Airlift International

Airlift International was based in the USA and operated from its inception in 1945 until June 1991.

Data

*ICAO Code : AIR
*IATA Code: RD
*Callsign: Airlift

History

Airlift International was founded as Riddle Airlines by John Paul Riddle in 1945 in Miami, Florida as a charter and freight airline. [ [http://www.aerofiles.com/airlines-nz.html Airlines N to Z ] ] In 1965, it became Airlift International. In 1968, Airlift Intl. expanded and acquired Slick Airways. [ [http://www.aerofiles.com/airlines-nz.html Airlines N to Z ] ]

The first flights were between Miami and Puerto Rico using Curtiss C-46 and Douglas DC-4 aircraft. In 1951 it expanded services to serve New York. Then the route system was expanded to include Chicago and Detroit. In 1960 two Douglas DC-7 were added to the fleet and with those aircraft were used for charter flights to Europe, including charters for the military. The next aircraft to join the fleet was the Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy but those were replaced in 1963 by the Douglas DC-8. Further aircraft used were the L-1049 Super Constellation, the Canadair CL-44, the Lockheed L-382 Hercules, the Boeing 707, and the Boeing 727-100QC.

The freight schedule was augmented by charter flights to South America and the military but by 1981 Airlift International went into Chapter 11 Bankruptcy for reorganization. Following the reorganization the DC-8-54 and the Fokker F.27 were used. [Airlines Remembered by BI Hengi, published by Midland Publishing]

Due to financial problems during 1990 and 1991, Airlift International ceased operations in 1991 [ [http://www.aerofiles.com/airlines-am.html airlines ] ] .

Fleet

* Douglas DC-8-51F; Douglas DC-8-54F; Douglas DC-8-61; Douglas DC-8-63F; Douglas DC-8-73F
* Douglas DC-7-CF
* Boeing 727-172QC
* Boeing 707-365C; Boeing 707-372C
* Fokker F27M; Fairchild FH-227C
* Douglas DC-6A

References

[http://rzjets.net/operators/operator.php?opid=80 | Airlift International information at rzjets]