Got my start at Zantop after graduating from A+P school in 1972, worked there till 1976 when I left to join Ozark-TWA-American airlines where I still work. Zantop was the best job I ever had, learned a lot and worked my ass off and loved it. Met some great people there and Mr Zantop treated us like family. I will be eternally grateful for getting my start there in aviation there and the friendships I made, THX!
Mickey, great video. It brought back a lot of great memories for me. My first job out of A&P school in 1977 was working for Zantop. I worked 10 years in maintenance working on DC-8, DC-6, CV-640 and the L-188. After about 8 years in maintenance I started working on my pilot ratings and obtained my Commercial Instrument and multi engine ratings. I applied for a Flight Engineer position with the company but was denied because I only had about 275 hours total time and only about 10 hours multi engine time. I was very heart broke when I was turned down for and pilot position. I decided to write Duane Zantop a personnel letter telling him who I was and long I have been employed with his company. I told him I wanted to continue my aviation career with Zantop as a pilot but was turned by the personnel department. Well out of the blue 3 weeks later I get a call from the personnel department asking if I wanted a Flight Engineer position on the Lockhheed L-188. So I continued my career with Zantop for another 10 years. My positions were Flight Engineer, Convair 640 co- pilot, and Captain, L-188 co-pilot then Captain. Connor, thanks to Duane Zantop for giving me the chance to prove myself with only 275 hours total time.
You did an amazing job telling the story and making so many people aware of what Zantop was and how many people just won’t let the memories die without a fight !!! I loved my time working for them in Boston !!! Hope all my haunting wasn’t too annoying to you but LOOK,,, it payed off for me !!! Hahaha. Keep up the great work Bud and Long Live Zantop and Buffalo of course !!!
Mikey, Thanks for producing this video -- it brought back a rush of warm memories. All of Zantop's aircraft CV-640, DC-6, L188, and even the DC8 were bulk loaded with forklifts, pallet jacks, and JBars just like your current operation. The only aircraft with roller systems were on the military contracts. Very labor intensive and even with excellent forklift operators it was pretty hard on the airplane sheet metal and structure. I once unloaded a DC6 (non pressurized) that came in to ATL from YIP. It had a hole the size of my fist in the skin across from the cargo door. The post from a metal basket of autoparts had been pushed in a little too far by the last piece sitting in the door. MX put a temp scab patch and a little speed tape on it and sent it back to YIP for permanent repair. Cargo was restrained fore and aft with chains and load binders (like on a truck). Vertical restraint was done with 5/8 grass rope at about 3 foot intervals across the top and then we wove laterals from the rope tails so when done it looked like a net. All FAA approved. DC6s & L188s were usually loaded with a 3 man team - forklift operator, pallet jack operator, and a tie down guy who also logged the weight in each compartment for weight/balance purposes. The 5/8 grass rope was handy for MX to stuff in the jug of a sick R2800 for a 3 engine ferry. We never used a tailstand on anything except the swingtail DC6. The swingtail was actually harder to load/unload than the standard DC6 as the pallet jack operator had to turn every skid 180 degrees so the forklift could set it on the ground, plus you had to be careful not to get going too fast and run the skid (and yourself) out the airplane onto the ground (LOL). Also I recall that the incline of the MT plane was steeper for the first few pieces of freight loaded so you had to get help to push it to the front to compress the nose strut a little. On all the DC8s and double door DC6s and L188s we sometimes used a 4000 lb block of concrete we set up front but, most times the forklift guy just watch the nose strut extension and hoped it wasn't stuck. To young Connor Zantop, I want to say thanks to the whole Zantop family as well. In 1973 I went to work for Zantop International in Atlanta as a cargo loader / ramp agent. As I gained experience I was promoted to Supervisor, Assistant Station Manager, then Station Manager in DFW, and back to ATL as Cargo Sales Manager. I worked a total of 14 years for ZIA and they truly treated their employees like family. I retired in 2017 after a 44 year career in the air cargo industry all because the Zantop family provided a young guy from the hills of north Georgia with his first aviation job. Although Duane Sr is no longer with us give my best regards to Jim, Duane Jr, and David. Regards, Terry Melton
Terry, I was just thinking about you and trying to remember how to get into your place on Lake Blue Ridge, then ran across this. 16 years with Zantop in Atlanta. What was the name of the head of security? He once told me that Duane told his sons that he had given them a gold mine when he retired and they pissed it away.
@@jimmywingo6243 Hey Jim, Good to hear from you. Yeah as you get older you filter out the bad stuff and remember the good. Head of Zantop security was Wally Hall who lived near me in Fayette county. His daughter, Cristin was one of the founders of the band Sugarland. I don't know about Dwayne leaving his kids a gold mine....by 1993 when they shut down the common carriage op, aviation had gone through a sea change. All their A/C were old, thirsty, and maintenance intensive. Fuel prices were rising and flt crews had more opportunities to fly for UPS, FedEx, and the freight forwarders who started their own airlines. I think when the flt crews voted to unionize pushed Jim Zantop to shut it down. I don't think they had or could get the capital to buy newer A/C, update computer systems, Mx, etc. I saw that Jim Zantop was selling real estate a few years ago in the DTW area. Guess only the Zantop family knows the whole story. My younger sister inherited my folks place at Blue Ridge. I still have my lots there, but don't get up there very much anymore. Shoot me an email at:. tdmelton@yahoo.com.....I'd like to catch up with how your doing......retired?? Still in Canton? Wife & me are on our way back home from leaf peeping in NC, TN, VA, & WV. Take care, Terry
Connor, when I was young I worked at Love Field in Dallas on the overnight shift, 1986-ish. With the noise abatement rules, there were not many aircraft movements after 11PM. I used to watch for the Zantop Convair arrival every morning at about 3:30 AM. I'd get a cup of coffee and drive the tug out to the edge of our ramp, and wait. Some landings were better than others but it always was exciting to see that Convair on short final moving impossibly slow. Great memories. Thank you, Mikey, for this video!
What happened? Employees overplayed their hand and management had no choice but to fold. Used to love seeing the Zantop L-188s at Willow Run -- it was an absolutely amazing sight to see all those vintage aircraft dancing on the ramp. Very sad that they're gone. I suspect Kalitta has picked up some of the business that Zantop left behind either directly or through their DHL contracts. And always good to see the Zantop name on Plane Savers live streams!
My uncle worked for Zantop at willow run airport as AMP mechanic. Thank you for Sharing. I also remembering taking us on a tour of all the planes he worked on. I loved it!!
Mikey, Loved this episode on Zantop. Like you said airlines come and airlines go, actually the people go, but the awesome airplanes that made so many trips with cargo and gave jobs to many people survived. It makes me feel good that your Dad is getting parts needed to keep the old birds flying into the future. Keep up the great work you are doing with plane savers2 and congrats on the awesome editing you're doing, it gets better every time. See you Sunday on live PLANE Savers 2
Excellent! My first job in aviation was working for Zantop in Ypsilanti!Still remember working on the DC-6 Swingtail-4TA.42 years later still working in the business!
I am a retired Corporate Jet pilot from South Carolina and my experience with Zantop was getting a ride on their L188 from KTEB (Teterboro Airport) to KDET (Detroit Metro Airport) as a “jump seat” pax. I needed to get to Michigan to pick up a charter flight from Ann Arbor and the Captain was gracious enough to let me ride……this happened back in the winter of 1988!
Worked for Jack Roush in the '80s and '90s and rode with Jack in his plane a lot. He was working on his pilot license and his instructor was Dave Zantop who is one of the original guys son. He was a really nice guy that spent time with us on a lot of race weekends and always provided clear explanations of how big time flying worked.
Interesting content Mikey, beside being the CEO of a Company, you're becoming also a great TH-camr. Do you get time to relax? BTW, I never knew about ZANTOP Airlines until now🤔
@@nipponhouseplayer I have known about Zantop for over 30 years. Fake news (or at least your concept of fake news) has nothing to do with not knowing about it. Freight carriers usually don’t get the glory that passenger airlines do. Thank you, Mr. McBryan, for shedding light on this great airline.
Zantop air transport was bought by Universal , then zantop bought the airline back and created zantop international, there was also little Z at metro airport that flew Lear jets and Hansa jets and G-159 freighters. I owe my career to the Zantop family. 33 years at Fedex now. Ill never forget them!
