YESTERDAY'S AIRLINES
  • Home
    • About
    • Links
  • My Models
    • The NZ Hangar 2016-2022
    • USA - Trunk Airlines >
      • Pan Am
      • American Airlines
      • Braniff International
      • Continental Airlines
      • Delta Air Lines
      • Eastern Air Lines
      • National Airlines
      • Northeast Airlines
      • Northwest Airlines
      • Trans World Airlines (TWA)
      • United Airlines
      • Western Airlines
    • USA - Local Service >
      • Allegheny / USAir
      • Frontier Airlines
      • Hughes Airwest
      • Mohawk Airlines
      • Piedmont Airlines
      • My Ozark Airlines Fleet
      • Republic Airlines
      • My Texas Int Fleet
    • Global Fleets >
      • Russia
    • My Collection >
      • US Other Fleets >
        • My Alaska Airlines Fleet
        • My Hawaiian / Aloha Fleet
        • My PSA Fleet
        • My Flying Tigers Fleet
        • My World Airways Fleet
      • UK Fleets >
        • My British Airways Fleet
      • Canadian Fleets
  • AV History
    • Airline History Blog
    • Airline Development >
      • CANADA >
        • Canadian Mainline
        • Canadian Charters & LCCs
        • Canadian Regionals
      • CHINA >
        • Part 1: China's Airlines Industry Blossoms 1984-2002
        • Part 2: The Big Six in the 1990s
        • The Big Three
        • Hainan Airlines Group
        • Other Chinese Airlines
      • IRAN
      • MEXICO >
        • 1988-2005: Competition arrives
        • 2005-2014: Low cost in Mexico
        • Mexican Airline Genealogy
        • Mexicana Livery Tails
      • RUSSIA >
        • Aeroflot Group
        • S7 Airlines & AiRUnion
        • Other Russian Airlines
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • UNITED KINGDOM >
        • BA Genealogy Pt1
        • BA Genealogy Pt2
        • BA Genealogy Pt3
        • BUIA & BUAF Genealogies
        • UK Charter Airlines Pt1
        • UK Charter Airlines Pt2
        • BEA Liveries 1946-1974
        • BOAC Liveries 1939-1974
      • UNITED STATES >
        • Trunk & Local Service Airlines >
          • American / TWA Genealogy
          • Delta / Northwest Genealogy
          • United / Continental Genealogy
          • Braniff / Eastern / US Airways Genealogy
        • Territorial Airlines
        • Intra-State Airlines
        • Supplemental Airlines
        • Deregulation Startups 1
        • Deregulation Startups 2
        • Trunk Airline Livery Changes 1959-1980
    • Liveries >
      • Aeroméxico Liveries
      • American Airlines Liveries
      • British Airways Liveries
      • Continental Airlines Liveries
      • Delta Air Lines Liveries
      • Eastern Air Lines Liveries
      • Landor Liveries
      • National Airlines Liveries
      • Northeast Airlines Liveries
      • Northwest Airlines Liveries
      • Pan Am Liveries
      • Trans World Airlines Liveries
      • United Airlines Liveries
      • Western Airlines Liveries
    • Special Liveries >
      • Air China Specials
    • Airbus A380s >
      • ANA A380s - Flying Honu
      • Korean A380s - Taegeuk
      • Malaysia A380s - Wau Jets
    • Boeing 747 >
      • The Early Years Pt1
      • The Early Years Pt2: Pan Am
    • Real Airport Histories >
      • Albany International
      • Dallas Love Field
      • Rochester International Pt1
      • Rochester International Pt2
      • San Francisco - 1927-1959
      • San Francisco - 1959-1978
      • San Francisco - 1978-2015
      • San Jose International
      • San Jose International Pt2
    • Plane Spotting >
      • Amsterdam (AMS) - Sep 22
      • Frankfurt (FRA) - Oct 2022
    • Aviation Stickers >
      • ATR Stickers
      • A300 Stickers
      • DC-9 Stickers
      • DC-10 Stickers
  • 1:400 SCALE
    • Collecting 1:400 Scale >
      • Who Is The Best?
