Future fleet aircraft

[Dave Athay]

Just wanted to share my thoughts about the future of our fleet and see what everyone else thinks, too.

It's my intention to make fleet decisions realistically for an airline in our situation. Right now, it's 1952. The main decision to be made regarding fleet choices is Douglas vs. Lockheed. For most airlines in that period, the decision was made by default: if your name wasn't "TWA," it was awfully hard to get your hands on Constellations. There were a few other early adopters, but since American Legend was founded in 1947, we didn't make the list.

So the next logical fleet move is the DC-7, which will be delivered in 1953. The '7 allows nonstop transcontinental flights from east to west. While the DC-6B has the range to make the trip on most days, the pilots' unions of the time had a policy limiting flights without relief crews to a maximum of 8 hours. The DC-7 can make the trip in around 8 hours, and was therefore the first aircraft capable of being placed into service on these routes.

We'll add the DC-7 to our fleet when we've finished getting our legs under us as an airline. Practically speaking, that means when our scheduling and dispatching system is operational. Should be pretty soon.

The next addition, a little farther down the road, is still up for discussion. I'd like it to be a Connie of some kind, for variety's sake. The L1649A Starliner was the ultimate Connie, and really the ultimate propliner. It was first ordered in 1955 and first delivered in 1957. It had the longest range of any propliner. It could even fly farther than the first Boeing 707 jets. It opened up "polar" routes like Los Angeles to London.

So that's what's on my mind. What do you guys think?

[craig]

L1649A Starliner ;D

Hopefully sooner rather than later.

[Dave Athay]

I'll get to work on it as soon as I can find a paint kit. Doesn't seem to be one published anymore, but I know there was one floating around when the model first came out. Figure if I just ask for it on CalClassic, I'll probably get pointed in the right direction.

I spent the last couple of days working up the dispatching system the way I wanted it. Didn't take as long to learn Ajax as I thought it would. So that should be online fairly soon, once I've got a few finishing touches on it.

Doing the DC-7 will be short work, since the textures are almost identical to the DC-6B and the paint kit is just as awesome.

I'll do your Starliner as soon as I have the basic livery worked up.

[Tony Vienonen]

Don't forget the Convair line aircraft. Of course, that would also depend on the availability of the planes for FS.

Another avenue for the smaller hops the DH.104 Dove and .114 Heron by deHavilland but I am entering the realm of fantasy. The DH line weren't popular this side of the Atlantic.

But as long as there is wishful thinking, anything by Bristol and lastly the Bristol Brabazon (only 2 built and never flew commercially) the QEII of the skies.

[craig]

Perhaps we could start today with a couple of units leased from TWA, and fiddle with the paint later ;D

Seriously, I'd do at least one flight a day if'n I could jump into the Starliner.

This is no criticism of the DC-6, and i'm not sure why, but it's always kinda been my "white whale"

I've always had one in my hangar, but I always seem to prefer something else, not sure why.

It's not the complexity, I fly a lot of turboprops (Vickers Viscount and Vanguard, ElectraII, Dart Herald) with Fraser A. McKay's panels. They are very realistic and complex, and it's easy to fry an engine if misused or abused, but I manage them ok.

Anyway, thanks for your efforts with the Constellation, looking forward to flying her.

[Dave Athay]

I'll make a call to TWA and see what we can do.

The Connies are all much more complex than the Dougs. They're also less fuel-efficient. Not that it was such a big deal in the '50s like it is today, but those things together made the Douglas line a bit more profitable.

But, this is a virtual airline. So we're a little more flexible. I think having a Connie in the fleet will increase the appeal, since they're very popular. And if you're going to have a Connie, I think the Starliner is the one to have.

And, someone else at CalClassic asked my question yesterday and I found a link to the paint kit. Just finished downloading it. I'll take a look when I get a chance.

Thanks guys, and happy flying!