Germany's Viking Age Closes at Lufteinheit

[Todorojoz]

March 2, 1961

Frankfurt - Upon the arrival of flight LE1538 from Stavenger, Norway this morning, Lufteinheit employees and on lookers bid farewell to the last Vickers Viking aircraft in Lufteinheit service.

It was a day for nostalgia as COO Henrick Hamm shared a story at the press conference of a Lufteinheit meeting in mid 1950 in a tiny conference room in the airlines humble offices at the time. Henrick stated "Todorojoz was yelling at nobody in particular that the airlines plan to use Martin 2-0-2 aircraft early was impossible to continue. There were too many airlines wanting the aircraft as well as others such as the Douglas DC6 and DC4. That's when Otto mentions that no airline has even considered the Viking yet, there are over 200 available!"

Todorojoz would go on to say "the Viking is too slow and inferior to use, there is a reason nobody wants it!"

Henrick continued, "this guy comes into the office 2 days later with a stupid grin, and an agreement signed with United Aircraft for 3 Vikings, and a letter of intent on 50 more! We were all shocked by the turn around. But boy did that decision pay off. That Viking fleet gave us a huge jump start, and for a while, we had the largest fleet of any airline in the world!"

The Vikings definitely made their mark on Germany in the early days of air travel. People trying to put the great war behind them needed something to help look to the future. Lufteinheits ability to truly connect Germany to so many great destinations lead to excitement in air travel.

"We look to a great future as an airline today as we prepare to launch our first jet services with the Boeing 707 starting service in the coming days. But we will always remember the aircraft our airline was built on. And we are opening up a small museum by the Frankfurt Airport where one of our formerly active Vikings will be displayed." Todorojoz stated.

An Era may be over, but for German aviation, a very bright future with good tail winds is just beginning.