THE AIRPORTS

GEORGIA

HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

ATL 

 

September 1966* Piedmont Airlines started passenger services on February 28, 1948 between Wilmington, North Carolina and Cincinnati, Ohio. Piedmont was granted authority to serve Atlanta and in June 1962, started "Pacemarker" flights to Augusta, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina using both the Fairchild F-27 and Martin 4-0-4. Seen preparing to depart the Concourse C ramp area for a mid-morning departure is N2706R "Cumberland Pacemaker," a Fairchild F-27 delivered new to Piedmont Airlines in November 1958.

 

 

June 1968* Delta Air Lines started its long association with Atlanta in June 1930, when flights were started from Atlanta to both Birmingham, Alabama and Augusta, Georgia. In 1941, the airline moved its headquarters from Monroe, Louisiana to Atlanta and from there continued to grow. Delta took delivery of its first "stretch" Douglas DC-8 in April 1967, using the aircraft on flagship routes including the non-stop West Coast service between Atlanta and both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Seen preparing to depart the ramp for a morning departure is N823E, a Douglas DC-8-61, delivered new to the airline on June 11, 1967.

 

 

June 1968* Piedmont Airlines made a decision in 1961 to purchase seventeen Martin aircraft from Trans World Airlines (TWA). The Martin's would help replace the Douglas DC-3s and be cheaper to operate then the new Fairchild F-27s. Seen parked on the ramp and being turned around for another regional flight is N40405 "Ohio Valley Pacemaker," a Martin 404, delivered new to TWA on December 1951, and purchased by Piedmont Airlines in February 1962.

 

 

March 1969* Piedmont Airlines selected the 737-200 "FanJet" for its initial pure-jet needs in 1966, however accepted the lease of two Boeing 727-100s from Boeing to "fill-the-gap" until the 737s could be delivered. Piedmont received its first Boeing 737-200 on April 9, 1968 bringing true "jet" service to many cities on the route map. Early service using the Boeing 737 from Atlanta was on flights to Ashville and Fayetteville, North Carolina, as well as Tri-Cities, Tennessee. Seen awaiting taxi clearance for an afternoon departure from Concourse C is N738N "Hampton Roads Pacemaker," a Boeing 737-201, delivered new to the airline on August 29, 1968.

 

 

May 1969* A busy ramp at Concourse C shows a trio of Eastern Air Lines aircraft including a Boeing 707 and both a Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-9 jockeying for position while a company Douglas DC-9 departs into a bluebird sky. A Piedmont Airlines Martin 404, N40414 "Commonwealth Pacemarker," purchased by the airline from Trans World Airlines TWA in October 1961, is seen loading baggage in preparation of its next flight.

 

 

July 1969* Delta Air Lines launched the world's first Convair CV-880 service on May 15, 1960, between Houston and New York Idlewild. In addition to Houston, the Convair was then used from New York to both Atlanta and New Orleans. Seen taxiing away from the ramp is N8808E, a Convair CV-880-22-1, delivered new to the airline on October 1, 1960.

 

 

May 1971* As the first Major League Baseball team to have a dedicated team plane, the Los Angeles Dodgers started with modest Douglas DC-3 in 1949 (as the Brooklyn Dodgers). Over the years the team plane was enhanced from a Convair 440, to Douglas DC-6 and then the Lockheed L-188 Electra. In 1971, the team owner Walter O'Malley introduced a Boeing 720 for team travel and named the aircraft after his wife. Seen parked on the ramp during a trip to play the Atlanta Braves is N1R "Kay-O II," a Boeing 720-023 originally delivered to American Airlines in December 1960, and purchased by the Dodgers organization in January 1971.

 

 

August 1971* In 1956, Delta Air Lines placed an order for seven of the Douglas DC-8-11 for delivery in 1959. Delta's first DC-8 was delivered to the airline on July 22, 1959 and "Royal Jet Service" was inaugurated on September 18, 1959, on a flight from New York Idlewild to Atlanta, thus becoming the world's first airline to operate the DC-8. Seen having just been pushed back from Concourse E is N810E, a Douglas DC-8-51, delivered new to Delta on December 12, 1962.

