TemboOne

Can't resist answering this one though in all honesty I can't 100% remember that exact "Rolls-Royce Service" slogan.

In 1964 Air Ceylon leased BOAC Comet 4C G-APDC (powered by Rolls-Royce Avon engines) to operate it's CMB-LHR service. The aircraft stayed with the British registration but the BOAC on the fuselage was overpainted "Air Ceylon". This only lasted a year or two as G-APDC was sold to Malaysia-Singapore Airlines where it eventually became 9V-BAT.

After returning the Comet to BOAC Air Ceylon then leased a BOAC Vickers VC10 to operate their CMB-LHR service.

Attached are photos of the G-APDC Comet in BOAC livery and with the Air Ceylon overpainting. (I subsequently travelled in this aircraft as 9V-BAT KUL-BKK 1966-08-02; more up-thread re this). The location for G-APDC with Air Ceylon paint is claimed as CMB but the Malaysian Airstairs and the Qantas Land Rover makes this somewhat dubious.

WHBM

Good morning from the deepest Russian forest - with perfect Internet. Seat 2A, afraid it's a whole new world !

BA back home tomorrow.
Air California

jlemon

2. Correct! Here's the sched.....

BN 2: San Antonio (SAT) 7:45a - 8:40a Dallas Love (DAL) 9:15a - 2:30p Washington National (DCA) 2:50p - 3:45p New York Idlewild (IDL)
Op: Saturdays only (BN 2 operated SAT-DAL-IDL daily except Sat.)
Service: Silver Service - Breakfast SAT-DAL, Lunch DAL-DCA
Name of flight: "New Yorker" ELECTRA

3. American is correct....but not with a DC-6. And a note concerning the departure and arrival times with regard to the time zones: GSW was CST and LAX was PDT at this time. So please guess again!

jlemon

4. An excellent response, sir! However, the airline in question was not Air Ceylon and the equipment wasn't a Comet. In fact, we are actually looking for two different aircraft types here. Please guess again!

jlemon

9. Correct! Air California had been operating Douglas DC-9-10 and Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft. The 737s replaced the DC9s and the Electras were retired. Then Air California subsequently brought the Electra back into the fleet in order to serve Lake Tahoe (TVL).

WHBM

I'll have a guess at Thai Airways. By 1964 they had just taken delivery of the first RR Dart-powered HS748s in Asia, and also started long-leasing RR Avon-powered Caravelles from part-owner SAS for use on Asian routes.

jlemon

And here are some additional new quiz items.......

16. In 1981, this airline was operating nonstop service between San Jose de Cabo (SJD) and El Paso (ELP) twice a week. Identify the air carrier and the equipment.

17. Also in 1981, this air carrier was flying nonstop service between Merida (MID) and Chicago (ORD) once a week. Name the airline and the aircraft type.

18. It's 1982 and you are in Hamburg (HAM). You need to travel to New York City. Ah, here's a flight......and this wide body service operates twice a week with one intermediate stop being made en route. You book a seat in first class. Identify the airline, the stop and the equipment. ANSWERED

19. In 1984, this air carrier ran an ad with the following statement:

"Plus, we're instituting a new, higher level of in-flight service on the ___(aircraft type)___ and ___(aircraft type)___ called Summit Class"

Fill in the blanks and name the airline. And here's a hint: this air carrier was operating four different aircraft types at this time.

20. In 1985, this airline ran an ad with the following headline:

"I am the oilman's airline to Saudi Arabia."

Identify the air carrier. ANSWERED

21. It's 1986 and you are in New Orleans. There's a meeting you must attend in Philadelphia the next day following your lunch meeting in the French Quarter at Galatoire's fine dining restaurant. So you book a seat in first class on a flight that departs MSY at 3:00 pm and arrives at PHL at 8:45 pm. One stop will be made en route and snack service will be offered on board. Identify the airline, the stop and the equipment.

22. Now it's 1987 and you are in New York City. A friend of yours has just opened a pub in the village of Little Hallingbury in the U.K. and you would like to check it out. You've found the closest airport to Little Hallingbury that has transatlantic air service from New York City. The flight you will be traveling on operates four days a week from Newark (EWR) and makes one stop en route. So you book a seat in business class at the attractive fare of $1,063 one way. Name the air carrier you'll be flying with, the stop, the airport you will arrive at in the U.K. and the aircraft type. ANSWERED

23. In 1992, Southwest Airlines ran an ad with the following statement:

"Liar, liar. Pants on fire."

