Would You Fly This Little Known Airline Across America?

I took a flight across the south with a little known airline operating a cool plane to some unique destinations!
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[@gotb21]

After a 20 year career in the US Air Force and retiring in 1991, it's nice seeing the boutique airlines surviving as essential services. If I wasn't so disabled now, they would be the preferred service as I am no longer in a hurry to get from point A to point B!!!!! So glad you are covering this important part of commercial aviation!!!!

[@noelphilips]

It's so much cooler flying on these little airlines over the major carriers. Far less stress and hassle compared to going through the big terminals onto cramped A320s!

[@stevenichols4639]

Essential services is corporate welfare for airports that shouldn't have air services

[@cremebrulee4759]

Thank you for your service, sir.

[@harrywillman8456]

@@stevenichols4639 lol come on man ESA isn't some scam run by 'Big Airport' to line their pockets. It's not even about rec travel. It's important for these rural areas to be able to get mail, medical supplies, and other necessities on a regular basis. (And this plane is full!)

[@andreworiez8920]

@@stevenichols4639 Nope.... It's an ESSENTIAL air link to rural sections of the United States.

[@cabottaxi]

Noel , you fly to some weird and wonderful places off the beaten track. Never knew routes / flights like this existed. Very informative and great video.

[@meltingtomato]

It's crazy the range of EAS routes. They exist elsewhere too (Scotland and Norway for example), but the shear range of them in the US (from normal flights on the Big 3 on A320s, all the way down to aircraft like the Cessna 206, and everything in between) is just wild. America is a big place, and that's including everything from Puerto Rico, to Alaska, all the way to Guam - EAS routes don't just exist in the lower 48! ✈️

[@repatch43]

On a flight from Honolulu to Kauai many years ago, on mokukele airlines, I happened to sit next to the owner of the airline! He lived on Kauai but the head office was on Oahu. Fascinating stories about how he got into the airline industry and the logistics of getting planes to Hawaii that had nowhere near enough range to perform the flight normally

[@lackedpuppet9022]

There's many small airports like that in the US. They primarily service general aviation. Many don't even have any regular service.

[@MAAtx]

I love how you’re trying all these small EAS carriers. It shines a light on what kinds of services these carriers provide. Thanks for visiting Dallas again!

[@benjaminsmith7031]

Noel, buddy, excellent video as always. You almost lost me calling Memphis “Music City.” As a native Nashvillian, that broke my heart.

[@jameskidwell4342]

I love Southern Airways Express! I’ve flown with them several times out of my local airport 😁

[@devonmoors]

Sun Records.Memphis!!

[@erikramaekers63]

Noel always pays last minute tickets (i think) Any idea what a trip like this would cost?

[@edj_25]

@@erikramaekers63 the website says $150 or $180 Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) - Memphis International Airport (MEM)

[@billkaldem5099]

El Dorado Arkansas?

[@LoboLakerGaming]

@@billkaldem5099 correct

[@kaceecruson9532]

I love the fact Noel mentioned the use of the Caravan in skydiving.... I grew up around skydiving and that's where I know this plane from!

[@TheRareVideosXL]

What a great flight,amazing scenery and views as well as friendly people. You never disappoint with your videos. Keep up the fantastic work.

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

I fly to Arkansas fairly frequently from the UK (via DFW or ORD) as I have a good friend in Springdale (fly into XNA). The Midwest US is stunning, Ozark Mountains are beautiful. So much wide open space

[@darrenjohnson4420]

That part of Arkansas is nice, i live between XNA and TUL(Tulsa) and the rolling hills are nice here

[@raramcgee4982]

The reason Arkansas has these airports are absolutely fucked. Look up the Clinton family and thier ties to to these airports. The famous Lolita express stopped quite frequently qt the hot springs Airport.

[@AssBlasster]

I enjoyed NWA (Fayetteville) when I did my internship and loved hiking the state parks in the region. Walmart is freaking everywhere in that region too with Bentonville nearby.

[@michaelgillispie8974]

Mr. Philips you are or were in my part of the country. Hope you enjoyed your flights and sights? Memphis is a Great place with lots of nice people. My wife and I took our son there for cancer treatments at St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Take care young man!

[@ericschnakenberg8794]

Love your videos. Just a minor correction: Nashville is the music city, not Memphis.

[@reedberry]

The smallest plane I've ever flown was back in the mid 1980s in Hawaii on some little airline called Air Molokai. Smaller than the plane you were on, and my then wife and I were the only two passengers. She asked if she could be the co-pilot, so our pilot played along and let her put on a headset. Honolulu to Molokai isn't a very long flight, and it was a bit bumpy, but worth the trip because, despite the fact that there's not much to do on that small island, it is quite beautiful and it was a fun way to spend a day.

