MOTOWN Cargo Carriers

MOTOWN CARGO CARRIERS
Detroit Willow Run's Cargo Operations between 1997 and 2000

Jump back in time and relive the past by enjoying airliners that, with some exception, have been scrapped many years ago

Until Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) opened for commercial airline use in 1958, Willow Run (YIP) was Michigan’s major airport. Even today, years after being relegated to the cargo industry, the airport may be regarded as "major" in 1997, with many on-demand cargo flights.

A wide variety of aviation activity is spread out on its vast acreage. The diversity ranges from American International Airways (AIA) headquarters and maintenance base at the south corner, to a smaller USA Jet facility at the far eastern perimeter. In between, warehouses, hangars, FBOs, and aircraft from an array of maintenance companies scatter the area. The old control tower, situated on the west side of these multifaceted operators, overlooks the melee that makes this airport so unique.

In 1997 twelve freight carriers operated a variety of aircraft types at Willow Run. Their main cargo is auto parts, destined for assembly plants throughout America. Some of the other companies include Zantop Airlines, Transcontinental Airlines, Traffic Management Corp., Active Aero Charter, Kitty Hawk Air Cargo, and Karon Gillispie Air Transport, plus Murray Air and Reliant Air.

The "Big Three" car manufacturers, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, provided just enough of revenue in 1997 to keep all, more-or-less, in business and providing a vital link between auto parts manufacturers and auto company assembly lines. While the great bulk of the auto parts distribution is shipped by rail and truck, the airlines are called upon to supplement surface transportation due to economics and quick response ability. Assembly plants do not hold a great deal of inventory owing to limited warehousing, but rely on the arrival of daily shipments to keep the lines open. Any delay can be costly.

All contracts flights for the car industry are operated through Auto Air Cargo, the primary consolidator of parts delivered by the various manufacturing plants. Loads are assembled by destination and allocated to various airlines for delivery. In this business, dispatch reliability is high, and on-time delivery is paramount. The Willow Run-based cargo carriers enjoy little of the glamour of their passenger counterparts. None have high-budget publicity machinery backing them. The major selling points are high reliability, competitive pricing, and rapid delivery. Since the airport has no nighttime curfew in 1997, carriers could still use Stage II jet aircraft, such as the DC-8, 727, and DC-9.

The Carriers

American International Airways' founder Conrad "Connie" A. Kalitta, first became famous as a world champion drag racing driver. During 1970, he combined his winnings with a love for flying and started his own air-cargo business. Over the years, he has built it into an international passenger and cargo airline. Aircraft range from wide-body 747s and L-1011s to Learjet and Volpar Turboliners. A major part of AIA's operation is the sub-service to other airlines that are short of freight or passenger capacity. The large DC-8 fleet, which has been AIA's backbone, is slowly being replaced by jumbos, which met Stage III noise requirements. AIA initially operated out of Willow Run Airport on a large scale, but was restricted by the 7,500-foot runways, limited ramp space, and small sorting facilities. Thus, in May 1995, a large part of its operation was moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, which offered longer runways and larger facilities.

Transcontinental Airlines was founded in 1972 as a subsidiary AIA and operated during 1997 out of Willow Run with six DC-8 freighters.

Zantop Airlines was a company rich in history that dated back to 1946. I has served the Big Three automakers for decades, while also specializing in military contract flights for the U.S. Air Force. Its fleet of Lockheed 188 Electra’s and McDonnell Douglas DC-8s has labored all over the world, but in April 1997, the company ceased scheduled operations and stored its aircraft opposite its maintenance hangar. However, a some ad-hoc charter work was still flown by the venerable Electra’s, and during my visit, three 188s were operating. Those days, the rumor among Zantop personnel was that a merger with another cargo carrier was imminent.

Traffic Management Corporation (TMC) was founded by Michael K. Neville in 1994. During my visit in 1997, TMC operated two Douglas DC-8-50Fs out of Willow Run and had strong ties with Zantop. The DC-8 Series 50 freighters were kept busy flying automotive charters to such U.S. cities as Laredo, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Akron, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Wilmington, Delaware. Several liveries are sported. A former Seaboard World DC-8-55F, N811TC, is active in a simple, white color scheme, while sister ship N812TC wears a golden black and white livery.

Air Transport International operated a large fleet of DC-8Fs.

Acive Aero Group includes Active Aero Charter with (in 1997) a sizeable Falcon 20 fleet, and USA Jet Airlines with seven DC-9 Series 15 freighters. Active Aero serves as an international cargo broker and airline all in one. It flies all types of on-demand charter, specialized logistics, and scheduled contract operations. Due to its cutting-edge logistics technology, Active Aero has access to a number of aircraft around the world and was able to provide air charters on very short notice.

Kitty Hawk Air Cargo, a Dallas/Ft. Worth-based operator, was a regular at Willow Run with its DC-9-15 and Boeing 727-200 freighters. Located next to the old control tower, the company operated its own sorting facility.

Karon Gillispie Air Transport was the only true piston-engine, operator in 1997 at Willow Run. Its immaculate Douglas DC-6A, the former Pan American, Clipper Gladiator, was still competing with its jet counterparts. The scene is quite different from a couple of years ago, when both TAC and Zantop operated large DC-6 fleets out of Willow Run. Karon Gillispie Air Transport also was heavily involved in the automobile industry, and its DC-6 runs the U.S. airways daily. The smoky start-up of its dependable Pratt & Whitney R-2800s produced a unique rumble on that day in 1997!

Other Willow Run operators were Marray Air with a fleet of CASA 212s and Reliant Airlines with a sizeable fleet of Falcon 20s. The latter had strong ties with Zantop Airlines as Reese Zantop was the president of the company.

Another company on the field was the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan. ERIM was a non-commercial organization that conducted scientific research flights with two Convair 580s. It was situated in a cramped hangar next to the old control tower. The two Convair-liners still looked brand new in 1997 despite having flown for 41 years. According to an ERIM official, both Convairs flew only 350 hours during 1996. While shooting on the ERIM ramp, Convair N51255 was towed outside and her massive Allison’s started in preparation for a five-hour scientific research flights.

Although not based at Willow Run, Independent Freight Leasing Group (IFL) is a true Motown cargo carrier, heavily involved in the automotive component business. IFL is actually a holding company consisting, in 1997, of Contract Air Cargo (a Part 125 operator) and Corporate Express (a Part 135 operator). Contract Air Cargo operated, in 1997, two piston-engine Convair 340s and four Convair 580s out of Oakland-Pontiac Regional Airport, situated northwest of Detroit, a one-and-a-half hour drive from Willow Run. Corporate Express used a fleet of six Douglas DC-3s which were inactive during the winter and parked at Pontiac. The company was founded in 1983 by Alan C. Ross, who was, if his employees are to be believed, not only a keen businessman, but also a bit eccentric. He reportedly had a business office decorated in late-Victorian style, complete with a stuffed dog. According to Mike Dalton (who was the company's sales manager in 1997), the Convairs were in high demand, operating various ad-hoc charters within the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Night-Haulers Running in the Light of the Moon

At 8 p.m., on an day in April 1997, I was standing on the vast freight apron at Detroit's Willow Run Airport. Cold rain was drizzling down from the threatening dark, water filled clouds. I had traveled across the Atlantic on an eight-hour flight in order to catch up with some action provided by these turbine and early jet airliners.

The large apron in front of Zantop’ s maintenance hangar is shared with American International Airways, as is the hangar used by AIA, as a cargo shed. My field of vision was filled with the familiar silhouettes of several sleek turbojet-powered DC-8s parked side-by-side, vaguely lit by shimmering yellow flood lights. Two AIA DC-8s were joined by a company Lockheed TriStar and a Transcontinental DC-8-62F which was being readied for flight. Parked next to the jets was an impressive line-up of Zantop's venerable Electra’s and Convair 640s. Nine 188s filled the first two lines, with nine Convair 640s in a row behind. I saw a grand total of 11 Lockheed 188s during my visit. While observing the lineup, I noticed the various cargo configurations, as doors of different sizes and in different positions were revealed. Except for two colorful Electra’s - one still painted in the livery of the former lessor, Channel Express, and the other in resplendent Lynden Air Cargo colors - all Zantop Electra’s and Convair-liners were in the standard Zantop markings consisting of a red cheat line and tail strip and the small Zantop fuselage titling.

Only a few of Zantop's Electra’s are actually in service. Most are parked and await a more prosperous time to come. On the other hand, the future for a 41-year-old Convair still seems bright. During this visit in 1997, Zantop Convair 640, N5515K, a former KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 340, delivered in 1953, was receiving extensive maintenance. Her engines were test-run by new owner C&M Air Cargo of El Paso, Texas. She was delivered some day later.

Ex-United DC-8-54F N8042U, in faded Trans Continental colors and incorporated Zantop titles, was the only Zantop Douglas DC-8 present at the ramp. The others were engaged in subcontracting work.
On the far side of the tarmac were four retired DC-6s and a dismantled DC-8, vaguely lit on the deserted ramp. Across the field, I could see the Active Aero east ramp. It was crammed with a single DC-8-62, Falcon 20s, DC-9s, and a Lockheed L-100 Hercules.
Closer to the left was the crowded ramp opposite Willow Run's old control tower. It was filled with several Reliant Airlines' Falcon 20s and a Kitty Hawk DC-9-15 and Boeing 727-200. Even a vintage Lockheed JetStar was present. A dozen light aircraft spread out among the jets, among them two Murray Air CASA C-212s.

