In 1975 Florida Airlines took over both Air South and Shawnee Airlines, because their route networks supplemented that of Florida Airlines perfectly. The two airlines continued to operate under their own names as Florida Airlines subsidiaries, but their combined routes were marketed as "The Connection". Some aircraft carried large "The Connection" titles, and often also the actual airline's name in smaller size. DC-3 N79B for example is seen here carrying small "Florida Airlines" titles on the nose. The Shawnee Airlines subsidiary was shutdown by the FAA in Oct 1977 and sold to Air Miami in 1978.

Later converted by Basler as C-GVKB

To Malawi air force in 1990

Stopping for fuel on the way to the UK.

Photo from: Civil Aviation Historical Society, Melbourne, Australia

Ex Florida Airlines and Air South among others. This was another aircraft wrecked on a drug smuggling run only a matter of weeks after I photographed it. This one was written off when it ground looped in a sugar cane field at Battle Grade FL on 14 Dec 78. It had been purchased two days earlier by a private owner.

Private owner. Reg cancelled 21 May 79 as having gone to Grand Cayman. However, no further information available from my sources. Possibly broken up at FLL.

Stored minus props. Previous operator was Weather Engineering Corporation of America, with whom it acquired the special "weather" nose. Reg cancelled Jan 2002.

Reg cancelled Aug 2013 and presumed scrapped.

To Aerotal Ltda circa 1979 as HK-2214X. Crashed and destroyed Bogota 24 Jan 80.

Privately owned. Impounded at Nassau Bahamas for drug smuggling in 1984. Purchased by Missionair Oct 90. Re-reg N213MA Mar 91. Fuselage only seen at Chino CA in Oct 2000.

Owned by Aircraft Sales & Leasing but still in the colours and logo of the previous owner, the Anglers Club. About 6 weeks later, on 11 Dec 78, it crashed and was written off near Port Mayaca FL, following fuel starvation whilst on a drug smuggling flight.

Now preserved at the Airline History Museum at Kansas City.

Registered to Albatross Aviation at the time of this photo. By May 1990 it was on display at the EAA Air Adventure Museum in Oshkosh WI., painted as 223835.

An ex NASA aircraft until Jan 73. Spent some time with Auburn University as N1AU and N6326Y before joining Lee County Health Dept., as N840M. Later re-reg N4994N. It may have been between owners at the time this photo was taken. Went to Ag-Air Mar 79, and a few others after that. Reg cancelled May 2007.