Both and my dad and uncle flew for Zantop back in the sixties. Dad's best memories are of his time as a first officer flying the DC 6B. His uniform cap and wings are on display on a bookcase just over my shoulder and in a closet his flight bag complete with his log book and charts. Russ Malone
Great video! I worked for Zantop in the mid 60’s in the Avionics Department. When I joined the company we were located at Detroit Metro Airport. During the two years I was temporarily working for Uncle Sam (US Army), the operation moved to Willow Run Airport. Sometime in the late 60’s , Zantop sold the business and it became Universal Airlines. At some point, Universal packed up the whole operation and moved it to California. I had left the company by then, but several of the guys I worked with in Avionics made the move with the company. I had heard that Universal Airlines had gone out of business but I was not aware that Zantop had come roaring back. When I started as I recall, the fleet consisted of 1 DC-3, a couple of DC-4’s, Dc-6’s, and DC-7’s, and 5 or 6 Argosy’s. While I was there they started to acquire the Electra’s from KLM. The Electra’s first went to Macon, GA. where they were converted from passenger to cargo planes. Your video brought back a lot of great memories and reminded me that of all the jobs I have had, I really enjoyed my time at Zantop the most. Again, thanks for this great video and the walk down memory lane.
Bob, I don't know whether you remember me. I was at Zantop same time as you. I work in the Electric Shop/Avionics under Jack Hayes. Remember Al Bernard, Jerry Barlow?
I do not know "ZANTOP" , but I remember DC 4 and DC 6. At the age of 3 month I made my "maidenflight" from Berlin to Frankfut/Main in a DC 4. Later I flew together with my parents to Berlin in a DC 6 , it was always a great experience ! The last time I saw a flying DC 4 was, when the DC 4 ,which is now part of the "Luftbrückendenkmal" near the former US-Airbase in Frankfurt/Main Airport, was dilivered. Suddenly I heard the sound of a piston-engined aircraft. I looked up and saw a large four-engine aircraft, heading to Frankfurt. I noticed, that only three engines were running....
My grandma worked for zantop. I do believe she was Mr zantops secretary. Going to visit her at work is what got me into aviation. KYIP is even where I went to a&p school and where I worked on my first airplane.
When I was a young lad, I recall seeing the wonderful Zantop airplanes flying out of Willow Run (YIP) regularly in their hay day and dreaming of becoming a pilot. Fast forward 30 years - my Beechcraft Bonanza is hangared at Y47 a short 10 minutes flying time away. Mikey is right - “Aviation Dreams Never Die”.
I grew up not far from where Zantop was based @ Willow Run airport in Michigan. A lot of my childhood friends had dad's who flew for Zantop, and watching them fly over our neighborhood every day was an awesome treat! So unfortunate that like many former juggernauts of industry, Zantop suffered too. Great video!
Where did you grow up? My dad was a captain on the Electras and flew out of there. We lived on Belleville lake across from Willow Run. I could hear them take off at night. Loved that sound!
@@tazflydiver7069 Ypsilanti near south side of Ford lake. Huron River Dr, Whittaker and Textile roads area. Wow, small world! Loved growing up in those days, it was literally like our own airshow every week!
Zantop was like family. I maintained (A & P) the airplanes from 1979 - 1981. Then I flew for Zantop from 1984 - 1993. Wonderful times. I LOVED every minute! What an education! Thank you Zantop, Sincerely Robert Cunningham.
I used to fly car parts and freight in a G-1 for a company out of Georgia, and we spent a lot of time in and out of Willow Run airport in Detroit as well as Pontiac, MI. Seems like we ran into Zantop everywhere. I had the opportunity to be on their ramp a couple of times and wow what a sight to see all the Electras and DC-6's. They were the pioneers of airfreight. Great bunch of folks, wish they were still around. Thanks for everything you do Mikey, keeping the dream alive.
I remember going to Willow Run Airport to watch the Zantop operation waaaaay back in the days. Awesome to see Connor Zantop interested in aviation and is watching your videos Mikey.
We had a lot of former Zantop employees that wound up working for FedEx at STLR back in the 90s. Used to pass by an Electra every night on the way to our ramp location at Lambert(STL). Great episode, Mikey!
Back in the 1980's/1990's, a Zantop captain had an Airline-themed store on King Street in Old Town Alexandria, VA. IIRC, it was called Airliners International;, or something like that. It was an amazing veritable rabbit warren of models, kits, books, t-shirts It was in an old building among bookstores, antique shops, art galleries, some of which had been "head shops", back in the day. Alas, the store died around 2001. Much missed. Great video! You missed your calling as a documentary producer.
Connor, my father Arlo "Al" Liebeler was a captain on the Electras flying out of Willow Run. He retired around 1975. He always spoke highly of Duane and the whole family.
Thanks for sharing! My dad flew for Zantop in the early 70s, he then directly for Duane and became close friends with the family. I remember playing with Jim and Debbie's kids in the early 80s (perhaps Conner's parents or aunts and uncles?) My dad always talks warmly about his time there, but it wasn't until I was older that I learned the company's great story!
I was former Air Force and PIA grad in 1973 and went to work at Zantop as an A&P. Loved the DC-6s and even worked on the old warbird C46. Lots of good memories. There was another freight airline at Willow Run.....Shamrock.
Hey great video ,I flew DC 6 Aircraft for Zantop from mid 1975 until 1983.My first type rating and captain seat along with some interesting memories.Between the weather and type of flying we did I gained a wealth of experience that carried me on through the rest of my carrier until retiring 2014.
Great story. I was an A&P for Zantop in the early 90s at Willow Run. Worked the Electras, Convairs and DC-8s on their night hub. It was a sad day to see them go. Also worked for a different Buffalo Airways in the early 90s. 707s and DC-8s. Not as cool as the planes you fly though.
I used to be an F/O on a former Zantop Convair-640 and we went to their maintenance facility at facility at Willow Run a couple of times. Even in `96 their ramp and shop were really something to see. It was like stepping back into the 1950s.
Hi Mikey, great video! My Zantop memories are as an air traffic controller at Boston Center. If you worked any night or mid-shifts, you worked Zantop Electras running auto parts between Boston Logan and Pontiac or Willow Run, Michigan. My first memories when I first started in the mid-80's of working Electras were exclusively Zantop, as they were about the only major carrier in the northeast that I can recall that were still operating them.
I worked in the hangar next door to Zantop from 85 to 86 as an A&P for TransContinental Airlines( Trashcan) at Willit Run Airport trying to be a PFE on DC-6s. Never got certified but had some of the best times there and good experience. Great crew to work with, too. Too old for the airline game now but sure was fun for a while. Thanks for the review. Keep the greasy side down.👍
So many of these ACMI airlines have fallen it's incredible. Zantop was a big one, but Fine Air, Arrow Air, Kitty Hawk, Challenge, DHL Airways (name was changed to Astar before collapse), Wein, Evergreen, and so many others.
I was 19 when I worked Zantop out of Los Angeles LAX airport. This was back in 1990. "Continental airlines" handled their contract, which is who I worked for. Great crew. I only remember the person in charge, his name was Mike. Great crew.
Mikey, I have been following Buffalo for years. Zantop Airlines, yes, were top of their class until economical events took them down. But Reese Zantop, son, went on and started RELIANT AIRLINES and was the first to see the opportunity of cargo Falcon 20´s, mostly ex-Fedex. I flew for Reliant for a bunch of excellent people based in YIP, spent some time with Reese Zantop and his wife when they visited San Juan PR where Captain Jim Jago (RIP) and yours truly held the Reliant ship on a FEDEX contract between SJ, Barbados and Trinidad on which, by the way, we earned the coveted FEDEX BZ award for excellent service. I really enjoyed your video, no question it is one that really touched my heart. Thanks so much !!
Back in the years gone bye, the father ofa mate of mine at school flew a Catalina in the summer months for Jacques Cousteau the underwater explorer. His real job was as an Electra Captain for Zantop.. That's a hell of a career!
Wonderful episode Mikey. I worked at Ford in Oakville, Ontario in the 1980’s. We often depended on Zantop for rush shipments of auto parts needed to keep the assembly line running. I am saddened to learn of the airline’s demise.
