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Aeronaves De México Pt2: Cuauhtli Goes International

29/6/2016

Aeronaves De México finally became a major airline in late 1957 when it began its first international route connecting Mexico City with New York. The service began on December 16 using the pair of leased Pan Am L-049s, however after only two days the Connies were substituted for something grander - the Whispering Giant.

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Aeronaves De México Pt1: Cuauhtli Takes Flight

27/6/2016

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Aeronaves De México was established on 15th September 1934, but it wasn’t until September 12, 1940, when Pan Am purchased a 40% stake, that it began to go places. At that point it still was a one route airline connecting Mexico City to Acapulco using a variety of single engined aircraft like Stinson Reliants. The Pan Am stake substantially increased the young airline's capital base and allowed the acquisition of a pair of Boeing 247Ds enabling the single route to go daily from September 30, 1941.

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Colombian Peril: Avianca's Tragic 727-021s

24/6/2016

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Few nations can stake a claim to the dubious honour of being the least peaceful and most dangerous places to live, however unfortunately for Colombia it could lay claim to be a contender for much of the past 70 years. Even without the country's ongoing conflict operating in its relatively low technology and challenging environment was difficult enough. These factors have as you'd expect had an impact on the operations of Colombia's airlines and can be seen in the history of a select batch of Avianca's 727s.

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767s in Russia Pt1: Transaero

17/6/2016

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Transaero's operation of DC-10s was most probably a short term fix to enable the startup of long-haul routes, the type's choice assisted by the aircraft having come from a US operator (no doubt helpful in getting permission for the flights at a time when Russian airlines were not held in high regard). Though more efficient than the IL-86 the DC-10s were showing their age by the late 90s and given Transaero's affinity for Boeing products it was no surprise that the 767 would be chosen as the airline's medium widebody type into the 2000s.

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High Plateau JV: Air China Inner Mongolia

14/6/2016

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As Chinese airlines expand their operations they often seek to access funding from local governments and to do so they often form joint ventures with them rather than just moving some aircraft to that location. This gives them access to new markets but minimises risks associated with obstructive local government bodies and startup losses. In recent years these regional semi-independent branches of the main carriers have been popping up all over the place including remote Inner Mongolia.

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Ecuatoriana Pt3: VASP to the Rescue?

10/6/2016

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Ecuatoriana's cessation of operations in 1993 had been something of a shock as the airline's financial condition was unknown even though its service levels had been decreasing. Despite a lengthy period out of operation Ecuatoriana wasn't finished however, and a white knight appeared in the form of the Brasilian airline VASP. VASP was keen to form a pan-South American VASP Air System including Ecuador's colourful national carrier.

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Ecuatoriana Pt2: Rainbow Fleet

8/6/2016

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Ecuatoriana dazzled the aviation world with its amazing special livery variations during the 1970s, as we saw in part 1. From 1979 however the airline began to standardise its colours though it did it with style and plenty of colour. Despite the outward appearance of beauty, as with many other latin american national airlines there was something rotten at the core of the airline, which would threaten its very survival into the 1990s.

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Ecuatoriana - Jungle Jet Masterpieces

7/6/2016

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Special schemes are everywhere nowadays but back in the 70s Ecuatoriana produced a fleet of special schemes which have never been rivalled! Faced with competing against a myriad of colourful Braniff jets plus their colourful Calder 'Colours of South America' DC-8 the national airline of Ecuador produced a series of amazing schemes to emblazon their fleet of ex-Pan Am Boeing 720s and 707s with.

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Continental's Short Nines Pt3: Houston Proud

4/6/2016

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Technically this blog post isn't about Continental Airlines at all and in truth this DC-9 never flew with CO proper. It did however fly for Continental under what must be an almost unique arrangement whereby one airline charters another to fly for it on a specific route. This DC-9's true operator was in fact the almost forgotten Emerald Airlines - nonetheless she was still Houston Proud.

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Continental's Short Nines Pt2: Lorenzo's 14s

2/6/2016

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As was discussed in part 1 Continental took a punt on the DC-9-15RC in the late 1960s that never paid off and in the end standardised its fleet around the larger 727-200. That wasn't the end for the Diesel Nine at CO however. As the 1980s brought deregulation and merger chaos ominously for Continental and Eastern employees this also heralded the arrival of the great satan: Frank Lorenzo.

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Aeronaves De México Pt2: Cuauhtli Goes International

Aeronaves De México Pt1: Cuauhtli Takes Flight

Colombian Peril: Avianca's Tragic 727-021s

767s in Russia Pt1: Transaero

High Plateau JV: Air China Inner Mongolia

Ecuatoriana Pt3: VASP to the Rescue?

Ecuatoriana Pt2: Rainbow Fleet

Ecuatoriana - Jungle Jet Masterpieces

Continental's Short Nines Pt3: Houston Proud

Continental's Short Nines Pt2: Lorenzo's 14s

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