Air Vietnam History

Air Vietnam

Air Vietnam (Air VN) began in 1951 as Vietnam’s first commercial air carrier. Its initial fleet consisted of five Cessna 170s flying small town routes throughout Vietnam. By 1975 Air VN grew to flying DC-3s and Boeing 727s on regional, international routes.

As passenger traffic increased with the war, Air VN added aircraft, initially Viscounts, DC-3s, and DC-4s. It eventually obtained more modern aircraft including Boeing 727s, some of which were obtained from Air France and PanAm. At least one C-46 was leased from China Airlines and was flown by a Chinese crew. This aircraft had a different color scheme than the balance of the Air VN fleet.

In an unusual joint venture, Air VN was joined by Continental Air Services, Inc. (CASI) in the mid-1960s. Under this agreement, CASI would share passengers and cargo routes with Air VN on certain domestic and international routes. CASI and Air VN would often share hangers and flight lines and CASI picked up a portion of aircraft maintenance. Heavy engine overhaul was done in Hong Kong by China Airlines and some on Taiwan by Air Asia Co., Ltd. (an Air America, Inc. subsidiary). CASI paid a portion of its revenues to Air VN for the routes and privileges. Many CASI aircraft operating from Saigon carried the dragon/flag roundel of Air VN.

Air VN flight crews were composed of civilians with a mixture ex-military pilots (mostly VNAF retirees) along with a few Americans. As a side-note, one American CASI pilot reported that the Chinese crew of the leased C-46 always parked the aircraft separately at Tan Son Nhut in Saigon and kept their distance from the regular Air VN and CASI crews.

Period advertising from the mid-1960's shows Air VN flying Vickers Viscounts on the "Green Dragon Route" alternating flights form Saigon to Siem Reap, Cambodia, Bangkok, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Timetables indicate domestic routes covering destination as far north as Hue, as far south as Ca Mau and including almost every larger city in between.

Air VN aircraft generally had a single or dual green stripe down the main fuselage. The top fuselage was generally white with a natural metal (silver) lower. The colorful dragon/flag roundel appeared in various sizes, most often on the tail rudder. Sometimes the roundel would appear alone and occasionally with a dual green stripe. The wording "Air ViLt Nam" appeared in red/orange lettering above the windows on all large aircraft except the 727s, which were marked "Hang Không ViLt Nam." Exceptions to these schemes included the early Viscount aircraft which were all white with a green stripe and had the roundel appearing on the front fuselage. The Chinese C-46 aircraft had a blue and red nose-side stripe with the roundel appearing on rudder.

Pilots for Air VN wore a distinctive gold/bronze wing with a center shield containing a colored enamel version of the dragon/flag. This has only been seen by the author at "basic" levels, that is without additional stars or wreaths to indicate higher grades. It can be presumed that some senior grades of pilot/crew existed although how these were indicated is not clear. Information on uniforms has not been forthcoming and assistance from any readers would be welcomed.

Stewardesses or flight attendants wore a gold/bronze metal ½ wing with an embossed/relief dragon/flag roundel. Uniforms consisted of the traditional ao dais in a variety of colors.

For information the uniforms and insignia worn by Air Vietnam and its aircraft markings, please see the previous and following pages.

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