Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
With no runway nearby, a Hamilton Metalplane (NC876H) makes an improvised departure using the only smooth surface available - railroad tracks! This remarkable clip captures a rare moment in early Alaska aviation history. Special thanks to the Alaska Aviation Museum in Anchorage (alaskaairmuseum.org/) for confirming that NC876H matches the rudder of a Hamilton Metalplane in their collection. The term "Metalplane" emerged in the 1920s and 1930s to describe the shift from wooden and fabric aircraft to all-metal aircraft, a significant advancement in aviation. This transition offered numerous benefits, including increased strength, durability, and fire resistance, ultimately paving the way for the development of commercial air travel. The Hamilton Metalplane Company, founded by Thomas Hamilton, was a pioneer in the development of all-metal aircraft during this period. The Hamilton Metalplane Company produced several all-metal aircraft, including the H-45 and H-47. If you have more information about this footage, the Alaska Film Archives would love to hear from you - our contact information is available in the "About" section of our YouTube channel.
According to one Alaska aviation expert, pilot Herman Lerdahl may be the tall man with hands on hips at about the 16-second mark of this clip.
These scenes were filmed by a friend or family member of the Truesdell Family, and were collected and described by Archie M. Truesdell. Truesdell was a professor of mathematics and civil engineering at the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines - now the University of Alaska Fairbanks - when it first opened its doors in 1922. He later became a building and bridge engineer for the Alaska Railroad in the 1930s (Color/Silent/16mm film).
This clip is from AAF-23927 of the Archie M. Truesdell Collection, donated by the Colette Family and held by the Alaska Film Archives, a unit of the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives Department in the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks. For more information please contact the Alaska Film Archives.
The Alaska Film Archives appreciates your support. Your donation in any amount will help us continue important preservation work. Please visit the “About” section of our YouTube channel to learn how you can help today. Thank you! For more information please contact the Alaska Film Archives.
With no runway nearby, a Hamilton Metalplane (NC876H) makes an improvised departure using the only smooth surface available - railroad tracks! This remarkable clip captures a rare moment in early Alaska aviation history. Special thanks to the Alaska Aviation Museum in Anchorage (alaskaairmuseum.org/) for confirming that NC876H matches the rudder of a Hamilton Metalplane in their collection. The term "Metalplane" emerged in the 1920s and 1930s to describe the shift from wooden and fabric aircraft to all-metal aircraft, a significant advancement in aviation. This transition offered numerous benefits, including increased strength, durability, and fire resistance, ultimately paving the way for the development of commercial air travel. The Hamilton Metalplane Company, founded by Thomas Hamilton, was a pioneer in the development of all-metal aircraft during this period. The Hamilton Metalplane Company produced several all-metal aircraft, including the H-45 and H-47. If you have more information about this footage, the Alaska Film Archives would love to hear from you - our contact information is available in the "About" section of our YouTube channel.
According to one Alaska aviation expert, pilot Herman Lerdahl may be the tall man with hands on hips at about the 16-second mark of this clip.
These scenes were filmed by a friend or family member of the Truesdell Family, and were collected and described by Archie M. Truesdell. Truesdell was a professor of mathematics and civil engineering at the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines - now the University of Alaska Fairbanks - when it first opened its doors in 1922. He later became a building and bridge engineer for the Alaska Railroad in the 1930s (Color/Silent/16mm film).
This clip is from AAF-23927 of the Archie M. Truesdell Collection, donated by the Colette Family and held by the Alaska Film Archives, a unit of the Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives Department in the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library, University of Alaska Fairbanks. For more information please contact the Alaska Film Archives.
The Alaska Film Archives appreciates your support. Your donation in any amount will help us continue important preservation work. Please visit the “About” section of our YouTube channel to learn how you can help today. Thank you! For more information please contact the Alaska Film Archives.
