First of all, by Bonanza, here, I do not mean our much-adored Beech Bonanza (nor the much maligned but classic V-Tail...), but I'm referring to "Bonanza Air Lines"...a little-known (small) local-service carrier that operated for over two decades in Southwestern U.S. (and Mexico), in the 50s and 60s, and actually, has its entity been dissolved into today's Delta Airlines...! I knew of Bonanza Air Lines before, but was (indirectly) led to it today, via a freeware repaint of a "Pacific Air Lines" Martin 404 (see the first shot, below). Years ago, while visiting the Airline History Museum (Kansas City, MO), with the (primary) intention of touring the Lockheed (TWA) L-1049 exhibit there, I was drawn to another (smaller) but bold and beautiful looking twin-prop, showcased right next to it...a Martin 4-0-4. I liked the look of that plane so much that I bought a book from their gift-shop titled "THE Martinliners". The book's front cover shows a "Pacific Air Lines" Martin 404, just what, coincidentally, I found, at the top of popular uploads, in the library today...!

Pacific Air Lines was also a "local service" carrier on the West Coast, originally started by funding from the Hollywood Investors, including James (Jimmy) Stewart of "It's a Wonderful Life" fame. In the shot #1, below, of the Martin 404, notice the (proud) "Four O Four" marking on the rear fuselage. The Martin 404s were among the last (if not the last) of the Piston-Prop engined airliners in U.S. Pacific Air Lines would later move on to the Turboprop era with Fairchild F-27 (U.S. built Fokker F27 Friendship), the subject aircraft of this post. And here is the connection between "Pacific Air Lines" and "Bonanza Air Lines", and beyond, in the evolution chain, all the way to today's Delta: Pacific Air Lines (Merged with Bonanza Air Lines and West Coast Airlines) -> (Formed) Air West -> (Renamed) Hughes Airwest -> (Bought by) Republic Airlines -> (Acquired by) Northwest Airlines -> (Merged with) Delta Air Lines.

Bonanza Air Lines had started operations by transporting people from around Navada's small towns to the Casinos and Hotels of Las Vegas. And Hughes Airwest was owned (with company slogan "Top Banana in the West"...🙂...see my pictures in Part 2) by Howard Hughes...

So, in the pictures, you see below (and in my Part 2), of these three classic airlines, long erased-from-history, "Pacific Air Lines", "Bonanza Air Lines" and "Hughes Airwest", have their genetic roots carried forward to today's Delta Air Lines...!

In this post, I take a flight, in Northern California, in which skies, all these three above airlines must have roamed one day. My short (~100 nms) flight starts with a Bonanza Air Lines "Silver Dart" Fairchild F-27 lifting off KRDD (Redding Municipal Airport in Shasta County, California) heading straight up north ~55 nms for a rendezvous with the awe-inspiring, solitary, and mythical ~14,000 ft active stratovolcano...Mt Shasta...dominating the skyline. This mountain consists of four overlapping volcanic cones, forming together a complex and broad shape... (see my pictures of it, from the cockpit and external views, here and in Part 2).

Regarding Fokker F27 Friendship, I am especially fond of it, maybe because of my respect and interest for the Flying Dutchman...🙂...The Fairchild F-27 (see the designation marking on the tail of the Bonanza, below) was essentially same as the Fokker F27 but license-built in the United States. One of the differences was the Fairchild F-27's longer nose, which accommodated a weather radar (On my close-up (Bonanza) shots, you may notice the marking "RADAR EQUIPPED" just to the left of the Exit door). Bonanza Air Lines had operated 11 Fairchild F-27s. Both the Fokker F27 Friendship and the Fairchild F-27 had advanced avionics for their time (see interior [VC] shots, below), and were powered by the legendary Rolls-Royce Dart engines, the ones that had previously powered the world's first scheduled turboprop (airline) flight, with the Vickers Viscount.

For this flight, I've performed a (Tutorial based) Cold & Dark start-up of the F-27 on the tarmac at KRDD (see shots). It was a fun flight with such an enjoyable a/c that has a look some might consider a bit peculiar and atypical, but the a/c was indeed one of the most successful European airliners of its era... (thanks to JF for producing this Dutch classic) ...

I conclude this post, and the images below, as I near Mt. Shasta...Next, please also see my follow-up post for pictures from the rest of my flight...in a (yellow) Hughes Airwest Fairchild F-27...!

Thanks for your interest...! Good flying...!!

Edited October 15, 20223 yr by P_7878

Bonanza Airlines ………first thing that comes to mind is Ben Cartwright . 😉

59 minutes ago, johnbow72 said:

Bonanza Airlines ………first thing that comes to mind is Ben Cartwright . 😉

😃😃 and Little Joe 😃

Interesting story and great pics, as always, P_7878 !!

Edited October 15, 20223 yr by bernd1151

Fine shots P_7878 - as always !

cheers 😉

Very cool shots and story, I love aviation history like this.

Great set of shots! 😉 

Folks: Thanks all for the responses...🙂....!!

(johnb/bernd: Noted references to Ben Cartwright and Little Joe...🙂...)