Air Vietnam

Air Vietnam (Air VN) began in 1951, as Vietnam’s first commercial air carrier, establised under Emperor Bao Dai the Chief of State of South Vietnam. 1951 was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... Emperor Bao Dai Bảo Đại (保大) (October 22, 1913–July 30, 1997) was the last Emperor of Vietnam, the 13th and last Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

History

Its initial fleet consisted of five Cessna 170s flying small town routes throughout Vietnam. By 1975, Air VN grew to flying DC-3s and Boeing 727s on regional, international routes. 1975 was a common year starting on ghjgh Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

As passenger traffic increased with the war, Air VN added aircraft, initially Viscounts, DC-3s, and DC-4s. It eventually obtained more modern aircraft including Boeing 727s, some of which were obtained from Air France and PanAm. At least one C-46 was leased from China Airlines and was flown by a Chinese crew. This aircraft had a different color scheme than the balance of the Air VN fleet.

In an unusual joint venture, Air VN was joined by Continental Air Services, Inc. (CASI) in the mid-1960s. Under this agreement, CASI would share passengers and cargo routes with Air VN on certain domestic and international routes. CASI and Air VN would often share hangers and flight lines and CASI picked up a portion of aircraft maintenance. Heavy engine overhaul was done in Hong Kong by China Airlines and some on Taiwan by Air Asia Co., Ltd. (an Air America, Inc. subsidiary). CASI paid a portion of its revenues to Air VN for the routes and privileges. Many CASI aircraft operating from Saigon carried the dragon/flag roundel of Air VN.

Air VN flight crews were composed of civilians with a mixture ex-military pilots (mostly VNAF retirees) along with a few Americans. As a side-note, one American CASI pilot reported that the Chinese crew of the leased C-46 always parked the aircraft separately at Tan Son Nhut in Saigon and kept their distance from the regular Air VN and CASI crews.

Air VN aircraft generally had a single or dual green stripe down the main fuselage. The top fuselage was generally white with a natural metal (silver) lower. The colorful dragon/flag roundel appeared in various sizes, most often on the tail rudder. Sometimes the roundel would appear alone and occasionally with a dual green stripe. The wording "Air ViLt Nam" appeared in red/orange lettering above the windows on all large aircraft except the 727s, which were marked "Hang Không ViLt Nam." Exceptions to these schemes included the early Viscount aircraft which were all white with a green stripe and had the roundel appearing on the front fuselage. The Chinese C-46 aircraft had a blue and red nose-side stripe with the roundel appearing on rudder.

Advertisements

Advertisments from the mid-1960's Air VN used South Vietnamese Olympics athletes such as Ngoc Thi Thach, Long Kim and flamboyant military officer Air Marshall Nguyen Cao Ky to promote Air VN flying Vickers Viscounts on the "Green Dragon Route" alternating flights form Saigon to Siem Reap, Cambodia, Bangkok, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Timetables indicate domestic routes covering destination as far north as Hue, as far south as Ca Mau and including almost every larger city in between. Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... Nguyen Cao Ky (Nguyễn Cao Kỳ) (born 1930) is a Vietnamese politician, who served as Prime Minister of South Vietnam from 1965 to 1967, and then Vice President until his retirement from politics in 1971. ...

Uniforms

Pilots for Air VN wore a distinctive gold/bronze wing with a center shield containing a colored enamel version of the dragon/flag. This has only been seen by the author at "basic" levels, that is without additional stars or wreaths to indicate higher grades. It can be presumed that some senior grades of pilot/crew existed although how these were indicated is not clear. Information on uniforms has not been forthcoming and assistance from any readers would be welcomed.

Stewardesses or flight attendants wore a gold/bronze metal ½ wing with an embossed/relief dragon/flag roundel. Uniforms consisted of the traditional ao dais in a variety of colors.

Fall of Saigon

During the Fall of Saigon and the impeding invasion of the North Vietnamese into South Vietnamese territory, Air Vietnam authorities made a decision to assist and help all South Vietnamese citizen to escape to neighboring countries. The Fall of Saigon, (known also as the Liberation of Saigon) on April 30, 1975, saw the capture of the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon, by the North Vietnamese Army. ...

Many of their pilots and crew worked long hours ferrying South Vietnamese citizens to Thailand, Taiwan, Phillipines, and other Southeast Asian countries to escape the invading North Vietnamese Army.

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