      • Best Moulds in 400 Scale
    • The History of 1:400 Scale >
      • 1:400 History Pt1: 1996-2000
      • 1:400 History Pt2: 2001-2008
    • 1:400 Brands >
      • Aeroclassics >
        • Generation One History
        • Gen 1 Photo Galleries >
          • BAC One-Eleven
          • Douglas DC-6
          • Douglas DC-9
          • Fairchild FH-227
          • Lockheed L-1049 Super Connie
          • Lockheed L-188 Electra
          • Vickers VC10
          • Vickers Vanguard
          • Vickers Viscount
      • AURORA Models
      • Aviation400 (2007-2012)
      • Big Bird 400 Your Craftsman
      • Black Box Models
      • Blue Box & Magic Models
      • Dragon Wings
      • El Aviador 400
      • Gemini Jets
      • JAL Collection / Jet Hut >
        • The JAL Collection
        • JAL Collection Reviews
        • Jet Hut Boeing 787-9
      • Jet-X >
        • Jet-X: Part 1 2000-2006
        • Jet-X: Part 2 2006-2012
      • MP4 & Airshop Diecast
      • NG Models
      • Seattle Models Co (SMA)
      • Skyjets400
      • Sovereign Models
      • TucanoLine
    • 1:400 Custom Models >
      • DT Custom Models >
        • Tupolev Tu-134s
    • Zinc Rot
  • 1:400 Moulds
    • The Best Moulds >
      • The Best Airbus Moulds Pt1
      • The Best Airbus Moulds Pt2
      • The Best Boeing Moulds Pt1
      • The Best Boeing Moulds Pt2
    • Airbus >
      • Airbus A300
      • Airbus A310
      • Airbus A320 >
        • JC Wings A320 Upgrades
      • Airbus A330-200/300
      • Airbus A330-200F
      • Airbus A330 Beluga XL >
        • A320 Inserts for Beluga XL
      • Airbus A350-900/1000
    • Boeing >
      • Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser
      • Boeing 707-120/138/720
      • Boeing 707-320/420
      • Boeing 717
      • Boeing 727-100
      • Boeing 727-200
      • Boeing 737-100/200
      • Boeing 737-300 >
        • Herpa 737s
      • Boeing 737-400
      • Boeing 737-500
      • Boeing 737-600
      • Boeing 737-700/800/900 >
        • P-8 Poseidon Mould Review
      • Boeing 737 MAX
      • Boeing 747-100/200 >
        • Awful Phoenix 747s
      • Boeing 747SP
      • Boeing 747-8 Interactive
      • Boeing 747LCF Dreamlifter
      • Boeing 757-200 >
        • NG Models 757 Production
      • Boeing 767-200
      • Boeing 767-300
      • Boeing 777-200
      • Boeing 777-300
      • Boeing 787
    • British >
      • Concorde
      • BAC One-Eleven 200-400
      • BAC One-Eleven 500
      • BAE-146 / Avro RJ-85-100
      • De Havilland DH-106 Comet
      • Hawker Siddeley Trident
      • Shorts 360
      • Vickers VC10
      • Vickers Viscount
    • Douglas >
      • Douglas DC-3 / C-47
      • Douglas DC-6
      • Douglas DC-7
      • Douglas DC-7C
      • Douglas DC-8-10-50
      • Douglas DC-8-60s/70s
      • Douglas DC-9-10
      • Douglas DC-9-30
      • Douglas DC-9-41/51
      • McDonnell Douglas DC-10
      • McDonnell Douglas MD-11
      • McDonnell Douglas MD-80
      • McDonnell Douglas MD-90
    • Lockheed >
      • Lockheed Constellation
      • Lockheed Super Connie
      • Lockheed L-1649 Starliner
      • Lockheed L-188 Electra
      • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 1 / Tristar 200
      • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 500
    • Other >
      • Convair CV-240-580
      • Convair CV-880/990
      • Curtiss C-46
      • Fairchild F-27 / Fokker F27
      • Fairchild-Hiller FH-227
      • Fokker F28/F70/F100
      • SE 210 Caravelle
    • Chinese >
      • Comac ARJ21
      • Xi'an Y-20
    • Soviet >
      • Antonov An-225
      • Ilyushin IL-62
      • Ilyushin Il-86/Il-96
      • Tupolev TU-104
      • Tupolev TU-154B-2/M
      • Tupolev TU-204
      • Yakovlev Yak-42
  • 1:400 News
    • Model Blog
    • New Mould Samples >
      • Aviation400 >
        • Airbus A320
        • Airbus A330-900NEO
        • Airbus A380 Resin Sample
        • Airbus A380 Metal Sample
        • Airbus A380 Final Sample
        • Boeing 787 Update Mar 21
        • Boeing 787 Update July 21
      • JC Wings >
        • Airbus A310
        • Boeing 747-400
      • NG Models >
        • Airbus A318
        • Airbus A319/320 CEO
        • Airbus A319/320 NEO
        • Airbus A321CEO & NEO
