Round-the-World Flights

Lan Chile Round-the-World Air Tour

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B707-330B	B707-330B	Pix #3	Pix #4	Pix #5

	In 1927 Linea Aeropostal Santiago-Arica was founded and run by the Chilean Air Force 
providing postal mail links within Chile. In 1929 Commander Arturo Merino Benitez (Chief 
of Army Air Services) obtained authorization from Carlos Ibañez del Campo (President) 
to create a Chilean national air transport company, Lineas Nacional de Chile. It was 
nationalized in 1932 and renamed Lan Chile.
	After WW-II Lan Chile expanded its air routes internationally with service to Buenos 
Aires Argentina flying its twin engine Lockheed Lodestar.  By 1953 it had increased 
international routing to Lima Peru and La Paz Bolivia as well as expanding its domestic 
service. It began flying its DC-6 to Miami FL in 1958.
	For Lan Chile the jet-age began in 1964 when SE-210 Caravelles were introduced.  
These were followed by long-range Boeing 707s in 1967 allowing long-haul routes to Tahiti 
via the Easter Islands.  The 707 jets also allowed Lan Chile to become the first airline 
to link South America with Australia via its non-stop trans-polar service on February 10, 
1974.
	In May, 1985 Lan Chile introduced round-the-world jet service when its 707-330B (CC-CEA
#18926) named "Aguila" made its first round-the-world tour.  From Chile it flew non-stop 
to Auckland New Zealand.

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