[@reedberry]

@Ted Ching Wow, what a great memory of that airline. Lol. But at least you made it.

[@reedberry]

@Ted Ching I've spent my entire life in L.A. I've never lived anywhere else. Love traveling, my two favorite places being Miami and Hawaii. I have a lot of air miles saved up. Ready to travel now that life is getting back to normal.

[@reedberry]

@Ted Ching Well, I have friends in London that want me to visit and a friend in Thailand that wants me to come over there. But I hate long flights. Thinking about Hawaii or Cancun, or possibly Puerto Vallarta. Shorter flights = more time for fun upon arrival.

[@liamrowlands8904]

I somehow stumbled across this type of KZbin video about a month ago and became obsessed with them. I've watched a few different creators, but settled firmly after discovering you Noel. You videos are so much more real and authentic, and I absolutely love them!!

[@jonnagold1615]

Another awesome video!! I haven't missed any of them. Thank you!

[@bsr6823]

Noel you make the most interesting airline videos on KZbin. Great stuff as always, cannot wait for the next one!

[@mikeparsons84]

Interesting SOP to extend the flaps on the takeoff roll

[@Winter_Sportster]

Was wondering about that. I once read somewhere that pilots of float-equipped Cubs would "pop down the flaps" on takeoff to break the plane loose from surface tension of the water. Got no idea if that's true though.

[@TriciaBute]

Great video again Noel. BTW, there was no one more surprised than me to see you on my local news station, reporting about how bad the security was (is) at Manchester Airport, I blurted out "I know him"! x

[@japanesetrainandtravel6168]

Love the Cessnas. My friend took me a for a few flights when he was training on the 172. The only downside to flying the Caravan is if you need to make frequent trips to the loo you’ve got a problem. Great catch of that long freight train.

[@bradowen761]

I feel that you were very fortunate to catch these segments in good weather. I might do it under the same conditions. But IFR dodging thunderstorms in that bolt bucket? No freaking way.

[@armyavi8tor]

When I used to fly for silver airways we did a lot of essential service flying in the Saab. ATL MSL, ATL PIB, ATL TUP, TUP GLH, ATL MEI. The Saab was definitely a bit more comfy, but not by much. Wonder what the future of these flights hold with a lack of pilots to fly them.

[@luvthedrake1375]

Awesome video. One small correction, Noel: Nashville is most commonly referred to as "Music City". Memphis, although rich in history with Blues and Jazz, is more accurately called "Bluff City".

[@ljre3397]

Interesting to hear a Brit that has an understanding of the US layout. The best way to learn the US is by driving across it from Atlantic to Pacific.

[@dumbmutts.7758]

I've skydived out of a Cessna Caravan, once from 18000 ft, and was my favourite plane to skydive from.

[@christopherwood2796]

I like the King Air myself. Twin Otter isn't bad either. Although it's usually the C-182 for me. 🪂

[@dumbmutts.7758]

@@christopherwood2796 I also like the Cessna Skyvan. During my AFF used a Pilatus Porter for 1 dive and nearly fell out when they opened the door. Good job my instructor had a hold of me.

[@christopherwood2796]

@@dumbmutts.7758 Never have jumped the Caravan. Hopefully one day. I did IAD progression myself. And if you had fallen out...arch!!

[@carlvincent12]

Noel has been to more places in America than most Americans

[@SimplyCheryl]

Love how you bring new and refreshing aviation videos different from many others!! ❤️

[@timtilford6662]

Thanks for the great video Noel! Awesome as ever 😊

[@mrc432]

Noel, Love that airport. First flew into in late 60's aboard Texas International Convair 600. Thank you for bringing back memories.

[@noameier46]

I generally feel that KZbin aviators cover the US way too much (despite very average airports and airlines) but at least Noel takes us on little used and unexpected journeys across the nation.

[@mxyzptlyk]

Noel's vlogs are superb, amusing and entertaining. I wish that he would add captions to show which airfields/airports/towns/cities as other airline vloggers do. It would make them even better.

[@daveholt777]

Love these when you fly on the small airlines to obscure places i've never heard of (hot springs)

[@nashscan]

Hot Springs is a really wonderful town. The historic Arlington Hotel and bathhouse row will make you feel like you've stepped back into the roaring 20's.