        • Airbus A330-200/300
        • Airbus A330 Beluga XL
        • Airbus A350-900
        • Airbus A350-1000
        • AVIC AG600M - 1:200
        • Boeing 737-600/700/900
        • Boeing 737-600 Refresh
        • Boeing 737-800
        • Boeing 737 MAX-8/MAX-9
        • Boeing B747SP
        • Boeing 747-8I
        • Boeing 747-8F
        • Boeing 777-200
        • Boeing 777-300/300ER
        • Boeing 787-8
        • Comac ARJ21 - 1:200
        • Falcon 7X - 1:200
        • Gulfstream G550 - 1:200
        • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar
        • Lockeed Tristar 500
        • Tupolev Tu-154
        • Tupolev Tu-204/Tu-214/Tu-234
    • Retailer Exclusive Releases >
      • Panda Models Exclusives >
        • Panda Exclusives 2015-2021
        • Panda Exclusives 2022
      • JAL DC-8 Twinset
    • FantasyWings GSE >
      • Apron Equipment
      • COBUS 3000 Buses
      • GSE Pax & Cargo Sets
      • Hong Kong Outer Bay Set
      • Hong Kong ATC Tower Set
      • 1:200 GSE Cargo/GPU Sets
      • 1:200 COBUS 3000 Buses
  • 1:400 Reviews
    • Detailed Mould Scoring >
      • Airbus A320ceo & neo
      • Airbus A330 Beluga XL
      • Airbus A330-900neo
      • Airbus A350-900
      • Boeing 737-800
      • Boeing 747SP
      • Boeing 747-400
      • Boeing 777-300ER
      • Boeing 787-9
    • 1:400 Model Reviews
    • Model Airliner.com Reviews
  • 1:600 SCALE
    • Schabak >
      • Schabak History 1982-2006
      • Schabak Non-airline Models
      • Schabak Airline Numbers
      • Schabak Wheel Variants
      • Schabak Window Variants
      • Schabak Decal Cracking
    • Schabak Moulds >
      • Airbus A300
      • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar
      • McDonnell Douglas DC-10
    • Silver Wings
    • Herpa Magic 600 Scale >
      • Herpa Magic History
      • Herpa Magic Mould Photos
    • Imogenia Airport
  • Dioramas
    • Wright Field Airport
    • Xin Long International
    • As Real As It Gets 1:200
    • As Real As It Gets 1:400 >
      • Real As It Gets - Africa
      • Real As It Gets - Asia
      • Real As It Gets - China
      • Real As It Gets - Europe
      • Real As It Gets - Middle East
      • Real As It Gets - N America
      • Real As It Gets - Oceania
      • Real As It Gets - Russia
      • Real As It Gets - S America
Picture

TZ Tens: American Trans Air 1973-1986

7/8/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Deregulation of the US airline industry gave a lot of companies, both new and existing, their opportunity to take on the big Trunk airlines and carve a niche for themselves. One that made a success of its opportunity was American Trans Air, which grew from a one plane travel club in the 70s to the USA's largest charter airline by the mid 1980s.
Picture
American Trans Air McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40 N184AT Aeroclassics 1:400 Scale Model Airliner
Before deregulation of the US airline market place in 1978 if you wanted to fly across the Atlantic (or indeed anywhere from or within the USA) your choice was heavily limited by the power of the Civil Aeronautics Bureau (CAB). Pan Am and TWA had an effective duopoly on long haul flights whilst a small number of supplemental airlines like ONA, TIA, Capitol and World had access to a small market of regulated charter services.
Picture
One of the enterprising ways around the regulations was to setup a travel club. These organisations in effect operated as private rather than public flights ostensibly flying only their own members. There were a variety of outfits formed in the USA, usually operating small numbers of obsolete first generation jetliners like Convair 880s or turbojet 707s and 720s. Some of the smaller ones flew piston liners or turboprop Lockheed Electras. Load factors could be as high as 95% but it was a risky business with limited funds and means plus the attention of the CAB always eager to make sure the strict rules were adhered to. Across the Atlantic the performance of the jets available to these operators meant that in the UK only Gatwick, Manchester or Prestwick were really viable destinations since they had full length runways (even then Heathrow was out of bounds).
