Today, one year ago, was the last flight of Kitty Hawk Aircargo. The last 727 was flown to Ardmore, OK on 09JAN2008.

The beginning was light aircraft 135 in Texas in the late '70's, progressing through DC-3's, Super DC-3's, Convairs, turbine Convairs, Falcons(?), DC-9's, to B-727's and B737's. 727's were on long-term contracts at one time as far afield as Caracas, Manila, and Auckland. KHA had 405 pilots on the list at the peak.

The company grew up under one man with a vision - but it foundered on the ill-advised aquisition of AIA in 1997, finally staggering into bankruptcy in 2000. (Although acquisition of the old nationwide Zantop/AIA freight system allowed the company to survive.)

We lost a third of our work when BAX, in a self-preservation move, awarded our ACMI contract to CCI. Another third of our flying went away with the disastrous cancellation of all US Postal flying contracts, and handing of a no-bid award to a sole-source contractor. Kitty Hawk pilots got a union contract and merged with ALPA.

KHA survived, and carried-on until October 2007 when the Kitty Hawk Cargo system was shut down. A rump-KHA ACMI'd with 737's at DHL/Wilmington in Xmas 2007, and the 727 horse charter operated until January 2008.

I guess you could say that Kitty Hawk was the fleet-leader into chapter 7 in that terrible year of 2008. (or the canary in the coal mine)

It was the best job I ever had, fine people, great schedule, pleasant management, ten years.....KHA R.I.P....