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The United States of America was a major target for BAC One-Eleven sales from the very beginning and BAC was successful in obtaining orders from Braniff International, Mohawk Airlines and American Airlines before the prototype first flew on 20 th August 1963. Letters of intent to purchase had also been placed by Frontier Airlines for six aircraft and Ozark Airlines for five aircraft while Bonanza Airlines actually ordered three aircraft. However, the Civil Aeronautics Board refused Bonanza Airlines a loan guarantee for their purchase while the other two airlines had been threatened with the withdrawal of their local service route subsidies if they purchased the aircraft which led to all three carriers having to abandon their plans. Surprisingly the CABs position was to change when these carriers proposed the purchase of home produced jet airliners. Mohawk Airlines stood out against the CAB believing that they could make a profit operating One=Elevens on their routes even if the subsidies were withdrawn. All three initial USA customers all placed multiple follow on orders and were joined by Aloha Airlines in 1965. The manufacturer was also successful in selling executive versions of the One-Eleven in the USA. Tenneco Inc purchased two new aircraft and later added a third from a previous operator. Other purchasers of new executive versions were Victor Comptometer Inc and Engelhard Industries.

All told sixty-nine new One-Elevens were sold in the USA comprising thirty-seven Series 200s and thirty-two of the higher operating weight Series 400s. Other used aircraft were later added to the American fleets while many airline One-Elevens were later converted into executive configuration for corporate use.

Series 500 One-Elevens were never certificated in the United States. Listed below are all known airline operators or proposed operators in alphabetical order together with listings of corporate aircraft:-

Aeroamerica, Inc . – (EO)

This company leased a Series 401AK from National Aircraft Leasing Inc for a programme of charter flights out of Berlin-Tegel from May to October 1976.

Air Florida, Inc. (QH)

British Island Airways Ltd Series 400 One-Elevens were operated on behalf of Air Florida Inc between May83 and when Air Florida ceased operations on 03Jul84 connecting with their six weekly DC-10 scheduled flights from to Gatwick from Miami. The One-Elevens operated from Gatwick to Frankfurt four times weekly and to Brussels and Düsseldorf twice weekly and carried small Air Florida stickers when so used.

Air Illinois, Inc . - (UX)

This company purchased two Series 203AEs from US Air in July 1982 and October 1983. The aircraft were used on scheduled services from Chicago-O’Hare to Evansville, Springfield and Champaign, all in Illinois and to St Louis until all scheduled services came to an end on 16Apr84. One of the aircraft was returned to US Air at this time while the other was operated on behalf of Wright Airlines from July to September 1984. It was later operated on behalf of Atlantic Gulf Airlines from November 1984. In May 1986 a Series 401AK was also leased to operate on behalf of Atlantic Gulf Airlines which continued until 1 st September 1986. From this date all operations ceased.

The aircraft carried the following names:-

N1542 Frank Tudor

N1547 Les Smith

Air Wisconsin, Inc . - (UA & ZW)

Air Wisconsin leased four used Series 201ACs through British Aerospace from January 1985 to April 1986 pending delivery of new BAe 146-200s. The aircraft operated schedules from Chicago-O’Hare to points including Appleton, Cedar Rapids, Green Bay, Kalamazoo, Mosinee, Rhinelander and Toledo.

Allegheny Airlines, Inc./US Air, Inc . – (AL & US)

 Allegheny Airlines inherited twenty-three One-Elevens when in took over Mohawk Airlines Inc on 12th April 1972. These comprised seventeen Series 204AFs, three Series 215AUs and three Series 203AEs. In the same year the company further expanded its One-Eleven fleet to thirty-one aircraft with the purchase of a further eight Series 203AEs from Braniff Airways Inc. The aircraft were initially operated in a 74 seat passenger configuration. This was later raised to 79 when the Series 204AFs and 215AUs had their rear airstairs removed between 1980 and 1983 in a weight saving measure bringing them in line with the ex Braniff Airways Series 203AEs which had been delivered new without rear airstairs. The company changed its name to US Air Inc with effect from 29th October 1979. The aircraft were used on a much expanded network from that of Mohawk Airlines Inc. This extended southwards to Tampa, north to Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, westwards to Chicago, St Louis and Evansville and eastwards to Boston and Providence. Pittsburgh was the major hub and operating base for the fleet and La Guardia, Newark and Kennedy were all served in New York. The aircraft were also used for charter work and were leased to several operators at various times both in Canada and the USA. The fleet was gradually reduced until by January 1989 only eight aircraft were required to cover the programme. By the summer of the same year all One-Elevens had been withdrawn from service.

