John What happened to Riddle? Al ----- Original Message ----- From: "John W. Swiman" <Rinoflite@xxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 9:57 PM Subject: Re: Airlift/National Question > 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 >