[@jonathonjankovich2362]

I flew a Cessna Caravan from SRQ down to Exuma, Bahamas, then on to Santo Domingo a few years back. Love this little plane!

[@brianarbenz1329]

Totally interesting! Sort of a Greyhound/Trailways for air travel. The opening scenes in Dallas/FW certainly were different from what I experienced in that giant airport. That was such human scale, personal service. I'm going to check into this kind of flying for future travel.

[@KYLOWW]

I noticed Elvis Presley on the back of the safety card in the Cessna Caravan thats awesome. 😅😅

[@darrenjohnson4420]

These are my favorite videos travelling the smaller airlines to small cities in the USA

[@blakeamsler8184]

I am a student pilot out of KSUZ. Been doing my student solo cross-country flights down to KHOT. Hope you enjoyed the beauty this state has to offer!

[@sdfft820]

I think that I enjoy these unique short flights more than long hauls. Thank you!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Mrsournotes]

Yes, would definitely fly Southern. My flight instructor told me my little Cessna 150 would grow up to be a Caravan one day! Still waiting… Nice video, thanks.

[@noelphilips]

Thanks for watching

[@cohort6159]

What a small world. That airstrip you showed was the one at Hazen Arkansas. My family came from Hazen and we still own a farm that is actually across the road from that strip. It is used mainly for agriculture aviation operations but at least when I lived there, skydiving was common on the weekends.

[@tripp540]

great video, hope you enjoyed your meal in my state of Mississippi. I sure hope you show off the new terminal at Memphis International Airport in the next video!

[@IndianapolisAirportSpotter]

I like how you’re trying out all the small airlines! I wanna do this! I’m taking Denver Air Connection to Alliance in June. I’d recommend you try out Contour Airlines (I’d recommend their BNA-IND route)

[@talesfromtheleashexpatdogl1426]

I LOVE CONTOUR AIRLINES!! I fly their TUP to BNA flight. Cheaper to fly with Contour than pay parking at MEM. Also, BNA is cheaper to fly out of for international flights which is what I do living in Mexico as an expat

[@edwardlees4585]

9,000 feet is the perfect altitude to both appreciate the landscape and see its more interesting features. Nice trip!

[@alastairpreston3237]

Except where the hills are higher!

[@edwardlees4585]

@@alastairpreston3237 I was hoping they'd maintain that altitude above the surrounding terrain and not sea level otherwise there would be problems.

[@alastairpreston3237]

@@edwardlees4585 I hear you. i was considering that some of the hills west of me are over 11,500 ASL. I've just checked: some of the local airlines using aircraft such as Dash-8s do fly over said hills at nearly 22,000 feet ASL.

[@mrc6182]

Did this same trip on Southern back in June of last year. I enjoyed it immensely! Good, comfortable airplane for passengers! My flight went through El Dorado, South Arkansas Regional, where we parked behind the most stunningly gorgeous V-tailed Beech Bonanza I've seen in many years! Captain walked me around the prop so we could get a closer look.

[@lancekara2282]

Great Vid thanks Noel, interesting as always

[@noelphilips]

My pleasure!

[@adriancastro6202]

Those Air Tractors at 9:22!! Just beautiful!!

[@denisebledsoe8836]

So happy you came through my part of the world! I live in Memphis. I enjoy your channel so much!!

[@johapi]

Just discovered your channel and I absolutely love it.

[@qz_wkaviation6607]

I flew this airline back in december from KLNS-KIAD, enjoyed every moment flying on the 208. Very nice airline.

[@arekbudnik1159]

hi noel i just want to tell you that i recently found your youtube channel and i absolutely love it! Keep up the good work and have a good day !

[@dwightchurchstone3042]

5:41 thank you for this shot of the river shows a oxbow river system from the air much more clearly. Used your shot to explain to a friend what it was

[@lightbearer972]

DFW is my home airport and it always has been, but I'd never heard of Southern Airways. Thanks for all you do to bring the excitement of travel to so many people, Noel!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@victoriasumner936]

Really interesting thank you Noel

[@caj1119]

Every seat is an aisle and a window, and the cockpit is right in the cabin with you. That is small alright, I've been on some small airplanes but not small enough to be sharing a cabin with the pilots. Thanks for posting. In answer to your question, sure I would fly it, seems safe enough as well as a neat experience, just wouldn't be flying on it all the time.

[@metrovic]

Arkansas, Prettiest place I ever saw, sang the late, great Glen Campbell. Another great video Noel, really enjoying the channel, thanks.

