Category: Douglas DC-3

Berlin’s Internal German Services Pt1: 1946-1958

24/3/2020

The carving up of Germany after the end of World War Two led to the unfortunate scenario whereby the nation was permanently partitioned, as the Western allies and Soviets became protagonists in the immediate postwar era. This was especially challenging for the former capital city of Berlin, which although itself split into zones, allotted to the victorious powers, was as a whole deeply situated within the Soviet zone. As a result, it would become the front-line of the Cold War and also have its own unique civil aviation arrangements.

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Alaska to the World: Alaska Airlines Postwar Adventure

21/8/2017

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The history of Alaska Airlines is diverse and prior to deregulation usually one of a rather ramshackle operation struggling to get by. In fact the airline went through a series of different phases associated with its different owners and during the late 1940s briefly became the largest charter airline in the world with a risky, and somewhat illegal, strategy to get itself into profit.

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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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British Midland Pt1: The Friendly Independent

22/7/2015

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The history of British Midland Airways dates all the way back to 1938. It grew gradually through the 1950s and 60s into a respectable independent airline. For many years during the 1970-90s the airline was a beacon of how to run an independent airline in the UK. It is a shame therefore that its recent passing seemed to go without a great deal of mourning, for its history was diverse, successful and interesting.

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Piston Roos: Long Serving Qantas DC-3s and DC-4s

25/4/2015

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Qantas has been renowned for being on the cutting edge of long-haul travel with the best equipment: Connies in the 1950s, 707s in the 1960s and 747s in the 1970s. Along with that is a reputation for safety that is second to none. However even during the regulated era Qantas wasn't just a long haul airline as it had duties to perform closer to home. These involved using more primitive equipment well into the 1970s in the form of Douglases stalwart C-47/DC-3 and DC-4s.

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Route of the Gold Strikes: Bonanza Air Lines

7/3/2015

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Bonanza started operations as early as 1945 with a single Cessna. it was formed as Bonanza Air Services in Las Vegas by Edmund Converse, Charlie Keene and June Simon. Based in Vegas at Sky Haven airfield they offered charters to local towns with their 4 passenger Cessna and sold tickets out of the El Rancho Vegas Hotel and Casino. Moving to Alamo Field (nowadays McCarran Intnl Airport) and changing name to Bonanza Air Lines the little carrier expanded with extra aircraft (Piper Cubs and Cessna T-50 Bobcats) and gained a contract to ferry merchant marines to New Jersey in 1946, for which the first C-47 arrived. From these humble beginnings would grow a trendsetting little airline which operated on the 'Route of the Gold Strikes'.

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Berlin’s Internal German Services Pt1: 1946-1958

Alaska to the World: Alaska Airlines Postwar Adventure

Aeronaves De México Pt1: Cuauhtli Takes Flight

British Midland Pt1: The Friendly Independent

Piston Roos: Long Serving Qantas DC-3s and DC-4s

Route of the Gold Strikes: Bonanza Air Lines

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