Air West 727-193

AirDar · 12-26-2002, 03:59 AM

It's no secret that my MOST wanted livery in 1:400 are the three Air West (RW) 727-193's that flew during their 2 short years of operation from 1968-1970. These three planes were all delivered to Pacific Airlines, who along with West Coast Airlines and Bonanza Airlines merged in 1968 to form Air West. In 1970, Howard Hughes bought Air West and renamed it after himself. Preferring to concentrate on the DC-9 and F-27 model aircraft, Hughes sold these three 727's when he assumed control in addition to cancelling the order for two as yet undelivered 727-293's Air West was slated to take. The rest, as they say, is history.

During their tenure with Air West, these three birds flew with Braniff for a time and the Pink and Orange one also served under National. They all went on to serve with many other carriers...

Although a commonplace style today, the Air West livery was revolutionary for it's time. No airline prior to this had painted their fuselages all white with different colored titles and tails. This was a BOLD statement, every bit as fashion based as their contemporary, Braniff with it's "Jellybean" look. Everywhere they travelled in the Western US, they were sure to turn heads. The white fuselages contrasted starkly to the many white top and silver styled schemes with cheatlines. The bright and fashionable (futuristic) colors of the tails and titles bespoke of cutting edge thinking, just what the Western US was considered at that time. There were four basic color pairs. Pink and Orange, Blue and Mustard Brown, Lime Green and Light Blue, and Mustard Brown and Orange. All of the colors flew on RW's DC-9 and F-27 fleets, but having only three of the 727's, one had to be left out...

I herewith present the three RW Boeing 727-193's as they appeared in 1968, fresh from the paintshop...

Enjoy!

Sentinel Chicken · 12-26-2002, 06:09 AM

Drool, drool, DROOL, F-ING DROOL! Darin, this isn't a fantasy livery but it looks tremendous nonetheless! I'll definitely be printing these out for the office wall.

All three of AirWest's 727-100s came from Pacific Air Lines as you pointed out. The information I have on hand shows the following:

N2969G (blue/mustard) - MSN 19304/ LN 287 - delivered November 1967. Leased for a time to BWIA for a cooperative service between BWIA and Air Jamaica. Eventually ended up with Alaska Airlines where she crashed in Juneau with loss of 111 lives in September 1971 while executing an NDB approach- the captain descended prematurely, resulting in CFIT. If you've ever seen pics of the approach into Juneau, you can see how that could happen.

N2979G (lime/blue) - MSN 19305/LN 300 - delivered August 1966. Information is a bit scant, but looks like she ended her days flying with AeroPeru and is displayed as a gate guard in Lima now. You have N2968G as the reg number, Darin. Is that right?

N898PC (pink/orange) - MSN 19620/LN 377- delivered March 1967. Information on this one is scant as well but it looks like it's had quite a service career, having flown most recently for the government of Tartarstan (one of those semi-autonomous Russian repubics, I think). My info shows her as a derelict in MIA. Anyone there seen it?

I don't know if any of these birds made it into Hughes Airwest colors, but there were all sold off within months of the buyout. Funny thing is, Hughes Airwest ended up taking delivery of 727-200s beginning in 1976 right up to the acquisition of the airline by Republic in 1980.

The next issue of Airliners will be profiling AirWest, picking up where the current issue leaves off with the histories of Pacific and West Coast up to the three-way merger with Bonanza.

Great renderings, Darin! Now what's it gonna take to see these in 1/400?

AirDar · 12-26-2002, 10:14 PM

Thanks for the kind words JP- AND for the additional history!

I didn't have all the info on where these 3 birds went. Now I know! As for the reg on the Lime/Blue, I got it from Aeromoe's page here: http://www.geocities.com/~aeromoe/fleets/airwest.html

Ironic that the Blue and Mustard one would end up in Alaska's fleet wearing my other most wanted livery... I think she had the Prospector on her tail. It's REALLY sad that she crashed. 111 lost is awful.