[@davidmccutcheon485]

Noel, my very first flight was on a Southern Airways DC-3 back in the 60's going from Jackson, Tennessee to Memphis, a whopping 80 miles. Southern was a real airline back in the days of regulated carriers and routes. As for your BBQ experience, you should have gone to downtown Memphis and eaten at The Rendezvous Restaurant, so famous for its dry-rubbed ribs that the Rolling Stones would have orders flown to their concert locations when touring the US.

[@darrenwells2277]

Its your face when you see the sign saying SCAT.. lol

[@nataliesmith303]

What a great flight, thanks for sharing 😀

[@noelphilips]

Thanks for watching

[@SamFrostDigitalMarketing]

If you're ever in New Zealand, a small regional airline called Sounds Air use these Caravans for some of their routes (for example Wellington to Blenheim, which is just across the Cook Strait). They also use the Pilatus PC12 for their slightly longer routes ... lots of fun, although a bit unnerving in the sense they only have one pilot. Great video by the way.

[@TheShootinStar]

Hot Springs is a very interesting place. I was there a few years ago, and while it was HOT, it was a friendly place. I live on the other end of Tennessee, Johnson City.

[@ChasetheG]

Lived in DeSoto County for a few years, it’s such a lovely area. I now wish I got to go to that One & Only BBQ in Southaven. Hope you had a nice time in the area, Noel.

[@dianeboileau2026]

Noel I love seeing you fly with these boutique airlines!

[@IndyGuy65]

I stayed at the Sheraton Hotel were you stayed in Dallas in 2010. Looks like they have done a good job updating the hotel. I drove through Tennessee and Arkansas during my move to Dallas in 2010. Beautiful area and great food too.

[@simonhutchings6256]

Noel Another great review , you must have traveled on a few Caravan 208’s including the memorable Mexican A/C . Your vlogs have definitely inspired me to try and book a flight on this excellent aircraft type 👍

[@ColePilot]

Their my local airline at Lancaster airport! Glad to see a video on them and you can’t beat the prices!

[@kinky_Z]

Wow... an old regional... rare in this our end-stage MONOPOLY phase. Good for you!

[@SHR2002]

Yes, I would. I love small planes. I did a little flying(with instructors and solo) in my youth and also flew in my dad's company plane in Kenya...more fun than big planes. And you get to see so much more!

[@pabrennan6877]

Noel Philips has left the building (& plane). _Thankyouverymuch_

[@glock8660]

Found your channel recently and been binge watching all your videos, quality content mate!

[@noelphilips]

Welcome aboard!

[@Rotuma7]

I love your hand movements , GREAT VIDEO

[@noelphilips]

Thank you 🤗

[@daveelrod7229]

I flew ELD to DFW the other day and was going to tell you about Southern Airways Express, but you beat me to it. I really enjoyed flying with them.

[@redbaron4600]

Hi Noel, just got back from my flight from KORD and i`m looking forward to watching your brand new video. Cheers from ELLX.

[@nickisrael9922]

Noel...Great stuff and adventures as always. Hugs from Colombia

[@noelphilips]

Thanks for watching!

[@rw2629]

I flew Southern Airlines many times in the 60’s and 70’s. They mainly serviced smaller airports in the SE and flew a few DC-9’s and Martin 404’s.

[@ecclestonsangel]

You look like you were having a really good time, Noel. The only thing that stops me from giving these a try, well, two- is a, they don't have these airlines anywhere near where I live, and B, I'm not certain they could accommodate my wheelchair. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind giving it a whirl. Make sure you go to Graceland, Noel. It's really amazing, and you can see Elvis Presley's private jets! Edit: you simply MUST go to Monroe's! Fantastic Southern cooking, and it was Elvis' favorite place to eat. Get the corn fritters- they are great!

[@airfoxtrot2006]

Great video Noel i enjoyed watching it 😀

[@noelphilips]

Thank you!

[@BridgetWeedon]

Awww you came here to Memphis!!! I hope you stayed a while and enjoyed it 😊

[@builtontherockhomestead9390]

Thank you for filming out the window. I really enjoy the scenery.

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jarrellbabb1344]

If take your family to Hot Springs? You have take a side trip to Murfreesboro to dig for Diamonds at Crater of Diamonds Mine State Park.

[@gstevens6948]

Wow, just wow. Great content.

