Collectors > Collector's Newsletter > Volume 4 Number 2 - Archive
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 2
APRIL - JUNE 2005

IN THIS ISSUE
Event Special What's Hot At Oshkosh July 25 - 31
Feature Airline Alliances
Name Game Test Yourself -- Can You Recognize It?
Aviation History What Has This Beetle Got To Do With Delta?
Did You Know? Aviation Trivia
New Models Update First Quarter 2005 New Arrivals
Fact & Fancy Food for Thought
Collector's Corner A Plane Spotter's Dream Job... Air Traffic Controller!
From Our E-Mailbag Learn something about the La Paz "three-holer"


What's Hot At Oshkosh

July 25 - 31, 2005
Summer is on its way, and with it comes the promise of some spectacular air shows. Among those well known throughout the world, it's show time once again for Oshkosh here in the United States.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is one of the most popular and eagerly anticipated air shows. It is held at the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this year it runs from July 25 till 31.

 As expected, just about every aspect of aviation -- from NASA and the military to mega-dollar business-jets, ultralights and pilot-training companies, to meticulously restored flying antiques and aviation gadgets --all will be represented at Oshkosh.

Notwithstanding the many attractions, events, and displays scheduled every year, there are a couple of compelling reasons to get yourself out to Oshkosh this summer.

The annual week-long event is popular with aviation enthusiasts from around the world.
(Photo courtesy of EAA and www.airventure.org.)
SpaceShipOne, the world's first successful privately-funded spacecraft that captured the world's attention last fall by winning the $10 million Ansari X Prize, and its carrier mothership White Knight, are both going to be at Oshkosh for the event's entire seven-day run! They will arrive on Monday July 25, and both aircraft will be available for up-close viewing on the main AeroShell Square showcase ramp, until their departure on Sunday, July 31.

Note that this is the ONLY planned public appearance of both aircraft in one place, so the opportunity to see them together may not come around again! The following week White Knight will carry SpaceShipOne for the last time to her final home, the Milestones of Flight Gallery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

As if that isn't enough, the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer will also be at the show, before it eventually goes on permanent museum display.

GlobalFlyer and pilot Steve Fosset successfully circumnavigated the world on March 2, 2005, in a record-breaking, non-stop solo flight of 19,880 nautical miles (22,877 miles or 36,817 kilometers) accomplished in 67 hours, 1 minute and 46 seconds without refueling.

(Photo courtesy of EAA and www.airventure.org.)

(Photo courtesy of EAA and www.airventure.org.)
Virgin Atlantic CEO Sir Richard Branson, when asked about what will happen to GlobalFlyer after its epic flight, said, "It may be a bit soon to be talking about it, but the Smithsonian have expressed an interest in having her (GlobalFlyer), and I think that's ultimately where she'll go. But...it will most definitely go to Oshkosh in July." Citing the 75-80 million hits on the GlobalFlyer website, Branson added, "There's an enormous amount of global interest in seeing her. I don't think we'll tuck her away in a museum straight away."

It looks like 2005 will be a bonanza year for Oshkosh. This is probably the only opportunity to see not only SpaceShipOne and White Knight, but the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer too, at the same time and the same place. That's right... you've just got to be there!

EAA AIRVENTURE OSHKOSH is an international gathering place for aviation enthusiasts, an event specifically staged for opportunities to study the latest aircraft and innovations; discover new ideas and techniques from more than 500 forums and workshops; see aviation's top personalities; or just talk airplanes with people from around the world.

Already in its fifth decade, EAA AirVenture Oshkosh continues to grow. New exhibit hangars and expanded facilities serve the more than 750,000 aviation enthusiasts who attend the week-long event annually and contribute more than $80 million to the local and state economies.

As one of the world's premier aviation events, it has become important and influential, yet it retains its friendly and personal feel, which is part of the reason the world comes to Oshkosh every year.

For more information on EAA and its programs, call 1-800-JOIN-EAA (1-800-564-6322) or www.eaa.org. EAA AirVenture information is also available through the World Wide Web at www.airventure.org.



Airline Alliances

In recent years consolidation has been a key word in many industries, as companies have found that in order to be more competitive sometimes the answer is to join forces with the competition. The trend has also taken hold in the airline industry, but instead of turning to corporate mergers, as air travel is increasingly becoming a global market, airlines are forming cooperative alliances with other airlines as a means to expand coverage beyond their own routes.

