About

Rust’s Flying Service is the premier operator of Alaska flightseeing tours and Alaska day tours in Anchorage, Alaska. Family-owned and operated since 1963, Rust’s has an unsurpassed safety record and an overwhelming enthusiasm for Alaska aviation. With an experienced crew of Alaska bush pilots and dependable fleet of Cessnas (including a Caravan on floats), deHavilland Beaver and Turbine Otter seaplanes, they are proud to offer Alaska flightseeing tours and Alaska day tours like bear viewing and fly-in fishing throughout Alaska.

Rust’s is based at Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage, Alaska, offering daily departures for Alaska flightseeing tours and Alaska day tours such as bear viewing, remote trout and salmon fishing trips, hunting trips, remote Alaska lodge experiences and more.

It all began in 1963, when retired Air Force Colonel and WWII vet Henry “Hank” Rust founded Rust’s Flying Service using a Piper Super Cub (two-seat airplane) to fly hunters and fishermen to remote areas of Alaska.
As times changed, so did this little business. Rust’s Flying Service added airplanes to accommodate more fishermen, hunters, flightseers and Alaska’s burgeoning tourist industry.

Over the next 40 years, Rust’s fleet grew to include nine seaplanes, including Cessna 206’s, deHavilland Beavers and deHavilland Turbine Otters. The types of trips offered also changed from just hunting and fishing, still a core business, to include an assortment of flightseeing tours of Alaska’s most popular destinations such as Mt. McKinley, Columbia Glacier and bear viewing tours in Katmai National Park, flights to wilderness cabins and remote upscale lodges.

A Great Addition…

In May 1996, the Rust family purchased K2 Aviation, a flightseeing and mountain climber support company located in Talkeetna, Alaska that specializes in flightseeing tours of Mt. McKinley, the Alaska Range and glacier landings. K2 operates a fleet of eight wheel and ski planes including Cessna 185’s, Piper Cherokee and twin-engine Navajo Chieftain, deHavilland Beavers and deHavilland Turbine Otters. In additional to the flightseeing tours, K2 flies mountain climbers to the Kahiltna Base Camp to begin their climb of Mt. McKinley.

What to wear and bring…

During the summer season, May through September 15, we encourage you to layer your clothing, bring a light jacket and wear long pants. In addition, it is a very good idea to have comfortable, closed toe shoes and sunglasses. We provide glacier overboots for landings. During the shoulder seasons: It is a good idea to bring a heavier coat, gloves/mittens, a hat and boots.