Airlift International

Airlift International

Company type	Private
Industry	Cargo airline
Predecessor	Riddle Airlines
Founded	1945 in Miami, Florida, United States
Founder	John Paul Riddle
Defunct	1991
Headquarters	Miami , United States
Area served	United States, Puerto Rico, South America, Europe (charter)
Products	Air cargo services, military charters

Airlift International was an American cargo airline active from 1945 until 1991, initially established as Riddle Airlines by John Paul Riddle in Miami, Florida. The airline obtained its scheduled freight authorization from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) in 1951, servicing routes connecting New York, Miami, and Puerto Rico. Based at Miami International Airport, it broadened its domestic cargo operations in 1955 by acquiring the routes formerly operated by the defunct U. S. Airlines.

In 1963, the shareholders agreed to rename the company Airlift International, a change that the CAB officially approved in 1964. The carrier expanded through key acquisitions, notably absorbing the assets and scheduled route rights of the defunct Slick Airways during the mid-1960s, which strengthened its military charter service capabilities.

The airline’s early fleet consisted of Curtiss C-46 and Douglas DC-4 aircraft serving the Miami-Puerto Rico corridor, with extensions to New York by 1951 and later to Chicago and Detroit. By 1960, Douglas DC-7 aircraft were added for European charter operations, including military contracts. Later fleet enhancements included specialized cargo planes such as the Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy, which was succeeded in 1963 by the jet-powered Douglas DC-8. Additional aircraft types operated included the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, Canadair CL-44, Lockheed L-100 Hercules, and jetliners like the Boeing 707 and Boeing 727-100QC.

Alongside scheduled freight services, Airlift International conducted South American and military charter flights. Financial struggles forced the airline to seek Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1981. Following reorganization, it flew DC-8-54 jets as well as turboprop aircraft such as the Fairchild Hiller FH-227 and Fairchild F-27. Despite these efforts, ongoing financial difficulties led to the cessation of all operations in June 1991.

Fleet

January 1952:

• 4 Curtiss C-46

By May 1968, Airlift's fleet comprised:

• 3 Boeing 707-320C
• 2 Boeing 727-100QC
• 2 Douglas DC-8-54F
• 4 Canadair CL-44
• 4 Lockheed L-100 Hercules
• 5 Douglas DC-7B
• 11 Douglas DC-7C
• 5 Curtiss C-46

According to World Airline Fleets 1979:

• 3 Douglas DC-8-32/33F
• 2 Douglas DC-8-54F
• 3 Douglas DC-8-63CF
• 1 Boeing 727-100C

The 1987–88 World Airline Fleets lists:

• 1 Fairchild Hiller FH-227C
• 1 Douglas DC-8-54F
• 2 Douglas DC-8-61

Additional aircraft types flown by Airlift and/or Riddle included:

• Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy
• Douglas DC-4
• Douglas DC-6A
• Various models of Douglas DC-8, including -51F and -73F variants
• Fairchild F-27
• Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Accidents

• On 17 December 1955, a Riddle C-46F broke apart over South Carolina resulting in the deaths of both pilots; investigation revealed that noncompliant elevator components installed abroad invalidated its airworthiness certification.
• On 20 December 1957, a Riddle C-46R experienced hydraulic failure and engine fire shortly after departing Miami; although it returned safely, extensive damage occurred due to malfunctioning emergency systems. This aircraft had been rebuilt following a prior fatal accident.
• On 30 March 1959, a Riddle C-46R crashed in Georgia after an onboard fire ignited by an unshielded lightbulb set cargo ablaze; both crew members perished.
• On 12 September 1966, Airlift International Flight 184/12, operated by a DC-7C, failed to lift off properly due to incorrect cargo loading and overran the runway at Tachikawa Air Base; all crew survived.
• On 30 December 1966, a DC-7C suffered landing gear collapse during takeoff from Saigon; while the aircraft was destroyed, the crew survived.
• On 22 June 1967, a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation collided midair with a USAF F-4 near Saigon; four crew members and three passengers aboard died while the F-4 pilots ejected safely.
• On 24 December 1968, a Lockheed L-100 Hercules crashed near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska during approach under poor visibility conditions; two out of three Airlift crew members lost their lives. The plane was wet-leased to Interior Airways but operated by Airlift.
• On 23 March 1974, a Douglas DC-8-63CF exploded during maintenance at Travis Air Force Base due to ignition of fuel tank fumes; one maintenance worker was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

See also

• List of defunct airlines of the United States

External links

• Television footage from 1979 showing an Airlift DC-8-30, courtesy of KXAS-TV, Fort Worth, Texas: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1133336/m1/
• Color footage capturing an Airlift International Boeing 727 operating in Vietnam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEO3bz_Kbxk
• Short video displaying a classic automobile alongside Riddle C-46 aircraft on the Miami airport apron: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISB1ZOw8AjU
• Photograph of a Riddle Airlines Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 bearing Logair markings: https://www.airhistory.net/photo/458378/N6501R