Simple Trivia Quiz
 

While we're all wracking our brains over the last few scheduling questions still unanswered, here's one that should be a gimme for many (and, admittedly, a head-scratcher for others).

What service in the 1960s was likely the shortest scheduled route ever operated in the US, possibly anywhere? Aircraft changed over the years, so airline -- including its 2-letter code -- and locations will suffice.

Just one hint: this segment was not offered for sale but could be deduced from the timetable.

How about OAK-SFO? I once flew on a Hughes Air West DC-9 LAS-OAK-SFO. JFK-LGA is the same distance (11 miles), but I can't recall any flights on that route.

I was going to mention OAK-SFO (or v-v) that UA certainly operated with a 727 and available as a standalone ticket. IIRC, there were posting of helicopter flight schedules between the two on the main OT thread.

Shorter even that that! Several airlines did operate SFO-OAK-xxx at various times -- I've been on a few of those myself -- and it was certainly was available for sale on the helicopter (and, in many cases, free if there was an interline connection). I believe New York Helicopter offered JFK-LGA service (triangle service among the three major airports, with ever-changing downtown heliports as well).

Pay attention to the original hint, and I'll let you know you have one airport right.

PIE-TPA on MK?

Nope. Remember that the first two had one airport correct -- but which one?

Another hint: someone (nobody in particular, just someone) is sure to accuse me of posting a trick question!

Shorter than WRY - PPW on LM? That's 1.8 miles (2.7km).

Well, the only tricky bit is that one of the airports in question is no longer used for commercial flights, and was very briefly used for such even if it was. If such, my guess is OAK-HWD (7 miles). As for which airline if so, I have no clue,

FWIW, it seems there are a surprising number of close-by U.S. airport pairs that are "11 miles" apart (according to gcmap.com).

Two more hints, one fairly cryptic:

1. The airline in question has been mentioned, but not by name.
2. The original question is worded very carefully to not use a specific word that everyone is assuming.

Yep, shorter than that!

I'll give y'all one more day, and if there are no more guesses I'll assume everyone's getting frustrated. Given that today is the weekend, I'll allow that folks may have other obligations (I spent the day turning in a rather poor performance in a cribbage tournament).

If hint #1 is the cryptic one, I think it's actually not cryptic at all and confirms my first guess that the airline in question is SFO Helicopter Airlines. And I'm sure hint #2 refers to the fact that all airplanes are aircraft but not all aircraft are airplanes. SFO Helicopter Airlines flying rotorcraft of course.

But where did this Sikorsky S-61 go?That's one short flight.

I'm looking at an old SF sectional chart and, based on that, will guess KSFO to the SF Coast Guard base.

Revised guess: KOAK to Downtown Oakland Heliport (old sectionals don't show airport identifier codes)

According to the Wikipedia entry for the airline, the Downtown Oakland Heliport atop the AlcoPark garage was coded JOK.

I will let my last guess stand so we can start eliminating airports/heliports but I imagine it is wrong as I should know that OAK (even the present day GA area/north field; not sure when the newer airline terminal complex and massive fill in the bay to create runway 11/29 were completed) to downtown Oakland is more than 1.8 miles.

Here's an article on the defunct heliport complete with photo of an SFO Helicopter helicopter:
https://localwiki.org/oakland/Heliport

Did the helicopter airline ever fly between JOK and JFZ (Oakland Hyatt Heliport), perhaps as a stub to or from SFO?