Picture
Ambassadair Travel club was one of these pioneer travel club charter airlines, formed in 1973 by J. George Mikelsons, a Latvian immigrant, as Voyager 1000 to operate from Indianapolis. Mikelson's new airline at first had only a single aircraft - a former Eastern Air Lines Boeing 720-025 named 'Miss Indy'. This aircraft had been delivered as N8711E to Eastern in January 1962 and returned to Boeing in June 1970. She was never upgraded to a turbofan 720B and instead joined the German charter airline Calair in December 1970 until being returned to Boeing in March 1972. She then saw 6 months service with AeroAmerica before joining Ambassadair.
Picture
Miss Indy towards the end of her career with Ambassadair in July 1980. Photo by Richard Silagi from Wikipedia
Ambassadair could only fly paid up members of its club so its staff solicited members via telephone campaigns, hotel seminars and such. Mikkelsons as well as being CEO also flew the aircraft and unloaded baggage. It was far from easy and he recalled one trip out to Hawaii where he only had enough money to fuel the outward journey. Fortunately a flurry of new membership fees in that day's mail kept the fledgling airline afloat.
Picture
ATA 707-123B N7589A at Faro. Photo by Pedro Aragão from Wikipedia. Note the all metal base from their AA days
Throughout the 1970s Ambassadair could only continue to build its business as a travel club although bookings were good enough for it to acquire a second 720 (N8790R 'Spirit of Indiana') in November 1978. By then the landscape of the US airline scene was changing and deregulation was beginning to take-off. In March 1981 the airline gained its common carrier certification, which enabled it to operate as a proper airline flying public charter flights (although still at this stage not scheduled services). Still small it was nonetheless large by travel club standards and one of the few to survive until deregulation.
Picture
The issuance of charter rights coincided with a renaming to American Trans Air. It was goodbye also to the venerable Boeing 720s, which were replaced by only marginally more efficient Boeing 707-123Bs, which at least were equipped with turbofans. Five aircraft joined from American Airlines between March 1980 and April 1982 and were swiftly followed by 3 ex-American Airlines 707-323Cs from September 1982. In 1984 Amtran. Inc was formed to cater as the holding company for the still existing Ambassadair Travel club and the airline component.
Picture
The 707s were only ever stopgap equipment and the series 123Bs were replaced as early as December 1983 by a quartet of ex-United Airlines Boeing 727-22s. A further four 727-100s would join the fleet in 1985. The 727s were used to open up new scheduled flights from Indianapolis to four destinations in Florida, Puerto Rico and Las Vegas from May 1986.
Picture
ATA 707-323C N7597A at Frankfurt during 1984. Photo by Felix Goetting from Wikipedia
It was the arrival in February 1983 of an ex-Laker DC-10-10 that really elevated ATA into the bigger leagues. N183AT, the ex-G-BELO, was appropriately named 'City of Indianapolis'. She was joined in June 1984 by a second DC-10, this time an ex-Northwest Airlines DC-10-40, which became N184AT. This aircraft had joined Northwest in February 1973 as N142US.
Picture
The DC-10-10 N183AT at London Gatwick. Photo by MercerMJ from Wikipedia
Picture
The DC-10s could regularly be seen operating across the Atlantic to Gatwick. Passenger numbers ballooned from only 96,426 in 1981 to 618,532 in 1983. ATA seemingly expected to acquire additional DC-10s from Northwest but in the event they decided to keep their DC-10s and ATA found itself struggling to source further units for itself.
This necessitated a change of direction for the airline, which switched to more easily acquired Lockheed L-1011 Tristar. Nine ex-Delta Tristar 50s joined the fleet in 1985. All the 707s were gone by the end of 1984 whilst the ex-Laker DC-10-10 went to Air Hawaii at the end of 1985. N184AT remained in the fleet but was destroyed on August, 10 1986 at Chicago O'Hare.
Picture
N184AT the DC-10-40 in July 1984 at Nice. Photo by Alain Durand from Wikipedia
The aircraft was being unloaded following a charter flight but unfortunately maintenance personnel had put damaged passenger seatbacks (including their solid-state chemical oxygen generators) in the forward cargo hold along with seat covers and oil. A company mechanic looking through the seatbacks accidentally set off a loose oxygen generator, which generated a 430 degree C heat igniting the hld's contents and burning through the cabin floor. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed in the resulting fire leaving an aircraft which looked essentially complete from the outside except for the missing burnt off fuselage top! Fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities due to the accident.
