Flying Tiger Line

  1945 to August 1989

  United States of America

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TYPE: Cargo airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: FT / FTL

HEADQUARTERS: Los Angeles, CA

FORMER NAME: National Skyway Freight (1945)

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Federal Express (1989, purchased)

Flying Tigers was founded by 10 former AVG pilotswhen they returned to the United States in 1945. Using funds from the pilots and ground crews, along with investment from California oil tycoon Samuel B. Mosher, the airline started operating a small fleet of ex-US Navy Budd C-93 Conestoga freighters. After carrying out domestic contracts, Flying Tigers soon received military contracts to fly supplies to occupied Japan.

In 1949, the Civil Aeronautics Board awarded Flying Tigers Line the first commercial air cargo route in the USA, from Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA to Boston, MA. The airline also ventured in the passenger charter business. During the 1950's, the company operated a large fleet of Lockheed Constellations, Douglas DC4s & DC6s, making it the largest transatlantic charter operation at the time. Flying Tigers was also active flying supplies and troops during the Korean War, and equipment to remote locations in the Canadian & Alaskan far north during the construction of the DEW (Distant Early Warning) line.

Flying Tigers later purchased Canadair CL44s and introduced the first aerial pallet shipping service. Boeing 707s joined the fleet in 1961, followed by Douglas DC8s and Boeing 747s. By 1980, after purchasing its competitor Seaboard World Airlines, Flying Tigers has become the world's largest air cargo carrier. However, the company did not survive the airlines deregulation period, and lost money through the 1980's. It was sold to Federal Express in 1988, and both operations effectively merged on 7 August 1989.

April 1952* to January 1956*

• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: N4860V