Airlines from the Republic of Colombia have over many years earned a reputation for exceptional genius in their producing some of the most imaginative and artistic liveries to have graced world civil aviation. Private operator "AEROVIAS CONDOR DE COLOMBIA" was no exception to such psychedelic creativity in respect of its colourful corporate identity throughout the 25 years of its existence.
Aerocondor Colombia was founded by ex AVIANCA pilots in association with the Millon Brothers who together percieved an opportunity to establish a new airline flying cargo from Colombia's northern industrial city of Barranquilla throughout the republic. Services commenced during August 1955 using C46 aircraft which were later complimented with DC3's. Progressive expansion saw most of these aircraft later reconfigured for passenger services then DC4 and DC6 aircraft acquired during the early 1960's. International services between Barranquilla and Miami commenced during 1963 and from April 1969 the company began re-equpping with L188 Electra turboprops which replaced its fleet of classic propliners. Aerocondor entered the jet age during late 1972 upon purchasing an ex American Airlines B720-B. A rare Canadair CC-106 "Yukon" was also acquired for freight services during 1972 and a 2nd ex American Airlines B720-B added to the fleet during 1974. Introduction of these Boeing jetliners modernized the airlines image (by the standard of the time) and enabled it to begin operating jet services to Aruba, Curacao, Guatemala City, Santo Domingo, Panama, and Port-au-Prince whilst also increasing the frequency of its Miami services from Medellin, Bogota, and Isla de San Andres. During 1975 financial control of Aerocondor passed from the companies foundation management to Jorge Barco Vargas .... formerly a Aerocivil chairman and brother of a former president of the republic. Further expansion during early 1976 saw the airline add 3 ex American Airlines B707-120B's to its fleet. One of these aircraft was converted to a freighter and operated between Medellin and Miami in the lucrative flower export market that exists between Colombia and USA. The airline also then began disposing of its L188 Electra fleet with 2 aircraft being sold to VARIG Brazillian Airlines whilst 3 others were retained for freight services. By this stage Aerocondor grown to become Colombia's 2nd international airline and competing against the countries national flag carrier AVIANCA Colombia. 1977 was a proud year for Aerocondor Colombia as the airline entered the wide-body era when it acquired a factory fresh A300 Airbus .... named "Ciudad de Barranquilla" in honor of the companies port of origin. This was the first aircraft of the type to be operated within the Latin American region and entered service on highly competitive routes to Miami. Plans for the introduction of a 2nd A300 failed to materialize due to fiscal underachievement under the airlines new management. Aerocondor was again sold during 1979 to the Cotes and Calderon brothers and shortly afterward the already financially stripped carrier entered a period of major crisis .... a situation imposed more by poor mananagement and internal corruption by later management regimes rather than market forces. The airlines A300 was promptly returned to its lessors and during May 1980 the company entered bankruptsy and ceased operations. Hope remained that services could be reinstated but negotiations between the pilots, liquidators, and the Colombian government all failed to see the company resurrected. The airlines fleet of B707's and B720's remained grounded and were eventuallty stricken from the Colombian civil air register as the colourful identity of Aerocondor Colombia receeded forever into world civil aviation history.
Gone but not forgotten the strikingly liveried Aerocondor fleet of C46, DC4, DC6, L188, CC-106, B707-120B, & B720-B aircraft has been beautifully recreated for FS by Colombian graphics specialist Camilo LUENGAS. Here's a review of what's currently available :-
C46 Commando HK-75 was Aerocondor Colombia's first aircraft of 1955 and operated in the airlines attractive original livery. This repaint is based upon JR LUCARINY's great C46 model. The AVSIM filename for this texture set is hk-75.zip. LUCARINY's C46 model may be downloaded from FLIGHTSIN.COM .... search for the file named c46clh.zip
DC6 HK-752 also appeared in Aerocondors beautiful original livery throughout the 1960's. This repaint is based upon Tom GIBSON's excellent DC6 model. The AVSIM filename for this texture set is aerocondor_dc-6.zip. Tom GIBSON's brilliant DC6 models may be downloaded from the "AIRCRAFT" page of "TOM GIBSON's CALIFORNIA CLASSIC's" website located at :-
http://www.calclassic.com/
HK-777 became Aerocondor Colombia's first L188 Electra purchased from American Airlines during the late 1960's. This aircraft first supported the airlines "Tairona" livery .... featuring a tail logo representative of this indigenous Latin American culture from Colombia's northern coast and close to the airlines home port of origin with revised "AEROCONDOR DE COLOMBIA" titles. The AVSIM filename for this texture set is hk-777.zip.
Chris BUFF's L188 Electra model may also be downloaded from AVSIM .... search for the file named l188electra.zip .... or .... texture.branflue.zip containing a revised FS 2004 model and other files.
B720-B HK-1973 was Aerocondor Colombia's first jet equipment and supported this particularly colourful variation of the airlines livery introduced during the early 1970's. This repaint is based upon Gary CARLSON's great HJG B720-B model. Available from the HJG 2006 website.
HK-1974 became Aerocondor Colombia's 2nd B720-B and operated in this modified but equally colourful variation of the airlines livery applied fleetwide from the mid 1970's. This repaint is also based on the superb HJG B720-B model by Gary CARLSON. Available from the HJG 2006 website.
Aerocondor Colombia's first B707-120B was HK-1942 and supported the same variation of the airlines colourful modified livery of the mid 1970's. This repaint is based on Gary CARLSON's superb B707-120B model for HJG. Available from the HJG 2006 website.
Aerocondor Colombia B707-120B HK-1818 was converted to a freighter (1 of very few such B707-120B/F conversions) appearing in the same colourful livery applied to its sisterships during the mid 1970's. This repaint is supported by a specially modified B707-120B/F model by Gary CARLSON which features an operating maindeck freight door. Available from the HJG 2006 website.
Special thanks to my friend Camilo LUENGAS without who's invaluable help this article could not have been written .... muchismas gracias amigo
By Camilo LUENGAS & Mark CRANSTON.
BOG/CO & AKL/NZ
