Universal Air Lines Corporation

Universal Air Lines was an airline based in the United States.

For the Ypsilanti, Michigan–based airline that operated between 1966 and 1972, see Universal Airlines (United States).
Universal Air Lines Corporation
Founded30 July, 1928[1]
Ceased operations1934
Parent companyUniversal Aviation Corporation, Avco
HeadquartersSt. Louis

History

Universal Air Lines was an air-rail conglomerate competing with rival Transcontinental Air Transport. Universal Air Lines was a subsidiary of the Universal Aviation Corporation which included Robertson Aircraft Corporation and Northern Air Lines[2] In 1929, Universal Air Lines purchased Braniff Air Lines.[3] In 1929, The Parent company, Universal Aviation Corporation became part of the Aviation Corporation. American Airlines was formed from the merger of Universal and 90 other companies.[4]

Universal Air Lines promoted the new era of air travel with its "Sky Dinner" Fokker Trimotors, with the conveniences of a Pullman train, which amounted to an electric stove prep area, folding tables, and a lavatory.[5] On some Cleveland to Kansas City routes, as many as three Fokker aircraft would fly in formation to the destination.[6]

A Fokker F.32 in U.A.L. colors, 25 September 1929

Universal Air Lines ordered five Fokker F.32 aircraft. One was painted in the airlines livery, but all orders were canceled as the Great Depression set in.

Destinations
America/North America

Fleet

The Universal Air Lines fleet consisted of the following aircraft as of 1929:

Universal Air Lines Fleet
Aircraft Total Routes Notes
Fokker F.10
Fokker Super Universal
Travel Air 5 place

Incidents and accidents

Universal Air Lines shared hangar space with NorthWest Airlines at Chicago's Municipal airport.[7] On June 25, 1930,[8] the Universal Air Lines hangar caught fire destroying 27 aircraft, leaving only five. The fire spread to the neighboring Grey Goose Air Lines hangar.[9]

See also

References
  1. F. Robert Van der Linden. Airlines and air mail: the post office and the birth of the commercial aviation industry. p. 43.
  2. Howard Lee Scamehorn. Balloons to Jets: A Century of Aeronautics in Illinois, 1855-1955. p. 151.
  3. "Braniff Airways". Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  4. "UAL". Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  5. "Aboard the Sky Diner". Popular Mechanics. June 1929.
  6. F. Robert Van der Linden. Airlines and air mail: the post office and the birth of the commercial aviation industry. p. 78.
  7. Howard Lee Scamehorn. Balloons to Jets: A Century of Aeronautics in Illinois, 1855-1955. p. 174.
  8. Associated Press, "27 Planes Burn In Chicago Fire", Sarasota Herald, Sarasota, Florida, Wednesday 25 June 1930, Volume 5, Number 224, page one.
  9. "Hangar Explosion in Chicago Causes Big Property Loss". The Owosso Argus Press. 25 June 1930.


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