TransNorthern began operations in Talkeetna,AK in 1995, flying flight tours around and over the summit of Mt. McKinley in a Cessna Caravan.
Andrea Armstrong and Alan Larson, both pilots, ran the Talkeetna operation. TransNorthern flew gravity and magnetic surveys in the Cessna Caravan and other aircraft for a geophysical survey company based in Houston,TX throughout the US and South America for 3 years with the last job being in Cambodia.
After TransNorthern moved to Anchorage in 1999, operating from their Lake Hood office and hangar, they began running passenger service in a Caravan and Navajo between Kenai and Anchorage, eleven round trips per day.
They also flew to lodges and provided on-demand charter service in those aircraft as well as Beech 99’s, Beech 18’s, and a Cessna 402.
TransNorthern also ran Medevac operations in King Air 90’s out of Kotzebue.

In 2001, a Super DC-3 was acquired and Andrea and Alan spent almost a year overcoming endless hurdles to get it on line. After considerable effort this 19-passenger / cargo combi aircraft was approved for operations and their Super DC-3 was registered as N32TN. (See my 2003 page).

Flying mostly cargo with the aircraft, they purchased a second Super DC-3 in 2004 out of Beaufort,SC.
This aircraft was Mr. Douglas’s personal demonstrator aircraft in the 1950’s and was the 1st Commercial Super DC-3 ever built.
N30TN, flew its first ever (!) commercial flight in June 2004, to the Alaska Sportsman’s Lodge in Igigug,AK.
A new paint job was completed in the spring of 2005.
This Super DC-3 is in high demand for flying passengers throughout Alaska, to various fishing and hunting lodges, flight tours, and for on-demand aircraft charters. No other aircraft is better suited to carry 19 people and their gear to short, sometimes muddy gravel runways in Alaska than the Super DC-3...

(See also my 2006 page).

N30TN is a C-117D Super Dakota, c/n 43159, registered to MES LLC (Wilmington,DE) 17Aug04.
It was modified from c/n 4122 and registered N15579 for Douglas Aircraft, reregistered (much nicer!) N30000 in about 1951.
Mick West clarified: "...according to the Putnam book this was the second prototype DC-3S converted by Douglas about 1949 , retaining its reg N(C)15579; but when the first DC-3S N30000 was transferred to the USAF (as YC-129 51-3817 in 1951), this DC-3S was reallocated the reg N30000 (in 1951), eventually being sold to a construction company."
At some point (date?) it became N222HC for the Harbet Construction Company, moving on to Raytheon Corporation (date?) and Bolger Corporation and reregistered to N223R (for whom? date?).
Things become a little more clearer from here...
N6811 became the new tailnumber for Burdish Grain Company of Minneapolis,MN in March 1964.
Its career becomed a little more adventurous, when registered as XB-NIW for Banco Mercantil & Supermercado SA (named "Ave Fenix") on 13Aug66. In Oct.1972 it was reregistered as N567M for K R McDonald of Great Falls. The next owner was Air Travel Associates (Dallas,TX) on 23Aug76 and Air Line Service Company (date?) was next again...
I am assuming it still transported passengers in VIP-configuration.

Aero Union Corporation of Chico,CA bought it on 27Oct82, but sold it to World Air Mechanics Inc of Bridgeton,MO in Nov83.Air Center Inc (Chattanooga,TN) was registered as owner in Jan. 1984 (broker? operator?).
From VIP-transport to ??? Well, on 29May86 the County Council of Beaufort,SC bought it (or actually seized it because of outstanding parking fees...) and deployed it on mosquito control! So it was turned into a sprayer of insecticide.
And in 2004 it was bought by Transnorthern, to replace N32TN (which had been claimed by Nick Oppergard in their bitter 'business seperation').
See also ANCHORAGE 2006

In April 2025 (!) Alan provided feedback on Andrea, who welcomed me with Transnorthern on previous visits too:
"Andrea and I started the company in 1995, flying tourists over Mt. McKinley in a Cessna Caravan.
Although Andrea and I were both commercial pilots (she flew Metroliners for Pennair back in the day), she ended up managing all the corporate stuff, like contracts, government interaction, planning, financing etc.
Over the years she had time to fly less but dealt mostly with the management aspect of Company Operations.
I was part owner but her name was always first on Company Financial and Contractual transactions.
Andrea sold TransNorthern to Josh Jacko of Dena’ina Air Taxi in the winter of 2000.
I continue to be a check airman and company flight instructor for them and listed in the Operations Specifications as an 'Industry Consultant'. I continue to work with the FAA on TransNorthern’s behalf.
Andrea is writing music: search Andrea Shelly Music, she's on Spotify!

Andrea added: "Both Alan and I flew the Caravan over the summit for mountain tours at Denali. I was already a pilot in Talkeetna flying 185’s & 207’s for another company and he joined me to start a business there in 1995."

UPDATE Aug.2022: It went to VIPER Transactions and was accommodated in an Everts' hangar. But it was
photographed outside ('stored') on the ramp on 02Sep22: Airhistory.net
Dereg'd 2Oct21 from May Investments, no new ownership registered on FAA's N-inquiry.

UPDATE Oct.2022 by VIPER Transactions (@Facebook):
"In August we had to move the DC-3 out of the hangar it was in. We were working with the State of Alaska regarding a potential Hangar, that is sitting unused as it has been for over a decade, as a possible location to host our operations. The discussions have led to an impasse.
The amount of money the State of Alaska is asking for the use of the Hangar($260,000/year), as well as other issues with the site due to the neglect of the Hangar by the State that they would now place on VIPER Transitions. We were further told we did not adequately explain how it "is in the State’s best interest" to work with us.

We were lucky enough to have a couple of local Air Carriers step in to help buy us a little time to try and find a new home for the plane. Sadly, that time is coming to and end, as we have seen the first snow fall in Anchorage.
The plane cannot remain in its current location, and because of the reasons stated earlier, we have no home for the plane.
We have contacted numerous relations in the area and have been unable to find a location for the plane.

We are now in the process of scrapping the DC-3.
While our programs will continue, this training tool with its ties to heritage will not be a part of it.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this effort. Our mission is greater than any plane or tool we use and we will never quit furthering our cause. If you have a tangible solution, we are willing to hear it, but please do not contact us with emotional statements regarding the plane.
We undersrand [sic] the significance of its history, hence what we were trying to accomplish. It is unfortunate, but we will move forward."

UPDATE BY VIPER TRANSITIONS 27OCT22:
'The DC-3 has found a new home!
VIPER Transitions has agreed to terms with a local Air Carrier who plans to restore and use the aircraft in their operations.
When we hold training classes for Aviation Maintenance, our veterans will be invited to assist in the process.
We are glad to see the plane go to use with a company that supports our efforts.
Thank you to everyone who offered us support.'
Hurrah, N29TN has been 'saved'!!