 

 

December 1971* Delta Air Lines ordered five of the Boeing 747 airplanes for transcontinental services on flagship routes. With the first plane delivered in September 1970, services were inaugurated on an Atlanta-Dallas-Los Angeles route on October 25, 1970. Delta's new Boeing 747s had a two class layout, both first and coach seating, with a capacity of 370 passengers. Delta would continue to operate the Boeing 747 until 1977, when the last of the five were all sold off. Seen rolling for takeoff on Runway 15 is N9898, a Boeing 747-132.

 

 

March 1972* Braniff International started service into Atlanta as an interchange agreement with Eastern Air Lines in January 1952 on a Memphis-Birmingham-Atlanta-Tampa-Miami route. The interchange would continue until Braniff received authorization to provide its own service in April 1969, to Honolulu, Hawaii via Dallas Love Field with Boeing 707s. Seen parked at the gate at Concourse B still operating an interexchange service to Denver via Memphis is N305BN, a Boeing 727-78F, originally delivered to BWIA International Airways and purchased by Braniff in June 1971.

 

 

January 1973* Eastern Air Lines was the second launch customer (after Trans World Airlines TWA) for the Lockheed L-1011 and ordered fifty of the aircraft. Eastern became the first airline in the world to place the "Space-Age" Lockheed L-1011 into service on April 26, 1972 between New York JFK and Miami. Atlanta soon saw the "Whisperliners" on routes to New York JFK and Orlando. Seen parked at Concourse B and being readied for another flight is N313EA, a Lockheed L-1011-1 Tristar, delivered new to the airline a month earlier on December 9, 1972.

 

 

March 1973* Hometown airline, Southern Airways started operations on February 1, 1944. Passenger services started on June 10, 1949, with Atlanta being a focal point on local services across the southeast. Douglas DC-9s were introduced and the new aircraft brought "jet" service to many smaller communities in the Southern route system. One of the events the airline hosted was the "Red Carpet Tour" of Georgia which brought politicians and business leaders to various destinations throughout the state to showcase innovation and excellence. This particular DC-9-31, N1334U, has the titles in red just aft of the forward passenger door.

 

 

March 1973* During 1972, Atlanta based Southern Airways embarked on a new corporate identity program and stated by the airline's President Frank Hulse, "in order to achieve the appearance of a modern and progressive airline we are changing our look." Known as the "Flight Mark" the new logo and dark blue colors were to be applied to aircraft, ground equipment, and printed materials. Seen parked on the ramp at the Southern Airways hangars and freshly painted in the new colors, is N3307L, a Douglas DC-9-14, and recently leased from Delta Air Lines on February 29, 1973.

 

 

March 1973* During April 1966, Eastern Air Lines placed in order for twenty-two of the new Douglas DC-9 "Twin-Jets," to better compete with the introduction of American Airlines and Braniff International's British Aerospace BAC-1-11 jet flights along the Eastern Seaboard. With a capacity of fifty or sixty-six passengers, Eastern's first DC-9 series 14 were placed into service in May 1966. Seen taxiing out for for a mid-day departure is N8910E, a Douglas DC-9-14, delivered new to the airline on August 12, 1966.

 

 

July 1973* Based in Oakland, California, Trans International Airlines (TIA) grew to become one of the world's largest charter carriers. With the introduction of the Douglas DC-8 specifically for trans-Pacific military charters in 1965, thus becoming the first charter carrier to operate "jet" aircraft. Seen parked at the Lockheed Air Center and being loaded for a charter flight is N102TV, Douglas DC-10-30F, and proudly displaying its aircraft type on the engine nacelles.

 

 

October 1973* Delta Air Lines originally ordered five Douglas DC-10s in 1972, as a stop-gap measure to introduce wide-body service during the delay of the Lockheed L-1011. Delta's first Douglas DC-10 was delivered on October 9, 1972, and entered service a month later between the heavily travlled New York, Atlanta, and Florida routes. The Douglas DC-10s were only operated by Delta until May 1, 1975 when the Lockheed L-1011 deliveries were sufficient to discontinue its use. Seen taxiing back toward the terminal while a company Douglas DC-9 holds, is N601DA, a Douglas DC-10-10.

 

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