Old Timer's Airline Quiz and Discussion.
Dec 7, 2018, 12:22 pm
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9. You just got a call from an old college roommate to ask if you could make it out to the Grand Opening celebration of his new guitar shop San Francisco. Well sure, why not?! When is it? Saturday evening at 6:00pm. Right on! A quick check of the March 1988 schedules reveals two airlines offering nonstop service from Kansas City to SFO, one of which offers First Class, the other only coach. You quickly book a First Class seat to San Francisco departing on Saturday morning. Identify the airline as well as the aircraft type to be flown.
15. It’s 1988 and you’ve been living and working in Milwaukee for three years now. Your job involves a fair bit of travel, and this time your services are requested in Tucson, Arizona. Although there are no nonstop or even direct flights between Milwaukee and Tucson, your travel agent has found an interesting on-line connection involving two twin-engine jets – one of them foreign built, the other American made. Unfortunately no First Class is offered on either of these flights but it’s a quick connection and as an added bonus there are two snacks served enroute. Identify the single airline, the connecting city and the two aircraft types utilized.
Last edited by jrl767; Dec 7, 2018 at 12:40 pm
Dec 7, 2018, 12:39 pm
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4. If you were a plane spotter at Newcastle, England’s N.E. Regional Airport in the summer of 1972, you’d see just two jet types operated by two different airlines (offering scheduled flights). Identify the jets and the airline that flew each type.
In 1972 the trunk route from Newcastle to London Heathrow was in the hands of Yellowbird tri-jets operated by Northeast. The One-Eleven operator would be British Caledonian.
Just an observation, but a planespotter would see more jets than that, as Newcastle was one of the down-country bases for the holiday airlines of the era. Britannia Airways had an early 737 based there, doing two or three round trips a day to the Mediterranean, and likewise Dan-Air always had a Comet 4 there doing the same thing. Northeast also did these flights with their Tridents, which despite seeming to have just a handful of schedules were pretty intensively used. They would set off from Newcastle at 0700 for a round trip to Heathrow, be back by 0930, do a 1030 to say Palma, back in the afternoon, a 1700 scheduled round trip to Heathrow and back again, and then finally leave at around 2230 for Malaga, returning at say 0500. Quick clean out, and start again the next day.
Thank you, WHBM, as I should imagine many of my schedule based questions are mere child's play to you, akin to asking "What is the sum of 2+5?". All the more reason then to be doubly appreciative of your patience in providing such a comprehensive and concise response. In particular I refer to the charter operations you detailed. Great stuff!
On a slightly different tack - were the seating configurations of those English charter flights of old as tight as they are today? I remember my flight on Monarch from Faro to Manchester back in 2013. Great service but extremely tight seating - perhaps 29-30" seat pitch. For a 6 footer like myself, I can't imagine spending any more than 3 hours in such tight quarters - preferably less.
5. It’s the summer of 1972 and you find yourself in Ibiza needing to get to Palma, Mallorca for a day and then on to Algiers. Due to a number of previously poor experiences, you refuse to fly the national airline Iberia. It is of no account however as Iberia doesn’t even fly to Algiers. Thankfully, you’ve found an alternative with an airline that can fly you to Palma and then three days later on to Algiers. The aircraft types – both jets – are different for each flight. Identify the airline in question and the aircraft types specific to the IBZ-PMI flight and the PMI-ALG flight.
I'll go for Aviaco, as Palma to Algiers had been one of their original routes years beforehand. However by 1972 they were owned by the same Spanish government organisation that owned Iberia, and the board of directors were the same. There were a few aircraft in their own colours, but as likely as not an Iberia aircracft would turn up, or one in half an Iberia livery as the two interchanged aircraft. Oh, the types. One would be a Caravelle, and the other a DC-9.
Aviaco (generally an Iberia aircraft) would also be one of the regulars turning up at Newcastle at this time on holiday flights to Spain. Most such flights used UK airlines, but of the Spanish-based ones, who operated especially to the UK secondary airports, Aviaco was the leader for years, until an extraordinary incident had the UK authorities tell the UK tour companies, whose charter operations they licence, that Aviaco was "unlikely to be favourably considered" (a good bit of British understatement) again. Did I ever write about it ? It wasn't a safety incident, as such.
Spot on, Sir. Here are the relevant schedules:
AVIACO AO 276 Ibiza (IBZ) 1205p-1235p Palma (PMI) DC-9-30 Tu Th Sa
AVIACO AO 011 Palma (PMI) 940a-925a Algiers (ALG) Caravelle Tuesday
In 1972 the trunk route from Newcastle to London Heathrow was in the hands of Yellowbird tri-jets operated by Northeast. The One-Eleven operator would be British Caledonian.