By midnight, the rush into Willow Run's fast-paced jet and turboprop environment had begun. The ramp was transformed into a mass of twinkling lights illuminating a scene of considerable activity. An aircraft with sleek lines landed and was backtracking Runway 23L. A few minutes later, an AIA Stretch DC-8 entered the freight apron, dwarfing the other occupants.

The mighty DC-8, which was a common sight at Willow Run, dominated the ramp as she was marshaled into her appointed parking spot opposite AIA's cargo facility. As her powerful Pratt & Whitney engines spooled down, a ground power unit was pulled alongside the nose, steps were moved up to the forward crew door, and a high loader scissor lift moved into position on her port side. The side cargo door slowly rose to reveal the inbound load. A small army swarmed around the idle jets to achieve a fast turnaround time. The hum of machinery and smell of jet fuel lingered in the chilly night air.
Four more DC-8s stood still, doors gaping open, waiting to be fed their outbound cargo loads. Empty, the cargo holds looked like endless tunnels. Those old workhorses, with slimline Pratt & Whitney JT3Ds slung beneath their wings, were, in 1997, still in use as efficient cargo haulers many years after their glorious passenger carrying days.

Across the Zantop ramp, Kalitta Flying Service's facility was in full swing. A dozen high-time Learjets, Hansajets, a highly modified Beechcraft C-45 and Volpar Turboliners were being prepared for nightly cargo runs. According to Kalitta's maintenance chief, these veterans average just over 1,000 flying hours a year.

A little after 2 a.m., an aluminum ladder was hoisted aboard the forward door of Lynden Air Cargo Electra N289F, and her freight doors were closed. Moments later, the distinctive sound of the first Allison 501 winding up filled the air. The Electra was carefully extracted from its idle sisters and taxied towards the holding point for Runway 5R. As the first aircraft taxied out, further quartets of Allison’s could be heard and within 10 minutes, Zantop's Electra N5512 had also left her stand en route for the holding point.

With the rising whine of jet engines, the Falcons launched first, followed at 2:28 a.m., by USA Jet's first departure, a DC-9 bound for Kansas City. Ten minutes later, another DC-9 rotated, bound for Albuquerque. Several other Falcons took off next, followed be a gaggle of Volpar Turboliners, flying respective distances to such cities as Cincinnati and New York. Half an hour later, an AIA DC-8 lifted off to intercept airway beacon "Fort Wayne". Its four JT3Ds made a thunderous exit into the black night. As the roar of the jet engines slowly died, I paused to look at my watch and realized that it was already 4 a.m., an ungodly hour to be standing there in Michigan's cold.

Suddenly, a rise of sound to a furious level announced a Kalitta Flying Service Learjet speeding up the runway, her two overpowered General Electric CJ610-4s belching out a thunderous roar into the chilly air. On rotation, the little jet launched itself toward the stars like a rocket and at 3,000 feet leveled off on course to her northwestern destination. Another set of lights lifted off the runway and joined the string of red and white winks climbing into the blackness.
By the dime dawn broke at around 7:30 a.m., the rush was over. Dozens of airplanes had been launched upon Willow Run in the aftermath. Having taken in all of this action was quite an experience. It was time to find a motel and get some sleep.

Zantop re-established itself in May 1972, by taking-up the remains of Universal and forming Zantop International Airlines

Zantop traces its origins to 1946 when the Zantop family set up Zantop Flying Service. The name was changed to Zantop Air Transport and the company operated as a freight airline for the auto industry.

Aircraft like the piston-engined curtiss C-46 of World War II fame launched Zantop's fleet. Later, in the 1960s, the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy and Douglas DC-6 were added to the fleet, developing the original Zantop Airlines fleet under Duane Zantop.

In 1967 the Zantop family sold the airline and it became Universal Airlines. This venture went bankrupt in 1972 and the Zantop family restarted operations under "Zantop International Airlines", based at Willow Run Airport near Detroit, USA.

From 1972 to 1978 Zantop used the DC-6, the Lockheed L-188 Electra, the Convair CV-640 and several Douglas DC-8 freighters. In 1978 the DC-8s were also used for passenger charter flights. Duane Zantop guided the company with strong vision and business acumen. By this time Zantop was one of the largest airlines in the freight business. In the late 1980s, Duane Zantop's son Jimmy took over from Duane.

Pilot unionization became a sore point for management, and they created a dedicated FAR Part 125 Certificate that could operate without unionized pilots. Eventually, all of the contracts held by the company were passed along to others. Those marketplaces were observed to change over time, even as other airlines took over Zantop contracts. The remaining aircraft were sold off, save a handful, and eventually the airline lost business momentum. Its operating certificate and FAR 121 Air Carrier Certificate, once deemed highly valuable, was given back to the FAA in beginning years of the new millennium, as was the FAR 125 Certificate. It was then that Zantop International Airlines ceased operations, and their aging but excellent aircraft were marketed elsewhere.

Zantop is generally remembered fondly by its crews as very good in maintenance, training, and opportunities. Duane Zantop is credited with building the business, while his son Jimmy Zantop is remembered for cautiously expanding opportunities globally. Both are credited with recognizing the unique opportunities created by the airline's rare certificates, which allowed it to operate globally, with very few political restrictions.

The former military airfield at Ypsilanti, outside Detroit, Michigan became the hub of the automotive industry's airfreight network and Zantop International Airlines was the largest freight operator at Willow Run.

Shall her powerful Pratt & Whitney engines be spooled-up again?.... Yes they did!

Douglas DC-8-54AF N8041U history file:

N8041U United Airlines 28.03.64
N8041U PK Finans International 24.07.85
N8041U Trans Continental 12.05.87
N8041U Zantop International Airlines 22.01.92
N8041U Daylight Air 1.97
N8041U Zantop International Airlines 23.05.98
Seen at Toronto 29.07.99 with Zantop titles
Parked at Willow Run at 30.07.00 and broken-up in the following years

This one-time United DC-8, had visited Amsterdam Schiphol on May 30. 1995, on one of Zantop's ad-hoc charters

The turbocompressor, which were used to pressurize the cabin, are clearly visible due to the late afternoon sunshine. The Boeing 707/720 had them in the engine nacelles, just above the engine's air intake.

Each of those chin scoops have three holes. There is a large opening in the middle which takes in air for the air-to-air heat exchanger on that side. There are also two smaller holes that are the individual inlets for the turbocompressors.

N8041U still wears the remnants of TCA's distinctive colour scheme

Zantop was contracted to serve the automotive industry on demand, and served very well for decades. When an automotive production line was not going to get a shipment of assembly parts on time, Zantop would be called to fly automobile parts from a subassembly production line to a major production line. This was done because of the economics of shutting down unionized labor assembly facilities.

I visited Willow Run in autumn 1997 when prop transports were just almost replaced by the Big Jet Freighters

'111AP' flew for Olympic between 1968 and 1971

Douglas DC-6B N111AP history file:

N6582C Northeast Airlines 17.03.57
SX-DAP Olympic Airways 67
N111AP Concare Aircraft Corporation 08.72
N111AP Zantop International Airlines 08.73
N111AP International Airlines Leasing 08.89
N111AP Technical Aviation Consultants 04.91
N111AP Nighthawk Air Systems r04.04.00
Broken-up at Willow Run on November 08, 2006

Presently N6586C operates for Air Cargo Express from Fairbanks, Alaska

Douglas DC-6BF N6586C history file:

N6586C Northeast Airlines 01.08.57
N6586C Associated Products of America 25.08.69
N6586C Air Freight International 08.72
N6586C Rosenbalm Aviation 78
N6586C Trans Continental Airlines 06.78
N6586C Airtrust Limited 01.93
N6586C Air Cargo Express 15.5.98
N6586C Everts Air Fuel 28.07.03
Still operational in 2016

'Big-SIX' in store at Willow Run during 1997

During the 1970s more than 30 DC-6's were flying out of Willow Run Airport, Detroit in support of the automobile industry

Both TCA's DC-6s emigrated to Alaska in May 1998

Stored DC-6s in 1997, ..... but not for long!