Aloha Airlines, Inc . - (TS)

 This airline ordered two Series 215AUs with an option on a third on 15 th March 1965. They were laid out in a 79 seat single class configuration. The option on the third aircraft was taken up in October 1966 when two further aircraft were optioned though this was never to be taken up. The type was introduced into service 27th April 1966 and was operated on schedules which linked Honolulu with Hawaiian destinations which included Hilo, Kauai and Maui. The aircraft were withdrawn from service in March and April 1969 and replaced with higher capacity Douglas DC-9-30s.

The aircraft carried the following names:-

N11181 Queen Kapiolani

N11183 Queen Kaahumanu

American Airlines, Inc . - (AA)

This company ordered fifteen Series 401AKs on 17th July 1963. A further ten were ordered on 4 th February 1964 and finally another five on 1st December 1964 making American Airlines the largest customer for newly built One-Elevens. They were initially delivered in a 63 seat mixed class configuration but were later operated in both 69 and 74 seat configuration. The entire fleet was delivered between December 1965 and December 1966. The company had earlier leased a Series 400AQ demonstrator from BAC for crew training from 5 th to 31 st December 1965. The type was introduced into service on 6 th March 1966 and was known as the Astrojet 400 within the company. The fleet was used on an extensive domestic network in the north and central USA and also to Toronto from New York until the fleet was finally withdrawn on 17th January 1972. Disposal of the fleet had begun with the sale of two aircraft to Dan-Air Services Ltd in Mar 1969 and a third aircraft to a corporate operator the following month. Sixteen aircraft were sold to National Aircraft Leasing Inc between September 1970 and January 1972 for conversion to executive configuration and subsequent lease or sale to corporate customers. Four others were sold in the Bahamas Islands to Bahamasair and to Out Island Airways (two each), one to TAROM of Romania and another to Orientair Ltd in the United Kingdom. The remaining aircraft were all sold for corporate use in the USA. One of the aircraft was leased to Merpati Nusantara Airlines from August to November 1971 and to Lineas Aéreas de Nicaragua – LANICA from March 1972 until at least July 1972.

APA International Air . - (7P)

This company took over the Atlantic Gulf Airlines route between Miami and Puerto Plata after that company ceased operations. The service was operated thrice weekly from September 1986 until early 1987 with the two Series 401AKs and Series 203AE formerly operated by Atlantic Gulf.

Atlantic Gulf Airlines, Inc . - (ZY)

Operated a Series 203AE from November 1984 and two Series 401AKs from early 1986. Two of these aircraft were operated on the company’s behalf by Air Illinois Inc. The aircraft were used on schedules which included a twice daily service from Tallahassee to Miami one of which operated via West Palm Beach, a thrice weekly service from Miami to Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic) and a five times weekly service from Miami to Providenciales, all but of which operated via Grand Turk (both in the Turks and Caicos Islands). The company suspended operations on 1st September 1986 and although it was planned to reform as Ocean Air, this never took place.

Bonanza Airlines, Inc . - ( )

This company ordered three Series 206AHs in November 1962 to replace Fairchild F-27s but following the rejection of a loan guarantee by the US Civil Aeronautics Board in February 1963, the order was cancelled and the aircraft not built.

Braniff Airways Inc . - (BN)

Marketing itself as Braniff International, this carrier placed its first order for six Series 203AEs with an option on six additional aircraft on 20th October 1961. They were initially fitted out in a two class 63 seat configuration. The options were taken up 5 th March 1963 and a further two aircraft were ordered on 14th February 1964. An option was placed on twelve further aircraft 30 th September 1964 but this was never taken up. The aircraft were delivered between March and December 1965 and were unusual in being the only airline delivered One-Elevens not to be fitted with ventral airstairs from new. The type was introduced into service on 25th April 1965. Thirty odd US cities were served by the type from their Dallas hub ranging from Minneapolis St Paul and Chicago to the north, Amarillo and Lubbock to the west, Brownsville and Corpus Christi to the south and Washington to the east. Sadly the type was the victim of its own success and larger capacity aircraft were soon required which led to Braniff upgrading to Boeing 727s. Three of the aircraft were sold to Mohawk Airlines Inc in September 1970 while eight were sold to Allegheny Airlines Inc between April and September 1972 while two were sold as executive aircraft with one of these being used in this role by Braniff itself for a short while. At least the first seven new aircraft were delivered in the old red/black/white colour scheme but later aircraft were delivered in Braniff’s newly adopted schemes, the details of which are shown below.

The company had disposed of all its One-Elevens by the time it ceased operations on 12th May 1982. However, the it was re-invented in 1983 and in order to expand its network into Florida it purchased Florida Express Inc on 1st March 1988 together with that company’s fleet of eighteen One-Elevens. These comprised nine Series 203AEs (all previously operated by the original Braniff some sixteen years earlier), six Series 201ACs and three Series 401AKs. Twelve of these aircraft were sold to Guinness Peat Aviation later in the year and leased back by Braniff. The airline continued to maintain the Florida Express Orlando hub but with a much reduced One-Eleven operation. Destinations served through the hub were Fort Myers, Miami, Tampa and West Palm Beach in Florida together with Atlanta, Birmingham ( Alabama), Cincinatti, Columbus ( Ohio) and Indianapolis. A second hub was set up at Kansas City which was linked with Atlanta, Cleveland, Houston, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Omaha, St Louis, San Antonio ( Texas), Tulsa and Wichita. The company ceased all operations on 6 th November 1989.