Just an observation, but a planespotter would see more jets than that, as Newcastle was one of the down-country bases for the holiday airlines of the era. Britannia Airways had an early 737 based there, doing two or three round trips a day to the Mediterranean, and likewise Dan-Air always had a Comet 4 there doing the same thing. Northeast also did these flights with their Tridents, which despite seeming to have just a handful of schedules were pretty intensively used. They would set off from Newcastle at 0700 for a round trip to Heathrow, be back by 0930, do a 1030 to say Palma, back in the afternoon, a 1700 scheduled round trip to Heathrow and back again, and then finally leave at around 2230 for Malaga, returning at say 0500. Quick clean out, and start again the next day.
Thank you, WHBM, as I should imagine many of my schedule based questions are mere child's play to you, akin to asking "What is the sum of 2+5?". All the more reason then to be doubly appreciative of your patience in providing such a comprehensive and concise response. In particular I refer to the charter operations you detailed. Great stuff!
On a slightly different tack - were the seating configurations of those English charter flights of old as tight as they are today? I remember my flight on Monarch from Faro to Manchester back in 2013. Great service but extremely tight seating - perhaps 29-30" seat pitch. For a 6 footer like myself, I can't imagine spending any more than 3 hours in such tight quarters - preferably less.
5. It’s the summer of 1972 and you find yourself in Ibiza needing to get to Palma, Mallorca for a day and then on to Algiers. Due to a number of previously poor experiences, you refuse to fly the national airline Iberia. It is of no account however as Iberia doesn’t even fly to Algiers. Thankfully, you’ve found an alternative with an airline that can fly you to Palma and then three days later on to Algiers. The aircraft types – both jets – are different for each flight. Identify the airline in question and the aircraft types specific to the IBZ-PMI flight and the PMI-ALG flight.
I'll go for Aviaco, as Palma to Algiers had been one of their original routes years beforehand. However by 1972 they were owned by the same Spanish government organisation that owned Iberia, and the board of directors were the same. There were a few aircraft in their own colours, but as likely as not an Iberia aircracft would turn up, or one in half an Iberia livery as the two interchanged aircraft. Oh, the types. One would be a Caravelle, and the other a DC-9.
Aviaco (generally an Iberia aircraft) would also be one of the regulars turning up at Newcastle at this time on holiday flights to Spain. Most such flights used UK airlines, but of the Spanish-based ones, who operated especially to the UK secondary airports, Aviaco was the leader for years, until an extraordinary incident had the UK authorities tell the UK tour companies, whose charter operations they licence, that Aviaco was "unlikely to be favourably considered" (a good bit of British understatement) again. Did I ever write about it ? It wasn't a safety incident, as such.
Spot on, Sir. Here are the relevant schedules:
AVIACO AO 276 Ibiza (IBZ) 1205p-1235p Palma (PMI) DC-9-30 Tu Th Sa
AVIACO AO 011 Palma (PMI) 940a-925a Algiers (ALG) Caravelle Tuesday
Dec 7, 2018, 12:54 pm
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8. You’re in Miami about to board a 3 stop flight to Anchorage, Alaska in autumn of 1981. This is an interchange flight involving two airlines. Identify the routing flown as well as the two airlines involved. Feel free to identify the aircraft as well if you wish.
I remember the interchange partners concerning the through service between Alaska and Texas changed from time to time over the years. Alaska, American, Braniff, Continental and Western were all involved in various two air carrier arrangements for these flights which primarily featured Seattle as the interchange point. So in 1981, I believe we are talking about Alaska Airlines and Braniff International. Routing may have been Miami (MIA) - Houston (IAH) - Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - Seattle (SEA) - Anchorage (ANC) and the equipment would have been either a B727-100 or B727-200. I'll go with the 72S.
A fine supposition there, JL, and one that may well have been true at a different time. However, per the schedule I reference for this question, we're looking for two entirely different airlines. Houston was one of the cities flown through, but not Dallas or Denver. Additionally, the aircraft of record was not a 727-200. That said, I suspect your tenacity will solve this one very soon. Please, guess again!
20. Back in the fall of 1981, there were two airlines operating propeller powered aircraft between Burbank and Lake Tahoe. One airline operated turbo-props while the other operated piston engine equipment. Can you remember which airlines they were and the aircraft type(s) each airline operated?
Well, I believe we can safely say that Swift Aire never served Lake Tahoe (TVL) and certainly not with the Heron. Who knows.....they may have considered doing so with their new at the time Fokker F27 equipment but I do not think they ever tried going into TVL. I do remember that Sierra Pacific served the Mammoth Mountain ski resort via MMH located down the Sierra Nevada mountain chain from Lake Tahoe with the Convair 440 at one point. So perhaps we are looking for Sierra Pacific here with a CV-440 operating TVL-BUR.