Douglas DC-6A N615SE history file:

N90807 Slick Airways 17.09.51
N90807 C Itoh and Co 20.03.53
JA8201 Japan Airlines 24.03.53
PH-TRO Onyx Corp 06.65
PH-TRO Transavia 07.68
D-ABAZ Germanair 09.68
D-ABAZ Transportflug 04.69
D-ABAZ Elbeflug 04.71
D-ABAZ Jet Aviation 11.71
HB-IBW Jet Aviation 23.12.71
HB-IBW International Red Cross 02.72
HB-IBW Jet Aviation 04.09.72
HB-IBW Jet Power Inc 07.08.73
N615SE Span East Airlines 07.09.73
N615SE Guyana Airways 01.74
8R-GEC Guyana Airways 24.03.74
8R-GEC Span East Airlines 31.07.76
N615SE Jarold Fever 22.05.78
N615SE F A Conner 30.05.78
N615SE Trans Continental Airlines 16.10.78
N615SE Airtrust Ltd 01.93
N615SE Air Cargo Express 06.04.98
N615SE Tatonduk Outfitters 5.98
Stored at Fairbanks without engines 28.6.98
Derelict Fairbanks 07.03 with tail section removed but still in Trans Continental titles

DC-6 N615SE once flew as PH-TRO with Transavia Holland

Following her Japan Airlines service, N616SE had flown briefly for Transavia Holland
Willow Run, October 29, 1997

Three years late N616SE found another parking spot
Willow Run, May 02, 2000

Douglas DC-6A N616SE history file:

N34954 Flying Tiger Line 17.08.53
JA6203 Japan Airlines 08.53
JA6203 Onyx Corp 06.68
PH-TRG Transavia 10.07.68
D-ABAY Sudwestflug 09.68
D-ABAY Germanair 10.68
D-ABAY Transportflug 04.69
D-ABAY Elbeflug 04.71
D-ABAY Jet Aviation 11.71
HB-IBV Jet Aviation 21.09.73
N616SE Span East Airlines 09.73
N616SE F A Conner 75
N616SE Trans Continental Airlines 08.78
N616SE Airtrust Ltd 01.93
N616SE Nighthawk Air Systems 05.98
Parked since 1993 at Willow Run 28.3.99
Broken-up in November 2006

Douglas DC-6A N400UA was owned by Karon Gillispie Air Transport

Douglas DC-6A N400UA history file:

N6258C Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) 01.05.54
6703 Portuguese Air Force 21.08.61
CS-TAN SATA 76
YV-296C Aero B 78
N400UA Universal Airlines 07.84
N400UA American World Airlease 04.92
N400UA Albert Newton Ball 08.92
N400UA Piedmont Air Transport 01.95
N400UA Woods Air Fuel r18.6.98
N400UA Everts Air Alaska r30.05.03 Stored
N400UA Tatonduk Outfitters 20.04.04
N400UA C & R Leasing LLC (Fairbanks AK) 02.08.04
Stored Fairbanks in Everts Air Cargo colors and without engines 2010

During the 1990s Miss Karon was still competing with its Jet counterparts

During the late 90s Miss Karon was still running the US Airways daily
Willow Run, October 30, 1997

Once referred to as 'Clipper Gladiator', Douglas DC-6A N400UA, affectionately known as Miss Karon, still earned her keep in 1997

The DC-6 four R-2800's thunder into life for another interstate cargo flight

A well-tuned rumble!

During 1997 this Douglas DC-6 was still clocking-up hours on automobile charters

This well-travelled old freighter is arriving back at her Willow Run base
Willow Run, October 27, 1997.

Douglas DC-8-55F N812TC of Traffic Management Corporation is seen here arriving from El Paso, Texas on a automotive charter. TMC who was using call-sign "Willow Run", had strong ties with the Chrysler Corporation.

Willow Run is situated just outside of Detroit City and in the heart of the Big Three automobile manufacturers

This Douglas rolled-off the production-line in Long Beach in February 1966 and started her career with demanding scheduled passenger service for Japan Airlines. In 1980 she was bought by United Aircraft Leasing and registrated N907R. The following years she was leased to operators such as; ONA, International Air Cargo, ATI, Orbis and Trans Arabian Air Transport.

During the period with TAAT of Sudan she was registrated ST-AJD and a regular visitor to Amsterdam Airport. In 1989 she was sold to Trans Continental as N812TC of MoTown Detroit. Next to Trans Continental she did operate during the following years for Emery World Wide, Kal-American, TMC Airlines and MK Airlines. With the airlines of Micheal Kruger she was registrated 9G-MKT. She changed hands for the last time in 2006 when she was sold to Hewa Bora of DRC. During 2008 she was still operational and seen at Jo'burg.

In 2011 she was seen stored at Kinshasa, DRC, with many parts missing.

This Douglas DC-8-55(F) operated for Traffic Management Corp.

N812TC framed by two powerful Allinson 501's on a sunny autumn afternoon in 1997 at Willow Run

Each day tons of automotive spare parts, from large panels to small boxes, are distributed from the factories around Detroit

N811TC formerly flew with Seaboard as N806SW

During my visit to Willow Run in October 1997 she did flew for Traffic Management Corp. as a Part 125 certificate operator for Chrysler Corporation. The bulk of the flight were destined to El Paso, Texas. Her last flight was performed on December 30, 1999 as she was not allowed to fly after 1999 due to her Stage 2 engines. During 2002/2003 she was scrapped at Willow Run.

Many years of storage at Willow Run are drawing to a close for DC-8-51 N817E.
She formerly flew with Delta and Philippines Airlines

I was capturing this OldJet in the scrap corner of Willow Run
Willow Run, October 27, 1997

This untitled DC8-51 N817E made its first flight September 27, 1965. She had transported for 25+ years innumerable passengers reliably and safely around the world for Delta Airlines.

N187SK, two days before she was sold to MK Airlines, formerly flew with Japan Airlines
Willow Run, May 03, 2000

Behind N187SK one can see AirCorp, Dallas, Boeing 727-200F N353PA awaiting her next load.

Douglas DC-8-62 N187SK history file:

JA8036 Japan Airlines 13.12.68
JA8036 Nissho Iawai Corp 01.88
N771CA Con-Av Corp 01.88
N771CA United Aviation Services (UAS) 02.02.88
N36UA United Aviation Services (UAS) 05.88
N36UA Evergreen International Airlines 24.08.88
N817EV Evergreen International Airlines 10.88
N187SK Trans Continental Airlines 27.02.98
9G-MKK MK Airlines 05.05.00
9J-MKK MK Airlines by 08.07
Aircraft operated mainly Lusaka-Ndola flights
Stored Lusaka since February 2011 and in use as an advertising platform, on the approach to Lusaka Airport.

Douglas DC-8-62 N181SK history file:

I-DIWV Alitalia 16.11.67
I-DIWV DETA Mozambique 25.11.77
I-DIWV Guy American Airways 01.02.83
N39307 Sea and Sun Aviation 03.83
N39307 CIS Corp 01.12.85
N39307 MGM Grand Air 20.01.88
N803MG MGM Grand Air 03.90
N803MG Kal-American International Airways 02.04.95
N181SK Trans Continental 29.08.95
N181SK Kuwait Airways 24.12.98
9G-REM Air Cargo Chartering 02.03.99
9G-REM Continental Cargo Airlines
On October 16, 1999, the aircraft departed Oostende, Belgium, at 02:00 hours for a flight to Kinshasa, D.R.Congo. A technical stop was made at Tunis, Tunisia. The crew was unable to perform the Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport runway 24 ILS approach because of an airborne equipment malfunction. They changed to a visual procedure for runway 24, with a left tail wind. The crew flew a short pattern because the pilot considered that he had very little fuel left. The landing was very hard and off centre. The DC-8 slid off the runway to the left. A fire ensued immediately and the DC-8 burned-out

The mighty DC-8 was a common sight at Willow Run

A Transcontinental DC-8 with Zantop 640's in the background
Willow Run, October 29, 1997

Clearing-up a nagging engine problem

Transcontinental was founded in 1972 as a subsidiary of AIA

Early morning sun is rising and shining on this well-travelled old freighter
Willow Run, October 30, 1997

N807CK provided yeoman service for so many operators and February 02, 1999 was her last day in uniform with Kalitta

Douglas DC-8-55(F) N807CK history file:

LN-MOH SAS Scandinavian Airlines 08.02.66
LN-MOH Swissair 03.01.71
LN-MOH Scanair 10.71
N722UA United Air Lsg Corp 02.06.80
N722UA Overseas National Airways (ONA) 02.06.80
N722UA Saudi Arabian Airlines 03.06.80
N722UA United Air Lsg Corp 18.09.80
N902R Unted Air Lsg Corp 05.82
N902R Rich International Airways 08.01.83
N902R Zantop International Airlines 01.07.83
N902R National Airlines 30.06.85
N902R Volcanair 08.86
N902R Kalitta Air 01.02.88
N807CK Kalitta Air 06.88
N807CK Kal-American International Airways 01.03.91
N807CK Kitty Hawk International 03.02.99
Ferried to Greenville, MS, for part-out and scrap which was accomplished during 2004

Willow Run, on a quiet morning

Willow Run offered an aviation scene that has ceased to exist

Classic DC-8 jet freighters lined up at Willow Run awaiting cargo
Willow Run, October 30, 1997

Those old workhorses, with slimline Pratt & Whitney JT3D's slung beneath their wings, were still in use as efficient cargo haulers many years after their glorious passenger carrying days.

Willow Run is situated just outside of Detroit City and in the heart of the Big Three automobile manufacturers

Detroit Willow Run Cargo Operations

The Douglas Aircraft Company and the engineers who, with pencils and slede rulers, designed such a safe, reliable airplane

Sleek turbofan powered DC-8s parked side-by-side at Willow Run

Another 'smoker' coming in!

She departed Willow Run the following night, using call-sign 'Connie 747 Heavy'

During the 70's N815CK belonged to the Air Zaire fleet as 9Q-CLG

Douglas DC-8-63 N815CK history file:

9Q-CLG Air Congo 09.11.70
9Q-CLG Air Zaire 25.10.71
9Q-CLG African Air Charter 76
9Q-CLG Air Zaire 1976
N815CK Kal-American International Airways 07.02.92
N815CK Kitty Hawk International 03.02.99
9G-MKN MK Airlines 04.12.01
9G-TOP Johnsons Air 17.03.06
Aircraft grounded by Ghana CAA 31.12.13

This former KLM Royal Dutch Airlines '340', delivered in 1953, was receiving maintenance by Zantop staff

The scene in October 1997, depicting the redundant Zantop Convair 640 fleet lined-up at Willow Run, awaiting disposal

Convair 640 N73137 history file:

N73137 United Airlines 26.06.53
N73137 Alaska Airlines 30.04.62
N73137 General Dynamics Corporation 15.03.65
N73137 General Dynamics Corporation 20.08.65
N73137 Hawaiian Airlines 30.06.66
N73137 Pan Alaska Airways 00.07.70
N73137 Hawaiian Airlines 00.07.71
N73137 Zantop International Airlines 12.12.73
N73137 Zantop International Airlines 21.05.83
N73137 Century Airlines Inc 14.10.98
N73137 C&M Airways Inc 14.10.98
N73137 Frontera Flight Holdings 08.10.07
XA-UJI Aeronaves TSM S.A. 07.01.08 Active
The Convair is still active and operating for Aeronaves TSM S.A.

