Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. is a global aviation services company based in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. Founded as Evergreen Helicopters in 1960 by Delford M. Smith, Evergreen is primarily known for commercial helicopter operations in agricultural and forestry applications. Smith was a leading innovator in the commercial use of helicopters, and his company was the first to use helicopters for spraying fertilizer and herbicides, spreading seeds and fighting forest fires. Del Smith and maintenance supervisor Norman McGrew developed a helicopter spray system called the "PaceSpreader" which permitted accurate, fast delivery of granular agents over large areas. The PaceSpreader allowed the helicopter to operate at relatively high speeds while still delivering the product evenly and with measured precision. In 1972 the company expanded into the use of heavy lift helicopters, acquiring a number of Sikorsky S-61, known in Southeast Asia as the H-3 "Jolly Green Giant". In March 1973 the massive Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane was added to the fleet, with a lift capacity of 20,000 pounds.
In 1974 Smith became aware that the Johnson Flying Service was looking to sell its assets. The business was a small supplemental carrier that had two 94-passenger Lockheed L-188 Electra four-engine turbo-prop passenger aircraft. More importantly, it held a supplemental air carrier operating certificate which allowed it to operate as an airline. After significant deliberation, the Civil Aeronautics Board approved the transfer in 1975. Evergreen International Airlines was officially formed and incorporated on 16 April 1975 as a subsidiary of Evergreen Helicopters, Inc. The business subsequently continued to expand and split into a number of subsidiary divisions. The main subsidiary is Evergreen International Airlines which operates the Boeing 747 as a cargo or tanker aircraft to destinations around the world. Evergreen is part of the US Civil Reserve Air Fleet and the International Peace Operations Association. It has been known to do work for the United States government, including active involvement in troop transportation in the Gulf War of 1991, as well as helicopter transportation for oil rig firefighters at the end of hostilities. The company has done some work for the Central Intelligence Agency as well, including transporting the Shah of Iran from Panama to the United States in 1980.
Famous quotes containing the word evergreen:
“We could not well camp higher, for want of fuel; and the trees here seemed so evergreen and sappy, that we almost doubted if they would acknowledge the influence of fire; but fire prevailed at last, and blazed here, too, like a good citizen of the world.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)