Picture
The burnt out shell of N184A. Photo by Ryan Hale
Picture
Regardless of the loss of the DC-10 by 1986 the airline was the largest charter carrier in the USA. It would continue to grow its fleet into the 1990s adding more Tristars and also Boeing 727-200s and 757-200s. Throughout the 1990s ATA would morph into a very different airline and eventually in April 2008 it would cease operations after four humbling years post bankruptcy. Ambassadair Travel club meanwhile actually still operates having been sold in 2005 to Grueninger Travel Group. Mikelson's airline tried its hand at many things throughout its nearly 40 year history but it was never more successful than when it took deregulation by the horns and expanded into a successful charter airline during the 1980s.
References

1996, April. Smith, B.D. Plane & Simple. Indianapolis Monthly
The History of Ambassadair.
ATA Airlines. Wikipedia
Waldvogel, R. The History of American Trans Air.
Davies. R.E.G. Airlines of the Jet Age: A History
N184AT. Aviation Safety Network.
Fife, M. Commercial Aviation in Britain in the 1970s

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm Richard Stretton: a fan of classic airliners and airlines who enjoys exploring their history through my collection of die-cast airliners. If you enjoy the site please donate whatever you can to help keep it running:


    RSS Feed



    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    2015 Review
    2016 Review
    2017 Review
    Aer Lingus
    Aeroclassics
    Aero Continente
    African Airlines
    Air 2000
    Air America
    Air Aruba
    Airbus A300
    Airbus A310
    Airbus A319
    Airbus A320
    Airbus A321
    Airbus A330
    Airbus A340
    Airbus A350
    Airbus A380
    Air BVI
    Air China
    Air Florida
    Air Gabon
    Air Holland
    Air India
    Airlines Of Africa
    Airlines Of Asia
    Airlines Of Australasia
    Airlines Of C America
    Airlines Of Canada
    Airlines Of China
    Airlines Of Europe
    Airlines Of France
    Airlines Of Mexico
    Airlines Of Middle East
    Airlines Of Russia
    Airlines Of S America
    Airlines Of The UK
    Airlines Of The USA
    Air West
    Air Wisconsin
    Alaska Airlines
    Aloha Airlines
    American Airlines
    America West Airlines
    Ansett
    Antonov AN-124
    Apollo
    ATR-72
    Aurora Models
    Austrian Airlines
    AVIACSA
    BAC One-Eleven
    Big Bird
    Blue Box
    Boeing 707
    Boeing 717
    Boeing 720
    Boeing 727
    Boeing 737
    Boeing 747
    Boeing 757
    Boeing 767
    Boeing 777
    Boeing 787
    Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser
    Braniff International
    Bristol Britannia
    British Aerospace BAE-146
    British Airways
    British European (BEA)
    Canadair C-4 North Star
    Canadian Pacific
    Capital Airlines
    Cathay Pacific
    Central American Airlines
    Chicago & Southern
    China Eastern
    China Southern
    Compass Airlines
    Concorde
    Continental Airlines
    Convair 240
    Convair 440
    Convair 580
    Convair 880
    Convair 990
    Curtiss C-46 Commando
    Dan Air London
    Delta Air Lines
    DH-106 Comet 4
    Douglas DC-3
    Douglas DC-4
    Douglas DC-6
    Douglas DC-7
    Douglas DC-7C
    Douglas DC-8
    Douglas DC-9
    Dragonair
    Dragon Wings
    Eastern Air Lines
    EasyJet
    Egyptair
    Embraer 190
    Embraer ERJ-145
    Emirates
    Eram Air
    Fairchild F-27
    Fairchild FH-227
    Finlantic
    Fokker 50
    Fokker F100
    Fokker F27
    Fokker F28
    Freighters
    Frontier Airlines
    Gemini Jets
    Hainan Airlines
    Handley Page Herald
    Hawaiian Airlines
    Hawaii Express
    Herpa
    HS-748
    HS Trident
    Ilyushin IL-62
    Ilyushin IL-76
    Ilyushin IL-86
    Ilyushin IL-96
    Interflug
    Japan Air System
    JC Wings
    Jet X
    Jet-X
    Kampuchea Airlines
    Kenya Airways
    Laker Airways
    Lan Chile
    Lockheed Constellation
    Lockheed Hercules
    Lockheed L-1011 Tristar
    Lockheed L-188 Electra
    Loganair
    LOT Polish Airlines
    Lufthansa
    Magic Models
    Malev Hungarian Airlines
    Manx Airlines
    MAOF Airlines
    MD-11
    MD-80
    MD-90
    MDD DC-10
    Mexicana
    Minerve
    Mohawk Airlines
    NAMC YS-11
    National Airlines
    NG Models
    Nordair
    Northwest Airlines
    Oasis Hong Kong