Ex United Airlines Mainliner N73137 had been the first Convair to be converted to a 640 in August, 1965

In 1973, California Airmotive (later American Jet Industries) converted five of the Hawaiian aircraft to 640 Freighter standard for Zantop International with a heavy duty floor and a port side aft fuselage door.

Convair 640 N7529U history file:

N5508K Hawaiian Airlines 18.03.53
N5508K Allegheny Airlines 28.12.60
CC-C-LCC LAN Chile 23.01.61
CC-CBI LAN Chile 22.01.63
N7529U North Central Airlines 19.07.65
N7529U Hawaiian Airlines 11.09.65
N7529U Hawaiian Airlines 6.07.66
N7529U Zantop International Airlines 00.07.72
N7529U Zantop International Airlines 21.05.83
Broken-up by March 2002

N7529U framed in by Douglas DC-8 flaps and engine

Convair 640 N3417 history file:

N3417 Braniff International Airways 10.02.53
N3417 Caribbean Atlantic Airlines 30.10.64
N3417 Caribbean Atlantic Airlines 22.04.66
N3417 Eastern Air Lines 15.05.73
N3417 Zantop International Airlines 00.12.73
N3417 Viking International Airlines 00.05.82
N3417 Viking International Airlines 00.07.84
N3417 Zantop International Airlines 00.08.85
N3417 Zantop International Airlines 00.08.96
N3417 Century Airlines Inc 07.11.97
N3417 C&M Airways Inc 07.11.97
XA-UMI Aeronaves TSM S.A. 07.07.09
Aircraft operational in 2016

N3417 is a former Braniff Convair 340

Convair 640 N3420 history file:

N3420 Braniff International Airways 9.04.53
N3420 Caribbean Atlantic Airlines 00.07.65
N3420 Caribbean Atlantic Airlines 15.01.66
N3420 Eastern Air Lines 15.05.73
N3420 Zantop International Airlines 00.12.73
N3420 SMB Stage Lines 00.12.81
N3420 Viking International Airlines 00.07.82
N3420 Viking International Airlines 00.07.84
N3420 Zantop International Airlines 00.08.85
N3420 Paragon 00.12.95
N3420 Zantop International Airlines 00.06.96
N3420 Zantop International Airlines 00.08.96
N3420 Century Airlines Inc 07.11.97
N3420 C&M Airways Inc 07.11.97 Stored
Aircraft without engines in 2014
Aircraft exported to Mexico

A simple propeller-turbine conversion program was initiated in 1964 by Convair for Convair-Liners with 3,000 eshp Rolls-Royce Dart R.Da 10/1 (Mk-542 4) engines. Initially refered to Convair 640 (for ex-340/440’s) in 1966.

Kits were also sold for airlines to make their own conversions which entailed few changes aft of the engine firewall. The Dart and four blade Dowty-Rotol 13 ft. diameter propeller unit was attached to the original cowling but offset 8 inches from the original centerline to provide adequate airscrew clearance. Some structural strenghtening was necessary, particularly for the 600, and two air compressors were added for pressurization at the higher operating altitudes. An AiRsearch APU in the starboard nacelle was optional. After initial flight tests, the beaver-tail fairing of the nacelle and exhaust tailpipe was extended to prevent interference of the engine exhaust to the flaps.

Convair 640s were powered by RR Dart turbines with 4 blade propellers

Convair 640 N3410 and N3420 passed through the hands of a succession of American owners before their purchase by Zantop in 1973. Both were sold to Century Airlines in October, 1998.

Convair 640 N3410 history file:

N3410 Braniff International Airways 20.11.52
N3410 Caribbean Atlantic Airlines 1.06.62
N3410 Caribbean Atlantic Airlines 17.11.65
N3410 Eastern Air Lines 15.05.73
N3410 Zantop International Airlines 00.12.73
N3410 Century Airlines Inc 21.10.98
N3410 C&M Airways Inc 21.10.98
Stored

N5510K in the afternoon autumn sun missing her powerful Dart engines

Convair 640 N5510K history file:

N5510K Hawaiian Airlines 28.05.53
N5510K Hawaiian Airlines 17.11.66
N5510K Zantop International Airlines 12.12.73
N5510K Zantop International Airlines 20.05.83
Broken-up during March 2002

N5510K was in use as an aircraft parts store

Another shot of '10K'.

Three years later, a found 10K in another parking lot

Unfortunely this Zantop Convairliner will keep its parking space for a long time

Zantop's Convair 640 N5511K was originally a CV-340 with Ansett Airways in Australia

Convair 640 N5511K history file:

XB-TUQ Jorge Pasquel Unknown
VH-BZE Ansett Australia 23.04.54
N5511K Hawaiian Airlines 20.04.59
N5511K Hawaiian Airlines 26.06.66
N5511K School Bus Airlines 21.12.71
N5511K Hawaiian Airlines 14.06.72
N5511K Zantop International Airlines 12.12.73
N5511K Zantop International Airlines 20.05.83
Withdrawn from use during May 1994
Scrapped by August 2000

Lockheed L.1011 Tristar N108CK history file:

G-BHBN British Airways 01.04.81
N108CK American International Airways 12.96
N108CK Kitty Hawk International 20.05.99
Stored at Oscada, MI.
Jetcom Aviation Inc. 05.01
Broken-up 08.12.01 at Oscada

SEVEN 640’s lined up. What a privilege!!!

Convair 640 N5509K, N5510K and N5511K were operated on inter-island services by Hawaiian before being sold to Zantop in 1973.

N5511K was once a part of the Hawaiian Airlines fleet

N5515K first served with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as PH-CVC during the late 1950s. After being stored at Willow Run for quiet some time, she was sold to C&M Cargo of El Paso, Texas.

Convair 640 N5515K history file:

PJ-CVC KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Curacao 30.11.53
PH-CGM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 09.01.58
N5515K Hawaiian Airlines 13.04.60
N5515K Hawaiian Airlines 9.12.65
N5515K Zantop International Airlines 12.12.73
N5515K Zantop International Airlines 21.05.83
N5515K Century Airlines 26.01.01
N5515K C And M Airways 26.01.01
Stored basic Zantop colors at El Paso
Broken-up by May 2006

Zantop's Convair 640 N5515K seen prior of running-up her Darts at Willow Run following some maintenance which lasted several days

Seconds later her both Rolls Royce Darts 542-4's fired-up with a minimum of fuss

Dramatic engine start-up scene of former KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Convair-Liner N5515K. Her Rolls-Royce Dart engines, coupled with the four-blade Dowty Rotol propellers, provide an ear-splitting sound.

Mind the DC-8 coming in on short final

Running Props at Willow Run

During the mid-1950s, KLM crew occupied these seats. Now half a century later, the air crew of C&M Air Cargo of El Paso, Texas, commands this Convair 640 on its nightly runs.

15K was one of the many 640's in service with Zantop in the 1980s

The future for this old Convair still looked bright in the year 2000

Convair 640 N5512K history file:

PJ-CVE KLM Royal Dutch Airlines St Eusratius 4.12.53
PH-CGN KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 6.11.57
N5512K Hawaiian Airlines 19.05.69
N5512K Hawaiian Airlines 06.02.66
N5512K Zantop International Airlines 12.12.73
N5512K Zantop International Airlines 21.05.83
Withdrawn from use 09.01
Broken-up by March 2002

Zantop International Airlines was the largest freight operator at Willow Run

One of the once 14-strong Zantop Convair 640 fleet. This example once flew for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines as PH-CVE

Convair 640 N5512K will remain stranded at Willow Run

The mighty Lockheed Electra, which was a common sight at Willow Run, dominated the ramp in front of the Zantop hangar

L-188A was the initial production version.
L-188AF (All Freight version) was the unofficial designation for freighter conversions of L-188A carried out under a supplementary type certificate.
L-188PF (Passenger-Freight version) was the unofficial designation for freighter conversions of L-188A carried out under a supplementary type certificate.
L-188C was the long-range version with increased fuel capacity (6,940 gallon fuel capacity from 5,450 gallons on L-188A) and a higher operating gross weight (Maximum takeoff weight is 116,000 lb compared to 113,000 lb of the "A" version).
L-188CF was the unofficial designation for freighter conversion of L-188C carried out under a supplementary type certificate.

Four lined-up Electra noses. What a privilege!