The aircraft were painted in the following colours:-

N1541 Medium Blue N1542 Sky Blue

N1543 Ochre & later dark green with light green underbelly

N1544 orange N1545 Sky Blue

N1546 Beige N1547 Sky blue

N1548 Red N1549 Pastel Green

N1550 Ochre N1551 Red

N1552 Orange N1553 Ochre

N1554 Ochre

Britt Airways, Inc . - (RU)

Britt Airways obtained two used Series 416EKs from British Aerospace in June 1984 and March 1985. The aircraft were used on both charter flights and on the company’s schedules from Chicago-O’Hare to Champaign, Evansville, Indianapolis and Terre Haute. The airline was bought by People Express in February 1986 but continued to fly services in its own name until the aircraft were sold in May and August 1987.

Cascade Airways, Inc . – (CZ)

This company leased three Series 201ACs from September and October 1984 until December 1985 and January 1986. Two Series 401AKs were also operated from September and November 1984 until the company suspended operations on 7th March 1986. Schedules were flown from Seattle to Boise, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, Pasco, Pocatello, Portland, Spokane and Walla Walla and to Calgary in Canada.

Classic Air, Inc. - (-)

This Las Vegas base company commenced services with ex US Air Series 204AFs in April 1990. At least five aircraft were painted in the company colours but only two entered service before the company was shut down by the end of the year. The 1-11s were leased from Aviation Leasing Group for passenger charters to and from the gaming resorts of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. The operation was a subsidiary of Buffalo Airways of Kansas.

Florida Express, Inc . – (ZO)

This company obtained nine Series 203AEs from US Air between January 1984 and December 1985, two of which were initially leased for six months prior to purchase. Between January and July 1986 the seven Series 201ACs which had been earlier operated by Pacific Express were obtained. Five series 401AKs and one Series 414EG were obtained between April 1986 and when the company was taken over by Braniff Airways Inc on 1st March 1988 but it is believed that only four of these aircraft were actually used operationally. Service was inaugurated on 26th January 1984 with the 200 Series aircraft operating with 79 passenger seats and the Series 400s with 84 passenger seats. Points served from Orlando included Akron, Birmingham (Alabama), Cincinatti, Clearwater/St Petersberg, Columbus (Ohio), Dayton, Forts Lauderdale and Myers, Harrisburg, Huntsville, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Louisville, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, Norfolk and Richmond (Virginia), Sarasota and West Palm Beach. Nassau in the Bahamas was also served.

Frontier Airlines, Inc . – ( )

This company placed a letter of intent for the purchase six aircraft in June 1961 but this was not followed up with a firm commitment.

Kiwi International Airlines, Inc. - (KP)

This Newark, New Jersey based airline announced an order for 11 Airstar 2500s with an option of five more on 09Feb93.  These aircraft were to be produced by Romaero S.A. of Bucharest-Băneasa as a developed version of the Series 500 One-Eleven powered by Rolls-Royce Tay 650 engines.  The project to produce the Airstar 2500 was abandoned by Apr97 and the contract terminated.

Mohawk Airlines, Inc . - (MO)

This Utica-Rome based carrier placed its first order for four Series 204AF aircraft on 24th July 1962. The company was convinced that it could make a profit by upgrading its services to jet operation and in doing so sacrificed its local service subsidy from the CAB. The aircraft were delivered in an unusual 68 seat passenger configuration which comprised alternating four and five abreast rows of seats with facing rows over the wing centre section. After seven repeat orders placed between 1964 and 1968, Mohawk Airlines eventually took delivery of its eighteenth and final new aircraft in May 1969. Before the company took delivery of this last new aircraft, it obtained the three Series 215AUs from Aloha Airlines Inc between March and April 1969. The company raised its fleet to twenty-three aircraft with the purchase of three Series 203AEs from Braniff Airways Inc in September 1970, having sadly lost one of its fleet in a fatal crash in June 1967. The company’s first aircraft arrived at its Utica base on 17th May 1965. It inaugurated service with the type on 15th July 1965 and built up a comprehensive network of scheduled services throughout the north-eastern states of the USA and to Montreal and Toronto in Canada. Points served ranged from Boston and Providence in the east, the three New York airports (La Guardia, Kennedy and Newark), Pittsburgh and Washington in the south, Detroit, Cleveland and Minneapolis to the west and Burlington and Watertown in the north. After getting into financial difficulties after a crew strike, the company merged into Allegheny Airlines Inc on 12th April 1972.

