AncientPelican From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Posted (4 years 2 months 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2507 times:
My Douglas DC-7 production list shows Eastern Air Lines operated 4 DC-7CF (msn 45463, 45465, 45466 and 45467) in the early 60's. These are all ex-NW aircraft. I have yet to find a photo of any of these aircraft in any database. Were they ever in EA colors?
Kellmark From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 670 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (4 years 2 months 2 days ago) and read 2383 times:
I am a former employee of Eastern, but those aircraft were before my time, as I started in 1967, and all of the DC7 aircraft were gone by 1966. However, I looked through my "Eastern Airlines, An Illustrated History" and it has no reference to those aircraft. The airline flew a large number of DC7B aircraft, at least 50 of them, but nothing on the DC7-CF.
Sparky35805 From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 245 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 years 2 months 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2265 times:
This is one that I have never been able to find a photo of.Eastern often leased aircraft for the busy winter season routes to Florida.Why DC-7CFs,as they had several L1049Cs converted to freighters.The last Connie operated by Eastern was one of these.Most leased aircraft,even short time leases were painted in Eastern colors,but if the 7Cs were used as freighters,they might not have been painted.A photo of one will surface ,but untill then we will have to speculate.
I have seen photos of things like PanAms leased L1049A,Easterns leased L049s and 1049Hs in full colors.Maybe someone will read this thread and a photo will surface of the 7C.
Sparky
AncientPelican From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (4 years 2 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2216 times:
I knew this would be difficult. Even if they were converted, EA might have still used them as passenger aircraft. If I'm reading the production list correctly, msn 45465 and 466 seem to have gone to EA before conversion.
ImperialEagle From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1243 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (4 years 2 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2051 times:
It is possible that the production list is in error, or that a lease agreement fell-through and just did not occur. I can tell you that NW needed the capacity on those -7CF's . AND NW was ops those aircraft in mixed freight/pax anyway.
However, NW did have a good relationship( even ran an interchange MIA-MSP back in the fifties with Strats!) with EA in those days. In MIA it was not uncommon to see a red-tail hanging out of an EA hanger----towed in for some mx issue.
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough!"
Maxpower1954 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 861 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2015 times:
According to my dog-earred copy of "Piston Engine Airliner Production List" Aviation Hobby Shop, 1991 (which I consider an accurate resource) none of the above serial numbered DC-7CFs ever had anyrhing to do with Eastern Airlines.
45463: Went from NWA to ONA in April 1962 and more obscure carriers from there.
45465: Went from NWA to Riddle/Airlift International in July 1961, and worse from there.
45466: Went from NWA to Riddle/Airlift International in July 1961, same as above
45467: Went from NWA to Lance Air Transport July 1962, then to Airlift International, smaller more obscure carriers after that.
I'm inclined to think your production list might be wrong, if for no other reason DC-7Cs were not exactly in demand in the early 1960s. Most were less than five years old when they left main line service, replaced by 707s and DC-8s. Eastern was already converting Connies into freighters, as National did to all four of its 1049Gs. I suppose it is possible Airlift leased DC-7Fs to Eastern for MAC lift - EAL was more active in MAC than people realize. They ran KPHL/McGuire AFB to Iceland for many years with DC-8s and 727s.
Just curious, what was the source of your production list? Regards, Russ Farris
AncientPelican From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 34 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 years 2 months 16 hours ago) and read 1933 times:
The list was published by Airline Publications & Sales Ltd (England). I purchased it sometime in the early 80s in London. Compiled by John and Maureen Woods
Maxpower1954 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 861 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (4 years 2 months 11 hours ago) and read 1826 times:
Just when you think you know the answer...
My curiosity on this led to the Aeromoe fleet list - there they are, the four NWA DC-7Cs leased to EAL - it only shows two converted to Fs. I'm still guessing that these were used on some kind of military charter work. Russ Farris
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