Lockheed Electra L-188 N5512 history file:

N5512 Eastern Air Lines Inc 25/11/58
N5512 Zantop International Airlines 10.10.77
N5512 Zantop International Airlines 00.09.78
N5512 TMC Airlines 00.01.01
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC for spares and broken-up during the following years

Electra's at Willow Run, waiting for their next load of automotive parts to deliver to dealers across the USA

N290F at rest at Willow Run and is crying out for some cosmetic attentions

Lockheed Electra L-188 N290F history file:

N182H Capital Airlines Unknown
N182H Sports Aloft Inc 31/01/62
N182H Sports Aloft Inc 24/02/62
N181H Sports Aloft Inc 22/03/62
N181H Lockheed Aircraft Corporation 27/12/62
N376PS Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) 17/05/63
N376PS Universal Airlines 24/05/68
N376PS Universal Airlines 00.11.68
N863U Universal Airlines 21/07/69
N863U General Electric Credit Corporation 05/05/72
N290F Overseas National Airways (ONA) 28/05/72
N290F Concare Aircraft Leasing Corporation 19.4.740
N290F Zantop International Airlines 26/04/74
N290F Hawaiian Airlines 26/04/77
N290F Zantop International Airlines 00.10.78
N290F Zantop International Airlines 23/02/79
N290F Zantop International Airlines 14.06.82
N290F TMC Airlines 00.00.01
C-GJTZ Air Spray (1967) Ltd 13.12.10
C-GJTZ Air Spray (1967) Ltd 14/03/12 Active
rgd cvtd to tanker?,
1133 C-GJTZ Air Spray converted to Tanker, seen at Red Deer 18.5.16

Lockheed Electra L-188 N5522 history file:

N5522 Eastern Air Lines Inc 03/02/59
N5522 Zantop International Airlines 12/12/77
N5522 Zantop International Airlines 00.05.78
N5522 TMC Airlines 22/05/03
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC for spares and broken-up during January 2008

Rows of prop freighters at Willow Run

Lockheed Electra L-188 N282F history file:

N5006K National Airlines 30/08/59
N5006K Pan Aero International Corp 11/01/68
N5006K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 11/01/68
N5006K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 00.07.68
N282F Overseas National Airways (ONA) 19/09/68
N282F Zantop International Airlines 21/10/74
N282F Hawaiian Airlines 00.09.76
N282F Zantop International Airlines 00.10.77
N282F Great Northern Airlines 00.03.78
N282F Zantop International Airlines 00.06.78
N282F TMC Airlines 08/04/00
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC who sold the Electra during February 2013 to Rockland Aerospace Inc. On April 11, 2015 she was ferried from Willow Run to Keystone Heights Airpark in Florida. The Electra is owned by Buffalo Airways USA and has MHD Rockland titles Keystone and is missing her powerful Allisons.

The majority of inactive Lockheed Electra's around the late 90s could be found at Willow Run

Many Electa's were, after retired from passenger service, put into air cargo use

Lockheed Electra L-188 N5507 history file:

N5507 Eastern Air Lines Inc 14/11/58
N5507 Zantop International Airlines 00.01.78
N5507 Zantop International Airlines 00.08.78 Scrapped
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC for spares and broken-up by April 2007

During the 1980s Channel Express leased several Electra's from Zantop

Zantop began its overseas Electra L-188 contracts with Channel Express of Bournemouth, England, in the latter part of 1989. Contracts flown included flower grower contracts from the English Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, and newspapers flown from inland England down to the Channel Islands. In addition, there were Her Majesty's Mail and Parcel Post, as well as UPS, and occasionally FEDEX contracts were helped. UPS was flown initially from Southend at the mouth of the River Thames to Cologne, Germany. From Cologne (Köln), Zantop flew to Zaragosa, Spain. Zantop flew under callsign CHANEX while under contract to Channel Express. Zantop crews were taught European procedures, and Zantop crews and maintenance taught Channel Express employees how we flew and maintained the L-188 Electra.

Jimmy Zantop led Zantop into contracts with Channel Express, callsign ChanEx, starting December 1989 and continuing into 1997. Channel Express operated initially from Bournemouth, England, and spread its bases to include Southend, England; Stansted, England; and Edinburgh, Scotland. Flowers were flown from the Channel Islands, and UPS contracts were serviced through Cologne, Germany.

Lockheed Electra L-188A N343HA history file:

N5530 Eastern Air Lines Inc 20/05/59
HK-692 SAM Colombia 00.11.70
HK-692 Eastern Air Lines Inc 01/03/77
N5530E Eastern Air Lines Inc 08/04/77
TI-ALK APSA (Costa Rica) 18/07/77
TI-ALK Eastern Air Lines Inc 31/12/77
N429MA MCA Leasing Corporation 17/02/78
N429MA Hawaiian Airlines 27/06/78
N343HA Hawaiian Airlines 17/03/79
N343HA Zantop International Airlines 02.09.80
N343HA Channel Express Air Services 09/11/90
N343HA Zantop International Airlines 00.04.91
N343HA Channel Express Air Services 02.05.92
N343HA Zantop International Airlines 16/06/93
N343HA Channel Express Air Services 01/03/94
N343HA Zantop International Airlines 25.04.97
N343HA TMC Airlines 00.09.04
C-GOIZ Air Spray (1967) Ltd 27.12.11
She was ferried from Willow Run to Lethbridge in February 2012. This Electra is a parts source for the Air Spray fleet. She is still in full Zantop colors and stored at Red Deer.

Meticulous maintenance kept 'em flying

In 1980 seven Electra freighters were obtained from Hawaiian Airlines defunct Mainland Air Cargo division. N343HA and N340HA, which is hangared behind '3HA', belonged to this fleet.

N341HA was once part of the Hawaiian Airlines fleet

Lockheed Electra L-188A N341HA history file:

N5001K National Airlines 01/04/59
N5001K Pan Aero International Corp 17/12/68
N5001K Trans Arctic Airlines 30/09/69
N5001K Trans Arctic Airlines 00.02.70
N5001K Hartz Commercial Leasing 00.02.71
CF-PWG Pacific Western Airlines 20/04/72
N415MA MCA Leasing Corporation 00.04.76
8R-GEW Guyana Airways 20/10/76
N415MA MCA Leasing Corporation 20/09/77
N415MA Hawaiian Airlines 00.03.78
N341HA Hawaiian Airlines 00.04.79
N341HA Zantop International Airlines 00.09.80
N341HA Channel Express Air Services 21/09/91
N341HA Zantop International Airlines 04/05/92
N341HA Channel Express Air Services 31.08.92
N341HA Zantop International Airlines 13/01/94
N341HA Channel Express Air Services 00.07.95
N341HA Zantop International Airlines 00.04.97
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC for spares and broken-up during January 2008.

In 1978 Zantop also purchased the freight division of Hawaiian Airlines and with it came more Electras

Electra's lined-up side-by-side

N286F was sold from ONA in October 1974. Before ONA she flew passenger services for National along the eastern coastline of the USA.

Lockheed Electra L-188 N286F history file:

N5013K National Airlines 06/01/61
N5013K Pan Aero International Corporation 08/02/68
N5013K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 13/03/68
N5013K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 00.09.68
N286F Overseas National Airways (ONA) 19/09/68
N286F Zantop International Airlines 08.10.74
N286F TMC Airlines 09/01/01
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC who sold the Electra during February 2013 to Rockland Aerospace Inc. On Septerber 10, 2014 she was ferried from Willow Run to Keystone Heights Airpark in Florida. The Electra is owned by Buffalo Airways USA and has still her Zantop titles but is missing her powerful Allisons

Seen resting, in the crisp May air, is this Zantop International L-188 Electra Freighter, N346HA, awaiting its next mission

Fourthy Eletra's were modified by a subsidiary of Lockheed from 1968 with one or two large doors in the left side of the fuselage and a reinforced cabin floor.

Zantop Electra’s, N346HA. Despite her age, this plane continue to soldier on night after night during the 80/90s

The Allison T56 is a single shaft, modular design military turboprop with a 14-stage axial flow compressor driven by a four-stage turbine. It was originally developed by the Allison Engine Company for the Lockheed C-130 transport entering production in 1954. The commercial version is designated 501-D. With an unusually long and numerous production run, over 18,000 engines have been produced since 1954.

N344HA briefly flew with Reeve Aleutian during 1977.

'344HA' was one of many Electra’s in service with Zantop in the 1980s

Lockheed Electra L-188 N344HA history file:

N5525 Eastern Air Lines Inc 28/03/59
N5525 Reeve Aleutian Airways Inc 19/10/77
N5525 American Jet Industries Inc 16/03/78
N5525 American Jet Industries Inc 00.06.78
N5525 Hawaiian Airlines 04/08/78
N344HA Hawaiian Airlines 22/05/79
N344HA Zantop International Airlines 02/09/80
N344HA Channel Express Air Services 11.06.93
N344HA Zantop International Airlines 05/11/93
N344HA Channel Express Air Services 15/01/94
N344HA Zantop International Airlines 10/07/95
N344HA TMC Airlines 00.11.98
N344HA Rockland Aerospace Inc 10/07/09
C-GKIL Air Spray (1967) Ltd 02/02/11
C-FDTH Air Spray (1967) Ltd 05/03/12 Active
re-rgd fn 498 sRed Deer 05.11 no engines cvtd to tanker in summer 2011 sisWhitehorse 21.06.12,
1038 C-FDTH Air Spray Tanker - in use for firefighting; ex C-GKIL, N344HA

This Zantop Lockheed Electra just returned to the platform at Detroit-Willow Run, after another flight

Running Props at Willow Run

A hard working Lockheed Electra arrives back at its Willow Run base

High pitch whine Allison’s

Lockheed Electra L-188C N289F history file:

N173PS Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) 09/12/59
N173PS Universal Airlines 14/05/68
N173PS Universal Airlines 00.10.68
N862U General Electric Credit Corp 05/05/72
N289F Overseas National Airways 28/06/72
N289F Zantop International Airlines 25/04/74
N289F Zantop Air Cargo 00.09.94
N289F Lynden Air Cargo 03/07/95
N289F Lynden Air Cargo 25/07/97
N289F Renown Aviation Inc 10/02/99
During March 1999 she was withdrawn from used at Roswell and bought by Segers Aviation in April 2002. In the following years she was parted-out.

