2026-06-10. Alaska. On the Outer Edge

Alaska. On the Outer Edge
For Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Michael MacKuen

Today we shall take advantage of the approaching summer solstice to visit the remote northwest coast of Alaska, its “outer edge.” We begin at Kotzebue and visit a series of native Alaskan villages as well as a few current and former USAF coastal radar sites to reach Utqiaġvik (Barrow), the northernmost town on the North American continent. We travel through the land of the midnight sun.


Dramatic Setting for Cape Lisburne Long Range Radar Station

We start from Kotzebue, the largest town (3,102) and transportation hub of the Northwest Arctic Borough of Alaska. The town gets its name from Otto von Kotzebue, the Baltic German who in 1818 explored the area looking for the Northwest Passage.  Kotzebue Ralph Wien [PAOT], named after the founder of Alaskan Airways, is the area’s one airport with regularly scheduled commercial flights to Anchorage and Nome. It serves as the center for local aviation on which the region’s rural communities rely.

We first visit Noatak [PAWN], a small Inupiat hunting-fishing community on the west bank of the Noatak River. (The village is on the western boundary of the Noatak National Preserve which along with the Gates of the Arctic National Park constitutes the largest contiguous wilderness in the US.) Then to the coast to pass over the Red Dog Port. The Red Dog Mine is the world’s largest zinc mine. Lying 40nm to the northeast, it trucks the mined zinc as concentrate to the port for export to external smelters. Continuing, we land at Kivalina [PAVL] which is an island village that is threatened by rising sea levels and coastal erosion due to climate change. This is one of a select number of villages in the region where people hunt the bowhead whale (or Arctic whale) which is otherwise a protected species. [The bowhead has the capability to break through 8-24 inch-thick surface ice – a critical capability for whales needing to surface while swimming under arctic waters. Further, bowhead whales are the longest-living mammals with a life span over 200 years.] Of the few native settlements permitted subsistence whaling, four more lie further along our route: Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, and Barrow.

Point Hope [PAPO] is our next stop. This is an ancient whaling village site, one of the longest continually occupied sites in America, because the protrusion of Point Hope into the sea brought whales close to the shore. Just north on the Lisburne Peninsula is Cape Lisburne [PALU], the most northwestern point in Alaska. From 1951-1983, the USAF built and maintained a Long Range Radar System facility at Cape Lisburn Air Force Station that was part of the DEW Line network of radar sites. An assignment to one of these original sites was one of the most isolated and remote duties which an Airman could serve. In the 1980s and 1990s, the older technology was replaced with unmanned systems and the currently operating LRRS equipment (perched on top of the high cliff at Cape Lisburne) is unstaffed and remotely controlled. The runway site, nestled between imposingly steep high hills and the freezing winds and waves of the Arctic Ocean, makes for a dramatic setting.

We continue to Cape Sabine [Z53] for a low pass. After many of the radar stations were decommissioned, the sites were “returned to nature.” The portrayal of Cape Sabine gives a sense of what little remains. (The modeled runway is partially strewn with boulders.) Farther along lies Point Lay [PPIZ], another whaling village. The Cold War radar equipment was modernized for the 1990s but eventually was dismantled by 2006. The gravel strip remains for public and military use. Next is Icy Cape [2AK8]. A DEW Line radar station was set up in the 1950s but it was soon decommissioned in 1963. All the military buildings and equipment have been removed but the streets and airstrip remain. We can take a quick look at the abandoned site before moving on to Wainwright [PAWI]. Wainwright is a fairly large tight-knit Inupiat community which relies on traditional subsistence hunting (whaling and caribou) as well as a rich tradition of native arts and crafts. The Cold War radar station was among the first built in 1953 and it was modernized to an unmanned LRRS facility in 1994. However this was closed in 2008. The airport continues to serve the local community with about 1,000 air operations a month.

Our final destination is Utqiaġvik, formerly known as Barrow before a 2016 local referendum changed to the original name. This is the largest town (4,927) on the North Slope and the twelfth largest in Alaska. It has been home to Inupiat people (an Inuit ethnic group) for more than 1,500 years. A long-time native whaling community, in the 19^th century it became part of the world-wide whaling industry. Today it continues the proud heritage with subsistence level whaling.

In aviation history, Barrow is the site of the Wiley Post-Will Rogers crash in 1935. (Post was a famous round-the-world pilot and aviation pioneer. Rogers, the rodeo performer and radio personality, was perhaps the most popular man in America.) Exploring for a Trans-Siberian mail route to Russia, they made an unplanned stop while lost in foggy weather. Minutes later, an engine failure on takeoff led to their fatal crash.

We shall fly just north of town to circle over the Point Barrow LRRS Airstrip [PABP] where a USAF long-range radar facility still operates. We then land at Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport [PABR].

Documentation
The flightplan can be found here.

Aircraft
This route runs 441nm and is designed for GA aircraft. We want planes that can fast-cruise at about 220kts. I shall probably fly a PC-12. As ever, fly what you like.

Additional Scenery
All of the airports are in the default simulator. For some local color, I recommend the following freeware addon airport packages. Thanks to these fine authors for their talent and efforts.

Recommended:
Kotzebue Ralph Wien [PAOT]. TheReal.K3V 
Point Hope [PAPO].  Mountainair 
Cape Lisburne [PALU].  Mountainair 
Cape Sabine [Z53].  Mountainair 
Point Lay [PPIZ].  Mountainair 
Icy Cape [2AK8]. Mountainair 
Wainwright [PAWI]. Mountainair
Barrow Wiley Post-Will Rogers [PABR]. Sergio Del Rosso

You can get the freeware package here. The package also includes freeware creations that are difficult to find. (Please check for duplicates of previously installed packages.)

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Wednesday, set the simulator at 10:00pm local for June 10, 2026. We typically prefer real weather.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Wednesday, June 10, 2026. 1900 UTC (2000CEST, 1400EDT, 1100PDT)
Where: RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: South-East Asia server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!