Capitol Airways  Curtiss C-46  N9893Z                        (c/n  32970)

                               

                                   Capitol Airways was founded in 1946 by Jesse F. Stallings, and incorporated in Delaware.  Its
                                   operational center was in Nashville TN.   It started operations right after WW II as a FBO and
                                   flying school.  It then developed cargo and passenger charters and gained several military contracts,
                                   growing rapidly.  Initial equipment was DC-3s and C-46s, one of which is seen above in this nice
                                   shot by Bob Garrard, taken at Miami in August 1970.   In 1967 the company charged its title
                                   to Capitol International Airways to reflect its growing global presence.  For a period during its
                                   career the airline attempted to run "Sky Saver" scheduled flights, although these were short-lived.
                                   N9893Z was a C-46D-10-CU delivered to the USAAF as 44-77574 in December 1944.
                                   It was civilianized for Capitol in 1961, and in 1965 was leased by Lufthansa to start their cargo
                                   services.   Capitol sold it to Shamrock Airlines in 1973 and it finally wound up in Columbia as
                                   HK-2020 where, until recently, it was still current.