The airline of record - listed as a commuter carrier in the OAG - is Cal Sierra, which I believe is the same airline as Sierra Pacific. The aircraft they operated was indeed a Convair 440 (which Aspen also used to operate on its DEN-ASE schedules prior to its acquisition of the 580s). So then, the two airlines were:
Aspen Airways with a Convair 580 and Cal Sierra with a Convair 440
I remember the interchange partners concerning the through service between Alaska and Texas changed from time to time over the years. Alaska, American, Braniff, Continental and Western were all involved in various two air carrier arrangements for these flights which primarily featured Seattle as the interchange point. So in 1981, I believe we are talking about Alaska Airlines and Braniff International. Routing may have been Miami (MIA) - Houston (IAH) - Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) - Seattle (SEA) - Anchorage (ANC) and the equipment would have been either a B727-100 or B727-200. I'll go with the 72S.
A fine supposition there, JL, and one that may well have been true at a different time. However, per the schedule I reference for this question, we're looking for two entirely different airlines. Houston was one of the cities flown through, but not Dallas or Denver. Additionally, the aircraft of record was not a 727-200. That said, I suspect your tenacity will solve this one very soon. Please, guess again!
20. Back in the fall of 1981, there were two airlines operating propeller powered aircraft between Burbank and Lake Tahoe. One airline operated turbo-props while the other operated piston engine equipment. Can you remember which airlines they were and the aircraft type(s) each airline operated?
Well, I believe we can safely say that Swift Aire never served Lake Tahoe (TVL) and certainly not with the Heron. Who knows.....they may have considered doing so with their new at the time Fokker F27 equipment but I do not think they ever tried going into TVL. I do remember that Sierra Pacific served the Mammoth Mountain ski resort via MMH located down the Sierra Nevada mountain chain from Lake Tahoe with the Convair 440 at one point. So perhaps we are looking for Sierra Pacific here with a CV-440 operating TVL-BUR.
The airline of record - listed as a commuter carrier in the OAG - is Cal Sierra, which I believe is the same airline as Sierra Pacific. The aircraft they operated was indeed a Convair 440 (which Aspen also used to operate on its DEN-ASE schedules prior to its acquisition of the 580s). So then, the two airlines were:
Aspen Airways with a Convair 580 and Cal Sierra with a Convair 440
Dec 7, 2018, 1:07 pm
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8- having ruled out Alaska, American, Braniff, Continental and Western, it seems as though we are down to National and Northwest, with the route being MIA-IAH-LAX-SEA-ANC ... as to the aircraft, we've eliminated both a DC-10 and a 72S, so that would seem to default to a 727-100
Dec 7, 2018, 1:30 pm
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9. It's 1988 and you just got a call from an old college roommate to ask if you could make it out to the Grand Opening celebration of his new guitar shop San Francisco. Well sure, why not?! When is it? Saturday evening at 6:00pm. Right on! A quick check of the March 1988 schedules reveals two airlines offering nonstop service from Kansas City to SFO, one of which offers First Class, the other only coach. You quickly book a First Class seat to San Francisco departing on Saturday morning. Identify the airline as well as the aircraft type to be flown.
I'll say this was Eastern with a 727-225
Eastern did once operate a secondary hub out of MCI. However, per the 1988 schedule I reference they were not operating nonstops between MCI and SFO. Additionally, the airline of record was operating a different aircraft than the 727-200. Please, have another go at this one!
15. It’s 1988 and you’ve been living and working in Milwaukee for three years now. Your job involves a fair bit of travel, and this time your services are requested in Tucson, Arizona. Although there are no nonstop or even direct flights between Milwaukee and Tucson, your travel agent has found an interesting on-line connection involving two twin-engine jets – one of them foreign built, the other American made. Unfortunately no First Class is offered on either of these flights but it’s a quick connection and as an added bonus there are two snacks served enroute. Identify the single airline, the connecting city and the two aircraft types utilized.
Speaking of Kansas City ... how about the last incarnation of Braniff, operating a BAC One-Eleven from MKE to their MCI hub and connecting to a 737-200 to TUS
An excellent guess, J - and a correct! guess as well! Here's the schedule:
BN 159 Milwaukee (MKE) 500p – 659p Kansas City (MCI) B11 S Daily
BN 557 Kansas City (MCI) 715p – 904p Tucson (TUS) 73S S X6
I'll say this was Eastern with a 727-225
Eastern did once operate a secondary hub out of MCI. However, per the 1988 schedule I reference they were not operating nonstops between MCI and SFO. Additionally, the airline of record was operating a different aircraft than the 727-200. Please, have another go at this one!
15. It’s 1988 and you’ve been living and working in Milwaukee for three years now. Your job involves a fair bit of travel, and this time your services are requested in Tucson, Arizona. Although there are no nonstop or even direct flights between Milwaukee and Tucson, your travel agent has found an interesting on-line connection involving two twin-engine jets – one of them foreign built, the other American made. Unfortunately no First Class is offered on either of these flights but it’s a quick connection and as an added bonus there are two snacks served enroute. Identify the single airline, the connecting city and the two aircraft types utilized.
