merged with Southern Airways into Republic Airlines in July 1979. [Photo by Donnie Head[/]

The DC-3 remained standard equipment throughout the 1950s for North Central Airlines, formerly Wisconsin Central Airlines. NC17320 delivered to TWA in 1937. This airframe was apparently never requisitioned during WWII. Photo by: Albert Fenn / Life

Built for TWA in 1939. Photo by: Albert Fenn / Life

Just finished fueling at the end gate of the old Port Columbus airport. the old observation deck is just above the forward fuselage and I spent many hours on the wonderful vantage point.

Departing ORD off runway 20.

Seen undergoing conversion to a CV580 at Pacific Airmotive.

Minneapolis based North Central Airlines began introducing this new color scheme in 1978. It was also the year de-regulation of the airline industry began in the USA. North Central would merge with Southern Airways in 1979 and the color scheme would form the basis for the resulting Republic Airlines. N963N would fly on through the merger with Northwest Airlines in 1986 and retire in August 2005.

Withdrawn from use 2004

Sold in Canada as C-GKFW in March 1982

N28341 Douglas DC-3 Dakota (3278) was gracing the small ramp. My heart goes where the wild goose goes, well "Herman" anyways! N8444H c/n 96 a Convair 340-42A. Her career started in 1953 heading to Philipppine Airlines as PI-C342, but ended as N8420H still a Convair 340 on 20 October 1955 at Shereveport, Louisiana where she was damaged by fire. Rebuilt as a Convair 440 she served as N8444H (327A) ; was converted to a Convair 580 (PAC166) 01 May 1969 then after service with Republic Airlines went to TG-MYM before returning to the US and N8444H until she went to C-FCIB then on to become ZK-CIB.

Here is N8444H Convair 440-42 (327A) of North Central Airlines awaiting my presence at Cleveland - Hopkins -KCLE, Ohio. 0n 27 August 1966 I flew on her operating as flight "NC806" for the twenty-nine minute journey to Detroit - Metropolitan. By 28 August 1968, I was at Aberdeen, South Dakota. I had just come off N8444H Convair 440 Metropolitan (327A) of North Central Airlines "NC763" completing my leg number twelve on this airframe in two days, it was a good time to get off and stretch my legs as I had to travel two more to Bismark and finally end up at Minot.

Converted from a CV 340

Delivered new to Eastern in August 1939. To North Central in December 1952. 84,875 flying hours.

Delivered to CO as a CV340-35 in June 1953. Sold to NC 9/59 and cvt to CV440. Cvtd to 580 1/68. Later regns include C-GKFU.

Delivered to Delta as a CV340-38 and later converted to a 440. Sold to NC and converted to 580 Seen in the original NC livery.

Delivered to Delta as a CV340-32 and later converted to a 440. Sold to NC and converted to 580 in 7/69. Seen in the original NC livery.

Built as a CV440-47 for National, sold to NC and converted to 580 2/68. Seen in a later version of the livery which deleted the gold trim. Other regns include C-GFHC and N5812.

Built as a CV440-47 for National, sold to NC and converted to 580 5/68. Seen in a third version of the livery which deleted the blue trim behind the cockpit windows. Other regns include C-FTAP.