My experiences with Lloyd Aereo Boliviano 

 

 

Flights, photos and memorabilia 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________________________

 

 

My flights on each individual aircraft

 

 

 

 

 

CP-573    DC-3                 Santa Cruz - Camiri           29 Oct 1972

---

 

 

CP-583       DC-3              Camiri - Santa Cruz             9 Mar 1973    

 

CP-853    Lockheed Electra     Cochabamba - La Paz       13 Mar 1973  

 

CP-861     Boeing 727      La Paz   -  Santa Cruz      20 May 1971     

 

                                          Santa Cruz  - Cochabamba   13 Mar 1973

 

                                          Tarija  - Santa Cruz     2 Aug 1983

 

                                           La Paz  - Santa Cruz      27 Aug 1983

 

                                           Santa Cruz  -  Cochabamba  - La Paz      27 July 1993

 

                                           Cochabamba  -  Santa Cruz      18 Apr 1997

 

                                         

 CP-862     Fairchild  F-27     Camiri - Yacuiba - Tarija     1 Aug 1983                         

 

 CP-863     Fairchild F-27     Tarija  -  Sucre     1 Mar 1972   

 

CP-1070    Boeing 727    Santa Cruz  -  Cochabamba  -  La Paz      1 Oct 1983 

 

                                         La Paz  -  Cochabamba     28 July 1993 

 

                                         Cochabamba  -  Trinidad     28 July 1993 

 

                                         Trinidad  -  Cochabamba     28 July 1993 

 

                                          Tarija  -  Santa Cruz       30 July 1993 

 

                                                  

CP-1223    Boeing 727     Cochabamba  -  Sucre  -  Tarija     29 July 1993                        

 

CP-1276    Boeing 727     Santa Cruz  -  La Paz     10 Jan 1988                               

 

                                          La Paz  -  Santa Cruz      11 Jan 1988                             

 

                                          Santa Cruz  -  Panama  -  Miami     13 Jan 1988                              

 

                                          Santa Cruz  -  Santiago  -  21 Mar 1997                                              

                             

                                          Santiago  -  Iquique  -  Santa Cruz     7 Apr 1997                                  

 

CP-1366    Boeing 727     Santa Cruz  -  Cochabamba     28 Mar 1983                                       

 

                                          Cochabamba  -  Santa Cruz     2 Apr 1983                                              

 

                                          Santa Cruz  -  Cochabamba  -  La Paz     25 Aug 1983                           

 

                                          Miami  -  Panama  -  Santa Cruz     30 Dec 1987                                        

 

CP-1367    Boeing 727     Miami  -  Panama  -  Santa Cruz     8 Mar 1981                                           

 

                                          Santa Cruz  -  Manaus  -  Caracas  -  Miami     5 Aug 1993                          

 

                                          Trinidad  -  Cochabamba     15 Apr 1997                                                    

 

                                          Cochabamba  -  La Paz     15 Apr 1997                                                   

 

                                          Tarija  -  Cochabamba     18 Apr 1997                                                          

 

CP-1698    Boeing 707     Santa Cruz  -  Buenos Aires     12 Aug 1983                                        

 

                                          Buenos Aires  -  Santa Cruz     23 Aug 1983                                              

 

CP-2232    Airbus A310   Miami  -  Manaus  -  Santa Cruz     19 July 1993                                          

 

                                          Miami  -  Manaus  -  La Paz  -  Santa Cruz     17-18 Mar 1997                      

 

                                          Santa Cruz  -  Miami     26 Apr 1997                                                        

 

CP-2282    Fokker F-27    Santa Cruz  -  Trinidad     15 Apr 1997                                                         

 

CP-2294    Boeing 727     La Paz  -  Tarija     18 Apr 1997                                                                 

 

 

 

