Saturn Airways
Encyclopedia
Saturn Airways was a US
"supplemental carrier", i.e. a charter airline. It operated from 1948 until 1976. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Oakland International Airport
, Oakland, California
.
was initially known as All American Airways and used Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft. In 1959 it became known as Saturn Airways and began operating Douglas DC-6C
planes. Larger Douglas DC-7
aircraft were purchased in 1963. In 1965 Saturn acquired AAXICO Airlines
.
In December 1967 and January 1968, respectively, Saturn took delivery of two Douglas DC-8 Super 61CF
jets. This allowed it to operate transcontinental cargo and charter flights, some of which included military flights to Vietnam
. Between 1968 and 1974 it had as many as two DC-8 Series 50
planes in its inventory and added a third Super 61CF in 1972. After absorbing the assets of defunct Universal Airlines
in May 1972, it added nine Lockheed L-188 Electra
aircraft to its fleet. Saturn also operated nineteen Lockheed Hercules aircraft.
Saturn was finally absorbed by Trans International Airlines
in December 1976, making Trans International the largest air cargo operation at the time.
The Triple Crown winning racehorse, Secretariat, was flown to Ontaria, Canada on a Saturn Airways charter to run in his last race.
Date: 31 JAN 1967
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
"supplemental carrier", i.e. a charter airline. It operated from 1948 until 1976. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Oakland International Airport
Oakland International Airport
Oakland International Airport , also known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, is a public airport located south of the central business district of Oakland, a city in Alameda County, California, United States...
, Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
.
History
The airlineAirline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
was initially known as All American Airways and used Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft. In 1959 it became known as Saturn Airways and began operating Douglas DC-6C
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
planes. Larger Douglas DC-7
Douglas DC-7
The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
aircraft were purchased in 1963. In 1965 Saturn acquired AAXICO Airlines
AAXICO Airlines
- History :AAXICO , the American Air Export and Import Company, was founded in 1946 in Miami Beach, Florida.AAXICO's initial flight service consisted of five daily flights from New York to Atlantic City geared toward the horse racing industry, with the last flight scheduled to wait until after the...
.
In December 1967 and January 1968, respectively, Saturn took delivery of two Douglas DC-8 Super 61CF
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
jets. This allowed it to operate transcontinental cargo and charter flights, some of which included military flights to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. Between 1968 and 1974 it had as many as two DC-8 Series 50
Douglas DC-8
The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
planes in its inventory and added a third Super 61CF in 1972. After absorbing the assets of defunct Universal Airlines
Universal Airlines (US)
Universal Airlines was a United States airline that operated from 1966 to 1972, based at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It initially grew out of Zantop Air Transport, starting with a small fleet of Lockheed L-188 Electra. In April 1968 Universal took delivery of two Douglas DC-8...
in May 1972, it added nine Lockheed L-188 Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
aircraft to its fleet. Saturn also operated nineteen Lockheed Hercules aircraft.
Saturn was finally absorbed by Trans International Airlines
Trans International Airlines
Trans International Airlines was an airline which offered charter service from and within the United States. It offered scheduled service operating as Transamerica Airlines in its last decade...
in December 1976, making Trans International the largest air cargo operation at the time.
The Triple Crown winning racehorse, Secretariat, was flown to Ontaria, Canada on a Saturn Airways charter to run in his last race.
Historical fleet
- Douglas DC-6C and Douglas DC-6B "Skymaster"Douglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
- Douglas DC-7C "Seven Seas"Douglas DC-7The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
- Douglas DC-8-61FDouglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
- Lockheed L-100 Hercules
- Lockheed L-188 ElectraLockheed L-188 ElectraThe Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
Accidents and incidents
Date: May 23, 1974- Time: 16:55
- Location: Springfield, Illinois
- Operator: Saturn Airways
- Route: Alameda, CA - Indianapolis, IN
- AC Type: Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules
- Registration: N14ST
- Aboard: 3 (passengers:1 crew:2)
- Fatalities: 3 (passengers:1 crew:2)
- Ground: 0
- Summary: While en route the left wing separated from the aircraft. The plane crashed out of control. The undiscovered, preexisting fatigue cracks, which reduced the strength of the left wing to the degree that it failed as a result of positive aerodynamic loads created by moderate turbulence.
Date: 31 JAN 1967
- Time: 03:20
- Type: Douglas DC-6A
- Operator: Saturn Airways
- Registration: N640NA
- C/n / msn: 45475/973
- Crew: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
- Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
- Total: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
- Airplane damage: Written off
- Location: San Antonio International Airport, TX (SAT) (United States of America) show on map
- Phase: Approach
- Nature: Cargo
- Departure airport: ?
- Destination airport: San Antonio-Kelly AFB, TX (SKF/KSKF), United States of America
- Narrative: The Saturn DC-6 was operating on a cargo flight to Kelly AFB. The crew decided to divert to civilian international airport at San Antonio and commenced the approach. The airplane descended 1100 feet below the glide slope, flew through trees and collided with a cliff.
- PROBABLE CAUSE: "Undetermined."