Ah, that's the name: Private Jet Expeditions that operated as National for a short period of time. You may have been with Airlift but National was certainly not the first airline to enter the jet age. National operated the first DOMESTIC jet service from Noo Yawk to Miami with a leased Pan Am B707 that scooped much bigger Eastern for a winter season or two. Pan Am had been operating the B707's internationally but the winter seasons were slow for them on the European routes and they could easily afford to part with some aircraft to National who needed the aircraft for the busy tourist season in South Florida. The DC8's arrived after the leased B707 winter escapades. Further, I believe National started service to London with DC8's until they got the DC10's. After the DC10's arrived they were awarded international routes to Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich and Amsterdam. I never recall National getting any routes to South America. Eastern acquired their South American routes from Braniff, and American in turn got the routes from Eastern. Jose Prize Fan of history undistorted Fan of seeing the first 707 on the National base the first day Fan of seeing the first National DC8 on approach to MIA In a message dated 7/15/2003 9:57:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Rinoflite@xxxxxxx writes: > Subj: Re: Airlift/National Question > Date: 7/15/2003 9:57:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time > From: <A HREF="mailto:Rinoflite@xxxxxxx";>Rinoflite@xxxxxxx</A> > Reply-to: <A HREF="mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx";>AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</A> > To: <A HREF="mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx";>AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</A> > Sent from the Internet > > 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 >