       Summary:      We boarded a total of 38 flights on 15 different aircraft from May 1971 to Apr 1997.  I sometimes flew alone and sometimes with my wife Betty (from Santa Cruz) and one or more of our six children.                                                                                                                                   I feel privileged to have flown on two different DC-3s, a legendary aircraft; these were built in the early 1940's. The sleek Fokker F-27 built in the Netherlands, and the Fairchild F-27s built in the U.S. under contract from Fokker. The elegant Lockheed L-188 Electra; all beautiful aircraft, but my favorite will always be the Boeing 727. As one LAB pilot said more or less: in the rough terrain and high altitude of Bolivia, if I lose an engine I would rather have had three engines than two to begin with; - like most of the recent designs. The big majestic Boeing 707 was a sight to behold; you could see and hear and feel the power as it took flight.                                                                                                                                              

       The more recent planes of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, especially the Airbus, were just that - a flying bus - in my opinion; although I did like the looks of the Boeing 767, outside and inside. The fading of LAB from the aviation scene completed a transition, for me, from the romantic age of air travel, when you would approach the big bird from a distance and climb up the stairs, taking everything in as you went; to the days when you walk from the airport down the long narrow hallway, through the jetway to your seat: sit down and buckle up; fast, convenient and  impersonal. 

 

 

 

 

If you enjoy aviation, especially commercial aviation in South America in general or Bolivia in particular, you might want to look at the Facebook page:  "Friends of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano" 

 

Si le gusta la aviacion, especialmente de Sud America o Bolivia; tal vez le gustaria mirar a la pagina de Facebook:  "Friends of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano"   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some photos from 1971- 1997 

 

 

 

 

My first view of El Trompillo and the "avion pirata"  -  Santa Cruz  -  20 May 1971

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here she comes !  SRZ - 18 Jun 1971

 

 

 

 

Face to face with CP-861

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 June 1971 at SRZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a sight ! At El Trompillo - SRZ  -   June 1971                                                                                                                                    The first commercial jet to land here was this same CP-861 on 7 Mar 1970

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here comes my ride !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29 Oct 1972 - Flight on CP-573 to Camiri

 

 

 

 

 

 

My suitcases ready to be loaded - a brown and a white/black - both of cow hide !

 

 

 

 

 

"el avion a chorro" !!  -  Feb 1973 in SRZ

 

 

 

 

What a beautiful plane !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Returning to SRZ from Camiri on 9 Mar 1973 -                        TAM DC-6 on left ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a ride ! Arriving from Camiri on CP-583

 

 

 

 

Michael, Mark, Jeremy and Christopher in SRZ - Returning from CBB - 2 Apr 1983 - Michael's birthday !

 

 

 

 

Souvenirs from CBB - the boys with Betty - 2 Apr 1983 - CP-1366

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremy, Mark, my niece Roxana and Christopher boarding CP-2282 - Fokker F-27 for Trinidad from SRZ - 15 Apr 1997

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher, Jeremy, Roxana and Mark - Flight we almost missed - CP-1367 - Trinidad to CBB - 1997

 

 

 

 

Continuing "Visit Bolivia Pass" tour - Boarding CP-2294 - LPB- Tarija

 

After landing in Tarija on CP-2294

 

 

"City of Santa Cruz" - our ride back to CBB - CP-1367

 

Christopher and Michael boarding Fairchild  F-27 CP-862 in Camiri for flights to Yacuiba and Tarija 1 Aug 1983

 

Christopher and Michael with our luggage at Camiri airport (Choreti) after 3 day weather delay - 1 Aug 1983

 

 

Michael and Christopher in Yacuiba awaiting flight to Tarija - 1 Aug 1983

 

 

 

 

Airport in Tarija - 1 Aug 1983

 

A familiar friend, CP-861, in Tarija for our return flight to SRZ;     2 Aug 1983

 

 

 

 

Back in Santa Cruz de la Sierra - see the water tower - 2 Aug 1983

 

 

 

 

 

Following 7 day train and plane trip to Camiri and Tarija -             2 Aug 1983

 

 

A friend, Mark, Christopher and Michael arriving at El Trompillo - 2 Aug 1983

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boarding the B707 CP-1698 at EZE Buenos Aires for the return to SRZ - 23 Aug 1983           Betty, Jeremy and Daniel arriving on CP-1698 from Buenos Aires - 23 Aug 1983    Betty, Michael, Jeremy, Christopher and Daniel-under the blanket- arriving in SRZ from Buenos Aires - 23 Aug 1983       Betty's family waiting for us at El Trompillo  -  23 Aug 1983

CBB - flight to LPB from SRZ  on CP-1366 - 25 Aug 1983

 

 

CBB Airport on 25 Aug 1983

 

Boarding CP-1366 to LPB to receive Daniel's passport -  25 Aug 1983 25 Aug 1983 - Betty and baby Daniel arriving in El Alto; he didn't like it very much, even though he got his passport.