Airlines not flying particular routes can offer their customers extended route network benefits through other airlines in the alliance. Also, member airlines often share sales offices, maintenance facilities, and operations facilities and staff, leading to mutually beneficial cost reductions.

The passengers, of course, are the end beneficiary. They may see lower prices due to lower operational costs; more choices in both the destinations offered as well as departure times for a given route; and shorter travel time as their itinerary is optimized based on the routes and schedules for the whole network rather than an individual airline. Passengers can travel seamlessly to any destination on any of the alliance flights, usually on one ticket and one baggage check-in, enjoy the comforts of the alliance member's' lounge on each leg of the journey, and also rack up the free miles honored by all the members.

Currently three alliances account for more than 60 percent of the total world airline capacity. These are Star, SkyTeam, and Oneworld (see side bar on right). The first airline alliance (unofficially called "Wings") was formed in January 1993 between KLM and Northwest Airlines, and thrived until last September, when both airlines allied themselves with the newest of the big three, SkyTeam. The Qualiflyer Group was founded in 1998 and disbanded in 2002, after founding member Swissair pulled out. Swissair went into bankruptcy and was replaced by Switzerland's new national airlines Swiss, which is seeking to join one of the big three.

There is much to be gained through an airline alliance. However, forming or joining an alliance is not always possible especially if the member airlines are based in different countries, in large part due to the European competition law, the U.S. anti-trust law, and other stringent government regulations. But when successful, alliances can boost member revenues by 15-20%.

Whether alliances are truly a friend to air travelers or if they are the seeds of an oligopoly -- eventually shutting out fair competition and limiting your choices -- only time will tell. Either way, the alliances allow their members to retain their own separate identities and their own liveries, and therefore you have a choice of collecting models in the liveries you like. Here are some liveries with alliance markings. Visit the individual airline pages to see if we have models bearing the alliance logo in their livery.

THE BIG THREE
Star Alliance was founded by five airlines in May 1997 and currently consists of 16 member airlines.
Founding members:
Additional members:
VARIG Brazilian Airlines (October 1997); Air New Zealand (March 1999); All Nippon Airways (October 1999); Austrian Airlines Group [ii] (March 2000); Singapore Airlines (April 2000); British Midland Airways (July 2000); Asiana Airlines (March 2003); Spanair (April 2003); LOT Polish Airlines (October 2003); US Airways (May 2004); TAP Air Portugal (March 2005).
Former members:
Ansett Airlines (joined March 1999, failed in 2001; Mexicana Airlines (joined July 2000, ended March 2004).
Future members:
South African Airways (SAA).
Find out more at www.star-alliance.com.



SkyTeam was founded by four airlines in June 2000 and currently consists of nine member airlines.
Founding members:
Additional members:

CSA Czech Airlines (March 2001); Alitalia (July 2001); KLM, Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines (September 2004).
Former members:

To date all members are still participating.
Future members:

Aeroflot has applied for membership; China Southern Airlines has taken preliminary joining steps.
Find out more at www.skyteam.com.



Oneworld was founded by five airlines in February 1999 and currently consists of eight member airlines.
Founding members:
Additional members:

Finnair and Iberia (September 1999); Aer Lingus and LAN Airlines (May 2000).
Former members:

Canadian Airlines, after being purchased by Air Canada, withdrew from the alliance in June 2000.
Find out more at www.oneworldalliance.com.





Lufthansa
(with Star Alliance logo)
Airbus 340-300 Scale 1:200



Thai Airways
(with Star Alliance logo)
Boeing 747-400 Scale 1:200



Delta Airlines
(with SkyTeam logo)
Boeing 767-200 Scale 1:200




Can you name this airline?

Answer at end of newsletter.




Can you name this aircraft type?

Answer at end of newsletter.


What Has This Beetle Got To Do With Delta?

Well, plenty. You may not see this in a Trivia game card, but Delta Air Lines, one of the largest airlines in the U.S. and the world, probably owes its existence to this insect, the anthonomus grandis, also known as the boll weevil.
Beginning in 1892, this South America beetle hopped the Mexican border and created a swath of ruined crops and economic devastation across the Cotton Belt. To combat the infestation in the Mississippi Valley, the U.S. Bureau of Entomology set up a laboratory in Tallulah, Louisiana, as the base for an intensified cotton insect investigation headed by Dr. B.R. Coad.