    Oceania Airlines
    Ozark Air Lines
    Panagra
    Pan Am
    Panda Models
    Phoenix Models
    Piedmont Airlines
    PLUNA
    Polynesian Airlines
    Qantas
    Republic Airlines
    Royal Jordanian
    Royal Nepal Airlines
    SE-210 Caravelle
    Shorts-360
    Sichuan Airlines
    Skyservice
    South African Airways
    Spantax
    TACA
    Trans European Airways
    Trans World Airlines Twa
    Trans-world-airlines-twa
    Tupolev Tu-104
    Tupolev Tu-134
    Tupolev TU-144
    Tupolev TU-154
    United Airlines
    USAir
    Vickers VC10
    Vickers Viscount
    Western Airlines
    Witty Wings

  • Home
    • About
    • Links
  • My Models
    • The NZ Hangar 2016-2022
    • USA - Trunk Airlines >
      • Pan Am
      • American Airlines
      • Braniff International
      • Continental Airlines
      • Delta Air Lines
      • Eastern Air Lines
      • National Airlines
      • Northeast Airlines
      • Northwest Airlines
      • Trans World Airlines (TWA)
      • United Airlines
      • Western Airlines
    • USA - Local Service >
      • Allegheny / USAir
      • Frontier Airlines
      • Hughes Airwest
      • Mohawk Airlines
      • Piedmont Airlines
      • My Ozark Airlines Fleet
      • Republic Airlines
      • My Texas Int Fleet
    • Global Fleets >
      • Russia
    • My Collection >
      • US Other Fleets >
        • My Alaska Airlines Fleet
        • My Hawaiian / Aloha Fleet
        • My PSA Fleet
        • My Flying Tigers Fleet
        • My World Airways Fleet
      • UK Fleets >
        • My British Airways Fleet
      • Canadian Fleets
  • AV History
    • Airline History Blog
    • Airline Development >
      • CANADA >
        • Canadian Mainline
        • Canadian Charters & LCCs
        • Canadian Regionals
      • CHINA >
        • Part 1: China's Airlines Industry Blossoms 1984-2002
        • Part 2: The Big Six in the 1990s
        • The Big Three
        • Hainan Airlines Group
        • Other Chinese Airlines
      • IRAN
      • MEXICO >
        • 1988-2005: Competition arrives
        • 2005-2014: Low cost in Mexico
        • Mexican Airline Genealogy
        • Mexicana Livery Tails
      • RUSSIA >
        • Aeroflot Group
        • S7 Airlines & AiRUnion
        • Other Russian Airlines
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • UNITED KINGDOM >
        • BA Genealogy Pt1
        • BA Genealogy Pt2
        • BA Genealogy Pt3
        • BUIA & BUAF Genealogies
        • UK Charter Airlines Pt1
        • UK Charter Airlines Pt2
        • BEA Liveries 1946-1974
        • BOAC Liveries 1939-1974
      • UNITED STATES >
        • Trunk & Local Service Airlines >
          • American / TWA Genealogy
          • Delta / Northwest Genealogy
          • United / Continental Genealogy
          • Braniff / Eastern / US Airways Genealogy
        • Territorial Airlines
        • Intra-State Airlines
        • Supplemental Airlines
        • Deregulation Startups 1
        • Deregulation Startups 2
        • Trunk Airline Livery Changes 1959-1980
    • Liveries >
      • Aeroméxico Liveries
      • American Airlines Liveries
      • British Airways Liveries
      • Continental Airlines Liveries
      • Delta Air Lines Liveries
      • Eastern Air Lines Liveries
      • Landor Liveries
      • National Airlines Liveries
      • Northeast Airlines Liveries
      • Northwest Airlines Liveries
      • Pan Am Liveries
      • Trans World Airlines Liveries
      • United Airlines Liveries
      • Western Airlines Liveries
    • Special Liveries >
      • Air China Specials
    • Airbus A380s >
      • ANA A380s - Flying Honu
      • Korean A380s - Taegeuk
      • Malaysia A380s - Wau Jets
    • Boeing 747 >
      • The Early Years Pt1
      • The Early Years Pt2: Pan Am
    • Real Airport Histories >
      • Albany International
      • Dallas Love Field
      • Rochester International Pt1
      • Rochester International Pt2
      • San Francisco - 1927-1959
      • San Francisco - 1959-1978
      • San Francisco - 1978-2015
      • San Jose International
      • San Jose International Pt2
    • Plane Spotting >
      • Amsterdam (AMS) - Sep 22
      • Frankfurt (FRA) - Oct 2022
    • Aviation Stickers >
      • ATR Stickers
      • A300 Stickers
      • DC-9 Stickers
      • DC-10 Stickers
  • 1:400 SCALE
    • Collecting 1:400 Scale >
      • Who Is The Best?
