| Hughes Airwest |
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| defunct airlines of the united states | |
| airlines established in 1970 | |
| 1980 disestablishments | |
| howard hughes | |
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HISTORY In 1968, Pacific Air Lines (United States) , West Coast Airlines and Bonanza Airlines merged to form Air West. Air West grew quickly, flying to such points as Phoenix , Salt Lake City , Boise and Portland, Oregon . The airline used both Jet and propeller-driven aircraft; some of its aircraft were also used for employee transportation. Hungry for another adventure in the airline industry, TWA 's former owner Howard Hughes bought the airline in 1970. The airline was then renamed ''Hughes Airwest''. Hughes saw his new airline expand to several other cities in the Western USA, and to Mexico. The airline participated in some Movies in the 1970s , more notably Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke 's '' The Gauntlet ''. In 1980, the airline was sold to Republic Airlines , which in turn merged with Northwest Airlines . LIVERY Hughes Airwest's planes were rather recognizable because of their Banana - Yellow Fuselage and tail colors. Because of this, their airplanes were often dubbed "flying bananas" and the airline even launched an advertising campaign with the catchphrase "Top Banana in the West", etc. Most nicknames given to Hughes Airwest airplanes on aviation books and magazines have to do with bananas. Apart from their all-yellow scheme, the airplanes also featured a purple logo that resembled three diamonds on their tails. The name ''Hughes Airwest'', in stylized lettering, was featured below the front passenger windows. This unique Livery was devised after the crash of Hughes Airwest Flight 706 after it was involved in a midair collision with a U.S. Marine Corps F-4B jet fighter near Duarte, California , on June 6 , 1971 . The company thought the plane's all-white fuselage was a contributing factor, so the whole fleet was repainted. Originally the cabin windows also had a metallized PET Film coating, but this proved too costly to maintain. FLEET |
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