Group" National Airlines the original one was based in Miami and was a rival to Eastern Airlines. National Airlines was the first airline to enter the jet age with a DC-8 and beat out pan Am which used the Boeing 707. National Airlines under the helm of Maytag grew to and international carrier with DC-10's that were used to Europe, and they were (national) the ones that were awarded the routes to South America that were transferred to Eastern. When National merged with Pan Am, so pan Am could have domestic routes the name national with its symbol of the sunface was put to bed. The Second National airlines was Private jet Expeditions which went from a charter airline into scheduled service and purchased the name. In the mid 90's that airline folded and the name was put up for sale and that is how the name national became the National Airlines that was based in Las Vegas using 757's. As for Airlift international they were also based in Miami and they were originally Slick Airways. At one time National and Airlift had an agreement to swap aircraft. Airlift which used DC-8 and was cargo needed a passenger aircraft for Mil charters and National provided them with a 727, I know due to I was with Airlift International. Regards, John W. Swiman