Category: Lockheed L-188 Electra

Jet California: PSA 1957-1967

23/7/2025

By 1957 PSA had succeeded where hundreds of others had failed. By staying within California they had avoided the CAB's attention and this had allowed them to compete successfully against the big trunk airlines on their own terms. They could set their own prices and decide what routes they would fly. Combining that with reliable friendly service they had been rewarded by strong patronage. With the jet age on the horizon PSA was ready to take it to the next level.

0 Comments

Eastern's Electras Pt2: Shuttle Survivors

11/7/2017

3 Comments

With its structural issues fixed the Electra was free to gain its place in the Eastern fleet, although this was never at the forefront as Rickenbacker had believed it would be. Quickly over taken by Boeing 727s and Douglas DC-9s the Electra nevertheless found its niche replacing the older piston prop-liners and operating the high density shuttle routes.

3 Comments

Eastern's Electras Pt1: Props Not Pure Jets

10/7/2017

3 Comments

Few aircraft have, thankfully, had such a disastrous introduction into service as the Lockheed L-188 Electra, however over the time the type would prove to be a rugged and versatile plane. Nonetheless in hindsight it is difficult to see Eastern's large order for the type, which amounted to almost 1/4 of all Electras produced, as anything but a mistake. At least Eastern got its money's worth out of the type, which would serve into 1977.

3 Comments

Air California Pt1: Orange County Flyer

1/8/2015

8 Comments

Before 1978 the only freedom a US airline had was when operating intra-state and there were few states that could support an airline of any size. California was one that could and following PSA's lead Air California would carve itself a niche from its Orange County base in the competitive intra-state market.

8 Comments

Aussie Electras Pt2: LEAPing Beyond

7/7/2015

0 Comments

Ansett's benefit of operating Electra's first was short-lived and by early July there had been a swing back towards TAA. TAA's traffic had fallen from a 54.2% share to as low as 46.7% but was back over 50% after its own Electras arrived. The Electras had however not been an unparalleled success with both airlines suffering a high rate of mechanical and electrical malfunctions.

0 Comments

Aussie Electras Pt1: TAA's Caravelle No Go

6/7/2015

3 Comments

Trans Australia, the Government owned airline of the two Australian majors, had always made the running in equipment purchasing decisions when it faced ANA as its competitor. However the concept of a state owned carrier didn't always fit with the political ideology of the party in power and at various times impeded TAA's ability to get what it wanted. This became more obvious once Ansett tookover ANA.

3 Comments

Braniff Jellybeans Pt4: Oranges

18/6/2015

0 Comments

Orange is perhaps one of the signature Braniff Jellybean colours, though frankly I think you'd have to be a genius to be able to distinguish between the two different orange shades that were used - at least if you are using only old photos anyway! It's just as well that John Evanich III (JEE3) has done the hard work for us. It's certainly a personal favourite of mine amongst the Braniff fleet.

0 Comments

Braniff Jellybean Pt3: Red

16/6/2015

0 Comments

In comparison to the greens and blues red is an easy Jellybean colour since there was only one version used. In fact red didn't even feature as a 'End of the Plain Plane' shade until the 1967 H&G refresh. All the earlier 7 shades were much more pastelly. Despite this late start red would go on to be one of the most popular of the colours used and I must say it does look superb.

0 Comments

Braniff Jellybeans Pt1: The Greens

14/6/2015

1 Comment

In 1965 Harding Lawrence was appointed to the Presidency of Braniff International. Up till then it had been a well run but relatively small trunk airline. Lawrence had other ideas and the wild ride that characterised his tenure would change Braniff from an also ran to a colourful and vibrant airline. Unfortunately Lawrence would also prove to be the downfall of Braniff but that wasn't until 1982. First there was the 'End of the Plain Plane' era.

1 Comment

Trans International: Kerkorian's Supplemental

9/2/2015

3 Comments

In the immediate postwar era a surplus of trained pilots and demilitarised aircraft led to the establishment of a huge number of non-scheduled airlines who basically did whatever they liked and had little interest in rules and regulations. These non-skeds shook up the industry and began to create competition where previously there had been little, much to the consternation of the Trunk airlines.

By 1960 the CAB had got most of the survivors under control and killed off most of the rest by foul means or fair. The survivors became known as Supplemental airlines and one of the most important of those was TIA...

3 Comments

Jet California: PSA 1957-1967

Eastern's Electras Pt2: Shuttle Survivors

Eastern's Electras Pt1: Props Not Pure Jets

Air California Pt1: Orange County Flyer

Aussie Electras Pt2: LEAPing Beyond

Aussie Electras Pt1: TAA's Caravelle No Go

Braniff Jellybeans Pt4: Oranges

Braniff Jellybean Pt3: Red

Braniff Jellybeans Pt1: The Greens

Trans International: Kerkorian's Supplemental

Author

Archives

Categories