U-1A Otter 58-1719 served a short Vietnam tour and storage at the Army Aeronautical Depot Maintenance Center in between testing with the Army Aviation Board (1959 - 66) and the Army Security Agency (1969 - 74). On a move Alaska in 1974, the aircraft's engine failed. Rather than repair, the Army sold it "as, where is". To Northern Thunderbird Air with a new engine in 1975, it operated as C-GLES until 1984. N338D in Alaska, the aircraft was bought by Rust's Flying Service in 2008 after an accident in 2006 left it in the bush. Registered N424KT, it was rebuilt with a Vazar turbine conversion.

This Otter came to Vernon for a complete repaint including the cockpit and cabin.

This Otter came to Vernon as N338D and after rebuild and the addition of the turbine engine and a bright red paint scheme it had just returned from its test flight. It would then go to Lake Hood as N424KT flying for K2 Aviation

Ski equipped for glacier touring around Talkeetna

Closeup look at a turbined, wheel-ski equipped Otter making its way to the runway for departure.