      • Best Moulds in 400 Scale
    • The History of 1:400 Scale >
      • 1:400 History Pt1: 1996-2000
      • 1:400 History Pt2: 2001-2008
    • 1:400 Brands >
      • Aeroclassics >
        • Generation One History
        • Gen 1 Photo Galleries >
          • BAC One-Eleven
          • Douglas DC-6
          • Douglas DC-9
          • Fairchild FH-227
          • Lockheed L-1049 Super Connie
          • Lockheed L-188 Electra
          • Vickers VC10
          • Vickers Vanguard
          • Vickers Viscount
      • AURORA Models
      • Aviation400 (2007-2012)
      • Big Bird 400 Your Craftsman
      • Black Box Models
      • Blue Box & Magic Models
      • Dragon Wings
      • El Aviador 400
      • Gemini Jets
      • JAL Collection / Jet Hut >
        • The JAL Collection
        • JAL Collection Reviews
        • Jet Hut Boeing 787-9
      • Jet-X >
        • Jet-X: Part 1 2000-2006
        • Jet-X: Part 2 2006-2012
      • MP4 & Airshop Diecast
      • NG Models
      • Seattle Models Co (SMA)
      • Skyjets400
      • Sovereign Models
      • TucanoLine
    • 1:400 Custom Models >
      • DT Custom Models >
        • Tupolev Tu-134s
    • Zinc Rot
  • 1:400 Moulds
    • The Best Moulds >
      • The Best Airbus Moulds Pt1
      • The Best Airbus Moulds Pt2
      • The Best Boeing Moulds Pt1
      • The Best Boeing Moulds Pt2
    • Airbus >
      • Airbus A300
      • Airbus A310
      • Airbus A320 >
        • JC Wings A320 Upgrades
      • Airbus A330-200/300
      • Airbus A330-200F
      • Airbus A330 Beluga XL >
        • A320 Inserts for Beluga XL
      • Airbus A350-900/1000
    • Boeing >
      • Boeing B-377 Stratocruiser
      • Boeing 707-120/138/720
      • Boeing 707-320/420
      • Boeing 717
      • Boeing 727-100
      • Boeing 727-200
      • Boeing 737-100/200
      • Boeing 737-300 >
        • Herpa 737s
      • Boeing 737-400
      • Boeing 737-500
      • Boeing 737-600
      • Boeing 737-700/800/900 >
        • P-8 Poseidon Mould Review
      • Boeing 737 MAX
      • Boeing 747-100/200 >
        • Awful Phoenix 747s
      • Boeing 747SP
      • Boeing 747-8 Interactive
      • Boeing 747LCF Dreamlifter
      • Boeing 757-200 >
        • NG Models 757 Production
      • Boeing 767-200
      • Boeing 767-300
      • Boeing 777-200
      • Boeing 777-300
      • Boeing 787
    • British >
      • Concorde
      • BAC One-Eleven 200-400
      • BAC One-Eleven 500
      • BAE-146 / Avro RJ-85-100
      • De Havilland DH-106 Comet
      • Hawker Siddeley Trident
      • Shorts 360
      • Vickers VC10
      • Vickers Viscount
    • Douglas >
      • Douglas DC-3 / C-47
      • Douglas DC-6
      • Douglas DC-7
      • Douglas DC-7C
      • Douglas DC-8-10-50
      • Douglas DC-8-60s/70s
      • Douglas DC-9-10
      • Douglas DC-9-30
      • Douglas DC-9-41/51
      • McDonnell Douglas DC-10
      • McDonnell Douglas MD-11
      • McDonnell Douglas MD-80
      • McDonnell Douglas MD-90
    • Lockheed >
      • Lockheed Constellation
      • Lockheed Super Connie
      • Lockheed L-1649 Starliner
      • Lockheed L-188 Electra
      • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 1 / Tristar 200
      • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 500
