to as the racecar of the fleet, 185LT is a great option to provide flights to groups of 4 people or less.
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