Speaking of Kansas City ... how about the last incarnation of Braniff, operating a BAC One-Eleven from MKE to their MCI hub and connecting to a 737-200 to TUS
An excellent guess, J - and a correct! guess as well! Here's the schedule:
BN 159 Milwaukee (MKE) 500p – 659p Kansas City (MCI) B11 S Daily
BN 557 Kansas City (MCI) 715p – 904p Tucson (TUS) 73S S X6
Dec 7, 2018, 1:36 pm
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8. You’re in Miami about to board a 3 stop flight to Anchorage, Alaska in autumn of 1981. This is an interchange flight involving two airlines. Identify the routing flown as well as the two airlines involved. Feel free to identify the aircraft as well if you wish.
Having ruled out Alaska, American, Braniff, Continental and Western, it seems as though we are down to National and Northwest, with the route being MIA-IAH-LAX-SEA-ANC ... as to the aircraft, we've eliminated both a DC-10 and a 72S, so that would seem to default to a 727-100
By 1981, National was no more and although Northwest was still going strong, it was not involved in this interchange. However, the aircraft of record was indeed a 727-100. I see you answering this one very soon, J...
Having ruled out Alaska, American, Braniff, Continental and Western, it seems as though we are down to National and Northwest, with the route being MIA-IAH-LAX-SEA-ANC ... as to the aircraft, we've eliminated both a DC-10 and a 72S, so that would seem to default to a 727-100
By 1981, National was no more and although Northwest was still going strong, it was not involved in this interchange. However, the aircraft of record was indeed a 727-100. I see you answering this one very soon, J...
Dec 7, 2018, 1:59 pm
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Moving right along...
1. Back in the summer of 1972, what was the largest aircraft operating scheduled commercial airline service into Glasgow (GLA, not Prestwick PIK) What airline operated it and where did it fly into Glasgow from?
A N S W E R E D
2. In the "Good Old Days" United used to operate nonstop DC-8 Jet Mainliner service between Los Angeles and Milwaukee. In early 1986 however, nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Milwaukee are nonexistent. United’s one-stopper through Denver is sold out, so you’ve booked yourself on a two stop flight aboard one of the new crop of airlines that sprung up after deregulation eight years ago. It departs LA at 11:30 am and arrives Milwaukee with plenty of time for dinner with your cousins. Identify the airline and aircraft you’ll be flying upon as well as the two intermediate stops.
3. In early 1965, what was the longest scheduled piston engine powered aircraft flight in North America?
4. Back in the good old days, if you wanted to get from Indianapolis to Ft. Myers, Florida you just called Eastern and hopped on a "Whisperliner" via Atlanta. All of the flights offered First Class back then, too. Now in 1998 there's a local Indianapolis based airline but they are an all-economy class operation. How gauche! Thankfully one airline flies nonstop from Indy to Ft. Myers that still offers First Class. You call them and book a First Class seat on the afternoon departure. Identify the airline and aircraft you’ll be flying upon.
5. In 1981 this U.S. airline’s complete time table shows a total of 28 flights, all of them operating in one direction or another between just two cities with one jet aircraft type. Identify the airline and the equipment it operates.
6. Surf’s up in the Bahamas (or whatever approximates surf down there) and you’re ready to get out of dreary Pittsburgh for a bit of late winter sun and surf. It’s early 1986 and so far as you know there’s never been a nonstop or even direct flight between Pittsburgh and Nassau. Well there is now in the form of a 2-stop direct flight (with a change of gauge) and it even offers First Class. Book it, Danno! Identify the airline and aircraft you’ll be flying upon as well as the two intermediate stops.
7. A thorough perusal of the 1973 North American OAG revealed just three airlines that operated the Hawker Siddeley 748. Which ones were they?
LIAT and AeroMexico have been identified
8. You’re in Miami about to board a 3 stop flight to Anchorage, Alaska in autumn of 1981. This is an interchange flight involving two airlines. Identify the routing flown as well as the two airlines involved. Feel free to identify the aircraft as well if you wish.
A N S W E R E D
9. You just got a call from an old college roommate to ask if you could make it out to the Grand Opening celebration of his new guitar shop San Francisco. Well sure, why not?! When is it? Saturday evening at 6:00pm. Right on! A quick check of the March 1988 schedules reveals two airlines offering nonstop service from Kansas City to SFO, one of which offers First Class, the other only coach. You quickly book a First Class seat to San Francisco departing on Saturday morning. Identify the airline as well as the aircraft type to be flown.
It's not Eastern
10. You live in Montreal and want to take your family to Disney World sometime in early 1986. Although Miami and Tampa have always been well served with nonstop flights from Montreal, Orlando has not. Thank goodness your travel agent managed to book you all in First Class on a direct one-stop flight to Orlando. Unfortunately, it departs from way out at Mirabel International Airport. Surely you know the drill by now: Identify the airline, the aircraft and the single enroute stop.