Just when I think it can't get any better, it does! You are putting out fantastic content. Involving your dad is a great touch. I think he is starting to enjoy the camera. If I was asked to rank TH-cam channels, this would certainly be #1.
In the mid to late 90's I had a PMA for some DC8 engine pylon fire barriers. Sold mainly to Airborne Express. One day we got a call from a purchasing agent from a freighter called Zantac. They ended up being a fairly good customer, until the fuel prices seemed to shut down the DC8's. Least ways I assumed that's what happened to that part of my business. Their purchases helped my little company quiet a bit. Never knew the history, thanks
Really neat video ! I was hired by Zantop in 1984 for a flight engineer position on the L188. I had an A and P license which is what they liked as I could preform remote authorized very light maintenance at an away destination if needed. I also only had 1050 TT and 13 hours of multi engine time.The man who hired me was Ed Fritag and I think he was a relative of the family. After a year I got a secondary bid on as an FO on the CV640 and made it thru training and was flying part 121 in a 50,000 lb Convair 640. In 1987, I left Zantop with a lot of good stick and rudder time as the auto pilots were mostly deferred in the Convair and they were key in experience in long leg hand flying in weather and older school instrumentation as well. Also we flew some hazmat that others would not carry such as radioactive isotopes 50 index units and rare blood diseases and so on. I moved on to a corporate carrier in Gulfsteams and finished in a Global Express but can appreciate the real core flying night freight for a family owned company ZANTOP. I remember Connie Kalitta punching a guy thru a car window in the parking lot with a patch over his eye and his hanger next door with aerostars, an MU2, a few Lear 24s, and a few race cars too. Colorful memories for sure.
My father flew Learjets and Hanza jets for Zantop during the 70's. I remember Loyd & Glenna Zantop and Rick Zantop. They ran Zantop Airways from Detroit Metro. They mostly carried freight in the little lear 23's and 24's, and occasionally chartered famous people. Zantop International Airlines was run by Loyd's two brothers and had the big planes, like the dc6's, dc8's, cv640's and Electras at Willow run airport in Yipsilanti. It was just a 5 minute flight from Detroit Metro to Willow run if that. The Zantop family parties were always epic!! They made you feel like you were a part of their family.
Interesting video, as I always wanted to fly for ZANTOP back in the day. The reason for wanting to fly for them was my love for the Lockheed Electra. When I was young way back in the day I use to drive by one of the air freight cargo terminals at Indianapolis International Airport and I would see those beautiful Electra's sitting there in all their glory. I love the old and even new prop (turbine or piston) driven aircraft. It reminds me of a time when air travel was fun. Today I fly 777's (Captain) for United Airlines based in Chicago. But I still dream of getting to fly a Lockheed Electra some day.
Thanks for the video, I worked for Zantop in MCN from 1980 until they sold the facility in 1997. I continued to work there until 2006. Just wasn't the same after Zantop left.
Well done, lots of good memories here. This airline sent lots of its instruments and accessories to my dad to be repaired. We had a Part 145 aircraft instrument, avionics and accessory repair station at the Oakland airport. We would see Log Air and MAC flights come through. Pretty fun old times.
I flew with a few reserve pilots in the NAvy reserve that worked for Zantop. Two of the pilots where certified to fly race horses in the Electras. Both had amazing stories. This was in mid 70 to late 70s.
I didn't work for Zantop but I flew a lot of their routes with DC 8's. I worked for Kalitta and we shared the ramp at Willow Run with Zantop. I have many friends who worked for them, we call them Zantopians. Many memories from Willow Run.
I worked for Connie Kalitta's American International Airways when Connie bought Zantop's scheduled cargo routes and formed American International Freight. Loved the 90s!
Mikey, My father was a purser on TWA, operating as ATC ( Air Transport Command) under the U.S. Army during WW2. From 1942, when he went to work as a 25 year old, he flew on Boeing Stratoliners. It was the first pressurized airliner. It was a 4 engine tail wheel airplane, built on the basic B-17 airframe. In 1944 they got the DC-4, which a big step up, flying about 40 kts. faster. He flew the North Atlantic routes from North America to Prestwick, Scotland via Newfoundland, Greenland to Scotland. He also flew the South Atlantic routes to Casablanca, via Miami. Guina, Belem, Ascension, and Accra. I have his logbook. Some of these legs took 14 to 16 hours. They had many frightening times, grom severe icing to nearly running out of gas to actually being shot at Alliex convoys. I love your presentations. You are so lucky to be working with these airplanes. I am a retired air traffic controller (Washington ARTCC) and hold a commercial license with about 450 hours. All of it in " little ones" except about 25 hours right seat in a BE-90. Regards. George putney303@gmail.com
Zantop was known as a good place to work. Not high wages but great people to work with. Amazing that they kept all those ancient planes to fly in fairly demanding service. Zantop was a real pioneer in air freight.
I worked for an air freight forwarder in the Chicago area as I put myself through college in the late 80's. I remember many, many trips to Zantop's docks at O'Hare, and I always loved seeing their old planes there.
I worked for Zantop in 1966 at EWR as lead ramp handler before the Army, getting my pilots and mechanic licensed. At that time we had C-46, DC-6, DC-7 and Argosy aircraft serving EWR. My first job in aviation!
Was stationed at Offutt AFB in 66-68 and my roommate worked part time as a station agent for Zantop. It was a fuel stop and crew change location, at least until our guys refused to fuel anymore due to the amount of oil on the wings. Then they had to go to Epply field civil airport. DC-6's at the time. I subbed for him for two weeks while he got married.
I was just a Green A&P living and working in St Louis and landed a job working for Zantop Airlines. I remember washing down engine cases and Cleaning wings and Nacelles. My usual job was working with a "What's Zat". It was a skid mover with the initials ZAT welded onto the tang. It was dirty work, cold, wet but the smells of 145 Octane with engine oil dripping onto your face was wonderful. Cleaning and gapping hundreds of spark plugs a day!! The entire crew was fantastic to work with and I would not trade my experiences for any amount of money!!
Thank you for confirming that the Electras are ex Air Atlantic/Air Atlantique. They had a strong presence at Coventry🇬🇧 which happens to be my home town
loving this! thank you Mikey! i'm old -but never knew Zantop either - thank you for recovering these amazing aircraft and finding the right place/time for them to show their beauty and purpose!
Well there's much more to this story. I'm a bit familiar with Zantop. I grew up about 12 miles from Willow run, where Zantop was located outside of Detroit. From the time I was 10 back in the 50's until I was about 14, I would ride my bicycle out there to walk around all the planes parked out on the ramp by Zantop's hanger. I could walk around there and even into the hanger and watch them work on the planes close up. at one point he started to buy Lockheed Electras. A little while after that, they started having problems with the Electras having vibration problems. Then the next few years more problems came up like some planes loosing engines that fell to the ground. Much later on after in 72 I got my A&P license I worked across the field at Mannion Air Charter. The first thing I noticed was all the Electras that were grounded over by Zantop's. I was told they were trying to figure out what was wrong with them. I was there for 2 years and they didn't move, so after I left, I didn't keep track of what was going on. Then I went back to school and got an engineering degree. I worked aerospace jobs and ended up at Lockheed Martin Marietta for 22 years. During that time I worked on the P3 which was the redesigned Electra with the same type of engines but no square tip props which seemed to be a big problem. The P3 is one of the greatest most reliable planes flying today. mostly used as military surveillance by a lot of countries. But here's the rest of the story. Right next to the Zantop hanger was a much smaller hanger rented by a guy named Connie Kalitta, the famous drag racing guy that they made a movie about, mostly his girl friend, Shirley Muldowney, the first woman rail dragster driver. Me and another aircraft mechanic guy that new Kalitta well, would go over to work on Kalitta's turbo prop converted D-18's which blew me away. I was a huge fan of Kalitta right when the rail dragsters first came out. I met his 5 year old son that later became funny car driver. Anyway, I kind of felt sorry for him with his two little D-18's right next to all the freight planes at Zantop's. That was in 1973. So isn't it strange how things work out? Any body in the air freight business knows who Kalitta Air LLC is, which is now, I think, the largest air freight business in the US, and he started right next to Zantops hanger at Willow Run Airport.