    • Other >
      • Convair CV-240-580
      • Convair CV-880/990
      • Curtiss C-46
      • Fairchild F-27 / Fokker F27
      • Fairchild-Hiller FH-227
      • Fokker F28/F70/F100
      • SE 210 Caravelle
    • Chinese >
      • Comac ARJ21
      • Xi'an Y-20
    • Soviet >
      • Antonov An-225
      • Ilyushin IL-62
      • Ilyushin Il-86/Il-96
      • Tupolev TU-104
      • Tupolev TU-154B-2/M
      • Tupolev TU-204
      • Yakovlev Yak-42
  • 1:400 News
    • Model Blog
    • New Mould Samples >
      • Aviation400 >
        • Airbus A320
        • Airbus A330-900NEO
        • Airbus A380 Resin Sample
        • Airbus A380 Metal Sample
        • Airbus A380 Final Sample
        • Boeing 787 Update Mar 21
        • Boeing 787 Update July 21
      • JC Wings >
        • Airbus A310
        • Boeing 747-400
      • NG Models >
        • Airbus A318
        • Airbus A319/320 CEO
        • Airbus A319/320 NEO
        • Airbus A321CEO & NEO
        • Airbus A330-200/300
        • Airbus A330 Beluga XL
        • Airbus A350-900
        • Airbus A350-1000
        • AVIC AG600M - 1:200
        • Boeing 737-600/700/900
        • Boeing 737-600 Refresh
        • Boeing 737-800
        • Boeing 737 MAX-8/MAX-9
        • Boeing B747SP
        • Boeing 747-8I
        • Boeing 747-8F
        • Boeing 777-200
        • Boeing 777-300/300ER
        • Boeing 787-8
        • Comac ARJ21 - 1:200
        • Falcon 7X - 1:200
        • Gulfstream G550 - 1:200
        • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar
        • Lockeed Tristar 500
        • Tupolev Tu-154
        • Tupolev Tu-204/Tu-214/Tu-234
    • Retailer Exclusive Releases >
      • Panda Models Exclusives >
        • Panda Exclusives 2015-2021
        • Panda Exclusives 2022
      • JAL DC-8 Twinset
    • FantasyWings GSE >
      • Apron Equipment
      • COBUS 3000 Buses
      • GSE Pax & Cargo Sets
      • Hong Kong Outer Bay Set
      • Hong Kong ATC Tower Set
      • 1:200 GSE Cargo/GPU Sets
      • 1:200 COBUS 3000 Buses
  • 1:400 Reviews
    • Detailed Mould Scoring >
      • Airbus A320ceo & neo
      • Airbus A330 Beluga XL
      • Airbus A330-900neo
      • Airbus A350-900
      • Boeing 737-800
      • Boeing 747SP
      • Boeing 747-400
      • Boeing 777-300ER
      • Boeing 787-9
    • 1:400 Model Reviews
    • Model Airliner.com Reviews
  • 1:600 SCALE
    • Schabak >
      • Schabak History 1982-2006
      • Schabak Non-airline Models
      • Schabak Airline Numbers
      • Schabak Wheel Variants
      • Schabak Window Variants
      • Schabak Decal Cracking
    • Schabak Moulds >
      • Airbus A300
      • Lockheed L-1011 Tristar
      • McDonnell Douglas DC-10
    • Silver Wings
    • Herpa Magic 600 Scale >
      • Herpa Magic History
      • Herpa Magic Mould Photos
    • Imogenia Airport
  • Dioramas
    • Wright Field Airport
    • Xin Long International
    • As Real As It Gets 1:200
    • As Real As It Gets 1:400 >
      • Real As It Gets - Africa
      • Real As It Gets - Asia
      • Real As It Gets - China
      • Real As It Gets - Europe
      • Real As It Gets - Middle East
      • Real As It Gets - N America
      • Real As It Gets - Oceania
      • Real As It Gets - Russia
      • Real As It Gets - S America