Sentinel Chicken · 12-26-2002, 10:26 PM

Maybe it's time to update my AirWest what if renderings for a modernized version if the airline was still around today...

funbird · 01-04-2003, 02:08 AM

One ex Air West 727-193 on lease to Alaska crashed on Sept 4 1971 on approach to Juneau. i think it was N2969G.

01-13-2003, 08:22 PM

i;ll take the thrid one.

01-13-2003, 08:35 PM

Terriffic job Dar. Love to see those babies in 1:400!

Avronaut · 01-19-2003, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ccdj747400
Terriffic job Dar. Love to see those babies in 1:400!

Me too

Chansen · 03-03-2003, 03:05 PM

Neat Air West planes.

AirDar · 03-03-2003, 03:34 PM

Thanks Craig! These were fun to do... Being a dyed in the wool Air West fanatic, It was only a matter of time before I did these... I'll probably add the DC-9's by this spring...

I've something else coming soon that is sort-of out of left field...

Chansen · 03-03-2003, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AirDar
Thanks Craig! These were fun to do... Being a dyed in the wool Air West fanatic, It was only a matter of time before I did these... I'll probably add the DC-9's by this spring...

I've something else coming soon that is sort-of out of left field...

Tracon Doug · 03-03-2003, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AirDar
Thanks Craig! These were fun to do... Being a dyed in the wool Air West fanatic, It was only a matter of time before I did these... I'll probably add the DC-9's by this spring...

I've something else coming soon that is sort-of out of left field...

West Coast, dammit. Thanks Dar.

General Buck Turgidson · 05-08-2003, 12:25 AM

Now listen here, boys, THIS is what you should be striving for in this forum. This what is called "quality work"!

12-26-2002, 03:59 AM	#1
AirDar I'm watching you... Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Land of BBQ & thin chips Posts: 1,787	Air West 727-193 It's no secret that my MOST wanted livery in 1:400 are the three Air West (RW) 727-193's that flew during their 2 short years of operation from 1968-1970. These three planes were all delivered to Pacific Airlines, who along with West Coast Airlines and Bonanza Airlines merged in 1968 to form Air West. In 1970, Howard Hughes bought Air West and renamed it after himself. Preferring to concentrate on the DC-9 and F-27 model aircraft, Hughes sold these three 727's when he assumed control in addition to cancelling the order for two as yet undelivered 727-293's Air West was slated to take. The rest, as they say, is history. During their tenure with Air West, these three birds flew with Braniff for a time and the Pink and Orange one also served under National. They all went on to serve with many other carriers... Although a commonplace style today, the Air West livery was revolutionary for it's time. No airline prior to this had painted their fuselages all white with different colored titles and tails. This was a BOLD statement, every bit as fashion based as their contemporary, Braniff with it's "Jellybean" look. Everywhere they travelled in the Western US, they were sure to turn heads. The white fuselages contrasted starkly to the many white top and silver styled schemes with cheatlines. The bright and fashionable (futuristic) colors of the tails and titles bespoke of cutting edge thinking, just what the Western US was considered at that time. There were four basic color pairs. Pink and Orange, Blue and Mustard Brown, Lime Green and Light Blue, and Mustard Brown and Orange. All of the colors flew on RW's DC-9 and F-27 fleets, but having only three of the 727's, one had to be left out... I herewith present the three RW Boeing 727-193's as they appeared in 1968, fresh from the paintshop... Enjoy! __________________ Dar~ Yours is not to question why, Yours is but to BUY or DIE!