If you worked for Mannion we may have met. I worked there for a few months during a layoff from Rosenbalm. If your timing was right you also may remember the decapitation of a fresh-out-of overhaul Mannion DC-3, done by a Zantop DC-6 that lost hydraulic pressure. . .4061K, If memory hasn't completely flown away!
@@paulcrumley9756 Hi, Paul. I was at Mannion in the the end of '73 or beginning of 74 I believe. Can't remember any one's name except the chief mechanic, John. Can't recall his last name. I learned something everyday working around him. The foreman way a blond headed guy with a crewcut and was about 40ish. I worked there about a year up until I slid off the wing of a DC-3 in the winter and fell flat on my back. Going back to college on my GI bill sounded like a better way to go.
I was in the Air Force stationed at Stewart AFB, NY (KSWF today). All of our parts and supplies arrived by Logair (Zantop) on Argosy AW650s. Quite a unique airplane and screaming loud with those Rolls Royce engines (I think Darts). I also think both the nose and tail swung open. Long live the memory of Logair and Zantop!
I was an air traffic controller at the VFR tower at Wright Patterson AFB from 1975-78. Logair Electras were a fixture for us . Didn’t know the history. I remember clearing one to land in the middle of the night when he checked in over Columbus . We were in Dayton.
As a boy growing up under Chgo MDW 22R, I always wondered what the occasional twin freighter was that I saw. Now 71yo, I have finally learned that they were Curtis C-46's! Thank You!
I worked at Zantop as a summer hire for two seasons (1986 & 87). Lots of great memories are still with me today including trying to understand why a few of our tug drivers would go over to Kalitta Air at lunch time. lol. Racing out of the hangar when we saw a DC 8 come in (had air conditioning!). Driving the monster forklift to the offsite warehouse down the road. Unloading/loading airplane engines because the fulltime employees didn't want to lose their job if they dropped it. Learning how to tie down cargo (long before ratchet straps) and the unpopular going into the belly of the aircraft to get the mail etc (very hot in the summer time!).
My first job in high school (1982) was for an air freight company in St. Louis. Making the 8 pm nightly drop at Zantop and Flying Tigers was always a gas. Zantop flew a DC3 in/out of Lambert Field then (Flying Tigers might have as well, can’t recall for sure) and I really enjoyed seeing such historic planes being properly used. To think that Electra’s, DC3’s and more are still in use is amazing. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I went to college at Western Michigan University with Jim Zantop, one of the Zantop brothers son. He left college and I believe stayed on with the company. One of his good friends in college, Chuck Traver, flew for a number of years with Zantop. The airline was an institution in the Detroit area as well as Michigan. They employed a lot of Michigan pilots. Willow Run Airport was the hub for the non-ached cargo operators. It of course was the home of B-24 production during World War 2. They eventually built one B-24 every hour of the day and night. I hope this adds a little to your knowledge base about Zantop Airlines.
Since 1980 I have lived within about 5 miles from the main runway of Willow Run Airport near Detroit. We always saw Zantop aircraft daily flying over our house coming and going to points far over the horizon. We knew when they took apart the automotive manufacturing colossus the was Michigan at the end of the last century, the support businesses were next on the corporate raider's list of victims. Great history was made here involving remarkable people who had extraordinary combinations of intellect, courage, stamina and moral rigor that made an indelible mark in time. And frankly I don't think their story is done. That's where you and your Dad come into the picture. God bless all of you and happy flying.
As a boy in the mid 1960's, I lived under an airway that ran between the south and Detroit. Most of the traffic was Delta DC-6's and 7's coming out of Memphis, heading to Indianapolis and Detroit. There were also these strange 4 engine turboprops, that looked like a C-119 Flying Box Car. I never was able to figure out what type aircraft they were. It was decades later that I came across a book with an Armstrong Argosy in it. I realized that was the aircraft I had seen as a young boy. Further research determined that the operator was Zantop.
I know he flew the C-46. I’ll check his logbook. I love that these planes are still working. DC-6/DC-7 is the type rating I’m most proud of and the one I love using the most. Thanks for the video, Mikey
434TA swingtail for Zantop. I worked in dispatch for Zantop in the late 70’s. I was watching and old Hawaii 5-0 the other day and there was a Convair 640 5529U that was a Zantop Convair. While working at Zantop Steve Meltzer helped me get my Aircraft Dispatcher rating. Lots of great memories at Willow Run. YIP
Thank you for this video. I remember seeing Zantop airplanes at Pittsburgh airfreight terminal. I sort of lost track of zantop over time and am sorry to hear about the sad end of a great carrier.
VERY, VERY interesting Mikey! I had seen them around when I trucked around the country. Quite impressive piece you did. See you at OSH! Tell everyone Hi! from the Arrowhead of MN (BTW- Joe needs to write a book and so do you).
Worked sheetmetal for Zantop in Georgia after leaving the military. Really liked working the 188's as well as plenty of DC-8's and bringing back to life one CV640. Interesting note. Late 80's tornado crushed one or two 1-88's in the Hanger there.
I recognize registration N290F (at 7:08). It was operated by Overseas National (ONA) back in the 1970's in USAF LOGAIR service. I think ONA had the series of numbers N280F thru N290F on their Electras. I was in USAF air cargo/Logair operations at Kelly AFB (SKF), MacDill AFB (MCF), and Hanscom Field (BED). Also did time at Udorn RTAFB (BAO/VTUD at the time) Thailand in 1972.
From my time in Supply in the USAF I can remember all the times we were rushing parts to catch the daily Logair flight or standing by on the flightline waiting for it to arrive with our MICAP parts.
Yup logair. Waited for them to deliver B52 parts at Kincheloe AFB in Sault St. Marie Michigan. Cold and mountains of snow everywhere that had blown in off Lake Superior. Looked just like this video.
Mikey, thanks for the video. Just finding it now, worked across the Field at USA JET/Active Areo at Williow Run when the planes were all lined up awaiting destruction. Glad to see your dad got the swing tail 6 out. Some former Zantop Cargo guys taught me how to load and unload. Also the Yankee Air Museum had one or two from them. A 6 or 7 and one of the Argosy. Unfortunately the new leadership for sure decided to scrap the Argosy not sure about the other. Tell Connor if he gets it back up and running and needs hands I'd be happy working for the new Zantop.
Got my start at Zantop after graduating from A+P school in 1972, worked there till 1976 when I left to join Ozark-TWA-American airlines where I still work. Zantop was the best job I ever had, learned a lot and worked my ass off and loved it. Met some great people there and Mr Zantop treated us like family. I will be eternally grateful for getting my start there in aviation there and the friendships I made, THX!
Awesome comment 🙂👍!
Mickey, great video. It brought back a lot of great memories for me. My first job out of A&P school in 1977 was working for Zantop. I worked 10 years in maintenance working on DC-8, DC-6, CV-640 and the L-188. After about 8 years in maintenance I started working on my pilot ratings and obtained my Commercial Instrument and multi engine ratings. I applied for a Flight Engineer position with the company but was denied because I only had about 275 hours total time and only about 10 hours multi engine time. I was very heart broke when I was turned down for and pilot position. I decided to write Duane Zantop a personnel letter telling him who I was and long I have been employed with his company. I told him I wanted to continue my aviation career with Zantop as a pilot but was turned by the personnel department. Well out of the blue 3 weeks later I get a call from the personnel department asking if I wanted a Flight Engineer position on the Lockhheed L-188. So I continued my career with Zantop for another 10 years. My positions were Flight Engineer, Convair 640 co- pilot, and Captain, L-188 co-pilot then Captain. Connor, thanks to Duane Zantop for giving me the chance to prove myself with only 275 hours total time.
Great Story!
Hi mikey I was the guy who packed up 2 semi truck full of parts for your dad an ronnie of zantop parts lol mainly l188 electra parts
You did an amazing job telling the story and making so many people aware of what Zantop was and how many people just won’t let the memories die without a fight !!! I loved my time working for them in Boston !!! Hope all my haunting wasn’t too annoying to you but LOOK,,, it payed off for me !!! Hahaha. Keep up the great work Bud and Long Live Zantop and Buffalo of course !!!
When I graduated for A&P school in 1976, Zantop was one of the big names to apply for a job.
