Airline Name
Overseas National Airways / ONA (Overseas National Airways Incorporated)
IATA: OV / ICAO: ONA / CALLSIGN: ONAIR/LIBERTY [sources vary]
Founded in 1946 (May 18th, as Air Travel), commenced operations in 1947 (as Calasia Air Transport), ceased operations in 1978 (Sep. 15th)
(Liquidated after financial troubles)This will also include the ONA that operated from 1977-1983 here, going by the template above:
Overseas National Airways (1977-1983)
(no logo provided)
IATA: OV [shared] / ICAO: NAN / CALLSIGN: NATIONAIR
Founded in 1977 (Jul., as United Air Carriers Incorporated), commenced operations in 1982 (Feb.), ceased operations in 1986 (Dec.)
(Rebranded into National Airlines (1983-1985), later declared bankruptcy)Note that these two airlines can be merged into one another, given they were founded by the same officials of the original ONA, had the same IATA codes, and so on. However, if you’d prefer them being separately referred to, then don’t worry - this suggestion will keep that in mind.
The 1977-1983 airline will be referred to as the “rendition”.
Country of Origin
USA / United States of America
Rendition: Same as above
Main Hub(s): John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Wilmington Air Park (ILN)
Rendition Main Hub(s): John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)
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.)NOTE: In order to account for the rendition’s number of aircraft operated, and avoid confusion, “x/y” will be used for aircraft numbers to determine what was operated by the original airline, and what was operated by the rendition.
(X represents the original, Y represents the rendition.)Aircraft operated (already in-game):
Boeing 747 (-100, -200, B741/B742) - 0/4 former.
(2 of each variant.)
(Pictured below: Boeing 747-200 N359AS - later broken up, known as N33021 at end of its life)Quite an interesting start, I know. Though while that livery might’ve had its Alitalia heritage on display, this next livery is also rather basic, yet still intriguing:
(Pictured below: Boeing 747-200 N358AS - later broken up, known as 5N-EEE at end of its life)Unfortunately, I’d like to point out that, while it was recorded the airline operated Boeing 747-100s, there’s no solid photo proof to back such claims up. As such, I cannot include the variant here - though I figured it should be mentioned above just to be clear.
However, now let’s move to the next type:Aircraft operated (not in-game):
Boeing 707 (-320C, B703) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] N8413 - status unknown)Now, I am aware that this has no titles or anything to work with to prove that this is an ONA aircraft, though I decided to include it as they are listed as N8413’s operators in this shot, and across some other sources as well (including Wikipedia, which lists the rendition operating 707s).
Either way though, we will see more of these basic/leased liveries down below, but moving on:Douglas DC-4 (C-54D, DC4) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: ONA N50NA - later scrapped, known as 9T-THY at end of its life)Douglas DC-6 (-6A, DC6) - 4/0 former.
(Pictured below: N630NA - later scrapped)Douglas DC-7 (-7B, -7C, -7CF, DC7) - exact number of aircraft operated not available/not clear.
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-7B N313A - later scrapped)Sorry about the image quality with that shot, it was a bit difficult to find media of the DC-7Bs.
Here’s a higher quality shot, but keep in mind that this photo is without color:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-7B N823D - later damaged beyond repair)As for the other variants:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-7C N951P - later scrapped)(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-7CF N302G - later damaged beyond repair)
Alright, with that done, time for the next aircraft:
Douglas DC-8 (-21, -31, -32, -33, -33F, -55, -55CF, -61, -61CF, -63CF, -63PF, -71, DC82/DC83/DC85/DC86/DC87) - 29/23 former.
(4/0/2/5/0/1/3/1/3/8/1/0 for the original airline; 1/2/1/3/1/2/1/4/2/5/0/1 for the rendition, respective to each variant.)
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-21 N819F - later broken up)Here’s a variant of the -21 with a name:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-21 N821F - later scrapped)And right off the bat, here’s one of their special ‘centennial’ liveries, one of two meant to honor America’s 200th birthday in 1976, this one being the Confederate variant:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-21 N1976P - later scrapped)Next variant:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-32 N831F - later broken up, known as HC-BEI at end of its life)You remember that special, centennial livery above with the Confederate flag? Great, because here’s its counterpart:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-32 N1776R - later broken up)You might’ve recalled this registration being mentioned in my National Airlines suggestion (if you read it first, that is). Well, I hope this shows you why, because this livery is stunning… at least to me.
I’m sure it probably is for you too, but anyways, moving on:(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-33 N711LF - later broken up, known as N8209U at end of its life)
(Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any reliable media of the one DC-8-55 the preceding ONA operated - likely because they had the aircraft for all of six days, according to Planespotters.)