11. In 1972, Aer Lingus dominates most of the markets served from Dublin. Surprisingly, the Dublin – Manchester market is served by two airlines you would expect – Aer Lingus and BEA – as well as three continental European airlines, all of which fly twin engine jets on the route. Identify each of the three European carriers (one of which offers First Class) and the aircraft they operate.
12. A trip down to your local travel agency has rewarded you with the most recently expired OAG from early 1986. As you excitedly peruse the pages, you are surprised to discover that it’s still possible to fly aboard a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle – departing from a U.S. airport no less. Identify the airline, origin and destination of this rare Caravelle flight.
This flight operates to a Caribbean destination, but not Santo Domingo
13. It used to be that Boeing 707s were a common sight across the azure blue waters of the Caribbean. By 1986 however, just one airline still flies the venerable 707 between the U.S. and a Caribbean destination. The flight departs New York’s JFK each Saturday morning at 9:00am, flying nonstop to its destination. Identify the airline and the Caribbean destination served.
14. It’s early 1986 and you’re ready for some fun in Las Vegas. Although you usually fly out of Detroit aboard one of the major airlines, this time you’ve booked yourself a direct one stop flight to Vegas aboard an airline that you’ve never heard of. As an added bonus, you’ve splurged and booked a seat in First Class. Identify the airline, the aircraft and the single enroute stop.
15. In 1965, only one U.S. airline was operating both the Vickers Viscount and the Fokker F.27 simultaneously. Which airline was it?
A N S W E R E D
16. Remember back in 1986 when you were planning to drive from your home outside Sacramento to have lunch with your sister in San Francisco, but given the morning traffic and the paucity of parking spaces, you decided to fly instead? Best of all, instead of the usual single aisle jet or prop, you managed to book yourself a seat aboard an honest to God widebody aircraft. That was a great flight for such a short route. Identify the airline and aircraft you flew upon.
17. It’s early 1973 and you’ve been living in the Bahamas for five years. Your job has you commuting regularly between Nassau and Freeport. Your favored schedule has you flying from Nassau to Freeport on one airline and back to Nassau on another. Both airlines operate turboprop equipment. Identify the two airlines and the respective turbo props each operates.
18. The year is 1998. You’re in Mexico City and you’re looking to fly up to Winnipeg, Canada. Now here’s where it gets fun – You’ve come up with a fairly straight-line itinerary (no wildly zig-zagging routings – they don’t count and never will with my questions) utilizing four flights aboard four different airlines, all of which will be operated with the DC-9-10. Thinking about the airlines that still operate the DC-9-10, here are some additional hints:
19. Awright now, here’s your challenge: It’s 1998. You live in Montreal, Quebec and you want to fly to Los Angeles, California with all of the flights being aboard 4-engine jets. The problem is there just aren’t all that many 4-engine jets left flying around these big broad countries we live in. Even so, you’ve found a routing utilizing two airlines involving a single connection, although you will have to overnight at the connecting point. The flight to the connecting city has one enroute stop. Can you figure out the airlines, aircraft and the routing? I’m pretty sure it is the only way to fly all 4 engine jets between Montreal and LA.
The enroute stops are in North America. No 747s are involved. First Class is available on one of the airlines...
20. It’s 1986 and you need to travel from The Motor City (DTW) to The Crescent City (MSY) for the annual Jazz Fest. One airline offers a great fare with a one-stop direct service. Alas, it is the only airline amongst the various options that doesn’t offer First Class, but the price is right. Identify the airline, aircraft and the single enroute stop.
Bonus Trivia Question: What is the combined mileage of all of the taxiways and runways at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport?
1. Back in the summer of 1972, what was the largest aircraft operating scheduled commercial airline service into Glasgow (GLA, not Prestwick PIK) What airline operated it and where did it fly into Glasgow from?
A N S W E R E D
2. In the "Good Old Days" United used to operate nonstop DC-8 Jet Mainliner service between Los Angeles and Milwaukee. In early 1986 however, nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Milwaukee are nonexistent. United’s one-stopper through Denver is sold out, so you’ve booked yourself on a two stop flight aboard one of the new crop of airlines that sprung up after deregulation eight years ago. It departs LA at 11:30 am and arrives Milwaukee with plenty of time for dinner with your cousins. Identify the airline and aircraft you’ll be flying upon as well as the two intermediate stops.
3. In early 1965, what was the longest scheduled piston engine powered aircraft flight in North America?
4. Back in the good old days, if you wanted to get from Indianapolis to Ft. Myers, Florida you just called Eastern and hopped on a "Whisperliner" via Atlanta. All of the flights offered First Class back then, too. Now in 1998 there's a local Indianapolis based airline but they are an all-economy class operation. How gauche! Thankfully one airline flies nonstop from Indy to Ft. Myers that still offers First Class. You call them and book a First Class seat on the afternoon departure. Identify the airline and aircraft you’ll be flying upon.
