April 24, 2005 at 6:15 am
Former Drag Racer, Conrad Kalitta, has taken delivery of his first 737 for his Freight Airline Kitty Hawk
By: greekdude1 - 24th April 2005 at 20:32
Contrary to what’s been said above, Conrad Kalitta and Kalitta Air have nothing to do with Kitty Hawk. Many years ago Conrad Kalitta had an airline called Kalitta Air, later renamed American International after Conrad Kalitta got out of the airline business. Kalitta/AIA operated 747, TriStar, DC-8 and 727 freighters. American International bought out a domestic US freight operator called Kitty Hawk which operated a large fleet of 727Fs, the two airlines merged, and a new airline was created doing business under two identities – Kitty Hawk, and Kitty Hawk International. Kitty Hawk operated the 727s, whilst Kitty Hawk International operated the 747s, L10s and DC-8s. Kitty Hawk was successful but Kitty Hawk International turned out to be a bit of a disaster and resulted in the entire airline going into chapter 11. All of the long haul fleet was parked, mainly at Victoville and Mojave, but also Oscada MI where the international part of the airline had a maintenance base.
The former management of Kitty Hawk bought back the domesting part of the airline, and that’s the KHA that is now taking delivery of 737Fs, whilst the long haul airplanes remained parked. Conrad Kalitta decided to get back into airlines (I believe his son runs Kalitta Air now) and has gradually bought the AIA/Kitty Hawk Intl 747Fs from the recievers, rebuilding the business as Kalitta Air again.
So, two entirely seperate airlines again now – Kitty Hawk with 727Fs and 737Fs, and Kalitta Air owned by Conrad and operating 747Fs.
Andy
Very impressive clarification. That clears things up a bunch.
By: greekdude1 - 24th April 2005 at 20:32
Contrary to what’s been said above, Conrad Kalitta and Kalitta Air have nothing to do with Kitty Hawk. Many years ago Conrad Kalitta had an airline called Kalitta Air, later renamed American International after Conrad Kalitta got out of the airline business. Kalitta/AIA operated 747, TriStar, DC-8 and 727 freighters. American International bought out a domestic US freight operator called Kitty Hawk which operated a large fleet of 727Fs, the two airlines merged, and a new airline was created doing business under two identities – Kitty Hawk, and Kitty Hawk International. Kitty Hawk operated the 727s, whilst Kitty Hawk International operated the 747s, L10s and DC-8s. Kitty Hawk was successful but Kitty Hawk International turned out to be a bit of a disaster and resulted in the entire airline going into chapter 11. All of the long haul fleet was parked, mainly at Victoville and Mojave, but also Oscada MI where the international part of the airline had a maintenance base.
The former management of Kitty Hawk bought back the domesting part of the airline, and that’s the KHA that is now taking delivery of 737Fs, whilst the long haul airplanes remained parked. Conrad Kalitta decided to get back into airlines (I believe his son runs Kalitta Air now) and has gradually bought the AIA/Kitty Hawk Intl 747Fs from the recievers, rebuilding the business as Kalitta Air again.
So, two entirely seperate airlines again now – Kitty Hawk with 727Fs and 737Fs, and Kalitta Air owned by Conrad and operating 747Fs.
Andy
Very impressive clarification. That clears things up a bunch.
By: Skymonster - 24th April 2005 at 18:58
Contrary to what’s been said above, Conrad Kalitta and Kalitta Air have nothing to do with Kitty Hawk. Many years ago Conrad Kalitta had an airline called Kalitta Air, later renamed American International after Conrad Kalitta got out of the airline business. Kalitta/AIA operated 747, TriStar, DC-8 and 727 freighters. American International bought out a domestic US freight operator called Kitty Hawk which operated a large fleet of 727Fs, the two airlines merged, and a new airline was created doing business under two identities – Kitty Hawk, and Kitty Hawk International. Kitty Hawk operated the 727s, whilst Kitty Hawk International operated the 747s, L10s and DC-8s. Kitty Hawk was successful but Kitty Hawk International turned out to be a bit of a disaster and resulted in the entire airline going into chapter 11. All of the long haul fleet was parked, mainly at Victoville and Mojave, but also Oscada MI where the international part of the airline had a maintenance base.
The former management of Kitty Hawk bought back the domesting part of the airline, and that’s the KHA that is now taking delivery of 737Fs, whilst the long haul airplanes remained parked. Conrad Kalitta decided to get back into airlines (I believe his son runs Kalitta Air now) and has gradually bought the AIA/Kitty Hawk Intl 747Fs from the recievers, rebuilding the business as Kalitta Air again.
So, two entirely seperate airlines again now – Kitty Hawk with 727Fs and 737Fs, and Kalitta Air owned by Conrad and operating 747Fs.