[@hacc220able]

Thanks for sharing

[@erikramaekers63]

I'm from Belgium we have airports in Zaventem, Charleroi, Liège and Ostend.After Sabena went bankrupt Brussel Airways became the national airline (but it's owned by Swissair)Charleroi is called Brussel South by Ryanair but it's more than one hour with the train from Brussels :)You have a great channel i would like to make the same trip as this one.Maybe one day

[@briangentle5515]

Brussels Airlines is actually owned by Lufthansa (as is Swiss)! I think that I am right in saying that there are no domestic flights in Belgium; shortest hops are Luxemburg and Amsterdam, I think.

[@paulcrockett6105]

What about Antwerp

[@NostalgiaMan]

Ah the ol' Cessna Caravan Classic

[@drnogueiras8783]

I love flying with boutique for work. I love being able to see through the cockpit window, always reassuring seeing this papi lights eith my own eyes, and I’m usually the only one on the plane. It’s $60 round trip between the city I travel to for work. Also really like the PC12

[@brigittelehmann9749]

great flight enjoyed your flight again interesting places ive lived in the states so some places are familiar

[@kimberlyokeeffe5360]

On one hand this makes me want to fly across the country but I don't really like heights ... or flying. So I will enjoy you doing this for me. Thanks!

[@christophercullum4036]

Noel! Love your videos. Great to see your experience with Southern Airways. Being that Memphis is my home airport, I've heard of them, but have never flown them. Hot Springs is a really interesting place. Nestled near the Ouchita Mountain range, there are plenty of places to hike thanks to there being a national park. The park also preserves a row of early 20th century bath houses, some of which still operate as spas to this day. Yeah, Memphis is right there on that southwest corner of Tennessee. Hop over the Mississippi River and you are back in Arkansas. 10 minute drive south from the airport and you're in Mississippi. Memphis International Airport (MEM) is an awesome place to do plane spotting as well since FedEx World Hub is there. Plus with the recently renovated terminal that opened this year, it's never been easier to fly domestically or just have a single stopover in a bigger airport (like Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Denver, or Los Angeles) to be whisked off to international destinations.

[@Nae395]

Great stuff Noel.!! The most enjoyable episode!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Nae395]

@@noelphilips 🥂

[@aviator_z9188]

This is awesome. I live right down the street from honeys barbecue. I fly out of KOLV and I often plane spot at Memphis international. I had no idea that southern airlines offered these types of trips. Amazing video!

[@noelphilips]

Thanks!

[@Trehugindrtlvr1]

Noel! Assuming it still exists, see if you can get a flight on the AK Airlines 'milk run.' I use to fly it going to college, because it was cheaper than a non-stop. This flight was on a 737-Combi, and went from Seattle to Anchorage, stopping at 10-ish little towns on the way - it was something like a 15 hour flight that you could do nonstop in 4 hours. Most of these airports didn't even have taxiways....the plane just did a u-turn on the runway to get back to the terminal. Sometimes between airports, the jet never got above the mountains and just flew through the valleys. Tons of fun, going through one of the most beautiful sections of N. America. Cheers!

[@gs98999]

Love these type of videos. Seeing these little airports to me is way more interesting for some reason than the huge metropolitan ones. It would be cool if you included a few min of footage exploring these little towns as well, but maybe that's not what the main point of the channel is. Either way, thumbs up!

[@briangentle5515]

Fascinating flight. I was also amused by your fish-eye camera which did amazing things to the supporting pillars in the terminal at Hot Springs. Hope the building is still standing!

[@noelphilips]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ThruAWiderLens]

Wow, amazing views from 9,000 feet. I would fly them in an instant!

[@zachbadger1151]

Hello from Arkansas! So cool to see you come through. If you make it back this way, you should fly in to XNA and check out the northwest part of the state. Safe travels, Noel!

[@justinlane1980]

If you wanted REAL barbecue, you should have kept flying to North Carolina!

[@Kauaiguy22]

Mokulele, yes you pronounced it correctly. I lived on Maui a couple years and flew on their caravans several times about the islands. If you ever get out to Hawaii, see if you can get a flight into the west maui airport. Very steep approach, but very fun. Or their Maui Kona route, if the weather is right you might fly right over Haleakala crater, which is amazing. Safe travels.

[@dennisalexandercabico9481]

Hello Noel..🤗🤗🤗.. Good to see you again.. Dallas, Texas to Hot Springs, Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee..👍👍👍.. Cool.....😎😎😎❤️❤️❤️

[@TheInsaneChef]

Hot Springs is a great little town with a rich history..I suggest spending a couple days there sometime

[@loringmccrorey4757]

Love the tranquil experience these smaller airlines provide. Those seats looked comfy. Then again I'm not six feet two inches.😂🙂👍

[@rsam4725]

You need to post more!!!!! Your amazing