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Continental Air Services, Inc. (CASI)
Subsidiary of Continental Air Lines
1965-1975

Formed in April 1965 by Continental Airlines at the suggestion of the US Government. The objective was to provide a "less visible" air transport alternative to the CIA-associated Air America for the growing Laotian support. .. Bird & Sons assets bought by Continental Airlines - reportedly 22 aircraft and 350 personnel for $4.5 million. Continental Air Services Inc. (CASI) became operational  in September 1965. Provided contract air support to US Government activities. Ceased operation in 1975.



Abbreviations: a/c - aircraft;  b/u - broken up or scrapped; c/n - construction number; lb - lease back; lp - lease purchase; lsf - leased from; r/n - registration number;  ufo - ultimate fate obscure/current state unknown; w/o - written off (crashed or uneconomical to repair)


Registration Codes (initial 1 or 2 characters): HB - Switzerland; HS - Thailand; LN - Norway; N - US; PJ - Netherland Antilles; VH- Australia; XW - Laos. Numeric in Remarks is the USAAF serial number.


Blank fields indicate data not known or available; Sources: See source file.
 
 

Beech AT-11/B-18/H-18/Super 18


A/C Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Beech AT-11
poss 3330
from Bird & Sons
CASI
poss N4830N
Sep 1965
 
ufo
Bird assets to CASI; 
at LS20 1/66
A72, A110
 Beech H-18 Tri-Gear
 BA-667
Philippines 
CASI 
N906T 
Nov 1965 
Mar 1977 
sold 
VTE 1971-1975. sold as HS-CHP 
A110C, A143, A145A 
 Beech H-18 Tri-Gear
 BA-750
 from Japan Airlines?
 CASI
 N18843
 
 May 1974?
 sold
 VTE 1971-1975. sold to Volpar Int'l Corp
 A110C, A145A

Beech 95-B55 (Baron)


A/C Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Beech 95-B55
   
CASI
N13Z
       
A124
Beech 95-B55 TC-172  
CASI
N1349Z
   
ufo
 
A110C
Beech 95-B55
 TC-236  from Aztec Aircraft Sales (Long Beach)
CASI
N24J/N224J
 Feb 1966 Apr 1968   sold to Bira Air Transport TH  Reregistered HS-PBB
A124, A143
Beech 95-B55
TC-236
from Bira Air Transport (HS-PBB)
CASI
N7303
Mar 1970
Oct 1976
sold to Aircraft Modification & Parts Center
A143
Beech 95-B55
   
CASI
N1335Z
       
A123
Beech 95-B55
   
CASI
N1462G
     
At Savannakhet, Laos in 11/68
Ref2, A124
Beech 95-B55
   
CASI
N1563Z
       
A124
Beech 95-B55
   
CASI
N1581Z
       
A124
 Beech 95-B55
 TC-309
 
CASI 
N4681 
 
 
ufo
ground collision at Savannakhet, Laos 18 Jul 1972 
A110C
Beech 95-B55
TC-437
 
CASI
N9781Y
   
write off 20 Feb 1967 Nha Trang, VS
 
A110C

Curtiss C-46


A/C Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Curtiss
C46D-CU
22293
from 
Bird & Sons
CASI
N9473Z
Sep 1965
Aug 1967
w/o 13 Aug 1967 
shot down 
Phu Cum, Laos
44-78470,
Birds Assets to CASI
A2,A46,A47
Curtiss
C46D-CU
22410
from 
Bird & Sons
CASI
N4871V
Sep 1965
?
Reported "lost in SE Asia"
44-78587,
Bird Assets to CASI
A2,A46, A110C
Curtiss
C46F-CU
22512
from 
Bird & Sons
CASI
N67961
Sep 1965
?
(1) written off 1969
(2) Flown on 28 May 1971
ufo
44-78689
Bird Assets to CASI
A2,A46,A58, A145A
Curtiss
C46F-CU
22561
Netherlands Antilles
Caribbean Air Transport
PJ-CLC
 Jul 1965
 May 1967
to Millard Berry
44-78738
N1649M
A2, A143
Curtiss
C46F-CU
22561
from Millard Berry
CASI
N1447
 May 1967
May 1974
to Royal Air Lao
 