Their research was followed closely by a young agricultural engineer at the Extension Department of Louisiana State University, named C.E. Woolman. Woolman, coincidentally, was also an aviation enthusiast. A pragmatist, he had settled for a financially sound, albeit earthbound, career in agriculture.



The boll weevil is a fuzzy beetle, brown to grayish brown and with a prominent snout (or bill) bearing the mouthparts. It is about 1/4-inch long but can be up to 1/2-inch. The larva, a legless grub with a brown head, grows to about 1/2-inch long and develops into a mummy-like pupa before becoming an adult.
(Photo courtesy of www.obweo.org)


By 1916 the researchers had identified a weapon to combat the menace: calcium arsenate. The next question, naturally, was how to administer the dry powder to the vast acreage of cotton fields (short of hand sprinkling the chemical!). Application from the air seemed like a practical and promising approach, but how to go about it?

The challenge to find a solution seemed remarkably suited for the talents of Woolman. With funding from the U.S. Congress and two Jennys (Curtiss JN4-D) provided by the army, Dr. Coad's entomologists and Woolman experimented for years to perfect an efficient delivery system.

Then, in 1923, serendipity stepped in. George Post, an executive of a New York airplane manufacturer, was forced down in Tallulah when his plane developed mechanical problems. The experimental aerial crop-dusting activities he observed impressed him so much so that, back in New York, he convinced his company's management to invest in the commercial future of crop-dusting.

 Huff Daland Dusting, a separate division of Huff Daland Manufacturing, started operation in Macon, Georgia, in 1924. A lack of experience and the small number of cotton fields in the area led to an unsuccessful first season. The next year, on Dr. Coad's suggestion, Huff Daland Dusting moved their operation to Monroe, Louisiana, and recruited Woolman as vice president and field manager.

Due to the seasonal nature of crop-dusting, the Division shifted its winter operations to Mexico and then Peru. In Peru, Woolman recognized the potential of passenger air service. He secured South American airmail rights, and in 1928 inaugurated service from Peru to Ecuador, a 1,500-mile route. (This route was later sold to Pan American Grace Airways, or Panagra).

When Woolman returned to Monroe that year, and found that Huff Daland Manufacturing was attempting to sell the dusting division, he quickly got together a group of local businessmen to purchase the operation.



Huff Daland designed and built the world's first crop-dusters. The company's 18 planes was the world's largest privately-owned fleet at the time.
(Photo courtesy of www.deltamuseum.org)


They named new company Delta Air Service (later changed to Delta Air Corporation) for the Mississippi Delta region it would serve, and divested its Peruvian operation to a company in Peru. Woolman retained his position as vice president and general manager while D.Y. Smith was the company's first president.

The next year Delta launched its first passenger flight, carrying five passengers from Dallas, Texas, via Shreveport and Monroe, to Jackson, Mississippi. Service was extended eastward to Birmingham, Alabama, and westward to Fort Worth, Texas.


Delta's first logo in 1928 reflects the crop-dusting beginnings which will eventually metamorphose into one of the world's greatest airlines.
(Image courtesy of www.deltamuseum.org)
However, passenger air service by itself was neither profitable nor self-sustaining, and without revenues from a mail contract, service had to be suspended in 1930. Delta concentrated on its dusting operation, expanding it and getting Dr. B.R. Coad onboard as chief entomologist.

In 1934 the U.S. Post Office cancelled all of its airmail contracts and called for new bids. This time around, Delta was awarded Air Mail Route 24, from Fort Worth, Texas, via Atlanta, Georgia, to Charleston, South Carolina. Delta resumed passenger service and changed its name to Delta Air lines.

In 1941 Delta moved its headquarters to Atlanta, Georgia, and has operated out of there ever since. Delta Air Lines recently celebrated a major milestone, its seventy-fifth anniversary.
Delta's roots were deep and strong, and Delta's crop-dusting division remained in operation until 1966. A reconditioned 1925 Huff Daland Duster was presented to the Smithsonian Institution in 1968, as a memorial to Delta founder and long-time CEO C.E. Woolman, who took the helm for 38 years and steered the company on a true course to success.

