All American Aviation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Founder | Lytle Schooler Adams |
| Fate | Transformed into Allegheny Airlines, later US Airways, merged with American Airlines in 2013 |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh , United States |
Key people | Lytle Schooler Adams (founder and first president), Richard C. du Pont (president after 1938) |
| Products | Passenger, mail, and express transport services |
All American Aviation was an airline enterprise established in 1937 by Lytle Schooler Adams. This company later transformed into Allegheny Airlines, which subsequently became USAir, then US Airways, and ultimately merged with American Airlines in 2013, creating the largest airline globally.
History
Founded in 1937 initially as a patent holding entity, All American Aviation operated flights through its affiliate, Tri-State Aviation. Lytle Schooler Adams, who served as the inaugural president for both organizations, had invented a patented system for airmail retrieval dating back to 1927. In its early days, the operation utilized a Stinson Reliant aircraft to capture mail containers suspended from ropes or cables—a technique that was eventually modified to recover personnel.
In 1938, majority ownership was acquired by Richard C. du Pont and Alexis Felix du Pont, Jr., following Congressional approval to extend experimental airmail pick-up services. Richard du Pont was appointed president at this time. The airline officially commenced operations in 1939, focusing on the Pittsburgh area and servicing the Ohio River valley.
The Civil Aeronautics Board granted the airline a certificate of public convenience and necessity, authorizing it to provide passenger, mail, and express transport services. In 1949, the company adopted the name All American Airways (not to be confused with the later Saturn Airways).
Over subsequent decades, the airline underwent several rebrandings: it became Allegheny Airlines in 1953, transitioned to USAir in 1979, and was renamed US Airways in 1996. Following its 2013 merger with American Airlines, the US Airways brand was gradually retired by 2016 as its operations were fully absorbed into American Airlines.
Fleet
Before World War II
- Stinson SM-1D-300
- Stinson SR-10C (4 aircraft)
After World War II
- Douglas DC-3
- Convair 580
See also
External links
- The George J. Frebert collection on Delaware Aviation housed at the Hagley Museum and Library contains documents related to All American Aviation and its airmail pick-up technology.