Mikey,
Thanks for producing this video -- it brought back a rush of warm memories. All of Zantop's aircraft CV-640, DC-6, L188, and even the DC8 were bulk loaded with forklifts, pallet jacks, and JBars just like your current operation. The only aircraft with roller systems were on the military contracts. Very labor intensive and even with excellent forklift operators it was pretty hard on the airplane sheet metal and structure. I once unloaded a DC6 (non pressurized) that came in to ATL from YIP. It had a hole the size of my fist in the skin across from the cargo door. The post from a metal basket of autoparts had been pushed in a little too far by the last piece sitting in the door. MX put a temp scab patch and a little speed tape on it and sent it back to YIP for permanent repair. Cargo was restrained fore and aft with chains and load binders (like on a truck). Vertical restraint was done with 5/8 grass rope at about 3 foot intervals across the top and then we wove laterals from the rope tails so when done it looked like a net. All FAA approved. DC6s & L188s were usually loaded with a 3 man team - forklift operator, pallet jack operator, and a tie down guy who also logged the weight in each compartment for weight/balance purposes. The 5/8 grass rope was handy for MX to stuff in the jug of a sick R2800 for a 3 engine ferry.
We never used a tailstand on anything except the swingtail DC6. The swingtail was actually harder to load/unload than the standard DC6 as the pallet jack operator had to turn every skid 180 degrees so the forklift could set it on the ground, plus you had to be careful not to get going too fast and run the skid (and yourself) out the airplane onto the ground (LOL). Also I recall that the incline of the MT plane was steeper for the first few pieces of freight loaded so you had to get help to push it to the front to compress the nose strut a little. On all the DC8s and double door DC6s and L188s we sometimes used a 4000 lb block of concrete we set up front but, most times the forklift guy just watch the nose strut extension and hoped it wasn't stuck.
To young Connor Zantop, I want to say thanks to the whole Zantop family as well. In 1973 I went to work for Zantop International in Atlanta as a cargo loader / ramp agent. As I gained experience I was promoted to Supervisor, Assistant Station Manager, then Station Manager in DFW, and back to ATL as Cargo Sales Manager. I worked a total of 14 years for ZIA and they truly treated their employees like family. I retired in 2017 after a 44 year career in the air cargo industry all because the Zantop family provided a young guy from the hills of north Georgia with his first aviation job. Although Duane Sr is no longer with us give my best regards to Jim, Duane Jr, and David.
Regards,
Terry Melton
Having loaded DC3, C54, C46, and C119 a bit I really appreciate your post here! Thanks for the insight, Regards from Alaska!
Terry Melton Do you remember my Dad Sam Lackey?
Terry Melton hope you are well. Enjoyed reading your comments on this video. Take care, Steve and Debbie
Terry, I was just thinking about you and trying to remember how to get into your place on Lake Blue Ridge, then ran across this. 16 years with Zantop in Atlanta. What was the name of the head of security? He once told me that Duane told his sons that he had given them a gold mine when he retired and they pissed it away.
@@jimmywingo6243 Hey Jim,
Good to hear from you. Yeah as you get older you filter out the bad stuff and remember the good. Head of Zantop security was Wally Hall who lived near me in Fayette county. His daughter, Cristin was one of the founders of the band Sugarland.
I don't know about Dwayne leaving his kids a gold mine....by 1993 when they shut down the common carriage op, aviation had gone through a sea change. All their A/C were old, thirsty, and maintenance intensive. Fuel prices were rising and flt crews had more opportunities to fly for UPS, FedEx, and the freight forwarders who started their own airlines. I think when the flt crews voted to unionize pushed Jim Zantop to shut it down. I don't think they had or could get the capital to buy newer A/C, update computer systems, Mx, etc.
I saw that Jim Zantop was selling real estate a few years ago in the DTW area. Guess only the Zantop family knows the whole story.
My younger sister inherited my folks place at Blue Ridge. I still have my lots there, but don't get up there very much anymore. Shoot me an email at:. tdmelton@yahoo.com.....I'd like to catch up with how your doing......retired?? Still in Canton?
Wife & me are on our way back home from leaf peeping in NC, TN, VA, & WV.
Take care,
Terry
Connor, when I was young I worked at Love Field in Dallas on the overnight shift, 1986-ish. With the noise abatement rules, there were not many aircraft movements after 11PM. I used to watch for the Zantop Convair arrival every morning at about 3:30 AM. I'd get a cup of coffee and drive the tug out to the edge of our ramp, and wait. Some landings were better than others but it always was exciting to see that Convair on short final moving impossibly slow. Great memories. Thank you, Mikey, for this video!
Is there any other branche in economy where competitors get such a heartily treatment?
Aviation people *are* special. High five for this video, Mikey!
Growing up in metro Detroit with most of my family working at Ford, everyone knew what a big deal Zantop was.
What happened? Employees overplayed their hand and management had no choice but to fold. Used to love seeing the Zantop L-188s at Willow Run -- it was an absolutely amazing sight to see all those vintage aircraft dancing on the ramp. Very sad that they're gone. I suspect Kalitta has picked up some of the business that Zantop left behind either directly or through their DHL contracts. And always good to see the Zantop name on Plane Savers live streams!
It was not the fault of the employees. the market changed and they did not manage to change with it. Its the Management that fucked up big time.
J B
Wrong, Duane gave up. It was a private company he sold off the assets and retired. Kalitta is modern day Zantop.
I just saw a Kalitta Air 747 cargo bird unloading/loading on the cargo ramp of Osan AB, ROK this morning.
Look what happened to the Beechcraft 400 jet after the employees went on strike. It is now made in Mexico.
My uncle worked for Zantop at willow run airport as AMP mechanic. Thank you for Sharing. I also remembering taking us on a tour of all the planes he worked on. I loved it!!
Mikey, Loved this episode on Zantop. Like you said airlines come and airlines go, actually the people go, but the awesome
airplanes that made so many trips with cargo and gave jobs to many people survived. It makes me feel good that your Dad
is getting parts needed to keep the old birds flying into the future. Keep up the great work you are doing with plane savers2
and congrats on the awesome editing you're doing, it gets better every time.
See you Sunday on live PLANE Savers 2
Excellent! My first job in aviation was working for Zantop in Ypsilanti!Still remember working on the DC-6 Swingtail-4TA.42 years later still working in the business!
I am a retired Corporate Jet pilot from South Carolina and my experience with Zantop was getting a ride on their L188 from KTEB (Teterboro Airport) to KDET (Detroit Metro Airport) as a “jump seat” pax. I needed to get to Michigan to pick up a charter flight from Ann Arbor and the Captain was gracious enough to let me ride……this happened back in the winter of 1988!
Worked for Jack Roush in the '80s and '90s and rode with Jack in his plane a lot. He was working on his pilot license and his instructor was Dave Zantop who is one of the original guys son. He was a really nice guy that spent time with us on a lot of race weekends and always provided clear explanations of how big time flying worked.
Interesting content Mikey, beside being the CEO of a Company, you're becoming also a great TH-camr. Do you get time to relax? BTW, I never knew about ZANTOP Airlines until now🤔
Blue Ribbons I think fake news has kept Americans Blinded for generations , I have never heard of such an amazing fleet to maintain, ZANTOP
@@nipponhouseplayer I have known about Zantop for over 30 years. Fake news (or at least your concept of fake news) has nothing to do with not knowing about it. Freight carriers usually don’t get the glory that passenger airlines do. Thank you, Mr. McBryan, for shedding light on this great airline.
Harold Betancourt Living in Miami I never saw these only Eastern Airlines Lockheed!
@@nipponhouseplayer and Boeing, thank you
Zantop air transport was bought by Universal , then zantop bought the airline back and created zantop international, there was also little Z at metro airport that flew Lear jets and Hansa jets and G-159 freighters. I owe my career to the Zantop family. 33 years at Fedex now. Ill never forget them!
Thanks for keeping the History alive and being able to document the history with your Father. Enjoying the journeys you take us on.
