After surfing the internet for which airline really started the nonstop East/West coast and who became the leaders of those transcontinental routes turned up pretty unclear. It seems TWA #2 was the first passenger jet flight using a 707 from West to East.
I know United was there early on with NYC to the West Coast. But I’d bet there were more than TWA and United? What about AA and/or Continental, Delta or Eastern?
United P.S. gave them an edge for a bit, but then they ceded top spot by being out innovated.
What fascinates me is how monumental it must have been to connect NYC to LA and SF and more. The impact that nonstop flights must have had on growth in California population, and it’s impact on business.
Which AIRLINES were the pioneers? And when and what aircraft made it a viable money maker?
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Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
CO, DL, and EA were not big players in the transcon market. CO barely flew anywhere east of the Mississippi before deregulation and DL and EA were both more North-South oriented than East-West.
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
In summer 1947 TWA showed a fuel-stop-may-be-necessary "nonstop" LAX-LGA. No one knows how many actual nonstops they made.
Around October 1953 TWA started L1049 nonstops LAX-IDL, eastward only, then in November AA started nonstop DC-7s both ways. The westward DC-7 schedule was 7 hours 55 minutes, to "stay legal" on crew times; in 1954 they changed the rules and westward schedules got more realistic.
United started SFO to IDL DC-7s in 1954 -- I think IDL-SFO started in 1955.
LAX-IDL jets started January 1959 (AA 707-123s).
Northwest started SEA-IDL nonstop around 1957, and National started LAX-MIA nonstop around 1962; PA started nonstop transcons in 1967, but no local traffic of course. Aside from that (and QF-BOAC-JAL) the only transcon nonstops before 1978 were AA-UA-TW. (Or did WA fly LAX-MIA?)
Around October 1953 TWA started L1049 nonstops LAX-IDL, eastward only, then in November AA started nonstop DC-7s both ways. The westward DC-7 schedule was 7 hours 55 minutes, to "stay legal" on crew times; in 1954 they changed the rules and westward schedules got more realistic.
United started SFO to IDL DC-7s in 1954 -- I think IDL-SFO started in 1955.
LAX-IDL jets started January 1959 (AA 707-123s).
Northwest started SEA-IDL nonstop around 1957, and National started LAX-MIA nonstop around 1962; PA started nonstop transcons in 1967, but no local traffic of course. Aside from that (and QF-BOAC-JAL) the only transcon nonstops before 1978 were AA-UA-TW. (Or did WA fly LAX-MIA?)
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
Are we just talking nonstops here? TAT began transcontinental Ford Trimotor/train service in 1929. American began Condor sleeper service in 1930.
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
timz wrote:Northwest started SEA-IDL nonstop around 1957, and National started LAX-MIA nonstop around 1962; PA started nonstop transcons in 1967, but no local traffic of course. Aside from that (and QF-BOAC-JAL) the only transcon nonstops before 1978 were AA-UA-TW. (Or did WA fly LAX-MIA?)
Western didn't start Miami service until 1981. Northeast was the second airline on the Miami-LAX route, which it began in 1969.
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
Yeah, I forgot NE's 727s in 1969.
WA's 10/78 timetable shows LAX-MIA -- according to the 7/76 OAG it was to start the following month. So seven transcon-nonstop airlines by then.
WA's 10/78 timetable shows LAX-MIA -- according to the 7/76 OAG it was to start the following month. So seven transcon-nonstop airlines by then.
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- redzeppelin
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Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
This video is good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Z-p9F96yk
It's a 1954 promotional film from AA about their transcon DC-7 flagship service. It gives a fun look inside operations of the time -- it's worth watching if you haven't seen it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Z-p9F96yk
It's a 1954 promotional film from AA about their transcon DC-7 flagship service. It gives a fun look inside operations of the time -- it's worth watching if you haven't seen it.
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- IAHWorldflyer
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Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
I'm terrible at searching for threads on here, but there was one only 2-3 months ago about the use of DC-7's and Super Constellations in the nonstop transcon market. If you find it, it will answer some of your questions.
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
Thanks everyone!
Yes, I should have put “non-stops” in the title. I was combing the internet for the history of transcontinental passenger service and the airlines that A: started regularly scheduled non-stops, B: which aircrafts they used and which one really made transcontinental work, and C: who has history as the leaders of the routes.
Thanks again! It’s all very interesting- every bit of history and trivia!
Yes, I should have put “non-stops” in the title. I was combing the internet for the history of transcontinental passenger service and the airlines that A: started regularly scheduled non-stops, B: which aircrafts they used and which one really made transcontinental work, and C: who has history as the leaders of the routes.
Thanks again! It’s all very interesting- every bit of history and trivia!
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
The 1st non stops were DC7's operated by, I believe AA and then UA. The fact that they took over 8 hours was a huge issue within ALPA. AA actually dropped out of ALPA and formed their own APA union partly over this very issue.
