Old Timer's Airline Quiz and Discussion.
May 12, 2020, 5:53 pm
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(I know it doesn't "count" since it wasn't a scheduled passenger flight, but there's a lot to be said for 10-12 minutes at 6000 feet over Lake Washington, standing behind the flight engineer's seat, and seeing Mount Rainier through the forward windows at sunset on a clear January afternoon)
May 12, 2020, 6:58 pm
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My candidate for shortest scheduled wide-body flight would be FIH-BZV at 16 miles. Looks like AF operates it currently(!) with a 330. Air Afrique operated it with a DC-10. I seem to recall some FTers have flown this route with LH and imagine it could have been a SN route too. ET seems to have operated it with a 767.
Shortest route - Biggest Aircraft?
Depends on the U.S.-U.K. bilateral at the time. CX certainly had YVR-SFO rights in that era (or slightly later).
Shortest route - Biggest Aircraft?
Depends on the U.S.-U.K. bilateral at the time. CX certainly had YVR-SFO rights in that era (or slightly later).
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; May 12, 2020 at 9:44 pm
May 13, 2020, 11:50 am
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Vegas DC-9s
36. (1979) It’s been a great weekend in Las Vegas but now duty calls in Baltimore. You’ve got a late afternoon appointment in Glen Burnie and it just so happens that there’s a one-stop redeye that’ll get you into Baltimore mid-morning. Your ability to sleep on airplanes is legendary, so this flight will be perfect! Identify the airline, aircraft and the stop.
Keeping with the DC-9-30 theme, how about OZ LAS-STL-BWI?
48. (1998) If you want to fly out of Las Vegas aboard a DC-9-30, only one airline fits the bill, offering service to a single destination. Identify the airline and the destination city served.
May 13, 2020, 12:05 pm
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I can't match MIA-FLL, but PAE-BFI at 26 miles comes pretty close
(I know it doesn't "count" since it wasn't a scheduled passenger flight, but there's a lot to be said for 10-12 minutes at 6000 feet over Lake Washington, standing behind the flight engineer's seat, and seeing Mount Rainier through the forward windows at sunset on a clear January afternoon)
(I know it doesn't "count" since it wasn't a scheduled passenger flight, but there's a lot to be said for 10-12 minutes at 6000 feet over Lake Washington, standing behind the flight engineer's seat, and seeing Mount Rainier through the forward windows at sunset on a clear January afternoon)
These short flight posts got me thinking though. I was wondering about the shortest scheduled airline flight I've taken as a local passenger. I've flown SFO-OAK on UA but not as a local passenger. Also some hops like IAD/JFK-PHL as a through or connecting passenger.
So, without further ado, my top three short flights as a local O&D pax:
ADZ-PVA, 58 miles, SATENA-marketed, Searca-operated Let L-410
SFO-SMF, 86 miles, various different UA mainline or UAX/OE regional aircraft like J31, SH6, EM2
PHL-LGA, 95 miles. US Airways Express (I forget which specific carrier) DH8
May 13, 2020, 12:30 pm
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guessing you work(ed) for Gulfstream ...These short flight posts got me thinking though. I was wondering about the shortest scheduled airline flight I've taken as a local passenger. I've flown SFO-OAK on UA but not as a local passenger. Also some hops like IAD/JFK-PHL as a through or connecting passenger.
...
PHL-LGA, 95 miles. US Airways Express (I forget which specific carrier) DH8
...
PHL-LGA, 95 miles. US Airways Express (I forget which specific carrier) DH8
mine is SNA-LAX; 36 miles on a Golden West DHC-6 Twin Otter in 1977 (having disembarked from a USAF C-9A at MCAS El Toro) ... I've done BWI-DCA (30 miles) as a connecting flight on Allegheny Beech 99s in 1974 and 1975
May 13, 2020, 12:45 pm
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I actually did LHR-SEA-YVR on BA in the 1980s, but it was a Tristar rather than a 747. I don't recall anyone boarding at Seattle. Believe it or not BA actually managed to serve an Afternoon Tea on a tray on the sector. In Y.
May 13, 2020, 1:03 pm
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YVR-SEA-LHR in a 747-200 for me in May '86. We stayed on board in SEA but I don't remember if any pax disembarked. I suspect not.
May 13, 2020, 1:08 pm
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These short flight posts got me thinking though. I was wondering about the shortest scheduled airline flight I've taken as a local passenger. I've flown SFO-OAK on UA but not as a local passenger. Also some hops like IAD/JFK-PHL as a through or connecting passenger.