5. In 1981 this U.S. airline’s complete time table shows a total of 28 flights, all of them operating in one direction or another between just two cities with one jet aircraft type. Identify the airline and the equipment it operates.
6. Surf’s up in the Bahamas (or whatever approximates surf down there) and you’re ready to get out of dreary Pittsburgh for a bit of late winter sun and surf. It’s early 1986 and so far as you know there’s never been a nonstop or even direct flight between Pittsburgh and Nassau. Well there is now in the form of a 2-stop direct flight (with a change of gauge) and it even offers First Class. Book it, Danno! Identify the airline and aircraft you’ll be flying upon as well as the two intermediate stops.
7. A thorough perusal of the 1973 North American OAG revealed just three airlines that operated the Hawker Siddeley 748. Which ones were they?
LIAT and AeroMexico have been identified
8. You’re in Miami about to board a 3 stop flight to Anchorage, Alaska in autumn of 1981. This is an interchange flight involving two airlines. Identify the routing flown as well as the two airlines involved. Feel free to identify the aircraft as well if you wish.
A N S W E R E D
9. You just got a call from an old college roommate to ask if you could make it out to the Grand Opening celebration of his new guitar shop San Francisco. Well sure, why not?! When is it? Saturday evening at 6:00pm. Right on! A quick check of the March 1988 schedules reveals two airlines offering nonstop service from Kansas City to SFO, one of which offers First Class, the other only coach. You quickly book a First Class seat to San Francisco departing on Saturday morning. Identify the airline as well as the aircraft type to be flown.
It's not Eastern
10. You live in Montreal and want to take your family to Disney World sometime in early 1986. Although Miami and Tampa have always been well served with nonstop flights from Montreal, Orlando has not. Thank goodness your travel agent managed to book you all in First Class on a direct one-stop flight to Orlando. Unfortunately, it departs from way out at Mirabel International Airport. Surely you know the drill by now: Identify the airline, the aircraft and the single enroute stop.
11. In 1972, Aer Lingus dominates most of the markets served from Dublin. Surprisingly, the Dublin – Manchester market is served by two airlines you would expect – Aer Lingus and BEA – as well as three continental European airlines, all of which fly twin engine jets on the route. Identify each of the three European carriers (one of which offers First Class) and the aircraft they operate.
12. A trip down to your local travel agency has rewarded you with the most recently expired OAG from early 1986. As you excitedly peruse the pages, you are surprised to discover that it’s still possible to fly aboard a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle – departing from a U.S. airport no less. Identify the airline, origin and destination of this rare Caravelle flight.
This flight operates to a Caribbean destination, but not Santo Domingo
13. It used to be that Boeing 707s were a common sight across the azure blue waters of the Caribbean. By 1986 however, just one airline still flies the venerable 707 between the U.S. and a Caribbean destination. The flight departs New York’s JFK each Saturday morning at 9:00am, flying nonstop to its destination. Identify the airline and the Caribbean destination served.
14. It’s early 1986 and you’re ready for some fun in Las Vegas. Although you usually fly out of Detroit aboard one of the major airlines, this time you’ve booked yourself a direct one stop flight to Vegas aboard an airline that you’ve never heard of. As an added bonus, you’ve splurged and booked a seat in First Class. Identify the airline, the aircraft and the single enroute stop.
15. In 1965, only one U.S. airline was operating both the Vickers Viscount and the Fokker F.27 simultaneously. Which airline was it?
A N S W E R E D
16. Remember back in 1986 when you were planning to drive from your home outside Sacramento to have lunch with your sister in San Francisco, but given the morning traffic and the paucity of parking spaces, you decided to fly instead? Best of all, instead of the usual single aisle jet or prop, you managed to book yourself a seat aboard an honest to God widebody aircraft. That was a great flight for such a short route. Identify the airline and aircraft you flew upon.
17. It’s early 1973 and you’ve been living in the Bahamas for five years. Your job has you commuting regularly between Nassau and Freeport. Your favored schedule has you flying from Nassau to Freeport on one airline and back to Nassau on another. Both airlines operate turboprop equipment. Identify the two airlines and the respective turbo props each operates.
18. The year is 1998. You’re in Mexico City and you’re looking to fly up to Winnipeg, Canada. Now here’s where it gets fun – You’ve come up with a fairly straight-line itinerary (no wildly zig-zagging routings – they don’t count and never will with my questions) utilizing four flights aboard four different airlines, all of which will be operated with the DC-9-10. Thinking about the airlines that still operate the DC-9-10, here are some additional hints:
- One of the connecting cities is in Mexico, which means a domestic Mexican flight, which means a Mexican airline out of MEX.
