NORTH CENTRAL AIRLINES

'North Central Airlines' was founded as 'Wisconsin Central Airlines' in 1944.

Contents

History

Early history

Post Wisconsin Central history

A growing airline

Merger

External Links

History

Early history

In 1939, the Four Wheel Drive Company, a major manufacturer of four-wheel transmissions and heavy-duty trucks based in Clintonville, Wisconsin, opened a flight department and bought a WACO biplane for their company's use. In 1944 company executives decided to start an airline. In 1946 airline service was started between six Wisconsin cities. This led the company to purchase two Cessna Bobcats. Soon after this the airline purchased three Lockheed Electra 10As. They increased service to 19 cities, and (with increasing revenues) purchased three more Electra 10As, and then 6 DC-3s.

Post Wisconsin Central history

In 1952 the airline moved their headquarters from Madison, Wisconsin to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Along with the move the name was changed to 'North Central Airlines'. Soon after this the airline ran into some financial troubles when their President, Francis Higgins left, making Hal Carr the President. Carr quickly got the company out of debt and made it more reliable. Over time the company expanded its fleet to 32 DC-3s. It also became the busiest local carrier in the North Central United States.

A growing airline

In the late 1950s the airline began to outgrow its fleet of DC-3s. The airline purchased 5 Convair 340s from Continental Airlines. In 1960 North Central hit the one million passenger mark and had service to 90 cities. The airline added routes to Canada. The airline even worked with the United States Government to aid troubled airlines in South America. As the airline grew it needed larger planes. The firm decided to buy 5 DC9s in 1965. The Convair 340s were also changed from piston power to turboprop. The airline continued to buy more DC-9s and numerous Convair planes. The airline flew to many major cities by the 1970s.

Merger

Due to North Central's success it moved to buy Southern Airways. In 1979 a merger of the two airlines formed Republic Airlines. The era of North Central Airlines had ended.

External Links

North Central Airlines Online
Herman the Duck