HOWARD HUGHES' AIRLINE: An Informal History of TWA

by Robert Serling ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 17, 1983

Also Jack Frye's airline, and Ralph Damon's, Charlie Tillinghast's, and the TWA rank-and-filers': like Serling's previous airline chronicles (The Only Way to Fly, etc.), this is company history (the aforementioned gents were TWA presidents), marbled with tributes to employee-loyalty, praise (and excuses) for each new regime, and anecdotes of fabled old-timers. But Howard Hughes did make a difference--which makes this a slight addition, also, to the Hughes balance sheet. TWA originated in the 1930 shotgun merger (a Washington scandal) of Transcontinental Air Transport, a doomed air/rail operation, and healthy Western Air Express. Thwarted in an attempt (1939) to buy Boeing Stratoliners, Frye turned to millionaire fellow-pilot Hughes--thus bringing to TWA ""the blessing of apparently unlimited financial resources and the curse of unlimited power."" Ultimately Serling comes down, reluctantly, on the debit side. ""Hughes had the instincts of genius""--including an intuitive grasp of unfamiliar technology--""but none of the self-discipline required for genius to bear fruit."" A representative Hughes champion attests: ""Howard was nuttier than a fruitcake in many ways. . . . The funny thing was, though, that he treated small fry like me just fine."" The best stories are co-pilot stories--of how different Hughes was in the cockpit, a ""blessed refuge,"" than on the ground. And he did conceive of the Constellation--why did he also have to claim that he designed it? He probably suggested, during WW II, that TWA become Trans World; ""he tried to give TWA a leg up on the fast-approaching jet age."" On the negative side, ""his demands on TWA personnel""--on behalf of his Hollywood and other VIP pals--""ranged from the impossible to the incredible."" He preempted for months, famously, a new Constellation that TWA desperately needed. His ""inability to make up his mind about airplanes,"" and his wrong decisions, saddled TWA with unwanted and unneeded equipment. His high-handedness cost it stable professional management. The lengthy (1961-72) TWA/Hughes lawsuit following his overthrow is recounted in detail; the airline's rebuilding is more carving-of-niches ""in TWA history."" For TWA folk, a sure thing; for airline business aficionados and Hughes-watchers, of spot interest.

Pub Date: Nov. 17, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: St. Martin's

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1983

Categories: NONFICTION