Carolina Aircraft Corporation

  1945 to present

  United States of America

TYPE: Aircraft lessor, non-scheduled cargo airline & FBO

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Durham, NC (1945-1960), Fort Lauderdale, FL (1960-present)

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: National Jets Inc. (dba)

Three brothers of the Boy family established the Carolina Aircraft Corporation in 1945 in Durham, NC. It started as a family-owned service station and grew into an aviation corporation.

In 1960 the company was reincorporated in Florida and moved to Fort Lauderdale where they specialized in leasing and operating large transport aircraft. The corporation operated DC-3s, DC-4s, DC-6s, and DC-7s, Super Constellations, Convairs and Commandos, flying oil drilling equipment throughout South and Central America. The company also flew fresh produce & refrigerated goods to islands throughout the Caribbean for a major grocery store chain. Later the group flew over 20 aircraft throughout the US distributing the Wall Street Journal.

In the early 1970's, the organization purchased its first Learjet and became one of the first flight schools for fighter pilots coming out of the Vietnam War. These officers were transitioning to become corporate pilots for the growing business aviation industry. Doing business as National Jets Inc., it began executive and private jet charter flights throughout North, South, Central America and the Caribbean. In 1976 the organization expanded into Air Ambulance medevacs.

Today, Carolina has become a multi-service aviation company, operating a FAR135 airline and an FBO, and leasing land and hangar space in Fort Lauderdale.

1960 to May 1978*

Among others, Carolina purchased several ex-VARIG Commandos and sold them back out.

• Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando: N5160V
• Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando: N355CC
• Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando: N5133B
• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: N9906F
• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: N157K
• Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando: N218C
• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: N355Z, N9890Z
• Riddle C-46R Commando: N7848B, N9883F
• Smith Super 46C Commando: N355BY, N355BX, N8874, N8875 (I)