Crystal Shamrock Airlines was a former charter airline based at the Minneapolis Crystal Airport. It was founded in 1966, and started operation on 5th August 1975[1]. Operations ceased in 1991 and was dissolved on 4th October 1991[2]. The airline was founded by the FBO Crystal Shamrock. The airline primarily operated charter flights using Douglas DC-3 aircraft.[3] The primary summer use was Canadian fishing trips. In the winter, Crystal Shamrock used its DC3s to transport college football and basketball teams, and many rock bands.[4]
| |||||||
| Founded | 1959 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1972 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 1991 | ||||||
| Operating bases | Minneapolis Crystal Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
History
editOn August 5, 1975, the airline started service with one round trip flight between Minneapolis, Fargo, and Bismarck North Dakota during the August 1975 Northwest Airlines strike.[5][6][7]
The airline flew displaced passengers between Chicago and Omaha during a 1975 strike by United Airlines machinists.[8] The route also had stop in Des Moines, Iowa.[9]
For one week in May 1978 the airline provided service from Minneapolis, Fargo, and Jamestown North Dakota. Shamrock discontinued service when North Central Airlines inaugurated service on a route from Bismarck, Fargo, North Dakota, Minneapolis and Chicago.[10][11]
Marian Erickson was promoted from vice president to president in December 1978. She succeeded Lee Gilligan, who became Chairman of the Airline.[12]
A charter flight from Minneapolis via Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Harlingen, Texas was offered to see the October 4, 1979 Commemorative Air Force air show.[13]
In 1980 the airline transported Herb Brooks and the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team to Warroad, Minnesota, to play the local high school team.[4]
in 1982 the airline offered chartered 3 and 6 day travel packages to Wollaston Lake Lodge in Saskatchewan Canada.[14]
During a charter flight with passengers from Rochester, Minnesota, a Piper Apache collided with the front end of the company's DC-3 while on the ground in Springfield, Missouri.[15]
Fleet
edit- 2 × PC12
- 1 X C525
- 1 X TBM850
- 1 X P2006T
- 1 X C162
- 5 X C172
- 2 X RV12
- 1 X C182
- 1 X S22T
- 1 X SR20
External links
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Crystal Shamrock Airlines history from Americas, USA". Airline History. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Crystal Shamrock Airlines history from Americas, USA". Airline History. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ Foster, Tom (January 2015). "Airport of the Month". Minnesota Flyer.
- ^ a b "Midwest Flyer Magazine, October/November 2009 issue" (PDF).
- ^ "Airline schedule Northwest routes to North Dakota". Minneapolis Star. August 5, 1975. p. 5a.
- ^ Sturdevant, Lori (August 6, 1975). "8,500 NWA employees are laid off as strike by pilots continues". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 11a.
- ^ "Gap between pilots, NWA no narrower". Minneapolis Star. August 6, 1975. p. 6b.
- ^ Blumenthal, Ralph (December 12, 1975). "United Airlines' Strike Snarling Holiday Travel". New York Times. p. 25.
- ^ "Substitute airline gives customers chilling rides". Minneapolis Tribune. December 22, 1975. p. 8C.
- ^ Allen, Frank (May 9, 1978). "North Dakota climbs aboard North Central's new flights". Minneapolis Star. p. 6b.
- ^ "N.D. airline begins service to Minneapolis". Minneapolis Tribune. May 18, 1978. p. 9a.
- ^ "People". Minneapolis Star. September 21, 1979. p. 14c.
- ^ "Airshow". Minneapolis Tribune. February 21, 1982. p. 17D.
- ^ "Fish Canada's Far North". Minneapolis Tribune. February 21, 1982. p. 8e.
- ^ "Joking about DC3 ended after collision with other airplane". Minneapolis Star and Tribune. August 26, 1983. p. 2B.