Flying Tiger Line
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cargo airline |
| Founded | 1945 |
| Founder | Robert William Prescott |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Fate | Acquired by Federal Express |
| Successor | Federal Express |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (six continents, 58 countries) |
Key people | Stephen Wolf (CEO at time of sale) |
| Products | Scheduled cargo flights, military charters, passenger charters (via subsidiary Metro International Airlines) |
| Owner | Tiger International (parent company before acquisition) |
Number of employees | 1,250 (mid-1980s) |
| Parent | Tiger International (before acquisition) |
Flying Tiger Line, commonly referred to as Flying Tigers, holds the distinction of being the United States' inaugural scheduled cargo airline and played a vital role as a military charter carrier throughout the Cold War by transporting both freight and personnel. In 1989, Federal Express acquired the airline.
Founding and Early Development
The airline derived its name from the famed World War II Flying Tigers fighter squadron. In 1945, a group of ten ex-AVG pilots led by founder Robert William Prescott launched Flying Tiger Line under the original title National Skyway Freight, initially operating 14 Budd Conestoga aircraft obtained as surplus from wartime. Funding originated from the pilots themselves, support staff, and California oil magnate Samuel B. Mosher. The company’s early operations centered on domestic freight contracts and providing supplies to U.S. forces during the occupation of Japan.
By 1949, Flying Tiger Line secured a scheduled cargo certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board authorizing transcontinental service connecting Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston. Shortly thereafter, it diversified into passenger charter flights with a fleet that included Lockheed Super Constellations and Douglas DC-4 and DC-6 airplanes, establishing itself as the leading transatlantic charter operator throughout the 1950s.
During the Korean War, the airline’s aircraft were chartered for transporting troops and materials to Asian theaters. Subsequently, Flying Tiger Line expanded its cargo network to encompass destinations in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. The airline also contributed to strategic projects such as the Distant Early Warning Line by delivering equipment to remote northern installations.
In 1961, Flying Tiger Line introduced Canadair CL-44 swing-tail planes, becoming a pioneer in palletized air freight services and significantly enhancing its position in air cargo logistics.
Jet Age Expansion: 1960s–1970s
The transition to jet aircraft occurred on September 27, 1965, when Flying Tiger Line received its first Boeing 707. A modified Boeing 707-349C notably completed the inaugural aerial circumnavigation via polar routes in November 1965, demonstrating the airline’s operational prowess. The Boeing 707 was later supplanted by Douglas DC-8 jets offering greater payload capacity; the initial DC-8-63F arrived in June 1968 with a total of nineteen in service by 1972.
In 1974, the fleet was further enhanced through the addition of Boeing 747 freighters, including cutting-edge 747-200F variants powered by Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7Q engines. These aircraft were capable of simultaneously carrying up to 250,000 pounds of fuel and cargo via multiple loading doors. The iconic upper deck “hump” was outfitted with first-class seating for staff and deadheading crew members, maximizing space for essential operational personnel.
Later Years and Federal Express Merger: 1980s
Flying Tigers developed expertise in transporting specialized cargo such as thoroughbred racehorses and breeding stock internationally to markets like Japan and Thailand. The airline earned a reputation for handling extraordinary shipments including SeaWorld’s Shamu and even the torch of the Statue of Liberty.
By the mid-1980s, Flying Tigers operated scheduled cargo flights on six continents covering 58 countries worldwide. After acquiring Seaboard World Airlines in October 1980, it surpassed Pan American World Airways to become the largest air cargo carrier globally. The airline maintained significant military contracts including routes between Travis Air Force Base and Japan as well as passenger services linking Clark Air Base with U.S. cities.
At its operational height, Flying Tigers employed nearly 1,250 aviation professionals across major hubs such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Lockbourne, Ohio. Its Los Angeles headquarters featured an in-house engine maintenance facility. Additionally, specialized livestock carriers were developed and Flying Tigers briefly owned Happy Tiger Records from 1969 through 1971.
Passenger flight operations were conducted through subsidiary Metro International Airlines, founded in 1981 but sold to Tower Air in 1983. Metro operated scheduled Boeing 747 passenger services on routes including New York JFK to Brussels and Tel Aviv.
Following deregulation within the airline industry, growing competition eroded profit margins. Efforts by parent company Tiger International to diversify failed to prevent financial losses beginning in 1981. Under CEO Stephen Wolf’s guidance, Flying Tigers was sold to Federal Express in December 1988. Federal Express completed full integration of Flying Tigers by August 7, 1989, marking a major consolidation within air cargo transportation.
Other ventures
During the 1986 season, Flying Tigers served as a sponsor for the Benetton Formula One team, significantly boosting its brand exposure within international motorsport arenas.
Fleet
At the time of its acquisition by FedEx, Flying Tigers maintained a varied aircraft lineup consisting of:
- 8 Boeing 747-100 models
- 13 Boeing 747-200 models
- 19 Boeing 727-100 models
- 6 Douglas DC-8-73 aircraft
Accidents and incidents
Throughout its operational history, Flying Tigers encountered several significant accidents that affected both safety standards and financial outcomes:
- On July 30, 1950, a Curtiss C-46F (N67960) crashed during takeoff in Denver; no lives were lost, but the plane was declared a total loss.
- August 21, 1952, saw a Curtiss C-46F (N67983) perform an emergency landing in Nebraska following a simulated engine failure; the crew survived despite extensive aircraft damage.
- Flight 841, a Douglas DC-4, crashed near Seattle on January 7, 1953 due to pilot error, resulting in seven fatalities.
- On September 24, 1955, Flight 7413/23 (Douglas DC-4) was forced to ditch between Honolulu and Wake Island after fuel mismanagement; five people died from the crash and subsequent exposure.
- A Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation crashed en route to Tachikawa Air Base in Japan on September 9, 1958, causing eight deaths.
- Between March 15 and 16, 1962, two major accidents involving L-1049H Super Constellations occurred: one crash at Adak Island with one fatality and the disappearance of Flight 739 over the Pacific Ocean with all 107 on board lost—the deadliest incident involving this aircraft type.
- Flight 923 ditched in the North Atlantic on September 23, 1962 after multiple engine failures and improper management; of the 76 occupants, 28 perished.
- On December 14, 1962, Flight 183 crashed near Burbank due to pilot incapacitation; eight people died including victims on the ground.
- Two separate crashes of L-1049H aircraft happened on December 24, 1964 and December 15, 1965 caused by disorientation and unexplained deviations from course; both resulted in crew fatalities.
- Canadair CL-44 aircraft crashes occurred on March 21 and December 24 of 1966 at NAS Norfolk and near Da Nang respectively; the latter incident caused considerable ground casualties.
- Flight 45 (Douglas DC-8) went down off Okinawa on July 27, 1970 with four crew members losing their lives.
- On February 15, 1979, Flight 74 (Boeing 747) narrowly avoided a runway collision at O'Hare Airport amid dense fog conditions; no injuries were reported.
- Two runway incidents on October 11 and October 25, 1983 involving Boeing 747 and Douglas DC-8 planes caused significant damage but no fatalities.
- An August 6, 1986 event saw an aircraft mistakenly land at Boltan Field instead of Columbus Rickenbacker International Airport.
- Flight 66 crashed near Kuala Lumpur on February 19, 1989 due to combined crew and air traffic control errors; four crew members died.
These incidents played a pivotal role in shaping Flying Tigers’ risk management policies and operational procedures within its overall corporate strategy.