1942 - 1950

Arizona Airways, in March, 1946, began intra-state service on three routes out of Phoenix: one east, one south, and one northwest. Their specialty was scenic tours of northern Arizona, especially the Grand Canyon. See articles below for more early history.

The Civil Aeronautics Board issued them a certificate in January, 1948, with an airmail contract from Phoenix to El Paso with intermediate stops. By then the carrier's finances were precarious and the CAB approved a merger with Monarch Airlines and Challenger Airlines in the Spring of 1950 which took effect June 1, 1950.

The airline had three DC3s: N-75028, N-64910, and N-57985 at the merger. Their Sunliner names at Frontier Airlines became Teton, Williston Basin and Yellowstone.


H.O. "ROCKY" NELSON

Rocky Nelson was Founder and President of Arizona Airways from its founding in 1942 until its merger with Challenger and Monarch Airlines June 1, 1950 to form Frontier Airlines, headquartered in Denver. Afterwards, he was a regional vice president for Frontier Airlines. Rocky died March 6, 1951 at age 46 of a heart attack.


PHOTOS & INFORMATION

Click on the label for a large photo.
DC3 at Prescott, AZ: In early 1947
DC3: Sketch shows color scheme well
DC3: There were 3 in the fleet June 1, 1950 when a merger formed Frontier
Same aircraft: SN75028 became the "Sunliner Teton" at Frontier. This photo is great wallpaper.
DC-3 at Prescott in 1947Thanks to Ken Schultz for sending it.
Arizona's inaugural flight:On April 7, 1946
Miscellaneous Information
Rocky Nelson's Obituary: Other Frontier obituaries are also listed
The DC3 at the top by Craig Hansen is formatted for wallpaper


The cover from the Oct 1946 Arizona Stockman magazine.
Traffic representative George Storberl is 3rd from left and operations manager Jack Evans is 3rd from right.
Click on image for large photo.



Thanks to Billy Walker, Cary Livingston, Ken Schultz,
the folks at the Frontier Club for their help
and Craig Hansen for the DC3 image & nameplate at the top.

Frontier Airlines Websites Index


Jake Lamkins
Cybercollector