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
Like I said, the first westward nonstops were AA DC-7s. First eastward was TWA.
Turns out two WA DC-10s a day LAX-MIA in the 3/77 OAG.
Turns out two WA DC-10s a day LAX-MIA in the 3/77 OAG.
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- aemoreira1981
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Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
When did AA begin westward nonstops, and how long was this before the Boeing 707 or Douglas DC-8 came online?
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
Pretty sure AA has NS service as early as 1953/54
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
aemoreira1981 wrote:When did AA begin westward nonstops, and how long was this before the Boeing 707 or Douglas DC-8 came online?
1. November 29, 1953.
2. January 25, 1959. (AA2, LAX-IDL)
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
First Eastward was on TWA on Super Connie Los Angeles to New York Idlewild o.n October 19, 1953
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
redzeppelin wrote:This video is good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Z-p9F96yk
It's a 1954 promotional film from AA about their transcon DC-7 flagship service. It gives a fun look inside operations of the time -- it's worth watching if you haven't seen it.
Thanks for posting, it's a great video! My, what a meal service they had on the flight.
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- highflier92660
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Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
Here is an interesting article on the history of nonstop U.S. transcontinental airline service. We sometimes forget in 2018 that ocean-to-ocean nonstop service was a very big deal in mid-twentieth century America. http://www.tailsthroughtime.com/2010/10 ... ental.html
After WW-II both Lockheed and Douglas produced airliners that were quite capable of flying nonstop from California to New York. For those not into airliner history, there is a belief that those early pressurized Lockheed 0-49 Constellations and Douglas DC-6 airliners would have become fuel critical over Cleveland attempting a transcontinental flight. In fact United Airlines was flying DC-6s nonstop across the Pacific to Honolulu from SFO as early as April 1947. What held back American, TWA and United were government regulations at the Civil Aeronautics Administration, a predecessor to todays Federal Aviation Administration. The 8-hour rule is what inspired American's C.R. Smith to talk Donald Douglas' ear-off until he agreed to bolt the infamous Wright 18-cylinder R (radial)-3350 turbo-compound engine on to a minimally stretched DC-6B airframe to produce the DC-7.
The halcyon airline propliner days of the 1950s were famous for true airspeed and flight time media advertisement hyperbole. But when the "365-mph" under 8-hour Douglas speedster actually clocked-in over 8-hours on most westbound flights the American Airlines pilot union raised their eyebrows. Shorty after the CAA, acting on the urgent requests of the Big-3 airline managements, removed the irritating regulation and all hell broke loose. Pilots at American went on strike until the airline gave them a modest pay raise which miraculously cured their pilot fatigue and circadian rhythm problems.
After WW-II both Lockheed and Douglas produced airliners that were quite capable of flying nonstop from California to New York. For those not into airliner history, there is a belief that those early pressurized Lockheed 0-49 Constellations and Douglas DC-6 airliners would have become fuel critical over Cleveland attempting a transcontinental flight. In fact United Airlines was flying DC-6s nonstop across the Pacific to Honolulu from SFO as early as April 1947. What held back American, TWA and United were government regulations at the Civil Aeronautics Administration, a predecessor to todays Federal Aviation Administration. The 8-hour rule is what inspired American's C.R. Smith to talk Donald Douglas' ear-off until he agreed to bolt the infamous Wright 18-cylinder R (radial)-3350 turbo-compound engine on to a minimally stretched DC-6B airframe to produce the DC-7.
The halcyon airline propliner days of the 1950s were famous for true airspeed and flight time media advertisement hyperbole. But when the "365-mph" under 8-hour Douglas speedster actually clocked-in over 8-hours on most westbound flights the American Airlines pilot union raised their eyebrows. Shorty after the CAA, acting on the urgent requests of the Big-3 airline managements, removed the irritating regulation and all hell broke loose. Pilots at American went on strike until the airline gave them a modest pay raise which miraculously cured their pilot fatigue and circadian rhythm problems.
Re: History of USA transcontinental flights?
“Circadian Rhythm problems” Lmao! Probably Carpal Tunnel as well!
Very interesting- thanks!
So, is it safe to say that the B707 was the consistent, reliable (and fastest) airplane that opened up regular transcontinental routes?
You know what gave me this itch? MadMen! The main characters were always going to LA (in the 1960’s) as if it was a (no pun) breeze to fly back and forth. Yet, just a few years prior to the period the TV show was placed, transcontinental flights must have required a stop or where patchy?
Very interesting- thanks!
So, is it safe to say that the B707 was the consistent, reliable (and fastest) airplane that opened up regular transcontinental routes?
You know what gave me this itch? MadMen! The main characters were always going to LA (in the 1960’s) as if it was a (no pun) breeze to fly back and forth. Yet, just a few years prior to the period the TV show was placed, transcontinental flights must have required a stop or where patchy?
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