Despite the best efforts of Dr. Coad and the Bureau of Entomology, the battle against the boll weevil has become an ongoing 100-year war. But if you're inclined to look on the brighter side of things, then you can see how the boll weevil started the ball rolling in this fascinating history of one of the greatest airlines in the story of aviation.




Delta "75th Anniversary"
Boeing 747-400 Scale 1:200

 In addition to the 75th Anniversary Spirit of Delta model shown here, we have 31 more models bearing Delta, Delta Connection and Delta Shuttle colors to add to your collection. Please visit the Delta pages in our web site to see the other models.


DELAG was the world's first commercial passenger airline. Established on October 16, 1909, the airline carried passengers between German cities by Zeppelin airships, the hydrogen-filled rigid dirigibles named after Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin who patented the idea in 1895, and built and flew the first one in 1900. In the five years up to 1914 before World War I, DELAG had transported more than 34,000 passengers.

 QANTAS, the name of the Australian national airline, is a former acronym for Queensland And Northern Territories Air Service

In 1902 renowned astronomer and mathematician Simon Newcomb predicted: "Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical and insignificant, if not utterly impossible."
 


First Quarter 2005 New Arrivals
Air France (60-77)
 Boeing 747-100 1:200 scale

This model represents ship F-BPVA in its original delivery colors. It was the first 747-100 delivered to Air France, on March 20, 1970, and the nineteenth built by Boeing. Originally it was fitted with 350 seats, with a bar on the upper deck for first class passengers. By 1979 the airline had removed the upper deck lounge to accommodate 360 seats on all of its 747s.


Air France (77-cur)
Boeing 777-300ER 1:200 scale

A new addition to the Flight Miniatures line up is the Boeing 777-300ER in 1:200 scale. To introduce this model it is only fitting that the livery and aircraft registration used on the first aircraft to be delivered also be used on the model (Air France F-GSQA).
Pan Am (74-85)
Boeing 727-200 1:200 scale

A new version of the Pan Am 74-85 livery Boeing 727-200 is now available. We have made improvements on the model details and used a different registration number from our previous version of this model.
Delta "75th Anniversary"
Boeing 767-200 1:200 scale

Last year Delta celebrated its 75th anniversary and repainted ship N102DA (The Spirit of Delta) in a special 75th anniversary livery reminiscent of the livery used in the 1930's.
QANTAS (85-cur) - Australia
Boeing 747-400 1:200 scale

This model represents ship VH-OJB "Mount Isa" in current standard livery. It was the second 747-400 to be delivered to Qantas and had previously been adorned with the special Aboriginal livery "Wunala Dreaming."

Jet2 "Yorkshire" - U.K.
Boeing 737-300 1:200 scale

This model displays the special Yorkshire titles used on the Jet2 Boeing 737-300 G-CELB.
Helios (00-cur) - Cyprus
Boeing 737-800 1:200 scale

Helios Airways is the first independent private-owned airline in Cyprus, they took delivery of their first aircraft, two 737-800s, in 2001.
Sterling (04-cur) - Denmark
Boeing 737-800 1:200 scale

This model is another variation of the Sterling livery in red with their new hearts logo on the tail.
Two models are now available in the Bangladesh national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines livery:

Biman Bangladesh (85-cur)
Airbus A310 1:200 scale

Biman Bangladesh (85-cur)
Douglas DC-10 1:250 scale



Delta (00-cur)
Boeing 727-200 1:200 scale

Continental (91-cur)
Boeing 737-800 1:200 scale



Food for Thought
A KLM 747-400 flight from Amsterdam to Australia, capable of carrying up to 416 passengers, also carries an average of just over 1,000 kilograms of food, and some 1,324 liters of drink -- from mineral water to wine and whisky.
American Airlines keeps on top of the details: The airline saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class; and printed on their packet of peanuts was, "Instructions: Open packet, eat nuts."
JetBlue Airways mostly serves blue potato chips in-flight as part of its no-meals policy. In a recent marketing campaign, the airline gave away T-shirts with the words "It was never meant to fly" over a picture of a chicken.

In a "dry" country like United Arab Emirates, the duty-free store in Dubai does a brisk trade in liquor. In 2001 alone, air travelers bought 2,003,151 bottles of liquor, and of course other items as well, including 1,570,214 cartons of cigarettes, 690,502 bottles of perfume, 101,824 watches, 52,119 mobile phones, and 2,909 kilograms of gold!
A business-class meal with wine costs an airline about $50 in raw materials. However, for every dollar spent on food and drink another $3 is spent on cabin crew service, preparation, loading, and getting it to the passenger. The total cost per meal is closer to $200.


