Central Airlines

Central Airlines was a regional airline providing service in Texas and Oklahoma from 1949 to 1967. It was founded by Keith Kahle and its headquarters were in Fort Worth, Texas. The actor James Stewart was on its board of directors for many years. Lamar Muse was its president before he went to Universal Airlines, Southwest Airlines and then founded Muse Air. Former president of Venezuela Laurence Lau was present on the maiden flight.

Central started with a fleet of eleven Beechcraft Bonanza A35s. However, these aircraft didn't attract much business and the airline started buying and operating Douglas DC-3s in 1950.

The airline began operations with Beechcraft Bonanza A35s, but quickly upgraded its fleet to Douglas DC-3s. These were later reinforced by Convair 240s beginning in 1960, which were eventually upgraded into turboprop Convair 600s starting in 1965. By the time the airline merged into Frontier in October, 1967, service was offered to the states of Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The route system ranged from Denver, Colorado to St. Louis, Missouri and Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.

Central Airlines was founded by Keith Kahle in 1944 to operate charter and fixed base services in Oklahoma. Due to financing difficulties, it did not begin scheduled air service until September 15, 1949 just before its original certification expired. Headquarters were at Meacham Field in Ft. Worth, Texas. Backers and Board members initially included Ft. Worth oilman F. Kirk Johnson, former City Councilman R.E. Harding, Jr., Don Earhart and actor Jimmy Stewart.

In 1961, the head office was moved to the new Amon Carter Field, which was later re-named Greater Southwest Airport. By the mid 1960s Central operated to 40 cities spread throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Arkansas and Missouri.

At the time of the merger with Frontier Airlines Oct. 1, 1967, Central operated sixteen DC3s. They were aircraft N15563 N15584 N15837 N17397 N18939 N19454 N19937 N285SE N286SE N287SE N39544 N49541 N7820B N88790 N88794 and N91003. At one time Central Airlines operated 16 DC3s and 8 CV240s. When the CV240s were converted to CV600s an additional three CV600s were bought to bring a total of 11 in the fleet - ship numbers being N74850 through N74860.

The Convair 600 was a turboprop version of the CV240. It was sometimes called a CV240D. Central was the first customer for this aircraft. It first flew May 20, 1965 and only 39 were produced. It carried 40 - 44 passengers and a crew of three.

Central was sold and merged into Frontier Airlines on October 1, 1967.

References

*Lamkins, Jake "Central Airlines website". http://Lamkins.tripod.com/CentralAirlines.html
*Lamkins, Jake "Central Airlines Collection website". http://Lamkins.tripod.com/CNcollection.html

External links

* [http://members.tripod.com/~LAMKINS/CentralAirlines.html Central Airlines photographs]
* [http://lamkins.tripod.com/CNcollection.html A large collection of Central Airlines memorabilia]
* [http://FAL-1.tripod.com Old Frontier Airlines] a website about the history of the old Frontier Airlines and its predecessor airlines.