So, without further ado, my top three short flights as a local O&D pax:
ADZ-PVA, 58 miles, SATENA-marketed, Searca-operated Let L-410
SFO-SMF, 86 miles, various different UA mainline or UAX/OE regional aircraft like J31, SH6, EM2
PHL-LGA, 95 miles. US Airways Express (I forget which specific carrier) DH8
Clear Lake City (CLC) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 26 miles on board a Houston Metro DHC-6 Twin Otter
San Luis Obispo (SBP) - Santa Maria (SMX): also around 26 miles on board a United Express BAe Jetstream 31 operated by WestAir (and what should have been a very short flight time-wise actually took almost an hour as we had to repeatedly shoot the IFR approach into SMX due to fog. We made it on the fourth attempt.)
I also flew on Houston Metro Twin Otters several times CLC-IAH as a connecting passenger.
And several more short hops in the Houston area but every time as a connecting passenger.....
Ellington Field (EFD) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 25 miles on board Continental Express ATR-42 and ERJ-135 aircraft
Houston Hobby (HOU) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 24 miles on board Continental Express Beechcraft 1900D and Continental B737-300 aircraft
May 13, 2020, 1:24 pm
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My shortest hops as a local passenger.....
Clear Lake City (CLC) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 26 miles on board a Houston Metro DHC-6 Twin Otter
San Luis Obispo (SBP) - Santa Maria (SMX): also around 26 miles on board a United Express BAe Jetstream 31 operated by WestAir (and what should have been a very short flight time-wise actually took almost an hour as we had to repeatedly shoot the IFR approach into SMX due to fog. We made it on the fourth attempt.)
I also flew on Houston Metro Twin Otters several times CLC-IAH as a connecting passenger.
And several more short hops in the Houston area but every time as a connecting passenger.....
Ellington Field (EFD) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 25 miles on board Continental Express ATR-42 and ERJ-135 aircraft
Houston Hobby (HOU) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 24 miles on board Continental Express Beechcraft 1900D and Continental B737-300 aircraft
Clear Lake City (CLC) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 26 miles on board a Houston Metro DHC-6 Twin Otter
San Luis Obispo (SBP) - Santa Maria (SMX): also around 26 miles on board a United Express BAe Jetstream 31 operated by WestAir (and what should have been a very short flight time-wise actually took almost an hour as we had to repeatedly shoot the IFR approach into SMX due to fog. We made it on the fourth attempt.)
I also flew on Houston Metro Twin Otters several times CLC-IAH as a connecting passenger.
And several more short hops in the Houston area but every time as a connecting passenger.....
Ellington Field (EFD) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 25 miles on board Continental Express ATR-42 and ERJ-135 aircraft
Houston Hobby (HOU) - Houston Intercontinental (IAH): around 24 miles on board Continental Express Beechcraft 1900D and Continental B737-300 aircraft
The best part was that while I had told my wife we would be flying to the islands on a small plane instead of taking the ferry, I had neglected to tell her just how small and loud the plane would be. Fortunately she's of the adventurous type, but she did give me a hard time about it for a few days. It was apparently her first flight on a plane that small.
May 13, 2020, 1:35 pm
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36. (1979) It’s been a great weekend in Las Vegas but now duty calls in Baltimore. You’ve got a late afternoon appointment in Glen Burnie and it just so happens that there’s a one-stop redeye that’ll get you into Baltimore mid-morning. Your ability to sleep on airplanes is legendary, so this flight will be perfect! Identify the airline, aircraft and the stop.
So it's a twin engine aircraft, not DL, and not via ATL. Keeping with the DC-9-30 theme, how about OZ LAS-STL-BWI?
An excellent guess, Herb, but no - it's not Ozark. That said, there aren't many other options. Please, finish this one off!
48. (1998) If you want to fly out of Las Vegas aboard a DC-9-30, only one airline fits the bill, offering service to a single destination. Identify the airline and the destination city served.
How about Midwest Express (YX) to MKE?
Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner! Here are the schedules for the two flights YX operated out of LAS. MD80s did the heavy lifting the rest of the week. These may well have been the longest DC-9-30 flights in the country ...
Midwest Express YX 742 Las Vegas (LAS) 340p-900p S Milwaukee (MKE) DC-9-30 Th only
Midwest Express YX 712 Las Vegas (LAS) 830p-115a S Milwaukee (MKE) DC-9-30 Sa only
So it's a twin engine aircraft, not DL, and not via ATL. Keeping with the DC-9-30 theme, how about OZ LAS-STL-BWI?
An excellent guess, Herb, but no - it's not Ozark. That said, there aren't many other options. Please, finish this one off!
48. (1998) If you want to fly out of Las Vegas aboard a DC-9-30, only one airline fits the bill, offering service to a single destination. Identify the airline and the destination city served.
How about Midwest Express (YX) to MKE?
Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner! Here are the schedules for the two flights YX operated out of LAS. MD80s did the heavy lifting the rest of the week. These may well have been the longest DC-9-30 flights in the country ...
