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A Columbia, MO physician named William E. Stricker purchased
the rights to the Ozark name in 1998 and attempted to revive
this great airline. John Ellis was named CEO and promptly set
about doing some market research. He bought a mailing list of
key business executives in the Columbia area and polled them
as to their air travel needs.
In the fall of 98, Ellis issued a press release announcing
the intended re-opening of Ozark Air Lines with service to
Dallas (KDFW) and Chicago Midway (KMDW). Intentions were to
fly the Fairchild-Dornier 328JET for these routes, but to use
the Turbo-Prop version in the interim. It is unclear whether
any of the 328T's were actually used, but we will offer them
for our virtual pilots nonetheless.
In February of 2000 The New Ozark Air Lines made the first
flight to Chicago Midway and back to Columbia. The schedule
would go on to include three daily round trips to KMDW. Two
daily round trips through Joplin, MO (KJLN) to Dallas/Fort
Worth Int'l. and back will be offered here as well as a daily
flight to Chicago Midway with a stop in Des Moines, IA
(KDSM)as this flight was introduced in 2001 as the only
flight remaining to KMDW.
Sadly, in 2001, Ozark sold out to Great Plains Airlines, an
upstart regional carrier out of Tulsa, OK. Shortly after
that, Great Plains filed for bankruptcy to avoid foreclosure
on many of its assets.
With mixed emotions Ozark Virtual Airlines emulates the New
Ozark Air Lines flying both versions of the DO 328 out of
Columbia, MO (KCOU) to Chicago Midway Airfield, Dallas/Ft.
Worth, and Des Moines Int'l using the schedule below. We hope
you derive much enjoyment from this as you help us to
continue what might have been.
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