- The flight from the Mexican connecting city has one intermediate stop enroute to Dallas where you’ll overnight.
- From Dallas you’ll fly nonstop to the next connecting city. The flight from that city to Winnipeg has one intermediate stop.
- We know that the first connecting point is MTY. Aero California gets you there, followed by Continental to Dallas
- Aeromexico and Midwest Express are not airlines of record. Northwest is involved at some point.
19. Awright now, here’s your challenge: It’s 1998. You live in Montreal, Quebec and you want to fly to Los Angeles, California with all of the flights being aboard 4-engine jets. The problem is there just aren’t all that many 4-engine jets left flying around these big broad countries we live in. Even so, you’ve found a routing utilizing two airlines involving a single connection, although you will have to overnight at the connecting point. The flight to the connecting city has one enroute stop. Can you figure out the airlines, aircraft and the routing? I’m pretty sure it is the only way to fly all 4 engine jets between Montreal and LA.
The enroute stops are in North America. No 747s are involved. First Class is available on one of the airlines...
20. It’s 1986 and you need to travel from The Motor City (DTW) to The Crescent City (MSY) for the annual Jazz Fest. One airline offers a great fare with a one-stop direct service. Alas, it is the only airline amongst the various options that doesn’t offer First Class, but the price is right. Identify the airline, aircraft and the single enroute stop.
Bonus Trivia Question: What is the combined mileage of all of the taxiways and runways at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport?
Last edited by Seat 2A; Dec 8, 2018 at 1:56 pm
Dec 7, 2018, 3:19 pm
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Moving right along...
8. You’re in Miami about to board a 3 stop flight to Anchorage, Alaska in autumn of 1981. This is an interchange flight involving two airlines. Identify the routing flown as well as the two airlines involved. Feel free to identify the aircraft as well if you wish.
The airlines involved are not AS, BN, CO, NA, NW or WA. The aircraft is a 727-100
15. In 1965, only one U.S. airline was operating both the Vickers Viscount and the Fokker F.27 simultaneously. Which airline was it?
8. You’re in Miami about to board a 3 stop flight to Anchorage, Alaska in autumn of 1981. This is an interchange flight involving two airlines. Identify the routing flown as well as the two airlines involved. Feel free to identify the aircraft as well if you wish.
The airlines involved are not AS, BN, CO, NA, NW or WA. The aircraft is a 727-100
15. In 1965, only one U.S. airline was operating both the Vickers Viscount and the Fokker F.27 simultaneously. Which airline was it?
15. Hmmmmmm....if we substitute a Fairchild F-27 for the Fokker, the answer just might be Aloha Airlines.
Dec 7, 2018, 3:55 pm
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8. You’re in Miami about to board a 3 stop flight to Anchorage, Alaska in autumn of 1981. This is an interchange flight involving two airlines. Identify the routing flown as well as the two airlines involved. Feel free to identify the aircraft as well if you wish.
The airlines involved are not AS, BN, CO, NA, NW or WA. The aircraft is a 727-100
Time for an exceptionally wild guess: Pan Am operating MIA-MSY-IAH-SEA and Wien Air Alaska operating SEA-ANC....all with a 727.
Not so wild. Indeed, it's pretty much all that was left! I remember flying Wien from Seattle nonstop up to Kodiak in 1980. Pan Am provided the meals. I didn't know they had more of a connection than that until recently. Here's the schedule:
Pan Am PA 991 Miami (MIA) 1250p-152p Lunch New Orleans (MSY) 225p-335p Houston (IAH) 415p-642p Dinner
Wien Air Alaska WC 991 Seattle (SEA) 715p-830p Snack Anchorage (ANC) Boeing 727-100 Daily
I don't know which airline provided the aircraft for this flight. I do know that I don't recall ever seeing a Pan Am 727 parked at ANC, much less SEA...
15. In 1965, only one U.S. airline was operating both the Vickers Viscount and the Fokker F.27 simultaneously. Which airline was it?
Hmmmmmm....if we substitute a Fairchild F-27 for the Fokker, the answer just might be Aloha Airlines.
Thanks for the correction, there. Aloha it is.
Bonus Question: Identify possibly the only other U.S. airline to operate both the Viscount and the FH-227 family of aircraft - though not necessarily at the same time.
The airlines involved are not AS, BN, CO, NA, NW or WA. The aircraft is a 727-100
Time for an exceptionally wild guess: Pan Am operating MIA-MSY-IAH-SEA and Wien Air Alaska operating SEA-ANC....all with a 727.
