Evergreen International Aviation

Summary of the History of Evergreen International Aviation 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.

By 1978, Evergreen established a holding company, Evergreen Air, Inc., renamed Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. in 1980, and purchased 1,000 acres in McMinnville to create Evergreen Farms. The company ventured into passenger charters to Hawaii and the Caribbean but shifted to cargo operations after deregulation allowed major airlines to outprice Evergreen in passenger markets. In the 1970s, Evergreen acquired CIA-linked assets, including the agency’s aviation “skunk works” at Pinal Airpark, Arizona, where it performed specialized aircraft modifications, such as building Boeing Dreamlifters and servicing NASA’s Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Evergreen provided aviation services for the CIA, including transporting the Shah of Iran from Egypt to Panama and then to the U.S. in 1980, and conducted missions in El Salvador and Nicaragua. The company’s ties to the CIA were strengthened by senior executives with agency connections, though founder Smith publicly downplayed these links.

In the 1980s, Evergreen secured contracts with the U.S. military and United States Postal Service, operating cargo routes to destinations like Anchorage, New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. During the 1991 Gulf War, Evergreen’s airlift of military supplies added $150 million to its revenues, and its helicopters supported firefighting at Kuwaiti oil wells. The company leased Boeing 747 freighters to Japan Air Lines in 1991 and briefly operated New York-Beijing routes in 1993, though these were sold to FedEx in 1995 after competition from Chinese carriers. In 1998, Evergreen added service from Indonesia to New York via Columbus, Ohio, achieving revenues of $435 million by 1999, with the airline accounting for 65% of income. The company opened the Evergreen Aviation Museum in 2000, showcasing the “Spruce Goose” and other historic aircraft.

Financial difficulties emerged in the 2000s due to reduced Department of Defense contracts and the loss of CIA business. In 2010, Evergreen lost its Boeing Dreamlifter contract to Atlas Air. Facing bankruptcy and tax investigations, Evergreen sold its helicopter division to Erickson Air-Crane for $250 million in 2013, providing temporary liquidity. However, on November 8, 2013, Evergreen International Airlines announced it would cease operations by November 29, with its final flight occurring on December 2, 2013. On December 31, 2013, Evergreen filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Delaware, listing assets of $100 million and debts of $500 million across seven entities. By Smith’s death on November 7, 2014, the company’s assets were sold, shut down, or under investigation. The Oregon Department of Justice probed allegations of commingling funds between Evergreen’s for-profit and nonprofit arms, including the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, which continued operating independently.

Evergreen’s history reflects its evolution from a helicopter pioneer to a global cargo and CIA-linked operator, with a fleet that included Boeing 747s and a reputation for supporting sensitive U.S. government missions in 168 countries. Its demise was marked by financial mismanagement and the loss of key contracts, ending a storied legacy in aviation.

Sources:

Wikipedia (Evergreen International Aviation, Evergreen International Airlines), FundingUniverse, SourceWatch, oregonlive.com, company-histories.com, rzjets.net, Evergreen Aviation websiteweb:0,1,2,5,6,7,8,10,12,14