12-26-2002, 06:09 AM	#2
Sentinel Chicken Go-Getters Go Ozark Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW/THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS Posts: 4,167	Drool, drool, DROOL, F-ING DROOL! Darin, this isn't a fantasy livery but it looks tremendous nonetheless! I'll definitely be printing these out for the office wall. All three of AirWest's 727-100s came from Pacific Air Lines as you pointed out. The information I have on hand shows the following: N2969G (blue/mustard) - MSN 19304/ LN 287 - delivered November 1967. Leased for a time to BWIA for a cooperative service between BWIA and Air Jamaica. Eventually ended up with Alaska Airlines where she crashed in Juneau with loss of 111 lives in September 1971 while executing an NDB approach- the captain descended prematurely, resulting in CFIT. If you've ever seen pics of the approach into Juneau, you can see how that could happen. N2979G (lime/blue) - MSN 19305/LN 300 - delivered August 1966. Information is a bit scant, but looks like she ended her days flying with AeroPeru and is displayed as a gate guard in Lima now. You have N2968G as the reg number, Darin. Is that right? N898PC (pink/orange) - MSN 19620/LN 377- delivered March 1967. Information on this one is scant as well but it looks like it's had quite a service career, having flown most recently for the government of Tartarstan (one of those semi-autonomous Russian repubics, I think). My info shows her as a derelict in MIA. Anyone there seen it? I don't know if any of these birds made it into Hughes Airwest colors, but there were all sold off within months of the buyout. Funny thing is, Hughes Airwest ended up taking delivery of 727-200s beginning in 1976 right up to the acquisition of the airline by Republic in 1980. The next issue of Airliners will be profiling AirWest, picking up where the current issue leaves off with the histories of Pacific and West Coast up to the three-way merger with Bonanza. Great renderings, Darin! Now what's it gonna take to see these in 1/400? __________________ *Piss on noise abatement!*

12-26-2002, 10:14 PM	#3
AirDar I'm watching you... Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Land of BBQ & thin chips Posts: 1,787	Thanks for the kind words JP- AND for the additional history! I didn't have all the info on where these 3 birds went. Now I know! As for the reg on the Lime/Blue, I got it from Aeromoe's page here: http://www.geocities.com/~aeromoe/fleets/airwest.html Ironic that the Blue and Mustard one would end up in Alaska's fleet wearing my other most wanted livery... I think she had the Prospector on her tail. It's REALLY sad that she crashed. 111 lost is awful. __________________ Dar~ Yours is not to question why, Yours is but to BUY or DIE!

12-26-2002, 10:26 PM	#4
Sentinel Chicken Go-Getters Go Ozark Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW/THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS Posts: 4,167	Maybe it's time to update my AirWest what if renderings for a modernized version if the airline was still around today... __________________ *Piss on noise abatement!*

03-03-2003, 03:05 PM	#9
Chansen Complete Wacko! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 3,024	Cool Dar! Neat Air West planes.

01-04-2003, 02:08 AM	#5
funbird Master Collector Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: north florida Age: 41 Posts: 527	One ex Air West 727-193 on lease to Alaska crashed on Sept 4 1971 on approach to Juneau. i think it was N2969G.

01-13-2003, 08:22 PM	#6
Romania is #1 Guest Posts: n/a	i;ll take the thrid one.

01-13-2003, 08:35 PM	#7
ccdj747400 Guest Posts: n/a	Terriffic job Dar. Love to see those babies in 1:400!

03-03-2003, 03:34 PM	#10
AirDar I'm watching you... Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Land of BBQ & thin chips Posts: 1,787	Thanks Craig! These were fun to do... Being a dyed in the wool Air West fanatic, It was only a matter of time before I did these... I'll probably add the DC-9's by this spring... I've something else coming soon that is sort-of out of left field... __________________ Dar~ Yours is not to question why, Yours is but to BUY or DIE!

05-08-2003, 12:25 AM	#13
General Buck Turgidson Senior Collector Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: At a secret Air Force bunker in the US Midwest Posts: 312	The General's digging up the good stuff for review! Now listen here, boys, THIS is what you should be striving for in this forum. This what is called "quality work"! __________________ "I think there are many times when it would be most efficient to use nuclear weapons. However, the public opinion in this country and throughout the world throw up their hands in horror when you mention nuclear weapons, just because of the propaganda that's been fed to them."

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