Not so wild. Indeed, it's pretty much all that was left! I remember flying Wien from Seattle nonstop up to Kodiak in 1980. Pan Am provided the meals. I didn't know they had more of a connection than that until recently. Here's the schedule:
Pan Am PA 991 Miami (MIA) 1250p-152p Lunch New Orleans (MSY) 225p-335p Houston (IAH) 415p-642p Dinner
Wien Air Alaska WC 991 Seattle (SEA) 715p-830p Snack Anchorage (ANC) Boeing 727-100 Daily
I don't know which airline provided the aircraft for this flight. I do know that I don't recall ever seeing a Pan Am 727 parked at ANC, much less SEA...
15. In 1965, only one U.S. airline was operating both the Vickers Viscount and the Fokker F.27 simultaneously. Which airline was it?
Hmmmmmm....if we substitute a Fairchild F-27 for the Fokker, the answer just might be Aloha Airlines.
Thanks for the correction, there. Aloha it is.
Bonus Question: Identify possibly the only other U.S. airline to operate both the Viscount and the FH-227 family of aircraft - though not necessarily at the same time.
Dec 7, 2018, 6:39 pm
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Bonus Question: I think this was Northeast with regard to the Viscount and the Fairchild Hiller FH-227. And, of course, when Delta acquired NE, DL then operated the FH-227 for a short time which was the only passenger turboprop ever flown by Delta (I recall the airline also operated all-cargo L-100 turboprop freighters, the civil version of the Hercules).
Plus, I must admit I had absolutely no idea that Pan Am and Wien operated interchange service at one point with a 727!
Plus, I must admit I had absolutely no idea that Pan Am and Wien operated interchange service at one point with a 727!
Dec 7, 2018, 6:58 pm
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I should have remembered the Pan Am component of this interchange because I took that IAH-SEA flight in Nov 1980
Dec 7, 2018, 7:07 pm
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the trip on the Hawker was from Chicago Meigs Field (CGX) to Carbondale (MDH), with stops at Capital City airport in Springfield (CAP) and Centralia (ENL)
Dec 7, 2018, 7:36 pm
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Bonus Question: I think this was Northeast with regard to the Viscount and the Fairchild Hiller FH-227. And, of course, when Delta acquired NE, DL then operated the FH-227 for a short time which was the only passenger turboprop ever flown by Delta (I recall the airline also operated all-cargo L-100 turboprop freighters, the civil version of the Hercules).
That's right. We didn't see a lot of Viscount operators here in the U.S. I remember a couple of secondary operators such as Royal American and Atlantic Gulf, but sadly I missed my chance to get a flight aboard the Viscount. I would like to have seen the world through those gigantic windows.
Plus, I must admit I had absolutely no idea that Pan Am and Wien operated interchange service at one point with a 727!
Yeah, it caught me by surprise as well. I could see Pan Am in an interchange or three but I never knew Wien to be in any.
That's right. We didn't see a lot of Viscount operators here in the U.S. I remember a couple of secondary operators such as Royal American and Atlantic Gulf, but sadly I missed my chance to get a flight aboard the Viscount. I would like to have seen the world through those gigantic windows.
Plus, I must admit I had absolutely no idea that Pan Am and Wien operated interchange service at one point with a 727!
Yeah, it caught me by surprise as well. I could see Pan Am in an interchange or three but I never knew Wien to be in any.
Dec 7, 2018, 7:54 pm
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7. A thorough perusal of the 1973 North American OAG revealed just three airlines that operated the Hawker Siddeley 748. Which ones were they?
I’m reasonably sure of Air Illinois since I flew on their ill-fated N748LL in June of 1974; I’ll posit Cascade and Quebecair as the other two.
You might want to revisit the memory banks on that UX flight, J. So far as I know, Air Illinois didn't acquire the 748 until 1978. Any chance you might have flown upon a Twin Otter? Similarly, Cascade's two 748s weren't acquired until 1981. I flew upon ship 117 in October of 1984. I'm not sure of the timeline on Quebecair's 748s but they don't show up in my 1973 OAG. I believe they were late additions to Quebecair's fleet, acquired after the BAC-1-11s were withdrawn in the early 1980s. WHBM would likely know for sure...
In any event, thanks for getting this one rolling. Please guess again!
I’m reasonably sure of Air Illinois since I flew on their ill-fated N748LL in June of 1974; I’ll posit Cascade and Quebecair as the other two.
You might want to revisit the memory banks on that UX flight, J. So far as I know, Air Illinois didn't acquire the 748 until 1978. Any chance you might have flown upon a Twin Otter? Similarly, Cascade's two 748s weren't acquired until 1981. I flew upon ship 117 in October of 1984. I'm not sure of the timeline on Quebecair's 748s but they don't show up in my 1973 OAG. I believe they were late additions to Quebecair's fleet, acquired after the BAC-1-11s were withdrawn in the early 1980s. WHBM would likely know for sure...
In any event, thanks for getting this one rolling. Please guess again!
Dec 7, 2018, 8:01 pm
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7. A thorough perusal of the 1973 North American OAG revealed just three airlines that operated the Hawker Siddeley 748. Which ones were they?