Midwest Express YX 742 Las Vegas (LAS) 340p-900p S Milwaukee (MKE) DC-9-30 Th only
Midwest Express YX 712 Las Vegas (LAS) 830p-115a S Milwaukee (MKE) DC-9-30 Sa only
Last edited by Seat 2A; May 13, 2020 at 1:43 pm
May 13, 2020, 1:36 pm
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well, I lied an hour ago
my shortest commercial flight as a revenue O/D passenger was in Dec 1978, on a New York Air S-61 ... 11 miles across Long Island from LaGuardia to JFK
my shortest commercial flight as a revenue O/D passenger was in Dec 1978, on a New York Air S-61 ... 11 miles across Long Island from LaGuardia to JFK
May 13, 2020, 1:51 pm
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53-I don’t believe PA had upgauged the DL interchange (ATL-IAD-LHR) from a DC-8, or their SFO-LAX-Central America flights from a 707; moreover, I don’t recall either PA or Northwest doing LAX-SFO tags on TPACs or HNL routes this early ... a few years later, TWA 747s were regulars on BOS-JFK, so I think I’ll start with that
May 13, 2020, 2:03 pm
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32. (1989) Your family loves to ski. Unfortunately quality ski opportunities are difficult to come by in Minnesota so this year you’ve headed off to Killington, Vermont. Unfortunately, getting back home to the Twin Cities will not be as easy as it was getting to Vermont. Your flight from Burlington to Minneapolis makes 2 enroute stops. At least a snack is served along the way. Identify the airline, the aircraft and the two enroute stops.
39. (1979) Between San Juan, PR and Miami, almost all of the mostly daily flights are operated with wide-bodied equipment. Only one airline serves this route exclusively with narrow-bodied equipment (2 daily flights). Identify that airline as well as the aircraft type it utilizes
39. Eastern was the big player in this market with its San Juan hub back then....and if I recall correctly, Delta was also operating flights between MIA and SJU with EA and DL both flying L-1011 aircraft on the route. I also believe National was operating MIA-SJU back then with the B727-200....however, I am going to go with another airline which was beginning to make its presence felt in the Caribbean back in the late 1970's from Miami: American flying the B707 on the MIA-SJU route.
Last edited by jlemon; May 13, 2020 at 2:09 pm
May 13, 2020, 2:18 pm
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43. (1989) It used to be that the only airline offering flights between Albuquerque and Tucson was Frontier. You still have fond memories of dressing up to fly to Tucson aboard a new 727 Arrow Jet back in 1967. These days Frontier has passed into history and the ABQ-TUS market is now served by two airlines, each offering two daily nonstop flights. Identify those airlines and the aircraft each operates on its flights.
May 13, 2020, 2:46 pm
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Here's a list of SOME of my shortest flights...
San Francisco to Oakland – 11.3 miles – Alaska MD80
Moorea to Papeete – 15.7 miles – Air Tahiti DHC-6
Miami to Ft. Lauderdale – 20.8 miles – Eastern A300
Molokai to Lanai – 28.4 miles – Hawaiian Air DC-9-50
Wrangell to Petersburg – 31.3 miles – Alaska 727-100
Bora Bora to Raiatea – 40 miles – Air Polynesie F27
Durango to Cortez – 49.3 miles – Frontier CVR-580
Scranton, PA to Allentown, PA – 49.7 – Allegheny DC-9-30
Helena to Butte – 51.1 miles – Northwest 727-200
Lincoln to Omaha- 54 miles - Frontier 737
Buffalo to Rochester – 55.3 miles – US Air BAC-111
Springfield, MO to Joplin, MO – 62.8 miles – Ozark DC-9-30
New Orleans to Baton Rouge – 65.1 miles – Delta 727-200
San Francisco to Oakland – 11.3 miles – Alaska MD80
Moorea to Papeete – 15.7 miles – Air Tahiti DHC-6
Miami to Ft. Lauderdale – 20.8 miles – Eastern A300
Molokai to Lanai – 28.4 miles – Hawaiian Air DC-9-50
Wrangell to Petersburg – 31.3 miles – Alaska 727-100
Bora Bora to Raiatea – 40 miles – Air Polynesie F27
Durango to Cortez – 49.3 miles – Frontier CVR-580
Scranton, PA to Allentown, PA – 49.7 – Allegheny DC-9-30
Helena to Butte – 51.1 miles – Northwest 727-200
Lincoln to Omaha- 54 miles - Frontier 737
Buffalo to Rochester – 55.3 miles – US Air BAC-111
Springfield, MO to Joplin, MO – 62.8 miles – Ozark DC-9-30
New Orleans to Baton Rouge – 65.1 miles – Delta 727-200
Last edited by Seat 2A; May 13, 2020 at 8:27 pm