A2,A15, A143
Curtiss
C46F-CU
22561
from CASI
Royal Air Lao
XW-PMF
May 1974
 
 escaped Laos to BKK May 1975
 
A15, A143
Curtiss
Super C-46C
22574
 
Bird & Sons
N9760Z
 
Sep 1965
to CASI
Bird Assets to CASI
A2,A46
Curtiss
Super C-46C
22574
from 
Bird & sons
CASI
N9760Z
Sep 1965
1974?
to Tri-Nine Corp
 write off Phnom Penh, CB 26 Aug 1974
A2, A110C
Curtiss
C-46R
27049
Norway
Fred Olsen AirTransport
LN-FOP
   
to CASI
 
A2,A73
Curtiss
C-46R
27049
from Fred Olsen AirTransport
CASI
XW-PHL
Jun 1971
Jun 1974
 to N335CA
 
A2,A47,A73
Curtiss
C-46R
27049
From XW-PHL
CASI
N335CA
Jun 1974
Feb 1976
to Tri-Nine Corp
 
A2,A47,A73
 Curtiss
C-46R
 30252
Norway 
Fred Olsen AirTransport 
LN-FOR 
 
 
to CASI 
 
 A2,A73
 Curtiss
C-46R
 30252
from Fred Olsen AirTransport 
CASI 
XW-PHM 
Jun 1971 
Jun 1974
to N336CA
 
 A2,A47,A73
 Curtiss
C-46R
30252 
from XW-PLM 
CASI
N336CA 
Jun 1974 
Feb 1976 
to Tri-Nine Corp 
 
A2,A74 
 Curtiss
C-46R
30257 
Norway 
Fred Olsen AirTransport
LN-FOS 
 
 
to CASI 
 
 A2,A73
 Curtiss
C-46R
30257 
from Fred Olsen AirTransport 
CASI 
XW-PHN 
Jun 1971 
Jun 1974 
to N337CA 
 
 A2,A47,A73
 Curtiss
C-46R
30257 
from XW-PHN 
CASI 
N337CA 
Jun 1974 
Feb 1976 
To Tri-Nine Corp 
 
A2,A74

Dornier DO-28


A/C Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Dornier 
DO28-B2
3013
 
Bird & Sons
N4223G
 
Sep 1965
to CASI
 
A1,A1a, A110C
Dornier
DO28-B2
3013
from 
Bird & Sons
CASI
N4223G
Sep 1965
 
ufo
 
A1,A1a, A110C
Dornier
DO28-B2
3021
 
Air America
N4224G
   
to Bird & Sons?
reported as 
Air America asset 
in 1963 as N4224G;
A1,A1a, 
Ref 188
Dornier
DO28-B2
3021
from 
Air America?
Bird & Sons?
XW-PBJ
 
Sep 1965?
to CASI?
Bird Assets to CASI?
A1,A1a,
A59,A72
Dornier
DO28-B2
3021
from
Bird & Sons?
CASI
XW-PKM
Sep 1965?
 
to N4224G
 
A1,A1a
                   

Douglas C-47


A/C Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Douglas C-47A-DL
4309 
   
N75409
       
A2,A47
 Douglas C-47A-DL
4309 
from N75409 
CASI 
N719A 
 1966
1970 
ufo 
 
A2,A47 
 Douglas C-47A-DL
 10160
 
 Continental Air Lines
N560?
 
 
 
 also associated with N7780C
A2,A47
Douglas C-47A-DL
10160
from Continental Airlines
CASI
N560, XW-PDE
       Notation of "SIGINT" a/c" as XW-PDE
A2, A110C
Douglas C47A-DL
10160
from CASI
Southeast Asia Air Transport
N82AC
       
A2,A65
Douglas C-47A-DK
11971
Australia
Trans Australian Airlines
VH-SBC
 
1968
 to CASI
 42-92197
A35,A75
Douglas C-47A-DK
11971
from Trans Australian Airlines
CASI
XW-PFV
Apr 1968
     