Both and my dad and uncle flew for Zantop back in the sixties. Dad's best memories are of his time as a first officer flying the DC 6B. His uniform cap and wings are on display on a bookcase just over my shoulder and in a closet his flight bag complete with his log book and charts. Russ Malone
Great video! I worked for Zantop in the mid 60’s in the Avionics Department. When I joined the company we were located at Detroit Metro Airport. During the two years I was temporarily working for Uncle Sam (US Army), the operation moved to Willow Run Airport. Sometime in the late 60’s , Zantop sold the business and it became Universal Airlines. At some point, Universal packed up the whole operation and moved it to California. I had left the company by then, but several of the guys I worked with in Avionics made the move with the company. I had heard that Universal Airlines had gone out of business but I was not aware that Zantop had come roaring back. When I started as I recall, the fleet consisted of 1 DC-3, a couple of DC-4’s, Dc-6’s, and DC-7’s, and 5 or 6 Argosy’s. While I was there they started to acquire the Electra’s from KLM. The Electra’s first went to Macon, GA. where they were converted from passenger to cargo planes. Your video brought back a lot of great memories and reminded me that of all the jobs I have had, I really enjoyed my time at Zantop the most. Again, thanks for this great video and the walk down memory lane.
Bob, I don't know whether you remember me. I was at Zantop same time as you. I work in the Electric Shop/Avionics under Jack Hayes. Remember Al Bernard, Jerry Barlow?
I do not know "ZANTOP" , but I remember DC 4 and DC 6. At the age of 3 month I made my "maidenflight" from Berlin to Frankfut/Main in a DC 4. Later I flew together with my parents to Berlin in a DC 6 , it was always a great experience ! The last time I saw a flying DC 4 was, when the DC 4 ,which is now part of the "Luftbrückendenkmal" near the former US-Airbase in Frankfurt/Main Airport, was dilivered. Suddenly I heard the sound of a piston-engined aircraft. I looked up and saw a large four-engine aircraft, heading to Frankfurt. I noticed, that only three engines were running....
Wow! I don;t think I had ever even heard of Zantop before.
Great video Mikey.
Thank you.
My grandma worked for zantop. I do believe she was Mr zantops secretary. Going to visit her at work is what got me into aviation. KYIP is even where I went to a&p school and where I worked on my first airplane.
When I was a young lad, I recall seeing the wonderful Zantop airplanes flying out of Willow Run (YIP) regularly in their hay day and dreaming of becoming a pilot. Fast forward 30 years - my Beechcraft Bonanza is hangared at Y47 a short 10 minutes flying time away. Mikey is right - “Aviation Dreams Never Die”.
I grew up not far from where Zantop was based @ Willow Run airport in Michigan. A lot of my childhood friends had dad's who flew for Zantop, and watching them fly over our neighborhood every day was an awesome treat! So unfortunate that like many former juggernauts of industry, Zantop suffered too. Great video!
Where did you grow up? My dad was a captain on the Electras and flew out of there. We lived on Belleville lake across from Willow Run. I could hear them take off at night. Loved that sound!
@@tazflydiver7069 Ypsilanti near south side of Ford lake. Huron River Dr, Whittaker and Textile roads area. Wow, small world! Loved growing up in those days, it was literally like our own airshow every week!
My uncle flew C-46 for Zantop. Old school! Thanks Mikey
Zantop was like family. I maintained (A & P) the airplanes from 1979 - 1981. Then I flew for Zantop from 1984 - 1993. Wonderful times. I LOVED every minute! What an education! Thank you Zantop, Sincerely Robert Cunningham.
Insightful and profound ending. Wish you great success Connor. I too would like to have an AOC and build a little airline here.
I used to fly car parts and freight in a G-1 for a company out of Georgia, and we spent a lot of time in and out of Willow Run airport in Detroit as well as Pontiac, MI. Seems like we ran into Zantop everywhere. I had the opportunity to be on their ramp a couple of times and wow what a sight to see all the Electras and DC-6's. They were the pioneers of airfreight. Great bunch of folks, wish they were still around. Thanks for everything you do Mikey, keeping the dream alive.
I remember going to Willow Run Airport to watch the Zantop operation waaaaay back in the days. Awesome to see Connor Zantop interested in aviation and is watching your videos Mikey.
Excellent Story, I'm a former Zantop employee from Boston and I always wondered what happened.
We had a lot of former Zantop employees that wound up working for FedEx at STLR back in the 90s. Used to pass by an Electra every night on the way to our ramp location at Lambert(STL). Great episode, Mikey!
Back in the 1980's/1990's, a Zantop captain had an Airline-themed store on King Street in Old Town Alexandria, VA. IIRC, it was called Airliners International;, or something like that. It was an amazing veritable rabbit warren of models, kits, books, t-shirts It was in an old building among bookstores, antique shops, art galleries, some of which had been "head shops", back in the day. Alas, the store died around 2001. Much missed.
Great video! You missed your calling as a documentary producer.
Connor, my father Arlo "Al" Liebeler was a captain on the Electras flying out of Willow Run. He retired around 1975. He always spoke highly of Duane and the whole family.
I had to look away at the sight of the scrapping
Thanks for sharing! My dad flew for Zantop in the early 70s, he then directly for Duane and became close friends with the family. I remember playing with Jim and Debbie's kids in the early 80s (perhaps Conner's parents or aunts and uncles?) My dad always talks warmly about his time there, but it wasn't until I was older that I learned the company's great story!
Jim is my great uncle
I was former Air Force and PIA grad in 1973 and went to work at Zantop as an A&P. Loved the DC-6s and even worked on the old warbird C46. Lots of good memories. There was another freight airline at Willow Run.....Shamrock.
I remember a Zantop flight coming in everyday around 3pm at Homestead AFB when I was stationed there in 84/85
I was there 79-81. At least once a week we had a MICAP part to rush to the flightline.
Zantop... The Zipper... Jumpseated an Electra from CHS to Homesead AFB via the Cape decades ago. Good times...
Hey great video ,I flew DC 6 Aircraft for Zantop from mid 1975 until 1983.My first type rating and captain seat along with some interesting memories.Between the weather and type of flying we did I gained a wealth of experience that carried me on through the rest of my carrier until retiring 2014.
Nice ending to the video bro. Here's to young Conner and keeping the Zantop name alive. Cheers.
As long as Buffalo keeps flying the majestic warbirds, life is good
Fukk yes
Great story. I was an A&P for Zantop in the early 90s at Willow Run. Worked the Electras, Convairs and DC-8s on their night hub. It was a sad day to see them go.
Also worked for a different Buffalo Airways in the early 90s. 707s and DC-8s. Not as cool as the planes you fly though.
Excellent video, I remember Zantop back in the 70's they
where huge. I had always assumed that they had done In by FedEx and UPS.
I used to be an F/O on a former Zantop Convair-640 and we went to their maintenance facility at facility at Willow Run a couple of times. Even in `96 their ramp and shop were really something to see. It was like stepping back into the 1950s.
Hi Mikey, great video! My Zantop memories are as an air traffic controller at Boston Center. If you worked any night or mid-shifts, you worked Zantop Electras running auto parts between Boston Logan and Pontiac or Willow Run, Michigan. My first memories when I first started in the mid-80's of working Electras were exclusively Zantop, as they were about the only major carrier in the northeast that I can recall that were still operating them.
I worked in the hangar next door to Zantop from 85 to 86 as an A&P for TransContinental Airlines( Trashcan) at Willit Run Airport trying to be a PFE on DC-6s. Never got certified but had some of the best times there and good experience. Great crew to work with, too. Too old for the airline game now but sure was fun for a while. Thanks for the review. Keep the greasy side down.👍
Another GREAT episode Mikey!
So many of these ACMI airlines have fallen it's incredible. Zantop was a big one, but Fine Air, Arrow Air, Kitty Hawk, Challenge, DHL Airways (name was changed to Astar before collapse), Wein, Evergreen, and so many others.
I was 19 when I worked Zantop out of Los Angeles LAX airport. This was back in 1990. "Continental airlines" handled their contract, which is who I worked for. Great crew. I only remember the person in charge, his name was Mike. Great crew.
Thanks Mike for keeping flight history alive
Mikey, I have been following Buffalo for years. Zantop Airlines, yes, were top of their class until economical events took them down. But Reese Zantop, son, went on and started RELIANT AIRLINES and was the first to see the opportunity of cargo Falcon 20´s, mostly ex-Fedex. I flew for Reliant for a bunch of excellent people based in YIP, spent some time with Reese Zantop and his wife when they visited San Juan PR where Captain Jim Jago (RIP) and yours truly held the Reliant ship on a FEDEX contract between SJ, Barbados and Trinidad on which, by the way, we earned the coveted FEDEX BZ award for excellent service. I really enjoyed your video, no question it is one that really touched my heart. Thanks so much !!
