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Air California (later AirCal) Cotton Polo Shirt
$38.99
Product Details & Size Guide
GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.
Air California began as a proposal for better service between Orange County and San Francisco, then took flight in 1967 from what is now John Wayne Airport. Its California roots and growing network made the airline a memorable part of regional aviation history. This polo shirt brings that story into an everyday wardrobe, recalling the carrier’s early Lockheed Electra years, its 1981 change to the AirCal name, and a journey that ended with its merger into American Airlines in 1987.
Air California began with a December 1965 proposal for better air service between Orange County and San Francisco. Incorporated on April 12, 1966, it started flying on January 16, 1967, from Orange County Airport, now John Wayne Airport, using Lockheed Electra aircraft. The California intrastate carrier soon added routes to San Jose and Oakland, then expanded its fleet and destinations. Its early years included two proposed mergers with Pacific Southwest Airlines that did not go forward. From 1970, the airline was controlled by Westgate-California Corporation, which entered bankruptcy in 1974; Air California nevertheless became profitable from 1973. It expanded beyond California after federal airline deregulation, adding Reno in 1978. On April 6, 1981, under new ownership, it adopted the AirCal name and a new visual identity. Its network eventually reached cities including Chicago, Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver. American Airlines completed its purchase on May 1, 1987, and AirCal merged into American on July 1. In 2015, American added an AirCal-inspired aircraft to its heritage livery series.
Air California began as a proposal for better service between Orange County and San Francisco, then took flight in 1967 from what is now John Wayne Airport. Its California roots and growing network made the airline a memorable part of regional aviation history. This polo shirt brings that story into an everyday wardrobe, recalling the carrier’s early Lockheed Electra years, its 1981 change to the AirCal name, and a journey that ended with its merger into American Airlines in 1987.
Air California began with a December 1965 proposal for better air service between Orange County and San Francisco. Incorporated on April 12, 1966, it started flying on January 16, 1967, from Orange County Airport, now John Wayne Airport, using Lockheed Electra aircraft. The California intrastate carrier soon added routes to San Jose and Oakland, then expanded its fleet and destinations. Its early years included two proposed mergers with Pacific Southwest Airlines that did not go forward. From 1970, the airline was controlled by Westgate-California Corporation, which entered bankruptcy in 1974; Air California nevertheless became profitable from 1973. It expanded beyond California after federal airline deregulation, adding Reno in 1978. On April 6, 1981, under new ownership, it adopted the AirCal name and a new visual identity. Its network eventually reached cities including Chicago, Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver. American Airlines completed its purchase on May 1, 1987, and AirCal merged into American on July 1. In 2015, American added an AirCal-inspired aircraft to its heritage livery series.
Product features - Durable double-pique fabric designed for crisp embroidery - Modern classic fit with side seams and vents for better shape - Contoured welt collar and cuffs with a clean, topstitched shoulder - Soft Sport Grey option (90/10 cotton/poly) and 100% ring-spun cotton varieties - Tear-away label, dyed-to-match buttons, and finished placket for polished comfort Care instructions