A2,A35
Douglas C-47A-DK
11971
 
CASI
N7302
 Sep 1968    
 lst Air Vietnam
A35,A76
Douglas C47A-DK
11971
from CASI
Commercial Air Freight
N7302
Apr 1979
 
crashed Dec 11, 1979; hulk Oaxaco Mexico
lb N7302
A2,A35, A110C
Douglas C47A-DK
12039
US
Frontier Airlines
N4995E
Oct 1958
1966
 
42-92258; Frontier Sunliner "LINCOLN"
A77a
Douglas C47A-DK
12039
from Frontier Airlines
CASI
N4995E
1966?
 
ufo
 
A2,A77,A77a
Douglas C-47A-DK
12539
Australia
Trans Australia Airlines
VH-SBE
1960
1968
 
42-92708; TAA "BROCKMAN" & "MUELLER"
A35
Douglas C-47A-DK
12539
from Trans Australian Airlines
CASI
XW-PFT
May 1968
Nov 1973
   
A35
Douglas C-47A-DK
12539
from CASI
Southeast Asia Air Transport
N83AC
Nov 1973
 
ufo
registration cancelled Oct 1981
A35,A65
Douglas
C-47A DK
13174
US
Morrison Knudson Co
N35MK
1945
Nov
1965
to CASI
42-93280; previously NC91053
A75-425, A114
Douglas
C-47A DK
13174
from Morrison
Knudson
CASI
N650K
Nov
1965
Oct
1973
to Air 
Alliance
Referred to as "50 Kip"
A114
Douglas C-47A-DK
13184
US
Air Orlando
NC79971
     
42-93389
A45
 Douglas C-47A-DK
 13184
from Air Orlando 
CASI 
XW-PDG 
Aug 1966? 
 
 
 
A2 
Douglas C-47A-DK
13184
from CASI
Tri-Nine Corp
       
No record at Tri-Nine
A2,A74
Douglas C-47A-DK
13622
Australia
Trans Australia Airlines
VH-SBJ
     
 42-93683
A78
Douglas C-47A-DK
13622
from Trans Australia Airlines
CASI
XW-PEE
       
A2
 Douglas C-47A-DK
13622 
from CASI 
Private US Owner 
N13622 
 
 
 
 later to Turkish Air Force as ETI-31
A66 
Douglas
C-47A
13817
Taiwan
Air Asia
B933
Oct 1961
Feb 1974
 
43-30666;
to CASI
A135
Douglas
C-47A
13817
from Air Asia
CASI
N11AF
Feb
1974
Feb
1974
Sold to Air Alliance, Inc
 
A135
Douglas C-47A-DL
19476
US
Frontier Airlines
N64422
1950
1966
 
42-10113; Frontier Sunliner "New Mexico"
A45,A77, A77a
Douglas C-47A-DL
19476
from Frontier Airlines
CASI
N64422
Dec 1966
Sep  1972
   acquired via Miami Aviation and Continental Airlines (parent)
A2, A77, A77a, A115
Douglas C-47A-DL
19476
from CASI
Air Alliance
N64422
Sep 1972
     
A2
Douglas C-47A-DL
20062
US
Frontier Airlines
N64910
Jun 1950
1962
 
43-15596; Frontier Sunliner "Denver" & "Williston Basin"
A45,A77,A77a
Douglas C-47A-DL
20062
from Frontier Airlines
CASI
N64910
1965?
 
ufo
 
A2
Douglas C-47-DL
20156
US
Carolina Aircraft Corp
N8744R
 
1966?
 
43-15690
A45-19
Douglas C-47-DL
20156
from Carolina Aircraft Corp
CASI
N8744R
1966
1966
w/o 16 Apr 1966, crashed Sam Neua, Laos
2 killed during supply air drop
A45-19
Douglas C-47A-DL
20542
US
Frontier Airlines
N65385
Dec 1949
Feb 1966
 
43-16076; Frontier Sunliner "Colorado"
A45,A77,A77a
Douglas C-47A-DL
20542
from Frontier Airlines
CASI
N65385
Feb 1966?
1972
ufo
 
A2,A47
Douglas C-47A-DK
25234
US
Continental Airlines
N620Z
Dec 1966
Feb 1967
   
A47
Douglas C-47A-DK
25234
from Continental Airlines
CASI
N620Z
Mar 1967
1970
ufo
A2,A47
Douglas C-47B-DK
26675
US
Catalina Airline
N55L
 