Line up of classic prop tails ....4 x Lockheed Electra in a roy

In Alaska, Zantop contracted with Lynden Air Cargo, and the US Postmaster was known to come on board to postmark all sorts of freight being transported from Anchorage to the outback. In addition, the Lockheed L-188 Electra was known to carry 30,000 pounds of frozen fish back to Anchorage. Points served in Alaska included Anchorage, Bethel, Aniak, St. Mary's, Dillingham, King Salmon, Nome, Kotzebue, Kodiak, and several other cities.

Working closely with the automotive industry, Zantop became an Electra operator in 1974, when it purchased nine aircraft from Overseas National. This included N286F.

Lockheed Electra L-188 N286F history file:

N5013K National Airlines 06/01/61
N5013K Pan Aero International Corporation 08/02/68
N5013K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 13/03/68
N5013K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 00.09.68
N286F Overseas National Airways (ONA) 19/09/68
N286F Zantop International Airlines 08.10.74
N286F TMC Airlines 09/01/01
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC who sold the Electra during February 2013 to Rockland Aerospace Inc. On September 10, 2014 she was ferried from Willow Run to Keystone Heights Airpark in Florida. The Electra is owned by Buffalo Airways USA and and is missing her powerful Allisons.

In 1980 seven Electra freighters were obtained from Hawaiian Airlines defunct Mainland Air Cargo division. N340HA belonged to this fleet.

N340HA in need of at least one more engine, a paint job would not hurt to

Lockheed Electra L-188 N340HA history file:

N172PS Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) 30/11/59
N172PS California Airmotive Corporation 19/03/69
N172PS Bill Murphy Buick Inc 20/05/70
N172PS RPS Investments Inc 21/05/70
N172PS Bill Murphy Buick Inc 00.04.71
N172PS Holiday Wings Inc 00.06.71
N172PS Bill Murphy Buick Inc 00.10.71
N172PS Flamingo Airlines 12/11/73
N172PS American Jet Industries Inc 00.05.74
N172PS MCA Leasing Corporation 19/06/74
N172PS Guyana Airways 00.02.75
N172PS MCA Leasing Corporation 00.05.75
TI-LRN LACSA Lineas Aereas Costarricenses 00.12.76
N172PS International Air Leases Inc 06/07/77
N172PS Hawaiian Airlines 07/08/78
N340HA Hawaiian Airlines 22/09/78
N340HA Zantop International Airlines 02.09.80
N340HA Charrak Air 22/09/95
N340HA Zantop International Airlines 00.03.96
N340HA TMC Airlines 00.11.98
During September 2006 she was registrated to Turboprop Ventures LLC who sold the Electra during February 2013 to Rockland Aerospace Inc. On January 29, 2015 she was ferried from Willow Run to Keystone Heights Airpark in Florida. The Electra is owned by Buffalo Airways USA and has no titles or marks and is missing her powerful Allisons.

Zantop's tramp Air Freighters

Working closely with the automotive industry, Zantop became an Electra operator in 1974, when it purchased nine aircraft from Overseas National. This included N284F.

Lockheed Electra L-188 N284F history file:

N5011K National Airlines 03/11/59
N5011K Pan Aero International Corp 13/02/68
N5011K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 13/02/68
N5011K Overseas National Airways (ONA) 00.08.68
N284F Overseas National Airways (ONA) 19/09/68
N284F Overseas National Airways (ONA) 31/12/68
N284F Zantop International Airlines 25/09/74
N284F Great Northern Airlines 00.12.77
N284F Zantop International Airlines 00.12.78
N284F Channel Express Air Services 20.01.94
N284F Zantop International Airlines 00.12.94
She was withdrawn from use during May 1997. In September 2006 she was sold to Turboprop Ventures LLC for spares and during January 2008 broken-up.

284F was one of many Electra’s in service with Zantop in the 1980s

One of a number of Zantop Electra’s at Willow Run. This one seems to be intact with the exception of missing propellers

Lockheed Electra L-188 N5510L history file:

N5510 Eastern Air Lines Inc 13/01/59
HK-557 SAM Colombia 29/12/69
HK-557 Eastern Air Lines Inc 00.03.77
N5510L Eastern Air Lines Inc 00.04.77
N5510L American Jet Industries Inc 14/11/77
N5510L Zantop International Airlines 21.12.77
She was withdrawn from use during May 1994. In September 2006 she was sold to Turboprop Ventures LLC for spares and during April 2007 broken-up.

Zantop's bustling cargo/operations room in the dark of the night

I have been informed that the man on the phone is Ron Nead.

When you were fast asleep these workhorses were transporting your car parts

Zantop Electra's were resting by day and working at night

The Allison 501-D is a powerful engine

The Electras have both Hamilton Standard props and Aeroproducts props. The Hamilton Standard blades are cast from solid pieces of metal. The Aeroproducts prop blades are hollow and constructed from two skins covering longitudinal ribs. From a manufacturing point of view, it is very difficult to produce eliptical pattern blades from the hollow construction method, hence they leave the blades squared off, but in the case of the solid blades, the manufacturer has chosen to round them off. They may have decided to do this for neatness or personal choice on the part of the designer, but it makes little difference. Flight tests were carried out using a Convair 580 which had one of each type of propellor and it was discovered that there was no performance difference whatsoever between the two. At a day to day level, the Hamilton Standard props feel to be more responsive to power lever movements, and there are certain differences in the ways in which the props need to be handled.

N5522 was one to the six Electra's bought from Eastern in 1977-78

The problem with fast, fairly high flying turbo-props with large propeller radius is that the propeller tips will be the first part of the aircraft to reach the speed of sound, with resultant significant loss of thrust for the power delivered to the propeller. The Lockheed L-188 was optimised to fly fast and reasonably high (F/L 250). The L-188 had square propeller tips to absorb all the power. Some loss of aerodynamic efficiency was acceptable to avert the much greater loss of efficiency in having the propeller tips reach Mach 1.0 at fast and high cruise.

Her switches and controls, worn smooth by the touch of a thousand hands

Electra pilots were not burdened with fistful of throttles, mixtures and pitch controls like there DC-6 colleague's.

High-time Learjets

N71CK is a Learjet 36A, N72CK a 35A and N39CK a Learjet 25. All three were still operational in 2016. N93BP, a Learjet 24A was withdrawn in 1999 and she was broken-up during April 2013. N93BP, a Learjet 24A, was withdrawn in 1993 and broken-up in 2013.

Learjets, neatly lined-up on Kalitta's Flying Service ramp

N83CK is a Learjet 25 of 1974 and N500JS was built in 1969! Both are still active for Kalitta Air.

Already in 1997 the Volpar Turboliners looked like time capsules of aviation history

N81CK is a 1960 BEECH G18S power by TPE331 Turbo engines. The Beech is presently owned by GB AIRLINK INC. of Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Hamilton Westwind II N231LJ stripped from most of its parts as Willow Run, in May 2000

Connie Kalitta Services Inc. operated in the seventies a number of turbo conversions of the Beech C-45 as cargo aircraft. Their Hamilton Westwind IV N231LJ is a conversion of a Beech 18, and is the longest Beech 18 variant ever built or converted. Only one Westwind II STD has ever been converted and the type was certified in 1975.

This aircraft was used by Kalitta on a transatlantic freight charter and arrived at Eelde airfield near Groningen in the Netherlands on 9 June 1976.

This Westwind IV N231LJ was built in 1945 for the US Navy as a Beech SNB-2C Navigator under BuNo 23835. In service with the Navy it was upgraded to the SNB-5/TC-45J standard. After being retired from the Navy it was modified by Hamilton Aircraft Co. under supplemental type certificate (STC) SA2958WE which includes turbo-engines; cargo floor; extended nose; etc.

In October 2001, Beech TC-45J Hamilton Westwind IV N231LJ was offered for sale in damaged condition and in process of being rebuilt. Her remains were spotted at Janesville airport in 2006.

N4209V is a C-45H Expeditor. Kalitta Air sold her to Jim Hankins Air Service Inc. Presently she is stored at Jackons, Hawkins Field, MS.

This 1956 Volpar Turboliner still earned her keep in October 1997

Amerijet 'Cargo is our business'. Their freighter N598AJ is a well used 727

Boeing 727-200F N598AJ history file:

9V-SGI Singapore Airlines 20.07.79
N309AS Alaska Airlines 22.01.85
N86430 COA Air Micron 09.06.93
N598AJ Amerijet International 06.05.98
Ferried MIA-Lakelane 01.06.14 for part-out and scrap

Newcomer to the Kitty Hawk fleet was this former British Airways Tristar

The former British Airways Tristar, with her ship name still visible below the cockpit windows, was sitting in May 2000, with all the other Kitty Hawk aircraft at one end of Willow Run airport.

Lockheed Tristar L-1011 N107CK history file:

G-BGBC British Airways 22.04.80
N107CK American International Airways 02.08.97
N107CK Kitty Hawk International 7.05.99
Stored Victorville 7.11.00
Broken-up by 07.11

Lockheed L.1011-385-200 N102CK of Kitty. Photo taken on Willow Run on the day the company folded. Presently the Tristar is abandoned at Kavala, Greece.