Back in the years gone bye, the father ofa mate of mine at school flew a Catalina in the summer months for Jacques Cousteau the underwater explorer. His real job was as an Electra Captain for Zantop.. That's a hell of a career!
Wonderful episode Mikey. I worked at Ford in Oakville, Ontario in the 1980’s. We often depended on Zantop for rush shipments of auto parts needed to keep the assembly line running. I am saddened to learn of the airline’s demise.
Just when I think it can't get any better, it does! You are putting out fantastic content. Involving your dad is a great touch. I think he is starting to enjoy the camera. If I was asked to rank TH-cam channels, this would certainly be #1.
In the mid to late 90's I had a PMA for some DC8 engine pylon fire barriers. Sold mainly to Airborne Express. One day we got a call from a purchasing agent from a freighter called Zantac. They ended up being a fairly good customer, until the fuel prices seemed to shut down the DC8's. Least ways I assumed that's what happened to that part of my business. Their purchases helped my little company quiet a bit. Never knew the history, thanks
Really neat video ! I was hired by Zantop in 1984 for a flight engineer position on the L188. I had an A and P license which is what they liked
as I could preform remote authorized very light maintenance at an away destination if needed. I also only had 1050 TT and 13 hours of multi engine time.The man who hired me was Ed Fritag and I think he was a relative of the family. After a year I got a secondary bid on as an FO on the CV640 and made it thru training and was flying part 121 in a 50,000 lb Convair 640.
In 1987, I left Zantop with a lot of good stick and rudder time as the auto pilots were mostly deferred in the Convair and they were key in experience in long leg hand flying in weather and older school instrumentation as well. Also we flew some hazmat that others would not carry such as radioactive isotopes 50 index units and rare blood diseases and so on. I moved on to a corporate carrier in Gulfsteams and
finished in a Global Express but can appreciate the real core flying night freight for a family owned company ZANTOP. I remember Connie
Kalitta punching a guy thru a car window in the parking lot with a patch over his eye and his hanger next door with aerostars, an MU2, a
few Lear 24s, and a few race cars too. Colorful memories for sure.
My father flew Learjets and Hanza jets for Zantop during the 70's. I remember Loyd & Glenna Zantop and Rick Zantop. They ran Zantop Airways from Detroit Metro. They mostly carried freight in the little lear 23's and 24's, and occasionally chartered famous people. Zantop International Airlines was run by Loyd's two brothers and had the big planes, like the dc6's, dc8's, cv640's and Electras at Willow run airport in Yipsilanti. It was just a 5 minute flight from Detroit Metro to Willow run if that. The Zantop family parties were always epic!! They made you feel like you were a part of their family.
Interesting video, as I always wanted to fly for ZANTOP back in the day. The reason for wanting to fly for them was my love for the Lockheed Electra. When I was young way back in the day I use to drive by one of the air freight cargo terminals at Indianapolis International Airport and I would see those beautiful Electra's sitting there in all their glory. I love the old and even new prop (turbine or piston) driven aircraft. It reminds me of a time when air travel was fun. Today I fly 777's (Captain) for United Airlines based in Chicago. But I still dream of getting to fly a Lockheed Electra some day.
Thanks for the video, I worked for Zantop in MCN from 1980 until they sold the facility in 1997. I continued to work there until 2006. Just wasn't the same after Zantop left.
Well done, lots of good memories here. This airline sent lots of its instruments and accessories to my dad to be repaired. We had a Part 145 aircraft instrument, avionics and accessory repair station at the Oakland airport. We would see Log Air and MAC flights come through. Pretty fun old times.
Worked for the Zantop family in Boston for7 years . Only good memories out here!!
I flew with a few reserve pilots in the NAvy reserve that worked for Zantop. Two of the pilots where certified to fly race horses in the Electras. Both had amazing stories. This was in mid 70 to late 70s.
I didn't work for Zantop but I flew a lot of their routes with DC 8's. I worked for Kalitta and we shared the ramp at Willow Run with Zantop. I have many friends who worked for them, we call them Zantopians. Many memories from Willow Run.
The demise of Zantop was due to the dwindling Bart Simpson t-shirt market.
Too many people didn't have enough cows, man.
Ran out of shorts to eat.
@@UnitSe7en I actually have that t-shirt in my archives :-P.
Not to mention the short supply of Bort license plates...
Ay caramba!
I worked for Connie Kalitta's American International Airways when Connie bought Zantop's scheduled cargo routes and formed American International Freight. Loved the 90s!
Fond memories of zantop Airlines when I worked at Willow Run airport in Ypsilanti Michigan
Mikey, My father was a purser on TWA, operating as ATC ( Air Transport Command) under the U.S. Army during WW2. From 1942, when he went to work as a 25 year old, he flew on Boeing Stratoliners. It was the first pressurized airliner. It was a 4 engine tail wheel airplane, built on the basic B-17 airframe. In 1944 they got the DC-4, which a big step up, flying about 40 kts. faster. He flew the North Atlantic routes from North America to Prestwick, Scotland via Newfoundland, Greenland to Scotland. He also flew the South Atlantic routes to Casablanca, via Miami. Guina, Belem, Ascension, and Accra. I have his logbook. Some of these legs took 14 to 16 hours. They had many frightening times, grom severe icing to nearly running out of gas to actually being shot at Alliex convoys. I love your presentations. You are so lucky to be working with these airplanes. I am a retired air traffic controller (Washington ARTCC) and hold a commercial license with about 450 hours. All of it in " little ones" except about 25 hours right seat in a BE-90. Regards. George putney303@gmail.com
I used to work for Active Aero fuel services from 2002 to 2004 and used to fill the electra with fuel every day good old Willow Run
The last aircraft was N343 I do believe or am I wrong
Zantop was known as a good place to work. Not high wages but great people to work with. Amazing that they kept all those ancient planes to fly in fairly demanding service. Zantop was a real pioneer in air freight.
I worked for an air freight forwarder in the Chicago area as I put myself through college in the late 80's. I remember many, many trips to Zantop's docks at O'Hare, and I always loved seeing their old planes there.
I worked for Zantop in 1966 at EWR as lead ramp handler before the Army, getting my pilots and mechanic licensed. At that time we had C-46, DC-6, DC-7 and Argosy aircraft serving EWR. My first job in aviation!
Was stationed at Offutt AFB in 66-68 and my roommate worked part time as a station agent for Zantop. It was a fuel stop and crew change location, at least until our guys refused to fuel anymore due to the amount of oil on the wings. Then they had to go to Epply field civil airport. DC-6's at the time. I subbed for him for two weeks while he got married.
I like these interesting informational edits.
I was just a Green A&P living and working in St Louis and landed a job working for Zantop Airlines. I remember washing down engine cases and Cleaning wings and Nacelles. My usual job was working with a "What's Zat". It was a skid mover with the initials ZAT welded onto the tang. It was dirty work, cold, wet but the smells of 145 Octane with engine oil dripping onto your face was wonderful. Cleaning and gapping hundreds of spark plugs a day!!
The entire crew was fantastic to work with and I would not trade my experiences for any amount of money!!
There were a few old DC-8 freighters with Zantop logo parked as scrap at one time at Willow-Run Airport in Michigan.
Thank you for confirming that the Electras are ex Air Atlantic/Air Atlantique.
They had a strong presence at Coventry🇬🇧 which happens to be my home town
loving this! thank you Mikey! i'm old -but never knew Zantop either - thank you for recovering these amazing aircraft and finding the right place/time for them to show their beauty and purpose!
Well there's much more to this story. I'm a bit familiar with Zantop. I grew up about 12 miles from Willow run, where Zantop was located outside of Detroit. From the time I was 10 back in the 50's until I was about 14, I would ride my bicycle out there to walk around all the planes parked out on the ramp by Zantop's hanger. I could walk around there and even into the hanger and watch them work on the planes close up. at one point he started to buy Lockheed Electras. A little while after that, they started having problems with the Electras having vibration problems. Then the next few years more problems came up like some planes loosing engines that fell to the ground.
