Airline Name
National Airlines (1934 - 1980)
IATA: NA / ICAO: NAL / CALLSIGN: NATIONAL
Founded and commenced operations in 1934 (Aug. 2nd and Oct. 15th, respectively), ceased operations in 1980 (Jan. 7th)
(Merged into Pan Am)
Country of Origin
USA / United States of America ()
Main Hub(s): Miami International Airport (MIA), alongside the following bases: JAX, MSY, JFK, TPA
Aircraft Types Used (from those available in WoA)
(For this airline, there are a limited number of aircraft types available, yet it can still be added.)Aircraft operated (already in-game):
Boeing 747 (-100, B741) - 2 former.
(Pictured below: N77772 - later scrapped, known as N620US at end of its life)Figured I’d include the other 747, as it had its own name and replaced the “747” sticker around the upper deck:
(Pictured below: N77773 - later scrapped, known as N621US at end of its life)And here’s N77772 one more time - decided to include it again to show the aircraft had its own name like N77773:
(Pictured below: N77772, again)Given it’s a bit hard to tell, I’m pretty sure their names were “Jacqueline” (N77772) and “Linda” (N77773). (Correct me if I’m wrong on this though.)
Aircraft operated (not in-game):
Boeing 727 (-100, -200, B721/B722) - 48 former.
(21/27 for each variant, respectively.)
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-100 N4610 - abandoned/derelict)Here’s an older livery on the same aircraft type; I think this was known as the “Purposeful N” livery:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-100 N4615 - later broken up, known as N692AF at end of its life)And now, here’s an earlier example of the “Sun King” livery, featuring both bare metal and a standard white on the fuselage:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-100 N4621 - later scrapped, known as TG-DHP at end of its life)Next, here’s a half-unpainted livery that while a bit basic, I figured I should include anyway:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-100 N3606 - later scrapped, known as OB-1601 at end of its life)And finally, here’s an example of a 727 with a name and its own sticker, just to provide another reference:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-100 N4618 - later scrapped, known as N153FN at end of its life)Now, we can move onto the -200s:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-200 N4752 - later broken up)Next for this type, here’s a -200 with both a name and the ‘early’ Sun King white/bare metal scheme:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-200 N4736 - later scrapped)This final entry to the 727s will be quite a bit interesting - most recall the “Purposeful N” livery applied to the earlier 727s (specifically the -100s) but there was supposedly an example of it appearing on at least one 727-200, at least for a short period of time:
(Pictured below: Boeing 727-200 N4730 - later scrapped)Now, I can move on to:
Convair 340 (no specific variant, CVLP) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: N8412H - later scrapped, known as C-FPWY at end of its life)Because of the fact that the above photograph does not have color, I’ll add in what I believe to be an artistic depiction of it for the sole purpose of establishing a baseline for the color scheme.
(Pictured below: Ditto [artistic depiction], same aircraft as above)
Now, this livery was known as National’s “Airline of the Stars” livery - you’ll likely see it pop up a few more times as I cover the rest of the fleet.
Convair 440 (no specific variant, CVLP) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: N2042 - later scrapped, known as C-GRLQ at end of its life)Douglas DC-4 (-1009, DC4) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: N33683 - later scrapped, known as LN-NAC at end of its life)Douglas DC-6 (-6, -6B, DC6) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-6 N90892 - later damaged beyond repair, known as N74841 at end of its life)I understand that the registration given below is not visible from the angle of the picture, but this image does appear to be associated with N90892. (listed as NC90892)
Oh, and just for context: that livery above was known as “Route of the Buccaneers”, a 1940s scheme for the airline.Moving on though, we’re back to the “Airline of the Stars” scheme with the next airframe:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-6B N8222H - damaged beyond repair, known as N84BL at end of its life)And to finish with this type, a seemingly later variant of the “Airline of the Stars” livery:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-6B N8226H - later scrapped, known as N62129 at end of its life)Douglas DC-7 (-7, -7B, DC7) - 8 former.
(4 of each variant.)
(Pictured below: DC-7 N8207H - later scrapped, known as EC-BBH at end of its life)Something to note real quick: the next piece of media will not be an actual photograph - and will instead be an artistic depiction of an actual aircraft.
Normally the lack of a solid photograph or piece of media would not qualify an aircraft to be added to my suggestions to avoid spreading misinformation - but given that DC-7Bs were claimed across several sources to be part of National, I decided to go ahead with including this variant.(Pictured below: DC-7B N6201B [artistic depiction] - later scrapped)
Now, if you do find any actual media of their DC-7Bs - well you get the drill, I’d appreciate if you included it in a reply.
Moving on to the next type:
Douglas DC-8 (-21, -31, -32, -51, -54CF Jet Trader, -61, DC82/DC83/DC85/DC86) - 19 former.
(3/1/4/7/2/2 for each variant, respectively.)