Lockheed Tristar L-1011 N102CK history file:

G-BHBM British Airways 22.11.80
G-BHBM Kuwait Airways 31.05.92
N102CK American International Airways 11.07.94
N102CK Kitty Hawk International 7.05.99
N102CK CBJ Cargo 10.02
N102CK Gee Bee Airlines 02.11.04
Freedom Air Cyprus
Stored Kavala, Greece

Douglas DC-8-62 N801MG of Kitty. Photo taken on Willow Run on the day the company folded. This -8- was once a Alitalia flagship on their demanding world-wide passenger sevice. Last operator was African Intl. Presently she is stored in bad condition at Cape Town, South-Africa.

A number of Kitty Hawk's aircraft were in store at Willow Run after the company went bankrupt

Douglas DC-8-62 N811CK history file:

9Q-CLH Air Congo 19.07.71
9Q-CLH Air Zaire 25.10.71
N811CK Kal-American International Airways 01.90
N811CK Kitty Hawk International 03.02.99
9G-MKO MK Airlines 07.12.01
9G-LIL Johnsons Air 03.02.06
Scrapped at Ras Al Khaimah by 06.13

Three years late, same spot, other livery. In 1997 N801MG was carrying the colors of American International

This one-time Alitalia flagship was 33 years old in May 2000

Although she had transported for 25+ years innumerable passengers reliably and safely around the world this ship started a second life as a cargo transport which lasted another 10 years.

During the 90s, the turbocompressors and freon cooling units of many DC-8s were removed and replaced with "packs" that allowed engine bleed air to be used for temperature control and cabin pressurization. The DC8 chin scoops were modified to close off the turbocompressor inlets

N802MG has operated for several airlines such as; Alitalia and MGM Grand Air

Douglas DC-9-15 RC (Rapid Change) N561PC is seen here arriving the Kitty Hawk ramp at Willow Run with her JT8's singing loudly

Douglas DC-9-15(RC) N561PC history file:

N8906 Continental Air Lines 23.07.67
CF-TOS Air Canada 04.12.72
N70AF Air Florida 02.09.77
N70AF Emerald Air 13.11.81
N70AF Air National 09.82
N70AF Purolator Courier Corp. 15.02.84
N561PC Purolator Courier 07.08.84
N561PC Emery Worldwide Airlines 21.09.87
N561PC Kitty Hawk Airways 01.03.95
N923R Reliant Airlines r08.12.00
N784TW Ameristar Airways 16.08.02 Active

Kitty Hawk Air Cargo was a regular at Willow Run

Boeing 727-200(F) N6833 history file:

N6833 American Airlines 21.05.69
N6833 Kitty Hawk Airlines 01.08.94
N6833 Pan Air 00.10.96
N6833 Ansett Air Freight 05.07.97
N6833 Kitty Hawk Airlines 29.09.97
N6833 Ansett Air Freight 04.01.98
N6833 Kitty Hawk Airlines 27.03.99
Kitty Hawk Collateral Liquidating Trust 25.10.01
25.07.02 ferried DEN-ROW for storage
AAR Services 19.07.11
Stewart Industries Int LLC 22.07.11
Most probably scrapped at Roswell during 2011

Reliant operated a small fleet of DC-9-15s

Douglas DC-9-15 N915R history file:

N8915 Continental Air Lines 16.12.67
N9356 Hughes Airwest 26.04.74
N9356 Republic Airlines 01.10.80
N568PC Purolator Courier Corp. 14.09.84
N568PC Emery Worldwide Airlines 21.09.87
N568PC Emery Worldwide Airlines 24.03.98
N915R Reliant Airlines 13.01.00
N915CK Kalitta Air 29.01.03
Kalitta Charters II 21.12.09
Still active

N616SE spending her retirement in a quiet corner of at the Willow Run ramp

Two former Tunis Air Boeing 727-200s were parked at Willow Run in May 2000 and undergoing a thorough inspection on the ramp. Both aircraft were sold to Kalitta.

Boeing 727-200(F) N723SK history file:

TS-JHN Tunisair 14.04.72
TS-JHN Saudi Arabian Airlines 10.03.78
TS-JHN Tunisair 11.03.79
N723SK Kalitta Air 29.03.99
N723SK Charter America s08.11.99
N723CK Kalitta Air 20.05.00
Kalitta Charters II LLC 21.12.09
Withdrawn from use at Oscoda 14.11.13

Boeing 727-200(F) N724SK history file:

TS-JHS Tunisair 18.06.76
N724SK Kalitta Air 05.05.99
C-GYFA First Air 17.08.00
Stored at Ottawa 03.03.03 without engines
National Research Council (NRC) test area compound
Remains of fuselage at Fire Hall Ottawa 09.10

A Caribou DHC-4 of the former ERIM institute is seen here parked at Detroit-Willow Run in the late 1990s

This DHC-4 Cariboo still operated ad-hoc charters in the mid 1990s

DHC-4 Cariboo N6080 history file:

CF-LAN Nordair 29.01.61
CF-LAN Imperial Oil 05.08.66
N6080 Intermountain Aviation 15.06.71
N6080 Air America 24.02.75
N6080 ERIM International 16.06.76
N6080 HAT Aviation 27.08.98
The Cariboo is presently displayed at the Yankee Air Museum, Willow Run Airport, in full US Army colors with fake serial '24171'.

The immaculate 580s of ERIM in the company's hangar at Willow Run

Environmental Research Institute of Michigan was a non -commercial organization that conducted scientific research flights with two Convair 580s.

Convair 580 N51255 history file:

N4E Trans-American Aeronautical Corporation 7.12.56
N4E Fairways Corporation 23.03.62
N4E Fairways Corporation 9.09.65
N4479 Fairways Corporation 16.09.68
N4479 Omni International Corporation 27.02.69
N4479 Commonwealth Plan Inc 17.04.69
N4479 Fram Corporation 23.04.69
N55H Fram Corporation 20.01.74
N55H Fram Corporation 29.05.79
N55H LTC Corporation 00.10.85
N45LC Aalsmeer-Antigua Inc 00.11.85
N45LC Environmental Research Institute 00.03.87
N51255 Environmental Research Institute 00.08.87
N51255 ERIM International Inc 1.05.97
N51255 Veridian Systems Division Inc 02.02.01
N51255 General Dynamics Advanced Info Systems Inc 15.02.05
N51255 IFL Group Inc 26.10.11
Without engine stored at Pontiac in basic ERIM colors

Both Convair flew only 350 hours during 1996

Convair 580 N51211 history file:

N5121 General Motors Corporation 26.09.59
N5121 General Motors Corporation 00.04.60
N5121 General Motors Air Transport 23.06.60
N51211 Environmental Research Institute 00.04.78
N51211 ERIM International Inc 1.05.97
N51211 Veridian Systems Division Inc 02.02.01
N51211 General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems Inc 15.02.05
IFL Group last action 2011.

Stored forever ?

Some machines were put into long-term storage and many of them were tore-down in the upcoming years

Willow Run was my favourite airport to visit. During May 2000 many DC-8s were stored at YIP. Here we see N8042U DC-8-54F, N8041U DC-854F,N812TC DC-8-55F (finally ended-up in DRC) and N811TC DC-8-55F.

N8041U flew for United and Transcontinental before being sold to Zantop

During the year 2000 Douglas DC-8-54AF Jet Trader N8041U of Zantop was in storage at Willow Run. On the left side of the pic one can see the engine #4 cowling of sistership N8042U. Behind '8041' one can see N812TC of TMC Airlines. This ship operated for United Cargo from 1964 until 1985. In 1987 she started working for Trans Continental and from 1992 u/i 1996 for Zantop. During 2004/2005 she has been scrapped at Willow Run.

Traffic Management Corp. DC-8-50F N812TC sat in-active in the motley line-up of retired aircraft at Willow Run in May 2000

During the year 2000 Douglas DC-8-61F N184SK of Transcontinental was in storage at Willow Run. Behind '184' one can see sistership N182SK of Transcontinental. This 1968 built ship operated passenger services for National Airlines out of Miami for at least five years before sold to Capitol as N911CL. After passing through the hands of further operators it joined TRANSCON of Detroit during November, 1996. During 2001 she has been scrapped at Willow Run.

Douglas DC-8-55F N182SK of Transcontinental was in storage at Willow Run and already missing engine #2. This 1966 built ship operated cargo services for Seboard. After passing through the hands of at least 18 further operators it joined TRANSCON of Detroit during November, 1994. During 2001 she has been scrapped at Willow Run.

During the year 2000 Douglas DC-8-54F N802SK, with Trans Continental titles, was in storage at Willow Run and already missing engine #2. This former Air Canada ship was ended up scrapped at Willow Run during approx. 2009.

Ex Continental Jetliners are now hardworking freighters for USA Jet

USA Jet DC-9s are flying from Willow Run every day

Douglas DC-9-15 N193US history file:

N8918 Continental Air Lines 19.01.68
N9359 Hughes Airwest 17.03.75
N9359 Republic Airlines 01.10.79
N9359 Purolator Courier Corp. 14.06.84
N566PC Purolator Courier Corp. 11.84
N566PC Emery Worldwide Airlines 21.09.87
N193US USA Jet Airlines 01.07.96
Parked at Willow Run 04.07.05
Scrapped by 2013

Douglas DC-9-15 N194US history file:

N8909 Continental Air Lines 04.10.67
N9349 Hughes Airwest 16.04.73
N9349 Republic Airlines 01.10.80
N9349 Northwest Airlines 01.10.86
N9349 Viking International Airlines 01.10.91
YL-BAA Baltic International 01.08.93
N9349 Custom Air Transp 01.03.94
N194US USA Jet Airlines 03.06.94
Stored Willow Run without engines 18.07.09

USA Jet is 'On Time - Every Time'

During my visit to Willow Run N195US had spent nearly 33 years reliably flying the less than glamorous sort-haul routes within the USA.

