Aero Geral
Encyclopedia
Aero Geral Ltda was a Brazilian
airline founded in 1941. It was bought and merged into Varig
in 1952.
in February 1942. However, due to technical difficulties, it was grounded in 1944 and became operational again only in January 1947. In 1947 A. F. McLaren, a former pilot of Panair do Brasil
planned to start regular services in the Amazon region using amphibian aircraft. McLaren hoped to replace Panair, should the airline decide to end its services on the region, which did not happen.
McLaren found new business associates Custódio Netto Junior, also former pilot of Panair do Brasil, and Joaquim Fontes former station manager of Cruzeiro do Sul
in Natal, and together they re-created the airline. Aero Geral was then authorized to operate regular flights between Natal
and Santos along the coast. Services started in March 1947 using four amphibian Catalinas. In the following years a Curtiss C-46 Commando and two Douglas DC-3 were added to the fleet.
On February 29, 1952 Aero Geral was sold to Varig
. Varig thus greatly enlarged its operations in Brazil, extending services beyond Rio de Janeiro
until Natal
and could better face competition with Panair do Brasil
and Cruzeiro do Sul.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
airline founded in 1941. It was bought and merged into Varig
Varig
VARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
in 1952.
History
Aero Geral Ltda was founded in 1941 in the Amazon region and started flying with a single Monocoupe 90AMonocoupe 90
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bell, Dana ed. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Directory of Airplanes their Designers and Manufacturers. Stackpole Books Mechanicsburg, PA, 2002. ISBN 1853674907....
in February 1942. However, due to technical difficulties, it was grounded in 1944 and became operational again only in January 1947. In 1947 A. F. McLaren, a former pilot of Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
planned to start regular services in the Amazon region using amphibian aircraft. McLaren hoped to replace Panair, should the airline decide to end its services on the region, which did not happen.
McLaren found new business associates Custódio Netto Junior, also former pilot of Panair do Brasil, and Joaquim Fontes former station manager of Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
in Natal, and together they re-created the airline. Aero Geral was then authorized to operate regular flights between Natal
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
-History:The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day...
and Santos along the coast. Services started in March 1947 using four amphibian Catalinas. In the following years a Curtiss C-46 Commando and two Douglas DC-3 were added to the fleet.
On February 29, 1952 Aero Geral was sold to Varig
Varig
VARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
. Varig thus greatly enlarged its operations in Brazil, extending services beyond Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
until Natal
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte
-History:The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day...
and could better face competition with Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil
Panair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
and Cruzeiro do Sul.
Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Years of operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monocoupe 90A Monocoupe 90 |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bell, Dana ed. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Directory of Airplanes their Designers and Manufacturers. Stackpole Books Mechanicsburg, PA, 2002. ISBN 1853674907.... |
1 | 1942–1944 | |
| Consolidated PBY-5A/6A Catalina PBY Catalina The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other... |
5 | 1947–1952 | |
| Curtiss C-46 Commando C-46 Commando The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C... |
1 | 1949–1952 | |
| Douglas DC-3/C-47 Douglas DC-3 The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made... |
2 | 1950–1952 | |
Accidents and incidents
- 2 June 1951: a Consolidated PBY-5A/6A CatalinaPBY CatalinaThe Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
registration PP-AGC flying from RecifeRecifeRecife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
to Salvador da BahiaSalvador, BahiaSalvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
crashed near Palame, Sergipe. Two crew members died.