Explain what this Southwest ad was about.

24. In 1997, Midway Airlines was serving only one international destination. Name this destination and also identify the U.S. city where this international nonstop flight originated. ANSWERED

25. It's 1998 and you are in Flint, Michigan. A couple of friends have invited you to set sail with them across the Gulf of Mexico to Little Cayman Island in the Caribbean. Their catamaran is moored in Destin, Florida. Lo and behold, you've found a direct flight from Flint to the closest commercially served airport near Destin. This flight makes one intermediate stop en route. Identify the airline, the stop, the airport you will arrive into in Florida and the equipment. ANSWERED

More new quiz items to follow......

jlemon

4. Yet another excellent guess! However, the airline in question was not Thai Airways and the aircraft types we are looking for weren't the Caravelle or HS748. Please guess again, sir!

jrl767

3- well, if not a Six, how about a Seven? regarding AA and GSW, I recall we have discussed that being the westernmost point for their Electra operations, and I also believe they didn't run jets there at all

WHBM

I'm going to guess British Caledonian. In 1985 they were given a route swap with British Airways, where B Cal took over the routes from London to Saudi, and in exchange (ha ha) BA got the no-hopers London to South America (for which they had no long-haul low-density aircraft, and had to lease two L1011-500s from Air Lanka). It was a last ditch effort by the UK government to keep B Cal going, which three years later had not worked when they were sold to BA for GBP 1 (plus all the debts ... ).

B Cal already did Houston to London, and pushed extensively the throughout service onwards to Saudi.
Is this one for me ? Because Little Hallingbury (how did you know it ?) is just visible (although I'm not allowed any closer) from G-WHBM on the infrequent Sunday afternoons when I manage to get it out. However, 30 years ago it was also the destination for obscure Highland Express, and their sole B747 G-HIHO, which operated (when it could) from JFK through Prestwick to London Stansted. The most unreliable 747 ever, it's mechanical characteristics (or regular lack of them) contributed to the airline's failure after only a short while, and owner Randolph Fields losing millions. Despite which the aircraft was sold on, to a onetime joint partner of Mr Fields. Bonus question. Who was that ?

The pub : http://www.thegeorgeinnhallingbury.co.uk/about.html

jlemon

3. Nope, it wasn't a DC-7. As for the Electra, I think AA may have operated the L-188 into El Paso (ELP).....but I'm not sure about this.

One thing I am sure about is the fact that American did indeed operate jet equipment into Fort Worth (GSW). So there's your hint.

jlemon

20. Correct! According to a print ad at the time, British Caledonian began serving Dhahran and Jeddah nonstop from London on March 31, 1985. First Class, Super Executive class and Economy class were offered on these flights. And BCal was also serving Dallas/Fort Worth in addition to Houston in 1985.

22. Well, I picked Little Hallingbury right out of the blue, as it were! And I figured it had to have a pub, of course......and you are completely correct with your response! VY 202 was scheduled to depart New York on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 6:45 pm and arrive at London Stansted the next day at 8:15 am following an intermediate stop at Prestwick.

Bonus question guess: Sir Richard Branson

jrl767

3- once again pointing out why this is a quiz ... let's go with a Boeing 720

24- Midway had moved their hub from their namesake airport to Raleigh-Durham (RDU) several years earlier ... I believe the flight in question served Cancun (CUN)
25- the destination airport was in all likelihood Ft Walton Beach / Eglin AFB (VPS; the code reflects the nearby town of Valparaiso) ... I have low expectations as to whether these subsequent parts of the answer are correct, but I'll say Northwest with a DC-9-50 stopping at Memphis (MEM)

WHBM

Now for a real Obscure Bonus Question. Tie together my two responses above. What is the connection between routes from the UK to South America (which Virgin Atlantic never even contemplated) and the Sir Richard / Randolph Fields tie-up.

jlemon

3. Nope, it wasn't a Boeing 720....or a 720B, either.

24. Correct!

25. VPS is correct; however, the airline wasn't Northwest, the stop was not made in Memphis and the equipment wasn't a DC-9-50 (although you are close concerning the aircraft type).