|
AIRCRAFT |
||||
|
|
On July, 1955 VARIG started flying
to the USA, inaugurating its first intercontinental line, with three
aircraft Lockheed L-1049 G Super Constellation, PP-VDA, PP-VDB and
PP-VDC. VARIG's first flight to the USA occurred on August 02, 1955
and covered Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Porto Alegre, São Paulo, Rio
de Janeiro, Belém, Trujilho and New York, initially with two weekly
flights.
With those aircrafts VARIG developed its onboard and land experience
services, establishing a new milestone in Brazil’s commercial
aviation progress. But it was not all glamor and charm,
Constellation’s propellers frequently breakdown and it was known as
"the best tri-propellers in the world".
VARIG's fourth Super G Constellation, PP-VDD, arrived on November
18, 1957, followed by PP-VDE on December 11, 1957 and PP-VDF on
January 17, 1958. Those three new units had a longest nose and "tip-tanks"
(extra fuel tanks on the wingtips), allowing a greater range. Thus
flights to New York were made with one stop onyl, in Port of Spain
or Trujillo, depending on the winds.
In 1961, after purchase Real-Aerovias-Nacional, VARIG added three
Super H Constellation to its fleet. They were converted to
freighters and subsequently sold.
With the arrival of Caravelle and Boeing 707, Super G Constellation
began operating on domestic routes. In June 1967 PP-VDB, PP-VDC and
PP-VDE were dismantled in Porto Alegre, while PP-VDD was dismantled
in São Paulo. PP-EDV was sold and PP-VDA was lost in an accident.
VARIG's Super G Constellation:
First Class: 38 seats (2+2)
Turist Class: 15 seats (3+2)
Living Room: 10 seats
After the purchase of the Real-Aerovias-Nacional consortium, in 1961, VARIG incorporated four Lockheed Super H Constellation. These were the largest aircraft operated by Real and made the company's longest flights to the United States and Japan. However by 1961 this type of aircraft was already obsolete and the long-haul market was now dominated by jets. Unlike the Super G Constellations, purchased by VARIG in the 1950s, Super H Constellation could easily be converted to cargo. And that was the solution for these aircraft. At VARIG the Super H Constellation never transported passengers, they were converted to cargo transport and operated in the company carrying only cargo until 1968, when they were sold
|
