This post is motivated by a few recent comments and sightings of Austrian a/c (e.g. Dash 8 and DC9/MD80), recently shared in this Forum posts. And, as far back as I can remember, since the earliest days of my aviation interest, the Austrian Airlines' characteristic red (chevron) arrow logo (both the the older design, see MD-80 shots, below, or the newer one, see Dash 8 shots, below) have always stood out for me.

Also, a while ago I'd made a post about Swiss Air Lines...an airline for which its historic (past) Swissair's loyalty to Douglas and McDonnell Douglas a/c is legendary. Consider this: Swissair had deployed nearly all (commercial) Douglas variants (DC-2/3/4/6/7/8/9/10) plus MD-11 and MD-80. On Oct 10 (1980), MD-81, the first production model of MD-80/(DC-9-80) series, had first gone into service, for Swissair. Austrian was not far behind, being a launch customer of MD-80, and, in fact, was the first to fly the longer-range variant of MD-81 just two weeks later, on Oct 26. Austrian was also the motivator behind the development of the (shorter-fuselage but longer-range) MD-87 variant, and was its launch customer. As side note, the (deservedly) "Mad Dog" nickname of the MD came not only from its initials but also probably because those JT8Ds took off like a rocket and made a substantial amount of (barking) noise...! And, of course, there has been also the (implied) connection to the (strikingly colorful Kool-Aid look-alike cheap wine) MD 20/20...🙂....

Anyway, I'd noted, for myself, that the flag carrier of Austria, Switzerland's neighbor to the east, was also a prolific user of DC9s and MD80s. Austrian, though officially founded in 1957, traces (one of its) genetic roots (formation of Austrian Airways) way back to May, 1923, barely less than 4 years past the founding of the world's oldest (operating) Airline, KLM. Any airline that's currently nearing 100 years from its (official or unofficial) origin, must exhibit the broadest (and most fascinating) spectrum of a/c and fleet evolution throughout its history...! Austrian is no exception...!

On 14 May 1923, the newborn Austrian Airways had taken to the sky for the first time, on the wings of a Junkers-13 (an all-metal and most advanced plane of the time), from Vienna (LOWW) to Munich (EDDM). Then, in January 1958, the (official) Austrian would conduct its first scheduled service, flying a leased Vickers Viscount, world's first turboprop, from Vienna to London. Next, regarding jets, you may try to take a guess at Austrian's very first jet plane, introduced in 1963 (Hint: It was a stunningly beautiful a/c with the most unique and distinctive "teardrop" windows...),...or, for answer, please just see its images below...🙂...(btw, do notice the teardrop shaped cabin windows). Caravelle was a true pioneer. Among the pack of four aft-mounted twinjets (BAC 1-11, Sud Caravelle, Douglas DC9, Fokker 28), Caravelle was the first to fly, more than eight years ahead of the BAC 1-11.

Hope you enjoys this sample of images, below, of a/c, in Austrian colors, providing glimpses into the remarkable history of this airline (especially if you're not well-versed in Austrian, which I'm not either...🙂...). So, please find 8 images of the Dash 8 Q400 and 6 images of MD-81 lifting off, and 6 images of Caravelle, in mid-flight. I've added twilight effects to accentuate, a bit, the Caravelle, a plane, consistently ranked at the top of the list of the most aesthetically pleasing airliners, ever created...!

Today, the 777-200ERs form the backbone of Austrian's long-haul fleet. And, as already noted in another post, when the Tyrolean Dash 8 Q400s were retired (replaced by E195s) this year (2021), Austrian became an all-jet airline...! You may look for the "Operated by Tyrolean" (fine) print, in the front fuselage of my Austrian Dash 8 pictures below, under the Star Alliance logo.

So, from Junkers 13 to Boeing 777 (and all the props and jets, in between)..., a most fascinating and wild journey it must have been, for Austrian...!

Thanks for your interest and comments are welcome...!! Please look for Austrian B777 in my Part II.

[MJC (Dash-8 Q400), F1 (Super 80), AFG (Caravelle VI-R), REX]

Great pics of our flag carrier´s aircraft!

I remember when I was a kid sitting on our airport´s restaurant terrace, enjoying my ice cream and watching the then impressive Austrian Hs.748´s departing to Linz and Salzburg. Nowadays, these short regional hops are not served by plane any more. High speed trains have taken over.

Later, Austrian DC-9s and MD-80s took me to various european holiday destinations and - owed to the revolution in Romania - an Austrian Airbus 310 instead of a Tarom Boeing 707 (!) took me to New York. What a difference 🙂

Currently, Austrian Airlines are restructuring their fleet and have sold three of their four ex Lauda Air 767´s to the US, where they are being "butchered" for spare parts.

So I´m gladly waiting for your part 2 of Austrian history 👍

Thanks, duesenwerni...!!

Learned a tiny bit more about Austrian,...being an outsider...🙂....and, you're right, the (cumulative) variety of a/c (props/jets) used by the Airline is quite impressive, indeed,...!

Hope you like the "Heart of Europe"...🙂...Good day...!

Amazing shots! 😉 

Absolutely, great set of shots with a nice mix of planes !

cheers 😉

Thank you, pmplayer, Alaska,...it was both a bit investigative and educative....and good fun...!

Really nice.  I miss that old Dash 8 in the new sim 🙂

On 9/14/2021 at 9:04 PM, ryanbatcund said:

Really nice.  I miss that old Dash 8 in the new sim 🙂

Thanks, Ryan...! You call it "old" but it remains a modern classic of a (trend-setting) Turboprop simulation...🙂...

I recall you used to fly and post about it...(hope you get a new one)....

XP11-Simmers will enjoy the all new FlyJSim Q400 pretty soon 😃