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-21 N6572C - later broken up)This aircraft type also had a few of the older livery examples, specifically “Purposeful N” and “Airline of the Stars”, which will be displayed in order across the next two images:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-21 N6573C - later broken up)(Pictured below: Ditto, same aircraft as above)
As for the next variant, there’s something I’d like to note. Little media of the aircraft exists, aside from one source that had it somewhat watermarked - trust me, I’d get a clearer image if I could, yet since I can’t, this will have to work:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-31 N4901C - later broken up, known as N905CL at end of its life)As for the -32s:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-32 N7181C - later broken up, known as N1776R at end of its life)Keep in mind of that last registration for later, though not necessarily for this suggestion…
Anyways, here’s a variant of that livery with slightly different typography, for some reason?
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-32 N7183C - later broken up)And here’s an example of “Purposeful N” once more:
(Pictured below: Ditto, same aircraft as above)Now, the next variant:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-51 N774C - later broken up, known as N811BN at end of its life)This next shot will involve an example of “Airline of the Stars”, though appearing to be a later take on the scheme:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-51 N875C - later scrapped, known as HK-2587X at end of its life)Next, time for the Jet Trader:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-54CF Jet Trader N109RD - later broken up)(This exact aircraft actually appeared before in my Arrow Air suggestion, lol)
And as for the final variant of the DC-8s:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-61 N45191 - later scrapped, known as N184SK at end of its life)Before we go onto the next type, one last addition though:
(Pictured below: Douglas DC-8-61 N45090 - later broken up, known as N841AX at end of its life)Unfortunately, this last picture is without color, but I figured I’d include it as proof that the type did operate with the “Purposeful N” livery at some point.
Now, we can move onto the next aircraft:
Lockheed L-188 Electra (-188A, L188) - 17 former.
(Pictured below: N5017K - later broken up)Uniquely, National’s L-188s had some liveries designed around them, such as this next one, appearing to be a hybrid involving “Airline of the Stars”:
(Pictured below: N5008K - later broken up, known as N666F at end of its life)And here’s an example of the normal (though later?) “Airline of the Stars” scheme:
(Pictured below: N5016K - later broken up)Lockheed L-1049 (-1049H, CONI) - 4 former.
(Pictured below: N7134C - now known as CF-NAM, preserved)Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar (-50, C-60A, L18) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: Lockheed 18-50 Lodestar N45324 - status unknown)Once again, this next image is without color, as media of their Lodestars is understandably a little difficult to come across:
(Pictured below: Lockheed C-60A Lodestar NC15578 - status unknown)And now, for the last major type National operated (not the last aircraft type though):
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (-10, -30, DC10) - 16 former.
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 N70NA - later broken up, known as N162AA at end of its life)Now, here’s the later variant of their livery (just as a reminder, it was known as “Sun King”):
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 N68NA - now known as N556FE)And, just for the record, here’s one such -10 with a name:
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 N60NA - later broken up, known as N145AA at end of its life)As for the other variant:
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 N82NA - later scrapped, known as N141AA at end of its life)Later variant of Sun King yet again:
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 N81NA - later broken up, known as N140AA at end of its life)Again, just for the record, here’s a -30 with a name:
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 N83NA - later scrapped, known as N142AA at end of its life)And with the last major type operated out of the way, now we move onto:
Stinson SM-6000 Trimotor (Model U, SM60) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: NC432M - status unknown)And finally, that should be all properly documented fixed wing aircraft out of the way.
…yes, I specified fixed wing for a reason.
That reason being:Helicopters operated:
Sikorsky H-19 (S-55, S55P) - 1 former.
(Pictured below: N423A - status unknown)And now that should be it for their documented aircraft types.
Now, do note the emphasis on “documented”, as some aircraft types that were listed did not have proper photographic sources for me to, otherwise, include them. I’m sure I don’t need to emphasize this more across my posts, but if you do manage to find media of an aircraft National operated that I didn’t see or include here, it would be appreciated if you added it on in a reply.
Why should this airline be added?
The better question is, why shouldn’t this airline be added?
I’d say it has amazing significance in aviation history, has great fleet/livery variety, and would nicely fit in with other similar defunct US carriers in-game, such as Braniff and TWA.While it will likely stand as an event or special contract-only operator, I do not think that it should impact this airline’s importance - I do believe it would make for great events serving all of the US and even into Europe as well - airports like SAN, MSY, LHR and ZRH were all part of National’s route network, so they could appear there as events.
Though speaking of SAN and MSY, I think it would be perfect for it to appear as a special contract at any of the two, especially MSY, seeing as it was one of its operating bases prior to its collapse, and could compliment the airport’s retro contracts it already has.
SAN could also work with it, given SAN was a city National frequented, though do note most of the service seemed to be operated by aircraft such as 727s and DC-10s, which have yet to be added.So, to conclude - I strongly believe National should be added because of its amazing historical significance in American aviation, and the amount of potential it has for events with its varied fleet and multiple liveries - it could also definitely become permanent additions as special contracts at American airports, such as MSY and SAN. It’s an airline that, like the others I mentioned - Braniff, TWA, etc. - deserves to be remembered, and hence why I strongly believe it should be added.
Sources:
National Airlines’ Planespotters.net Page
National Airlines’ Wikipedia Page
A history of National’s liveries (and details)(thanks for reading, this was one of my suggestions made for the 4th of july; the other suggestions are as follows: Omni Air International B752, Stapleton International, Overseas National Airways / ONA)