Moving on:(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-55CF N852F - now known as N6161C, preserved)
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-61 N869F - later broken up, known as N814GB at end of its life)
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-61CF N867F - later scrapped, known as N703UP at end of its life)
Now, before we continue, here’s that same aircraft with a ‘hybrid’ livery between ONA and another carrier known as Universal Airlines:
(Pictured below: Ditto, same aircraft as above)(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-63CF N866F - later scrapped, known as N812UP at end of its life)
Here’s a notable photo of one of ONA’s aircraft leased out to Air Siam, creating a ‘hybrid’ livery:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-63CF N863F - later broken up, known as N810UP at end of its life)On the topic of leasing, here’s a -63CF with Korean Air colors, as they seem to have leased this aircraft from them:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-63CF N8636 - later scrapped, known as N851UP at end of its life)And yet again, here’s another leased, ‘hybrid’ livery, appearing to involve Capitol International Airways:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-63CF N4907C - later scrapped, known as N867UP at end of its life)Now, this next shot will be relatively low-quality and possibly grainy, as it is a postcard photograph, which was taken from a fair distance from the aircraft:
(Pictured below: ONA Douglas DC-8-63PF N8760 - later scrapped, known as N874UP at end of its life)Note the ex-Eastern colors - this aircraft was leased from them for only a few months, likely explaining the lack of more media of the aircraft - at least besides this photograph.
Now then, with ONA’s side of the DC-8s down, now we move onto its rendition:
(I immediately ran into troubles with finding the rendition’s lone DC-8-21, sorry about that)
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] Douglas DC-8-31 N906CL - later scrapped)
I believe the reason for the green with no operator titles was because it was meant to be easily modifiable for lease; at least according to a comment for this image:
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] Douglas DC-8-32 N1776R, again)Nonetheless, look how they massacred my boy…
Anyways though, next for the variants:(I was unable to find any media for the rendition’s DC-8-33 and 33F, sorry about that as well)
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] Douglas DC-8-55CF N911R - later scrapped, known as N182SK at end of its life)
This livery, while bearing some ONA markings now, still does appear to be basic and modified for leasing purposes? I’m not sure though.
Whatever the case may be, though, we’re moving on; here’s another shot of the aircraft in Balair/Belair colors:
(Pictured below: Ditto, same aircraft as above)(Yet again, I was unable to find any media for the DC-8-61s they operated)
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] Douglas DC-8-61CF N8956U - later broken up, known as N705UP at end of its life)
It seems as if the rendition had another livery for the DC-8-61CF, here:
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] Douglas DC-8-61CF N810EV - later broken up, known as N702UP at end of its life)Now, moving onto the next type:
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] Douglas DC-8-63CF N801WA - now known as 9S-AJO)And as for the final type of the DC-8s:
(Pictured below: ONA [Rendition] Douglas DC-8-71 N917R - later broken up, known as N811AL at end of its life)Now, with the DC-8s accounted for, we can now move on to:
Lockheed L-188 Electra (-A, -C, -AF, -CF, L188) - 13/0 former.
(2/1/8/2 for each variant, respectively.)(Yeah… I couldn’t find any media involving the L-188As, so skipping those)
(Pictured below: Lockheed L-188C Electra N182H - later scrapped, known as N355Q at end of its life)
(Pictured below: Lockheed L-188AF N282F - status unknown)
(And unfortunately, I also can’t find the -CFs, bummer)
Now, we move onto the second-to-last type of ONA’s fleet:
McDonnell Douglas DC-9 (-31, -32F, -32CF, -33CF, DC93)- 9/0 former.
(1/1/4/3 for each variant, respectively.)(And yet again I couldn’t find any media of a variant, that being the DC-9-31; quite a few gaps, but I guess that’s just what to expect when suggesting an airline from that long ago lol)
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32F N938F - now known as 163037)
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32CF N933F - now known as XA-UQT)
Here’s another ‘hybrid’ livery between ONA and Evergreen - this aircraft was fully part of Evergreen at the time of this photograph, but figured that I’d include it anyways:
(Pictured below: Ditto, same aircraft as above)As for the next variant:
(Pictured below: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-33CF N936F - later broken up, known as N942F at end of its life)And I believe that should be it for their DC-9s. Now, finally, here’s the next - and final - type:
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (-30CF, DC10) - 5 former.
(Pictured below: N1033F - later damaged beyond repair)
Why should this airline be added?
I’d say this airline should be added due to its important history, fleet options, and many, many livery variations. While right now it may be limited to just the 747-200, I do believe that, in the future, if other aircraft like the DC-8 and DC-10 are developed, then ONA would be an even stronger pick for an airline to develop.While I’m unsure of any exact routes, as the airline was more-so a charter airline more than an actual scheduled airline, I believe that the aircraft they had would be capable of serving all of the Americas, Europe, and possibly Asia/Oceania too (unsure personally), making it good event material right now, that again, could become even better in the future.
So, in summary: I think this airline should be added because of its important history, both for the original and ‘rendition’, the diversity in its fleet, from earlier 747s to DC-8s, DC-9s and DC-10s, and of course, it’s many, many liveries - leased liveries, special liveries, this airline has lots to offer, and I personally feel as if it holds a lot of potential in the future.
Sources:
ONA’s Planespotters.net Page
ONA’s Wikipedia Page (1946-1978)
ONA’s Wikipedia Page (1979-1983)(thanks for reading, this was another one of my suggestions for the 4th of july; the others are as follows: National Airlines (1934-1980), Omni Air International B752, Stapleton International)