In April 1980, several aviation friends and I visited some parts of the USA, on a month long aviation tour. We had bought a National Airlines pass and went from Amsterdam, via London-Heathrow, on National Airlines DC-10-30, N83NA, to Miami. After spending two weeks in the Miami area, we vistited San Juan, P.R., Saint-Thomas in the Virgen Islands, the Los Angeles area and Houston International airport.
Below, I focus on our visit to Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgen Islands.
Below, I focus on our visit to Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgen Islands.
April 21, 1980, N100SD, using the last meters left of departure runway 10 of Saint Thomas on sunny day.
Tucking-up her wheels out of Saint Thomas is Douglas DC-3, N100SD, of Aero Virgin Islands.
She is listed destroyed by a hurricane at STT.
Aero Virgen Islands DC-3 tail number, N331P, landing at Saint Thomas on April 24, 1980.
After the war, N331P, started flying for Eastern Airlines. She is listed stored in derelict condition at STT.
A last look at Aero Virgen Islands N100SD as she climbs away from Harry S. Truman Airport, bound for San Juan, PR.
Increased competition from such airlines as LIAT, and American Eagle forced Aero Virgin Islands out of operations by 1990.
N783V about to land on runway 10.
N783V taxis out for another St. Croix freight departure.
After the war, N783V, started flying for Ladeco in Chile. After our visit she was sold to Tol Air. It was listed that the fuselage was noted preserved by a private owner in Berlin, MA. (USA) in 2014.
Air Cargo America Douglas DC-3 N10801, taxiing out at St. Thomas/Harry S. Truman, bound for Borinquen, in 1980.
Rearview of Air Cargo America Douglas DC-3, N10801, in her bare metal livery, taxiing alongside Runway 10/28 at Saint Thomas Airport on a gorgeous spring day during Apil 1980.
After the war, N10801, started flying for the Luftwaffe in the 50's . She is listed converted to Basler BT-67 and fitted with FLIR and machine guns for drug interdiction missions with the Fuerza Aerea Salvadorian.
Convair 440, N44828, was heading purposefully towards runway 10.
N44828, started flying for Varig. During the 70's she flew for Delta Air Transport from Antwerp, Belgium. She is listed destroyed by fire whilst landing at Jasper, AL on December 16, 1984. The last operator was Air Resort Airlines.
Veteran Convair 440, N44826, trundles towards the take-off point on Saint Thomas runway, in readiness for her flight back to San Juan, PR.
N44826, started flying for Varig. During the 70's she flew for Delta Air Transport from Antwerp, Belgium. She is listed scrapped at McClellan–Palomar Airport during January 1997.
N87629 has just arrived from SJU.
After the war, N87629, flew for North Cay Airways. She had an accident occurred at STT while taxiing. The damage was substantial. The pilot reported normal braking pressure failed while taxiing on the ramp. He attempted to steer clear of other aircraft, but collided with two parked DC-3 aircraft.
LIAT '748' rolling out.
LIAT HS.748, VP-LIV, rotates from runway 28 in April 1980.
VP-LIV, was delivered to Channel Airways as G-ATEK in 1966. To LIAT as VP-LIV in 1968. To Philippine Airlines as RP-C1041 in 1985. To LAR as CS-TAV then to Air Senegal as 6V-AFX in 1988. Withdrawn from use at Southend in 1989 and scrapped in 1991.
Prinair DH Heron, N576PR, retracting gear after take-off from STT.
DH Heron, N576PR, started flying for British Airline Dragon Airways. She is listed scrapped in 1991.
N46949, made a picture perfect landing at Saint Thomas.
After the war, N46949, started flying for the Canadian Air Force for several decades. She is listed converted to a Basler Turbo and taken on strength with the Royal Thai Air Force.
N46950 is seen parked in a remote corner of Saint Thomas, Harry S. Truman Airport.
After the war, N46950, started flying for the Canadian Air Force for several decades. She is listed stored at STT in 1989.
N44826 chilling at the STT ramp, ready to take on another assignment.
N44826, was a regular visitor of Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport in the 70's, whilst flying for Delta Airtransport from Antwerp, Belgium.
N331P between flights at her Saint Thomas base.
After the war, N331P, started flying for Eastern Airlines. She is listed stored in derelict condition at Saint Thomas since 1983.
The DC-3 is parked at Aero Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas maintenance area.
After the war, N28346, started flying for Delta Airlines. She is listed perished in Hurricane Hugo, which wreaked havoc at San Juan on September 17, 1989.
Mind the Eastern Airlines Boeing 727-100 'WhisperJet' at the ramp.
In the late afternoon, we returned to San Juan onboard Prinair '285'.
Increased competition for these routes from Aero Virgin Islands and Oceanair, in addition to a measure of distrust from the public that had not forgotten a number of fatal crashes, resulted in Prinair ceasing operations in 1985.
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