PRO AIR
One of the last U.S. airlines to fly Martin 404s and DC-3s in regular scheduled passenger service was Miami-based Pro Air Services, which operated from 1981 to 1988. Pro Air served the Keys and the Bahamas with flights from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.
Pro Air Douglas DC-3 N14931 (msn 2118) at Miami. This aircraft previously flew with Argosy.
Pro Air Douglas DC-3 N14931 (msn 2118) at Miami. This aircraft previously flew with Argosy.
Pro Air Martin 404 N255S (msn 14246). This aircraft saw extensive airline service in the southeastern USA, previously flying with Eastern, Southern, Shawnee, Florida Airlines, Air Florida Commuter and Southern International. It now sits abandoned in Paris, Texas.
This undated timetable circa 1981 shows service along a Ft. Lauderdale - Miami - Marathon - Key West route, two round trips, five days a week. The September 1, 1981 issue of the Official Airline Guide shows Douglas DC-3s as the equipment on all flights.
Here's a Pro Air route map circa 1981 based on the above timetable, created with Great Circle mapper.
Pro Air timetable courtesy of Don Henchel showing flights to the Florida Keys discontinued in favor of service to the Bahamas destinations of North Eleuthera, Governours Harbour, Rock Sound, Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay. This timetable is undated but an educated guess would place the effective date around 1983.
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Martin 404 N255S is pictured at Miami International on November 8, 1984. Photo courtesy of Paul Thallon.
More than 3 decades later, N255S was located at the old Flying Tigers Airport near Paris, Texas, still intact but in very poor condition. This photo was taken on October 25, 2016 by Paul Daly. Some of the old Shawnee Airlines yellow and pink can be seen poking through the fading blue and white paint.
I received this amusing message from Jim in 2024: "Haha.. I flew from Miami to Eleuthera, Bahamas in 1983 on the DC-3. I remember the plane had more patches than my mom's quilts she made. Also leaking hydraulic fluid in one or more spots. Male, older Pilot looked like he didn't get much sleep and female copilot had poor English skills and kept asking air traffic to repeat things. I sat in one of the front seats. Our seat cushion was our flotation device if we ditched in the ocean. Luggage was stored behind pilots on both sides, held in place with cargo nets.
What an experience! My first ever jet plane ride was earlier that day from Minneapolis to Miami... then onto a DC-3! I was 23... 40 years ago."
What an experience! My first ever jet plane ride was earlier that day from Minneapolis to Miami... then onto a DC-3! I was 23... 40 years ago."