Andy
By: Skymonster - 24th April 2005 at 18:58
Contrary to what’s been said above, Conrad Kalitta and Kalitta Air have nothing to do with Kitty Hawk. Many years ago Conrad Kalitta had an airline called Kalitta Air, later renamed American International after Conrad Kalitta got out of the airline business. Kalitta/AIA operated 747, TriStar, DC-8 and 727 freighters. American International bought out a domestic US freight operator called Kitty Hawk which operated a large fleet of 727Fs, the two airlines merged, and a new airline was created doing business under two identities – Kitty Hawk, and Kitty Hawk International. Kitty Hawk operated the 727s, whilst Kitty Hawk International operated the 747s, L10s and DC-8s. Kitty Hawk was successful but Kitty Hawk International turned out to be a bit of a disaster and resulted in the entire airline going into chapter 11. All of the long haul fleet was parked, mainly at Victoville and Mojave, but also Oscada MI where the international part of the airline had a maintenance base.
The former management of Kitty Hawk bought back the domesting part of the airline, and that’s the KHA that is now taking delivery of 737Fs, whilst the long haul airplanes remained parked. Conrad Kalitta decided to get back into airlines (I believe his son runs Kalitta Air now) and has gradually bought the AIA/Kitty Hawk Intl 747Fs from the recievers, rebuilding the business as Kalitta Air again.
So, two entirely seperate airlines again now – Kitty Hawk with 727Fs and 737Fs, and Kalitta Air owned by Conrad and operating 747Fs.
Andy
By: Airline owner - 24th April 2005 at 13:17
EZY have kept the a/c movements a bit auiet have’nt they….but I suppose the new A319’s have more than accounted for the retirments.
By: Airline owner - 24th April 2005 at 13:17
EZY have kept the a/c movements a bit auiet have’nt they….but I suppose the new A319’s have more than accounted for the retirments.
By: andrewm - 24th April 2005 at 12:47
And that one used to fly with Easyjet 🙂
G-EZYC – N105KH
Wasnt G-EZYC the one with the “dodgy” engine that no amount of replacements could fix? Im quite sure its the one that kept emergency landing at Belfast when it was in due to N1 reading showing something wrong etc. Became a standard practise every time this 1 aircraft was in.
By: andrewm - 24th April 2005 at 12:47
And that one used to fly with Easyjet 🙂
G-EZYC – N105KH
Wasnt G-EZYC the one with the “dodgy” engine that no amount of replacements could fix? Im quite sure its the one that kept emergency landing at Belfast when it was in due to N1 reading showing something wrong etc. Became a standard practise every time this 1 aircraft was in.
By: greekdude1 - 24th April 2005 at 10:17
Yes it was Kalitta, but they’ve changed the name to Kitty Hawk. They have a fleet of classic 747’s and i think the DC8’s and Tristars have been put out to pasture, but don’t quote me on it
Yeah, I haven’t seen anything other than the Jumbo at LAX in recent years. The Tristars, 727’s, and DC8’s used to be rather plentiful, including the one Tristar that wore the Landor c/s sans titles. This particular 737 has a completely different scheme than the 747’s. Perhaps this is Connie’s new image?
By: greekdude1 - 24th April 2005 at 10:17
Yes it was Kalitta, but they’ve changed the name to Kitty Hawk. They have a fleet of classic 747’s and i think the DC8’s and Tristars have been put out to pasture, but don’t quote me on it
Yeah, I haven’t seen anything other than the Jumbo at LAX in recent years. The Tristars, 727’s, and DC8’s used to be rather plentiful, including the one Tristar that wore the Landor c/s sans titles. This particular 737 has a completely different scheme than the 747’s. Perhaps this is Connie’s new image?
By: mmemovements - 24th April 2005 at 08:55
And that one used to fly with Easyjet 🙂
G-EZYB – N103KH
G-EZYC – N105KH
G-EZYD – N107KH
G-EZYF – N111KH
Scott
By: mmemovements - 24th April 2005 at 08:55
And that one used to fly with Easyjet 🙂
G-EZYB – N103KH
G-EZYC – N105KH
G-EZYD – N107KH
G-EZYF – N111KH
Scott
By: steve rowell - 24th April 2005 at 08:55
Yes it was Kalitta, but they’ve changed the name to Kitty Hawk. They have a fleet of classic 747’s and i think the DC8’s and Tristars have been put out to pasture, but don’t quote me on it
By: steve rowell - 24th April 2005 at 08:55
Yes it was Kalitta, but they’ve changed the name to Kitty Hawk. They have a fleet of classic 747’s and i think the DC8’s and Tristars have been put out to pasture, but don’t quote me on it
By: tenthije - 24th April 2005 at 08:17
Is this in any way related to Kalitta Airways? The cargo carrier using old 74s.
By: tenthije - 24th April 2005 at 08:17
Is this in any way related to Kalitta Airways? The cargo carrier using old 74s.