Editing Evergreen International Aviation (section)

==Overview==
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc., based in McMinnville, Oregon, was a global aviation services company founded in 1960 by Delford M. Smith as Evergreen Helicopters. Initially focused on commercial helicopter operations for agricultural and forestry applications, such as spraying fertilizers, spreading seeds, and fighting forest fires, the company pioneered innovations like the PaceSpreader for precise aerial delivery. In 1972, Evergreen expanded into heavy-lift helicopters, acquiring Sikorsky S-61 and S-64 Skycrane models. In 1974, Smith acquired the assets of Johnson Flying Service, a Montana-based carrier with a supplemental air carrier certificate, and merged it with Intermountain Airlines, a known CIA front, to form Evergreen International Airlines in 1975. This marked the company’s entry into fixed-wing operations, initially with Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft.