passengers for service to smaller cities , had yet to be bettered by a new design with similar capacity . Most local airlines chose to use the loans to purchase second-hand Martin 4-0-4s and Convairs — all equipped to carry 40 to 52 passengers — from the trunk airlines that were disposing of them . |
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3 In addition to its fleet of F-27s and Martinliners , Pacific continued to operate Douglas DC-3s until late 1962 . This photo was taken at San Francisco International Airport ( SFO ). // PROCTOR / LIVESEY / THOMAS COLLECTION
4 Brand new turboprop Fairchild F-27s were introduced into Pacific ’ s fleet in 1959 . The company referred to the type as ‘ Jethawks ’. // DAVID H . STRINGER COLLECTION
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The only new design created specifically for the short-haul market was the Fairchild F-27 , a licensed American-built copy of the Dutch Fokker Friendship . The new F-27s , equipped with turboprop engines , were pressurized and seated 36 to 44 passengers , depending on configuration . The wings and engines were mounted above the fuselage , giving passengers unobstructed views of the world below . When the company was still calling itself Southwest Airways , management ordered three 44-passenger F-27s , subsequently increasing the order to six .
The first of Pacific ’ s factoryfresh F-27s entered revenue service with the airline on April 26 , 1959 . The carrier christened them ‘ Jethawks ’. With the introduction of the modern turboprop airliners , Pacific updated its thunderbird logo , repurposing it as a stylized hawk .
In the summer of 1959 , Pacific ’ s fleet consisted of six 44-passenger F-27s , seven 44-passenger Martin 2-0-2s , 10 28-passenger Douglas DC-3s , and a single 28-seat PBY Catalina seaplane that the company planned to use on forthcoming service to Santa Catalina Island . The airline also owned a 1930s-era Lockheed Twin , which was used by company executives and personnel .
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