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Post by capflyer on Feb 16, 2009 23:52:02 GMT -5
I have a CAP member in my squadron who said that the first time he came into the DFW Metroplex was 1964 on Braniff. He said at Dallas Love Field he switched from a prop to a twin turboprop. He described to me that it howled suggesting that it was a Convair 600/640 or a Fokker 27, but Braniff didn't fly either. He swears he saw Braniff on the side of the plane and swears it was a twin.
So, help me, what did he see?
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Post by jesse on Feb 17, 2009 9:56:10 GMT -5
Although your friend says he saw a twin engine turbo with Braniff markings, he could have seen the Lockheed Electra that Braniff used on the KHOU-KDAL run. Jesse
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Post by capflyer on Feb 17, 2009 12:57:22 GMT -5
He went to El Paso on the airplane. Sorry, forgot to add that part. Also, he was USAF, and when I asked him if it sounded like a C-130, he told me no, so it wasn't an Electra or a Convair 580.
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Post by jesse on Feb 17, 2009 14:21:27 GMT -5
Okay. I did a bit more research and came up with this little jewel. This is the only other Braniff turbo I could locate; and they did serve most of the Texas cities. Jesse
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Post by capflyer on Feb 17, 2009 22:59:38 GMT -5
Cool find, unfortunately Air Midwest only started operating those aircraft in the late 1970s.
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Post by qxtoolman on Feb 18, 2009 2:34:50 GMT -5
I wish Kris was around, he would know. Maybe Dash-6 Twin Otter (Twotter)? Seams to me when I was at Sheppard in Whicita Falls, I thought I saw one in something like a Braniff scheme. But that long ago things are a little fuzzy....
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 18, 2009 4:33:30 GMT -5
Then again he could have been on a 'Fictional reapaint' Sorry couldn't resist.
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Post by capflyer on Feb 18, 2009 10:38:58 GMT -5
Yeah. I just don't have the desire to find and bid on a timetable for that period to find it right now. I may do it if we can't find the answer, but it would be nice if someone knew.
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Post by jesse on Feb 18, 2009 13:36:24 GMT -5
I sent Kris an email hoping that he may be able to shed some light on the equipment that Braniff was using in the 60s. Hope to hear from him soon.
Jesse
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Feb 18, 2009 14:07:00 GMT -5
I don't think that Braniff flew any twin turboprops in that era, period. Either it was an Electra or it had another name on the side (perhaps Central or Trans Texas).
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 18, 2009 14:54:57 GMT -5
Could it possibly an aircraft on lease to Braniiff for a short period, sometimes they stick the airline log on for that period?
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Feb 18, 2009 15:10:28 GMT -5
Hi,
It could have, but I have never heard of it. Asking this question over at the retroai.net forum might get you more answers (two Braniff experts over there).
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Post by jesse on Feb 18, 2009 15:45:39 GMT -5
Guys, I just received a reply from Kris and here is his response. Hi Jesse, Thanks for you kind words. This is both an easy and difficult question. First step in answering this is simple - Braniff didn't serve this route in '64. CAB route authority between KDAL and KELP was held by Continental. There was no interchange. So, that eliminates Braniff entirely. The type question is more complex. Continental used the Viscount out of KDAL at this time, so that means another four-engine. Central did operate in Texas, but not south of Dallas and Ft. Worth. And, at any rate, they would have been using the CV-240 - the first of their CV-600s did not enter service until December, 1965. Now, Trans-Texas did operate to KDAL and KELP in '64, but they would have been using CV-240s also, as those planes were not converted to CV-600s until mid-'67. So, what is the most likely sceneaio? I would guess on two likelihoods. One, switching from Braniff to TTA at KDAL and the aircraft to KELP was a CV-240. Two, switching to a Continental Viscount. Either way, there is no chance the plane was a Braniff twin-turboprop, the only turboprop they ever had was the Electra. Best, Kristopher Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile This should put the lid on the topic for today methinks. JC
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Feb 18, 2009 15:53:55 GMT -5
And there is one of the experts...
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Post by Kristopher Crook, RAI on Feb 18, 2009 17:58:24 GMT -5
Sorry, I haven't been around, things have been, shall we say, hectic. Anyway, when Jesse sent me that e-mail, two things stuck out as being "off" - El Paso service and a Braniff twin-turboprop. To add to my reply, Braniff never owned, leased, or even considered an operational twin-turboprop, but they did express interest in an early Convair idea that never made it off the drawing board. The reason for this was that Braniff was dedicated to the idea of going pure-jet even while they were taking delivery of the Electras. The Electras were bought as an interim measure until a suitable pure-jet could be found for the Electra's role - which was in between the DC-6/7 and the 707/720 - this plane would become the 727. To replace the CV-340, Braniff selected the BAC-1-11, never considering a turboprop option. The Fairchild Metro was flown as a Braniff Express aircraft by a few airlines, most notably Air Midwest. That was to feed Braniff II, primarily the hub at KMCI that superceded KDFW in an effort to lower costs. I forgot - obtaining a Braniff timetable from '64 would be a real waste of money just to answer this question - Braniff rarely listed aircraft types in their timetables unless it was a type they were hyping. You'd need an OAG or an Internal System Timetable. I have a handful of the latter, but they are all from the '50's
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