Slick Airways

Slick Airways

Third customer to buy the commercial version of the CL44

Slick Airways was founded in January 1946 by Earl F. Slick. It began operations on 4^th March 1946. At that time Slick operated a fleet of ten Curtiss C-46E aircarft purchased from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. During the first few years, the airline was the first U.S. freight carrier and was selected as one of the scheduled freight carriers in 1949. The DC-6B passenger aircaft entered service with United Air Lines on April 11^th 1951, and Slick Airways was the first airline to operate the DC-6A freighter on April 16^th 1951.

By 1951-52 Slick Airways was the largest all-cargo commercial operator, as Flying Tigers supported their operations mainly with financially interesting military contracts. With the everincreasing competition of passenger airlines trying to sell their excessive freight capacities, Slick was forced to enter into merger negotiations with Flying Tigers. The two airlines agreed to merge on March 26^th 1953. Approvel of their respective shareholders was obtained on August 6^th 1953. Against the protests of the passenger airline competition, the CAB approved the merger on January 7^th 1954. But then the CAB own lawyers objected the deal, and finally labour problems in both companies became very acute. Therefore, the companies decided reluctantly to drop the merger proposals on September 20^th 1954.

With the financial situation degrading constantly on its scheduled services, Slick decided to abandon all scheduled commitments as from February 24^th 1958. The airline managed to survive financially and decided to diversify by buying the Illinois Shade Cloth Company in July 1960 for $6.350.000. Simultaneously it ordered six Lockheed GL 207 Super Hercules freighter aircrafts, but this deal never materialized. Instead four Canadair CL-44D4-6 were ordered on October 16^th 1959. First commercial flight of this aircraft for Slick Airlines was made on February 11^th 1962 on a military contract flight from San Francisco to Manila. On October 1^st 1962 the airline's route 101, a transcontinental scheduled service was reinstated.

However the airline's fortunes declined once again and on August 27^th 1965, the CAB authorized suspension of scheduled services. Airlift International acquired the assets being used on Slick's military operations on July 1^st 1966 and route 101 on July 22^nd 1968. Slick became a financial holding company called Slick Corporation owning beside the Illinois Shade business also the Drew Chemical Company, which was purchased on February 19^th 1968, and a Pulverising Machinery Plant. Slick Corporation was also a minority shareholder in Airlift International.