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Post by blueaircraft on Jan 4, 2023 20:51:43 GMT
A wonderful 2023 to all you fliers out there! Here's a question to start off the new year  I've been flying the CAT Convair to and fro throughout the Far East, and have been reading some history about this airline. CAT was a Chinese airline that was later bought by the CIA, and used for "regular passenger airline" purposes as well as more shady roles, during the conflicts in the region during the Cold War. The association webpage for CAT states that in 1959, the CIA "relegates CAT to a cover role during the 1960’s serving as an international flag carrier for the Republic of China." My real question is this: I am a businessman who has interests in East Asia, perhaps in the USA or Hong Kong. Would I look at CAT as being a "cheap" airline, or would I look at it as perhaps THE flag carrier of the Republic of China ("Taiwan" if you like)? Would I even think of it as being a CIA-owned (or generally shady) airline, or did the CIA successfully hide this fact until its official "revelation" many years later? Cheers for another year! Andrew |
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Post by Tony Madge - HJG on Jan 5, 2023 8:03:40 GMT
Interesting question, I do not know the answer but like you I would be fascinated to find out  |
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Post by walterleo on Jan 5, 2023 11:26:10 GMT
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Post by blueaircraft on Jan 6, 2023 20:50:04 GMT
Happy new year Tony and Walter! I read the Wikipedia articles before, Walter, but I didn't find any information regarding if CAT was considered a "good" or "flagship" airline. I do know that it conducted passenger services in its capacity as a double entity by the CIA, but it still does not answer my question if it was considered as some sort of "Ryanair" type of airline or not. It was one of the first Asia-based carriers to fly jetliners according to my research, so it's possible that CAT was indeed considered a trailblazer! It's just a bit crazy to think that the CIA had one of the best passenger airlines in Asia at one point in time Andrew |
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jan 6, 2023 23:59:33 GMT
CAT can't/shouldn't be compared with RYANAIR .... since the like of that type of operation (as we know it today) was virtually non-existent when it was established in 1946 and by the time it ceased operations during 1968. To try and put it clearly/create a simple impression as to what this operator was ....CAT was "originally set up" by Claire CHENNAULT and Whiting WILLAUER as CHINESE NATIONAL RELIEF AND REHABILITATION ADMINISTRATION AIR TRANSPORT .... as a "US-backed aerial supply service" (probably akin to some sort of humanitarian aid service in the sense of its early intent I guess) .... but which from around 1949 evolved into it then militarily supporting/supplying the Chinese Nationalist/Chiang KAI SHEK defence against the Mao TSE TUNG led Communist forces during the Chinese civil war. BTW .... this's the same CHENNAULT and WILLAUER of China based FLYING TIGERS fame too. Upon retreat of Chiang KAI SHEK's forces to Formosa CAT then became Taiwan based .... from about 1949. CAT's CIA connections didn't eventuate though until around 1950 following outbreak of the Korean conflict and progressive advance of communism throughout the South East Asian region .... which evolved into the first Indo-China conflict also of the 1950's ("a" precursor to the later Vietnam conflict) .... as well as the unrelated Indonesian conflict of 1957-61 too .... and during each of which CAT was used to covertly support US and French-backed military operations including those undertaken under the AIR AMERICA banner .... "it seems". The above is the "perceived" shady side of CAT .... which flew C-46 COMMANDO, B-17G, and C-47/DC-3 aircraft during these operations.BUT .... CAT was also in other respects "a legitimate civil operator" too and the airline of Taiwan/ROC (established before CHINA AIRLINES) .... operating standard PAX type commercial "jet" services (CV880-M and later B727-100C) from Taipei, to Bankok, Hong Kong, Manila, Okinawa, Tinian, Seoul, and Tokyo between 1961 and 1968. It's "propliners" (DC-4, and DC-6) likely operated to other destinations closer to Taiwan. There's not really a lot of information available .... although a more general picture might be interpreted on the basis of search results in regard to "western sponsored operators" within the region and around the same period. Probably the best way to describe CAT (specifically) is relate to it as being "a legitimate commercial operator" (like any other around the world) .... but one which also posed as "a front for a more covert organization" in accordance with need and in the interests of "certain activities of state and foreign policy then becoming less obvious" .... if evident at all. Throughout the history of world civil aviation it's not unknown for the operations of legitimate commercial airlines to have become engaged in these sorts of affairs and/or even used as a discrete cover. FS-wise and FYI .... HJG offer the following CAT aircraft types .... CV880-M (1961-68) B727-100C (1968-68) .... this B727 was bought by AIR AMERICA (N5093) during December 1966. It was sold to CAT (B-1018) during January 3rd 1968 .... and they pranged it at Taipei just over a month later on February 16th 1968 .... and CAT was wound up around the same time.  Frank GONZLEZ painted Tom GIBSON's DC-6B in CAT livery (see FS.COM) CAT C-46 COMMANDO's and DC-4's painted by GONZALEZ are also available as follows .... Mark C AKL/NZ |
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Post by alex94 on Jan 7, 2023 8:05:25 GMT
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Post by blueaircraft on Jan 17, 2023 19:19:55 GMT
Thanks Aerofoto! CAT seems to me to have some level of credibility! And that's some very interesting footage Alex Andrew |
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jan 17, 2023 21:40:08 GMT
It was a credible airline alright .... and just like any other .... at least in regard to their principle operations. On the subject of their CV880-M ....the interior decor of this aircraft was actually quite elegant for the period .... www.alamy.com/convair-880-cat-mandarin-service-656-61-image68624095.html     Dunno how their B727-100 compared .... no cabin imagery available and the airline only had it for a few weeks before they "PRANGED" it. The other activities CAT was apparently involved with was "as required" and likely involved other aircraft that probably weren't even CAT branded. Mark C AKL/NZ |
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Post by blueaircraft on Jan 17, 2023 22:08:21 GMT
That's quite the cabin Mark Even the seats have a "Far East" feel to it. All that's missing for comfort are the stewardesses and cabin crew! Andrew |
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jan 18, 2023 20:28:19 GMT
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I've been flying the CAT Convair to and fro throughout the Far East, and have been reading some history about this airline. CAT was a Chinese airline that was later bought by the CIA, and used for "regular passenger airline" purposes as well as more shady roles, during the conflicts in the region during the Cold War. The association webpage for CAT states that in 1959, the CIA "relegates CAT to a cover role during the 1960’s serving as an international flag carrier for the Republic of China." My real question is this: I am a businessman who has interests in East Asia, perhaps in the USA or Hong Kong. Would I look at CAT as being a "cheap" airline, or would I look at it as perhaps THE flag carrier of the Republic of China ("Taiwan" if you like)? Would I even think of it as being a CIA-owned (or generally shady) airline, or did the CIA successfully hide this fact until its official "revelation" many years later?
