Airlift International
![]() | |||||||
| |||||||
Founded | 1945 in Miami, Florida | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ceased operations | 1991 | ||||||
Destinations | Puerto Rico, Chicago, New York and Detroit | ||||||
Headquarters | Miami International Airport |
Airlift International was an American airline that operated from 1945 to 1991. Airlift's headquarters were on the grounds of Miami International Airport in unincorporated Dade County, Florida.[1]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Douglas_DC-7C_Seven_Seas%2C_Riddle_Airlines_JP7357286.jpg/220px-Douglas_DC-7C_Seven_Seas%2C_Riddle_Airlines_JP7357286.jpg)
Airlift International was founded as Riddle Airlines by John Paul Riddle in 1945 in Miami, Florida as a charter and freight airline.[2] In 1965, Riddle Airlines was renamed to Airlift International.[3] In 1968, Airlift expanded and acquired Slick Airways.[3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Fairchild_FH.227C_N374RD_Airlift_FLL_13.11.89_edited-2.jpg/220px-Fairchild_FH.227C_N374RD_Airlift_FLL_13.11.89_edited-2.jpg)
The first flights were between Miami and Puerto Rico using Curtiss C-46 and Douglas DC-4 aircraft. In 1951 it expanded services to serve New York City. Then the route system was expanded to include Chicago and Detroit. In 1960 two Douglas DC-7 were added to the fleet and with those aircraft were used for charter flights to Europe, including charters for the military.
The next aircraft type to join the fleet was the Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy dedicated cargo aircraft, but those were replaced in 1963 by the Douglas DC-8. Further aircraft used were the L-1049 Super Constellation, the Canadair CL-44, the Lockheed L-382 Hercules, the Boeing 707, and the Boeing 727-100QC.
The freight schedule was augmented by charter flights to South America and the military but by 1981 Airlift International went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy for reorganization. Following the reorganization the DC-8-54, the Fairchild FH-227 and F-27 models were used.
Due to financial problems during 1990 and 1991, Airlift International ceased operations in June 1991.[3]
Fleet
- Boeing 707-300C
- Boeing 727-100QC
- Curtiss C-46 Commando
- Douglas DC-6A
- Douglas DC-7-CF
- Douglas DC-8-51F
- Douglas DC-8-54F
- Douglas DC-8-61
- Douglas DC-8-63F
- Douglas DC-8-73F
- Fairchild F27
- Fairchild FH-227C
See also
References
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 14–20 March 1990 "Airlift International" 57.
- ^ "Aerofiles: Airlines of North America N-Z".
- ^ a b c "Aerofiles: Airlines of North America A-M".
- v
- t
- e
- ABX Air
- Air Cargo Carriers
- Air Transport International
- AirNet Express
- Alaska Central Express
- Aloha Air Cargo
- Alpine Air Express
- Amazon Air
- Ameriflight
- Amerijet International
- Ameristar Jet Charter
- Asia Pacific Airlines
- Atlas Air
- Baron Aviation Services
- Bemidji Airlines
- Castle Aviation
- Corporate Air
- CSA Air
- Empire Airlines
- Everts Air Cargo
- FedEx Express
- Freight Runners Express
- Kalitta Air
- Kalitta Charters II
- Lynden Air Cargo
- Martinaire
- Merlin Airways
- Mountain Air Cargo
- National Airlines
- Northern Air Cargo
- Polar Air Cargo
- Royal Air Freight
- Ryan Air Services
- Sky Lease Cargo
- Transair
- UPS Airlines
- USA Jet Airlines
- West Air
- Western Global Airlines
- Wiggins Airways
- Air Charter Bahamas
- Airstream Jets
- Alerion Aviation
- Berry Aviation
- Bighorn Airways
- Choice Airways
- Contour Aviation
- Eastern Airlines
- ExcelAire
- Gryphon Airlines
- Hillwood Airways
- IBC Airways
- KaiserAir
- L-3 Flight International Aviation
- NetJets
- New Pacific Airlines
- Omni Air International
- Pacific Coast Jet
- Pentastar Aviation
- Phoenix Air
- PlaneSense
- Presidential Airways
- Regional Sky
- Sierra Pacific Airlines
- Skymax
- Superior Air Charter
- Superior Aviation
- Talkeetna Air Taxi
- Wheels Up
- World Atlantic Airlines
- XOJET
- Comco
- Janet
- JPATS
- Patriot Express
![]() | This article relating to a United States airline is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- v
- t
- e