Much later on after in 72 I got my A&P license I worked across the field at Mannion Air Charter. The first thing I noticed was all the Electras that were grounded over by Zantop's. I was told they were trying to figure out what was wrong with them. I was there for 2 years and they didn't move, so after I left, I didn't keep track of what was going on. Then I went back to school and got an engineering degree. I worked aerospace jobs and ended up at Lockheed Martin Marietta for 22 years. During that time I worked on the P3 which was the redesigned Electra with the same type of engines but no square tip props which seemed to be a big problem. The P3 is one of the greatest most reliable planes flying today. mostly used as military surveillance by a lot of countries.
But here's the rest of the story. Right next to the Zantop hanger was a much smaller hanger rented by a guy named Connie Kalitta, the famous drag racing guy that they made a movie about, mostly his girl friend, Shirley Muldowney, the first woman rail dragster driver. Me and another aircraft mechanic guy that new Kalitta well, would go over to work on Kalitta's turbo prop converted D-18's which blew me away. I was a huge fan of Kalitta right when the rail dragsters first came out. I met his 5 year old son that later became funny car driver. Anyway, I kind of felt sorry for him with his two little D-18's right next to all the freight planes at Zantop's. That was in 1973.
So isn't it strange how things work out? Any body in the air freight business knows who Kalitta Air LLC is, which is now, I think, the largest air freight business in the US, and he started right next to Zantops hanger at Willow Run Airport.
If you worked for Mannion we may have met. I worked there for a few months during a layoff from Rosenbalm. If your timing was right you also may remember the decapitation of a fresh-out-of overhaul Mannion DC-3, done by a Zantop DC-6 that lost hydraulic pressure. . .4061K, If memory hasn't completely flown away!
@@paulcrumley9756 Hi, Paul. I was at Mannion in the the end of '73 or beginning of 74 I believe. Can't remember any one's name except the chief mechanic, John. Can't recall his last name. I learned something everyday working around him. The foreman way a blond headed guy with a crewcut and was about 40ish. I worked there about a year up until I slid off the wing of a DC-3 in the winter and fell flat on my back. Going back to college on my GI bill sounded like a better way to go.
I was in the Air Force stationed at Stewart AFB, NY (KSWF today). All of our parts and supplies arrived by Logair (Zantop) on Argosy AW650s. Quite a unique airplane and screaming loud with those Rolls Royce engines (I think Darts). I also think both the nose and tail swung open. Long live the memory of Logair and Zantop!
I was an air traffic controller at the VFR tower at Wright Patterson AFB from 1975-78. Logair Electras were a fixture for us . Didn’t know the history. I remember clearing one to land in the middle of the night when he checked in over Columbus . We were in Dayton.
I seem to remember the swing tail DC6 in Boston when I worked at Butler Aviation as an A&P , don't remember what I fixed on it.
As a boy growing up under Chgo MDW 22R, I always wondered what the occasional twin freighter was that I saw. Now 71yo, I have finally learned that they were Curtis C-46's! Thank You!
I ran transient alert Alamogordo NM middle 80's. We had a log air zantop every day. For military parts, miss them
Worked Logan Airfreight in the 1970s and always loved seeing Zantop aircraft. Thanks Mikey, these pieces remind us of a wonderful time in aviation!
I worked at Zantop as a summer hire for two seasons (1986 & 87).
Lots of great memories are still with me today including trying to understand why a few of our tug drivers would go over to Kalitta Air at lunch time. lol.
Racing out of the hangar when we saw a DC 8 come in (had air conditioning!). Driving the monster forklift to the offsite warehouse down the road. Unloading/loading airplane engines because the fulltime employees didn't want to lose their job if they dropped it. Learning how to tie down cargo (long before ratchet straps) and the unpopular going into the belly of the aircraft to get the mail etc (very hot in the summer time!).
My first job in high school (1982) was for an air freight company in St. Louis. Making the 8 pm nightly drop at Zantop and Flying Tigers was always a gas. Zantop flew a DC3 in/out of Lambert Field then (Flying Tigers might have as well, can’t recall for sure) and I really enjoyed seeing such historic planes being properly used. To think that Electra’s, DC3’s and more are still in use is amazing. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I went to college at Western Michigan University with Jim Zantop, one of the Zantop brothers son. He left college and I believe stayed on with the company. One of his good friends in college, Chuck Traver, flew for a number of years with Zantop. The airline was an institution in the Detroit area as well as Michigan. They employed a lot of Michigan pilots. Willow Run Airport was the hub for the non-ached cargo operators. It of course was the home of B-24 production during World War 2. They eventually built one B-24 every hour of the day and night. I hope this adds a little to your knowledge base about Zantop Airlines.
Since 1980 I have lived within about 5 miles from the main runway of Willow Run Airport near Detroit. We always saw Zantop aircraft daily flying over our house coming and going to points far over the horizon. We knew when they took apart the automotive manufacturing colossus the was Michigan at the end of the last century, the support businesses were next on the corporate raider's list of victims. Great history was made here involving remarkable people who had extraordinary combinations of intellect, courage, stamina and moral rigor that made an indelible mark in time. And frankly I don't think their story is done. That's where you and your Dad come into the picture. God bless all of you and happy flying.
As a boy in the mid 1960's, I lived under an airway that ran between the south and Detroit. Most of the traffic was Delta DC-6's and 7's coming out of Memphis, heading to Indianapolis and Detroit. There were also these strange 4 engine turboprops, that looked like a C-119 Flying Box Car. I never was able to figure out what type aircraft they were. It was decades later that I came across a book with an Armstrong Argosy in it. I realized that was the aircraft I had seen as a young boy. Further research determined that the operator was Zantop.
I know he flew the C-46. I’ll check his logbook. I love that these planes are still working. DC-6/DC-7 is the type rating I’m most proud of and the one I love using the most. Thanks for the video, Mikey
434TA swingtail for Zantop. I worked in dispatch for Zantop in the late 70’s. I was watching and old Hawaii 5-0 the other day and there was a Convair 640 5529U that was a Zantop Convair. While working at Zantop Steve Meltzer helped me get my Aircraft Dispatcher rating. Lots of great memories at Willow Run. YIP
Thank you for this video. I remember seeing Zantop airplanes at Pittsburgh airfreight terminal. I sort of lost track of zantop over time and am sorry to hear about the sad end of a great carrier.
VERY, VERY interesting Mikey! I had seen them around when I trucked around the country. Quite impressive piece you did. See you at OSH! Tell everyone Hi! from the Arrowhead of MN (BTW- Joe needs to write a book and so do you).
Worked sheetmetal for Zantop in Georgia after leaving the military. Really liked working the 188's as well as plenty of DC-8's and bringing back to life one CV640. Interesting note. Late 80's tornado crushed one or two 1-88's in the Hanger there.
I recognize registration N290F (at 7:08). It was operated by Overseas National (ONA) back in the 1970's in USAF LOGAIR service. I think ONA had the series of numbers N280F thru N290F on their Electras. I was in USAF air cargo/Logair operations at Kelly AFB (SKF), MacDill AFB (MCF), and Hanscom Field (BED). Also did time at Udorn RTAFB (BAO/VTUD at the time) Thailand in 1972.
From my time in Supply in the USAF I can remember all the times we were rushing parts to catch the daily Logair flight or standing by on the flightline waiting for it to arrive with our MICAP parts.
Yup logair. Waited for them to deliver B52 parts at Kincheloe AFB in Sault St. Marie Michigan. Cold and mountains of snow everywhere that had blown in off Lake Superior. Looked just like this video.
I worked for Zantop in Memphis. Great memories…crazy stories!!
thanks for the video on the old days of air freight
Mikey, thanks for the video. Just finding it now, worked across the Field at USA JET/Active Areo at Williow Run when the planes were all lined up awaiting destruction. Glad to see your dad got the swing tail 6 out. Some former Zantop Cargo guys taught me how to load and unload. Also the Yankee Air Museum had one or two from them. A 6 or 7 and one of the Argosy. Unfortunately the new leadership for sure decided to scrap the Argosy not sure about the other. Tell Connor if he gets it back up and running and needs hands I'd be happy working for the new Zantop.