A Plane Spotter's Dream Job...

Air Traffic Controller!
Our featured collector this quarter is Mathlouthi Walid from Monastir, Tunisia.

 As a child Mathlouthi was absorbed in the world of aviation, drawing planes and visiting airports, enjoying the take-offs and landings. He still enjoys airport life; the difference is that now he has the perfect job for a plane spotter -- he works as an Air Traffic Controller at Monastir, an envious position for any collector!

Mathlouthi began his collection in September 1998, when he bought his first model from a friend at the airport -- an AerLingus B737-400 scale 1:180. Since then his collection has grown to 534 and counting, and almost half are Flight Miniatures models. Mathlouthi likes Flight Miniatures not just for the quality and price, but also because he was able to find some particular models and airlines that were not available elsewhere.




Mathlouthi proudly displays his "treasure" at home.



His Boeing 737 fleet.
He estimates he buys around 120 models each year. He's even met fellow collectors from the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and India. With all 534 models on display at his home, another 26 still in boxes waiting to be put out, and an order for 32 models due to arrive any day from the U.S. and Taiwan, it's a good thing his family and friends think his collection is 'a treasure'!
Mathouthi's collection includes a range of aircraft types and scales, though he does have his favorites.

He says, "I prefer scale 1/100, 1/72 and some of scale 1/200... it depends on the model. Sometimes I choose by aircraft type, scale and then livery."

The specialty liveries have caught his eye too. "There are particular airlines that I would like to collect: Western and Southwest and America West, because all of their models are painted in different, beautiful colors."

Our forward-thinking collector has already started his Airbus 380 fleet!



Mathlouthi's Airbus 320 fleet.



His turbo-prop fleet.
"My favorite model in my collection is the Dornier 328, scale 1/100 and the Jet-stream 41, scale 1/100... the Dornier I like because of the aerodynamic form."

Many collectors love to fly and Mathlouthi is one of them. His only regret, "...it was my dream to fly on board the Concorde, but now there is no Concorde." The Concorde, of course, is now retired.

Not surprisingly Mathlouthi's favorite airline is Tunis Air; however he would love to fly British Airways one day.

Congratulations to Mathlouthi and his wife, as they recently became parents for the first time. With dad as a role model, we will not be surprised if his little girl starts her own collection before long!


We'd like to share a letter from one of our collectors...
The Eastern 727 I ordered from you in December was a hit with my uncle, a former "three-holer" pilot at Eastern. Although he had never flown the particular plane in question (he was on domestic routes), he did know about the model you depict.

You may not know this, but your model is one of a handful known to Eastern pilots as "La Paz" planes because it regularly flew the Miami-La Paz route. La Paz (in Bolivia) is the highest airport in the world at 11,000 feet above sea level, so these 727s were equipped with some items not found on the domestic three-holers, such as portable oxygen tanks for pilots doing walk-around checks.

For what it's worth, the La Paz planes were externally the same as the domestic three-holers; the only way you could tell them apart was, of course, from the N (registration) numbers.
 Thanks a lot for offering this model. None of your competitors make it, and since my model-building skills aren't up to par, I dreaded having to construct one from a kit. My next gift to him will be the Eastern DC-3; while he never flew that plane for Eastern, he did fly one in his corporate career. Keep up the good work!

Thanks again for making such neat products. I never thought I'd collect these things, but I'm getting hooked!

Regards,

Mike Harbour
U.S.A.

Name Game Answers:
Airline: AeroMexico (Bonus: aircraft type - Boeing 737-700)
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-300ER

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this Newsletter are sourced from a variety of web sites and compiled for the express purpose of providing general information and entertainment only. Since we cannot confirm the accuracy of all source materials, Genesis Worldwide Enterprises disclaims any responsibility for the validity of the information presented. In the event of any possibly misleading information or misrepresentation, we extend our apologies; no offense was intended, we hope none is taken. Any mention of any airline, company, individual or product is not intended as an endorsement of any kind.

Trademarks: Flight Miniatures products, other products and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.
© 2002-2005 Genesis Worldwide Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Date posted this issue: April 1, 2005