The Story Of TWA’s Boeing 747 Fleet
TWA took delivery of its first Boeing 747s in 1969.
Today we will look at Trans World Airlines (TWA) historic fleet of Boeing 747s. Before we get into that, though, let’s first take a look at one of the United States most iconic airlines and see how it came to be.
TWA can trace its history back to 1930 when several airlines merged at the suggestion of Postmaster General Walter Folger Brown to receive lucrative mail contracts. Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT), Western Air Express (WAE), Maddux Air Lines, Standard, and Pittsburgh Aviation Industries Corporation (PAIC) merged to form Transcontinental & Western Air (T&WA) on October 1, 1930.
TWA hired well know pilots like Charles Lindbergh
To boost the airline’s reputation and to capture the public’s attention, T&WA brought in famous pilots of the day, including the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic, Charles Lindbergh. In 1931 T&WA relocated its headquarters from New York City to its central hub in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1934, after a scandal that led to the Air Mail Act of 1934, T&WA was taken over by Lehman Brothers and John D. Hertz.
In 1937 TWA executives wanted the airline to invest in five Boeing 307 Stratoliners with pressurized cabins. However, the board refused to sanction the expense leading the airline’s president Jake Frye to persuade Howard Hughes to buy stock in the airline. Hughes continued to purchase stock in the airline until 1939, when he had acquired a controlling interest.
TWA began hub & spoke operations
Following WWII, TWA expanded flying to Europe from New York with a fleet of Lockheed Constellations. Under its holding company, TWA continued to grow and purchased Hilton Hotels, 21st Century Realty, and Hardee’s chain of fast food restaurants. While modernizing its fleet TWA was one of the first airlines to embrace the concept of hub and spoke operations using New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) as a central hub. In 1970 TWA was one of the first airlines to take delivery of the Boeing 747, an airliner that would open up international flights to millions of people.
TWA took delivery of its first Boeing 747s in 1969
TWA took delivery of its first two Being 747s on December 31, 1969, entering them into service on February 25, 1970.
TWA Boeing 747-100s
Boeing 747-100s with the registrations N93101, N93102 N93103 all entered service with TWA in 1970 and were later sold to the Iranian Air Force in 1975. N93104, N93105, N93106, N93107, N93108, N93109, N931010, N931011, and N931012 were all delivered in 1970 and served the airline for twenty-plus years before being scrapped. Also delivered in 1970 were N128TW, N17010, N133TW, N134TW, N93113, and N93114. All of which have now been scrapped.
In 1971 TWA took delivery of the following Boeing 747s, N93118, N93119, N17125. Of these aircraft, N93119 was the aircraft involved in the crash of Trans World Airlines Flight 800. Twelve minutes after taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on July 7, 1996, the aircraft exploded midair over the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York. All 230 passengers and crew died. While there was much speculation about the cause of the crash, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) blamed fuel vapor igniting.
TWA took delivery of its last Boeing 747-100 N129TW on January 27, 1976. The aircraft flew with TWA for 20 years before being returned to the Avn Leasing Group. In 2005 the plane was listed as being derelict.
Boeing 747-200
TWA took delivery of seven Boeing 747-200s N301TW, N302TW, N303TW, N304TW, N305TW, N306TW, and N307TW. Of these planes, N304TW was sold to Nationair in May 1991. N301TW and N302TW were sold to Tower Air in October 1992, and N303TW and N307TW were sold to Aerolineas Argentinas in September 1997 and February 1998.
Boeing 747SP
TWA only ever operated one Boeing 747SP with the registration N58201. The aircraft was delivered new to TWA on March 21, 1980, and sold to the Dubai Air Wing on February 21, 1985. In 2007, the Las Vegas Sands casino bought the plane for VIP transport.
