Pan Am Question
 

Just curious, how big was Pan Am prior to selling off the assets in the the mid 1980s? Really wondering how many pilots and airplanes. Thanks!

Pan Am was much bigger in reputation and brand recognition than actual size. 266 airplanes at its largest.

Check The Clipper Heritage

Greg

In 1985 before the selling of the Pacific division Pan Am operated 33 747100/200/f, 10 747SPs, 11 L1011-500's, 16 DC10-10/30s, 85 727s and 10 737s. The SPs and 1011s went with the United acquisition and the DC10s were sold off to various operators. The A300s and A310s started to arrive in late 1985 and 86.

In first class meals were served on real china.

Belive the 16 DC10s and 54 of the 72s were acquired from NAL in 1980.

Read Skygods by Robert Gandt. A great look at Pan Am from the height of dominance in the 60's all the way through their descent into the 80's and ultimately 90's. A great read from a former pilots perspective.

Given the size of the industry at the time it was a big fleet.

Does that abomination Boston-Maine Airways still own the rights to the PanAm logo/name? Someday when I have a billion dollars im going to buy the name and start a new PanAm. Then I should have a million dollars when I am done! :)

That was a good book, there was that funny part in the beginning;

"The skygod was an a-hole!"

We called them Clipper Skippers when I was there.

B727 FEO
4 April 1989 - 4 December 1991

Boxcars
 

Occasionally here in the northeast you can see the Pan Am logo roll by dismally painted on the side of a railroad boxcar. I suppose that BMA outfit also owns a rail operation. Maybe a year or two ago I saw a Jetstream land in BWI with the logo on its tail as it taxied over to the FBO side of the field. Sickening.

Back in the day, the Pan Am logo/trademark was the second most widely recognized design in the world, trailing only Coca-Cola.

My Dad worked for Pan Am from 1951 until 1964 (he was not a pilot) and I have several fond memories of time in the jumpseat as a cockpit visitor. Most notably, once as the sole passenger as the B-707 was repositioned from Friendship Airport (now BWI) to Idelwild Airport (now JFK). These experiences inspired me to pursue a career in aviation that has included 21 years in the USAF, 10 years at ATA Airlines, and now at a regional since the demise of ATA. My career sems much like that of Pan Am.

I don't know how big they were, but they were the best in terms of techncal capabilities and as their motto exclaimed "The worlds most experienced airline". I still have some of the company's old lead pencils proclaiming that.

Skygods = an excellent read.

Regards,
Blue

Right ahead of you, March 89. A little more than 2500 guys before Delta took some just prior to shutdown.

Thanks guys