Both DC-9-15F, N192US and N195US, are operated by USA Jet in the late 90s, on freight flights from Detroit Willow Run airport

Most of these DC-9s flew with Continental Airlines during their passenger serving careers

Douglas DC-9-15 N195US history file:

N8911 Continental Air Lines 28.10.67
N9352 Hughes Airwest 27.03.75
N9352 Republic Airlines 01.10.80
N9352 Northwest Airlines 01.10.86
N9352 Roadway Global Air 15.11.93
N195US USA Jet Airlines 12.94
Modified mid 2003 with 50 seats (cargo to pax conversion!) for sports charters

Baby Nine N196US in a weak autumn morning sun at Willow Run.

USA Jet is contracted to serve the automotive industry on demand. When an automotive production line is not going to get a shipment of assembly parts on time, USA Jet would be called to fly automobile parts from a subassembly production line to a major production line.

USA Jet N196US and Northern Air Cargo 727-100F N930FT in the foreground. Despite their age, these planes continue to soldiered on night after night during the 80/90s.

Douglas DC-9-15 N196US history file:

N8914 Continental Air Lines 11.12.67
N9355 Hughes Airwest 26.03.74
N9355 Republic Airlines 01.10.80
N9355 Northwest Airlines 01.10.86
N9355 Custom Air Transport 01.03.94
N196US USA Jet Airlines 28.12.94
Stored Detroit Willow Run 16.03.07 without engines

DC-9-15F N198US had flown in Europe for Finnair as OH-LYI

Douglas DC-9-15 N198US history file:

N1304T Trans Texas Airlines 09.11.67
N1304T Texas International Airlines 01.10.68
OH-LYI Finnair 23.05.72
N558HA Hawaiian Airlines 25.02.86
N558HA Kalitta Air 28.07.92
N902CK Kalitta Air 11.92
N198US USA Jet Airlines 06.12.94
Scrapped at Willow Run by 2012

Douglas DC-9-15 N199US history file:

N8910 Continental Air Lines 18.10.67
N8910 Southern Airways 24.06.72
N9350 Hughes Airwest 07.06.73
N9350 Republic Airlines 01.10.80
N9350 Purolator Courier 14.09.84
N567PC Purolator Courier 03.85
N567PC Emery Worldwide Airlines 21.09.87
N199US USA Jet Airlines 01.07.96 Written-off

USA Jet Flight 199 departed Detroit-Willow Run Airport, MI (YIP) on July 5 for Hamilton (YHM), Canada to pick up cargo. Automotive parts were loaded on board and the flight continued to Shreveport (SHV) where it arrived at 23:19 CDT. After clearing customs it took off again at 23:48 CDT, bound for Saltillo (SLW), Mexico. The DC-9 crashed in an industrial area 800 m north of Saltillo-Plan de Guadalupe International Airport , Mexico. The airplane broke up and burned.

N205US is a DC-9-32F which flew for the Kuwait Air Force between 1976 and 1998

Douglas DC-9-32 N205US history file:

160748 Kuwait Air Force 30.10.76
KAF321 Kuwait Air Force 11.76
N724HB Comtran International 14.05.98
N205US USA Jet Airlines 14.01.00 Active

A 'just-in-time' Falcon front of the Active Aero building

Dassault Falcon N823AA history file:

ZS-LAL SKK 00.06.70
ZS-LLG LLG Jet Charters 00.09.70
3D-LLG Louis Luyt Group 00.02.72
3D-LLG Falcon Jet Corporation 00.05.75
C-GWSA Sam Hashman 22.10.75
HB-VEZ Private Jet Services 28.01.77
HB-VEZ Jet Flug AG 08/12/1980
5N-AYM Imani and Sons (Nigeria) Ltd 13.10.82 Left
OE-GRU Alpenair GmbH 00.11.89
N823AA Active Aero Charter 00.11.93
N823AA Yip Group Inc 00.11.94
N823AA USA Jet Airlines Inc 01.12.96
Withdrawn from use at Willow Run by 09.11

Active Aero Falcon Freighters are ready to Go!

Douglas DC-8-62 N8969U history file:

N8969U United Airlines 16.07.69
N8969U Arrow Air 30.01.82
N8969U Hawaiian Airlines 15.04.86
PT-AIY Air Vias 25.09.94
N8969U IAL 08.95
N8969U Air Transport International 07.11.96
N8969U Arrow Air 03.99
N8969U Fine Air 01.01
N8969U Arrow Air 2002
Miami leasing 30.12.04
Stored Roswell 28.02.05
Scrapped by 2010

Douglas DC-8 N8069U has led a hard-working life with operators like United and Hawaiian Airlines

Boeing 727-23F N930FT is seen here at Willow Run, a long way from its home base in Alaska

Boeing 727-23F N930FT of Northern Air Cargo is seen here at Detroit Willow Run Airport on May 03, 2000. This ship was originally delivered new to American Airlines. After her career with AA she did operate for Flying Tigers, Fedex and Express One before being sold to Northern Air Cargo in 1995. By August 2005 she was broken-up at Anchorage.

N930FT was originally delivered to American Airlines in November 1966

A long way from Alaskan home is Lynden's Lockheed Hercules N401LC. She started her career in Africa with Safair

Lockheed Hercules L-200-10 N401LC history file:

N401LC Lynden Air Cargo Apr 21, 1997 Active
ZS-RSJ Safair Oct 1, 1989 Reregistered
9Q-CZH Zaire Aero Service (ZAS) Oct 1, 1988 Reregistered
F-GFAS SFAIR May 1, 1985 Reregistered
9Q-CZA Zaïre Cargo Jun 1, 1982 Reregistered
ZS-RSJ Safair Jul 5, 1976 Reregistered

SATCO's Go-Anywhere-Do-Anything Hercs.

Lockheed Hercules L-200-10 N909SJ history file:
Type: L-382G-38C Hercules

NOV77 Delivered to Alaska International Air
01AUG82 Arrived Sydney on delivery to Cargomasters as N108AK but also marked as VH-CAK
04AUG82 registered VH-CYO to Cargomasters
05AUG82 seen at Essendon (Melbourne) as VH-CYO
03JUN83 cancelled from Australian Register.
JUN83 reverted to N108AK
FEB84 to Markair
JUL91 Registered to Southern Air Transport Inc as N108AK
AUG91 Registered to Southern Air Transport Inc as N909SJ
07MAR93 Ferried from Gander to Amsterdam on lease to Schreiner Airways, Holland. To be operated on KLM cargo flights as N909SJ initially
07FEB94 Leased to Hunting Cargo and sub-leased to Aer Lingus until 27FEB94 as N909SJ
16OCT98 Seen stored at Marana
17NOV98 Sold to Lynden Air Cargo
19NOV98 Registered to Lynden Air Cargo as N909SJ
NOV98 Re-registered N404LC to Lynden Air Cargo
JAN13 The aircraft operated several relief flights from Brisbane to Bundaberg which had suffered its worst flooding on record.
It has been reported that the aircraft is stored at Kingman, AZ.

Lockheed Hercules L-100-30 N906SJ history file:

Plant Lockheed Marietta Plant
Dec 1972 ZS-RSD Safair
Nov 1974 ZS-RSD Leased to Alaska Inernational Air
Apr 1976 N106AK sold to Alaska Inernational Air
Unknown N106AK leased to Cargomasters in Australia.
Feb 1984 N106AK sold to Markair
Apr 1986 N106AK Zantop International
Mar 1991 N106AK sold to Southern Air Transport
Feb 1992 N906SJ re-registered but still owned by Southern Air Transport.
On monday 5 June 1995, a Lockheed Hercules transport airplane, N906SJ, dragged its tail during landing at Nixon Fork Mine, Alaska. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed on the cargo flight from Anchorage. The airplane was landing on runway 35 at Nixon Fork Mine and the approach was over a 60 foot high hill. The hill is situated at the threshold of runway 35. The pilot likely attempted to arrest the sink rate by increasing the landing flare. The airplane, N906SJ, is 18 feet longer than the other Hercules aircraft in the operator's fleet.
Aircraft carried an Orca/Killer Whale known as Keiko star of the movie Free Willy from Oregon to Iceland in September 1998.
Aug 1999 S9-BOP Transafrik International
Dec 1999 S9-BOP 0
Dec 27, 1999 Went off a wet runway landing at Luzamba, Angola. The aircraft could not be brought to a halt before the end of the 3000 feet runway. The Hercules overran the dirt runway and went into a 40 feet ravine. The aircraft was reportedly transporting diesel fuel in an internal mounted tank.

And the last pic of the tour is of this Southern Air Transport Herc, shortly before starting-up her mighty Allison’s Turbo-props at Willow Run, on October 29, 1997.

MOTOWN CARGO CARRIERSDetroit Willow Run's Cargo Operations between 1997 and 2000

MOTOWN CARGO CARRIERS
Detroit Willow Run's Cargo Operations between 1997 and 2000