The aircraft carried the following names:-

N1112J Ohio

N1113J Pennsylvania

N1114J Massachusetts

N1115J Michigan

N1116J Discover America

N1117J Ontario

N1118J Vermont

N1119J Connecticut

N1120J New Jersey, later Discover America and later Robert E Peach

N1122J Quebec

N1123J Rhode Island

N1124J New Hampshire

N1125J New Jersey and also quoted as Maine

N1126J District of Columbia and also quoted as Minnesota

N1127J Dominion of Canada

N1128J Captain Joe Donnelly

N1129J Illinois

N1130J Minnesota

N2111J New York

National Aircraft Leasing, Inc – NAL.

This organisation, part of the Tiger Leasing Group, purchased 16 Series 401AKs from American Airlines Inc in Jan73 for conversion to executive configuration. Three of these aircraft were leased to airlines as indicated below prior to their conversions taking place. Part of the agreement with American Airlines was that the aircraft would be virtually zero timed before handover. This work involved a complete major overhaul of the undercarriage with new wheels, brakes, tyres and anti-skid systems. Cold Air Units were replaced and new ducting and valves installed. All radios, electronics and autopilots were removed, services and bench tested while the flying controls and flaps were overhauled. X-Ray inspections were carried out where necessary and the aircraft weighed. Hot and cold sections of the engines were completely overhauled and all the latest modifications incorporated. The APUs and generators were also fully overhauled. Each aircraft was then flight tested before handover to NAL.

On receipt of the aircraft from American Airlines, the aircraft were flown to The Dee Howard Company at San Antonio for the next stage of the work. This company was contracted to carry out the conversions designed by NAL. Each aircraft was fitted with a de luxe interior in colours and fabrics chosen by the customer. The new interior comprised eleven individual fully reclining and adjustable 360° swivelling chair, one four-seat and two three-seat couches which converted to provide sleeping accommodation, two toilets and a separate dressing room, an executive desk complete with telephone, calculator and provision for an electric typewriter, a centrally located bar complete with lighting and cabinet stowage. A fully equipped galley with lighting and ventilation isolated from the main cabin, cabin overhead lighting, table lamps and reading lights, a four place conference table with provision for a slide or film projector, video tape system and an eight track stereo system. Finally the exterior was painted to the customer’s choice.

The aircraft were wired for the installation of a dual Delco Carousel IVA inertial navigation system and a dual HF system. A NAL designed long range fuel system was installed which entailed the fitting of either seven or ten extra fuel cells in the rear of the forward freight hold. This increased the fuel capacity by 4,618 litres (1,220 US Gallons) or 6,056 litres (1,600 US Gallons) giving the aircraft a range with 45 minutes reserves of 3,753 miles (5,040 km or 3,259 nm) or 3,950 miles (6,357 km or 3,431 nm) with ten or eight passengers respectively. With seven cells fitted there is still 137 cu ft of under floor hold space. The aircraft were either sold or leased to customers.

*1 Leased Austral 29Dec76 to 07Feb79 prior to executive conversion

*2 Leased Austral 31Dec76 to 31Mar79 prior to executive conversion

*3 Leased Aeroamerica 03May to 21Oct76 and to Pacific American Airlines from Jan to Jul77 prior to executive conversion

Ozark Airlines, Inc. - (OZ)

This company placed a letter of intent for the purchase of five Series 200 aircraft in May 1961 but was not followed up with a firm commitment.

Pacific American Airlines, Inc.

Reportedly operated a Series 401AK leased from National Aircraft Leasing in 1977. No further details are known of this carrier.

 Pacific Express, Inc . - (VB)

This company obtained seven Series 201ACs from British Caledonian Airways Ltd between December 1981 and June 1982. It also leased two aircraft from US Air, firstly a Series 204AF from early November 1982 to late November 1983 and then a Series 203AE from May to December 1983. A scheduled operation commenced on 27th January 1982 and at its peak served Bakersfield, Chico, Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto, Monterey, Palm Springs, Redding, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara and Stockton in California. Portland, Redmond, Medford and Klamath Falls in Oregon, Boise in Idaho and Reno and Las Vegas in Nevada were also served. The company ceased operations on 2nd May 1984.

US Air, Inc. see – Allegheny Airlines, Inc

Wright Airlines, Inc. (KC)

Leased a Series 203AE from Air Illinois Inc in summer 1984 and operated in Air Illinois colour scheme with Wright titles. No details are known of its use.

Executive/Research aircraft

Companies listed below are those that took delivery of new aircraft from BAC or are research aircraft. Many other aircraft have been used in the executive/corporate role and I will endeavour to put these together later.

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