Purpleplane
Well-known member
American Trans Air began operations in February, 1973 as Ambassadair Travel Club in Indianapolis, Indiana with a pair of Boeing 720's.
Boeing 720-025 N8711E was named Miss Indy:
![Ambassadair 720-025 N8711E L.jpg Ambassadair 720-025 N8711E L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7291-6cac49530947601e1cf4a88026c326a6.jpg)
Boeing 720-048 N8790R was named Spirit of Indiana:
![Ambassadair 720-048 N8790R R.jpg Ambassadair 720-048 N8790R R.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7292-87526bfe3913e95d8e3b195286984d11.jpg)
American Trans Air began official operations of military charters in March, 1981 with 3 ex-American 707-123Bs:
N7515A, N7554A, and N7570A. All were delivered in bare metal with a gold, white and blue cheat line as shown here on N7554A:
![American Trans Air 707-123B N7554A R.jpg American Trans Air 707-123B N7554A R.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7293-ee486a21d0e93999ba4ec05f68567c70.jpg)
2 more 707-123B's were added later in 1981, N7573A and N7589A. These were delivered in white top scheme which became the standard, as shown on N7573A:
![American Trans Air 707-123B N7573A L.jpg American Trans Air 707-123B N7573A L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7294-ae615dd1d06c51c479829664a327411d.jpg)
In 1982 and 1983, 3 707-323C's joined the fleet: N7597A, N7599A, and N8416. Photo is of N7597A:
![American Trans Air 707-323C N7597A L.jpg American Trans Air 707-323C N7597A L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7295-884e85d46f366feee4e52c11418f9a11.jpg)
As growth contnued, American Trans Air began regular scheduled operations and eventually purchased 8 used 727-100s. Shown is 727-22 N286AT:
![American Trans Air 727-022 N286AT L.jpg American Trans Air 727-022 N286AT L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7296-9bfcd71913c8cfc6c4d92eabe77e2acb.jpg)
727-200's, 757-200's, L-1011's and 2 DC-10's eventually joined the fleet in this paint scheme:
727-227A N768AT:
![American Trans Air 727-200 N768AT L.jpg American Trans Air 727-200 N768AT L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7297-c34bb86c521034adad3e908a7445f0cf.jpg)
757-212 N757AT:
![American Trans Air 757-200 N757AT L.jpg American Trans Air 757-200 N757AT L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7298-de7b5d0b0413fd531857f85adf375400.jpg)
L-1011-50 N186AT:
![American Trans Air L-1011-100 N186AT R.jpg American Trans Air L-1011-100 N186AT R.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7300-fe9361a8873f4f6fc746c71fed485a2f.jpg)
DC-10-40 N184AT:
![N184AT.jpg N184AT.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7301-c1dadf28e6e831c8ccb08feaf99f1df9.jpg)
Boeing 720-025 N8711E was named Miss Indy:
![Ambassadair 720-025 N8711E L.jpg Ambassadair 720-025 N8711E L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7291-6cac49530947601e1cf4a88026c326a6.jpg)
Boeing 720-048 N8790R was named Spirit of Indiana:
![Ambassadair 720-048 N8790R R.jpg Ambassadair 720-048 N8790R R.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7292-87526bfe3913e95d8e3b195286984d11.jpg)
American Trans Air began official operations of military charters in March, 1981 with 3 ex-American 707-123Bs:
N7515A, N7554A, and N7570A. All were delivered in bare metal with a gold, white and blue cheat line as shown here on N7554A:
![American Trans Air 707-123B N7554A R.jpg American Trans Air 707-123B N7554A R.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7293-ee486a21d0e93999ba4ec05f68567c70.jpg)
2 more 707-123B's were added later in 1981, N7573A and N7589A. These were delivered in white top scheme which became the standard, as shown on N7573A:
![American Trans Air 707-123B N7573A L.jpg American Trans Air 707-123B N7573A L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7294-ae615dd1d06c51c479829664a327411d.jpg)
In 1982 and 1983, 3 707-323C's joined the fleet: N7597A, N7599A, and N8416. Photo is of N7597A:
![American Trans Air 707-323C N7597A L.jpg American Trans Air 707-323C N7597A L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7295-884e85d46f366feee4e52c11418f9a11.jpg)
As growth contnued, American Trans Air began regular scheduled operations and eventually purchased 8 used 727-100s. Shown is 727-22 N286AT:
![American Trans Air 727-022 N286AT L.jpg American Trans Air 727-022 N286AT L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7296-9bfcd71913c8cfc6c4d92eabe77e2acb.jpg)
727-200's, 757-200's, L-1011's and 2 DC-10's eventually joined the fleet in this paint scheme:
727-227A N768AT:
![American Trans Air 727-200 N768AT L.jpg American Trans Air 727-200 N768AT L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7297-c34bb86c521034adad3e908a7445f0cf.jpg)
757-212 N757AT:
![American Trans Air 757-200 N757AT L.jpg American Trans Air 757-200 N757AT L.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7298-de7b5d0b0413fd531857f85adf375400.jpg)
L-1011-50 N186AT:
![American Trans Air L-1011-100 N186AT R.jpg American Trans Air L-1011-100 N186AT R.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7300-fe9361a8873f4f6fc746c71fed485a2f.jpg)
DC-10-40 N184AT:
![N184AT.jpg N184AT.jpg](https://modelairlinerforum.com/data/attachments/7/7301-c1dadf28e6e831c8ccb08feaf99f1df9.jpg)
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