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.