1963
 to CASI
43-49414, c/n 15230/26675
A2,A45-26,A98, A75-432
Douglas C-47B-DK
26675
from
CASI
N55L
 1965+  Feb 1971
Crashed Phnom Penh, CB 
14 Feb 1971
 Possibly sold to Air Alliance
A2, A98, A75-432
Douglas C-47B-DK
26763
from Bird & Sons
CASI
N7781C
Sep 1965
 
ufo
43-49502
A2,A46
Douglas C-47B-DK
33571
US
 Consolidated Airlines?
N67674
     
 44-77239
A2,A75-445
Douglas C-47B-DK
33571
 from Consolidated Airlines?
CASI
N67674
1966
     
A2,A47,95
Douglas C-47B-DK
33571
from CASI
Tri-Nine 
N67674
       
A2

 

Lockheed L100 Hercules


A/c Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Lockheed L100
4101
US
Lockheed
N9260R
 
Sep 1965
to CASI
lsf Lockheed
A2,A47
Lockheed L100
4101
from
Lockheed
CASI
N9260R
Sep
1965
Jun
1966
return to
Lockheed
 
A2,A47
Lockheed L100
4109
US
Lockheed
N9261R
 
Nov 1965
to CASI
lsf Lockheed
A2,A47
Lockheed L100
4109
from
Lockheed
CASI
N9261R
Nov
1965
Jun
1966
return to
Lockeed
 
A2,A47

Pilatus PC-6 Porter/Super Porter


A/c Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Pilatus PC6
   
CASI
XW-PCL
       
A72
Pilatus PC6B1-H2
705
Switzerland
Pilatus
HB-FFG
1969
1970
to CASI
 
A10
Pilatus PC6B1-H2
705
from Pilatus (HB-FFG)
CASI
XW-PGN
Mar 1970
Dec 1974
to N61612 or N6216Z
 
A10, A143
Pilatus PC6B1-H2
705
from CASI
 Bangkok United Mechanical Co.
N61612
1975
 
still flying in 2000
as F-GZDO
 
A10
Pilatus PC6-B1
2011
US
 
N325F
 
1971
to CASI
 
A3
Pilatus PC6-B1
2011
from N325F
CASI
XW-PKI
1971
1974
to N62157
 
A3
Pilatus PC6-B1
2011
from CASI
 
N62157
1974
 
ufo
 
A3

Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A/c Type
c/n
Origin
Company
Registration
From
To
Fate
Remarks
Source
Scottish Aviation
Twin Pioneer 2
   
Bird & Sons
XW-PBJ
 
Sep 1965
 
cargo/rice dropper
A59,A72
Scottish Aviation
Twin Pioneer 2
 
from 
Bird & Sons
CASI
XW-PBJ
Sep 1965
 
hulk Laos
 
A59,A72
Scottish Aviation
Twin Pioneer 2
   
Bird & Sons
XW-PBP
 
Sep 1965
to CASI
passenger configured;
Bird assets to CASI
A72
Scottish Aviation
Twin Pioneer 2
 
from Bird & Sons
CASI
XW-PBP
Sep 1965
 
hulk Laos
 
A72
Scottish Aviation
Twin Pioneer 2
   
Bird & Sons?
XW-PBN
   
hulk Laos
suspect confusion with XW-PBD
A59
Scottish Aviation
Twin Pioneer 2
   
Bird & Sons
XW-PBD
 
Sep 1965
to CASI
Bird assets to CASI
A72
Scottish Aviation
Twin Pioneer 2
 
from
Bird & Sons
CASI
XW-PBD
Sep 1965
 
hulk Laos
Suspect confusion
with XW-PBN
A59,A72

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Created January 2002-2007; Updated 8 May 2007
Copyright Thomas E. Lee 2002-2007; All Rights Reserved; This file uses copyright materials. Not for commercial use of any kind. Air Transport Data Base information used with permission of Alexandre Avare; PC-6 information used with permission of Markus Herzig; USAAF/USAF Serials used with permission of Joe Baugher. Martin Best information used with permission of Martin Best.