At VVI  - 31 Dec 1987 - my old friend CP-861

 

I just arrived on CP-1366 from Miami via Panama - 31 Dec 1987

 

Flight from SRZ - CBB - LPB  Michael and Mark 27 July 1993 on CP-861

Betty and Michael boarding CP-861 for flight to CBB and LPB -  27 July 1993

Betty stayed on board at CBB - 27 July 1993

Michael and I got off to look at the planes;  CP-1070 in front

 

27 July 1993 at CBB; two beautiful planes

 

29 Apr 1993 - Boarding CP-1223 in Cochabamba

 

Flight to Sucre and Tarija - Michael and Betty

 

Sucre: this way - Michael ready to go - 29 July 1993

Sucre terminal building on July 29 1993

Michael during short layover in Sucre

Betty and Michael in Sucre - 29 July 1993

 

Michael on the ground during the short stop in Sucre Arrival in Tarija on 29 July 1993

Arrival in Tarija - very cold ! 29 July 1993

 

Santiago - 21 Mar 1997 - Arrived on CP-1276 from Santa Cruz

 

Christopher, Jeremy, Michael and I awaiting our boarding for Cochabamba - 28 Mar 1983

 

Walking out to CP-1366 for flight to CBB 28 Mar 1983

 

Arrival in CBB 28 Mar 1983

 

Greeting some friends arriving at SRZ from Miami - Nov 1980

 

Two 727s at the gate as I arrive in VVI from Miami - direct flight on American 757 -     stop in LPB cancelled because of "civil unrest" - 13 Oct 2003

 

LAB 767 CP-2425 or 2426 arriving just behind us - 13 Oct 2003

 

My first flight with LAB - CP-861 LPB-SRZ on 20 May 1971

 

Fairchild CP-863 arriving in Tarija - 1 Mar 1972

 

Our ride to Sucre arriving in Tarija - 1 Mar 1972

 

Safe arrival in Sucre on CP-863 - 1 Mar 1972

 

A variety of old-timers visible in El Alto - 1972

 

Arrival in Camiri (Choreti) from SRZ on CP-573 - 29 Oct 1972

 

Choreti airport that serves Camiri is surrounded by mountains which requires the pilot to almost skim the treetops                   on his approach; an interesting flight !

 

CP-583 departing Choreti - 1972

 

Approaching Choreti from the south - 1972

 

DC-3 departing Choreti over Rio Parapeti - 1973

 

My missionary companion Edward Perez seeing me off for SRZ and USA - 9 Mar 1973

 

Leaving Camiri on CP-573 for SRZ and USA after almost two years in Bolivia - 9 Mar 1973

 

CP-853 - the Electra waiting to take me to LPB - 13 Mar 1973

 

In CBB - just arrived on the 861 from SRZ - 13 Mar 1973

 

My only flight on the classic Electra   CBB-LPB  13 Mar 1973

 

 

 

 

 

Memorabilia from LAB 

 

 

 

Route map on back of LAB ticket - 1983

 

 

Flights SRZ - CBB on CP-861 and CBB - LPB on CP-853 ( the Electra) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ticket for flights SRZ-BUE-SRZ - Aug 1983 on CP-1698 B707

Flights of Aug 1983

Boarding pass and ticket folder for MIA-SRZ -  Mar 1981

Excess baggage charges (155 kg) in LPB Oct 1983 - Returning to the USA

Boarding pass - Miami to SRZ - 1980 - ?

Itinerary for our "Visit Bolivia Pass"  - 1993

More photos of Bolivia:

google.com/+Markspersonalfiles

 

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

If you enjoy aviation, especially commercial aviation in South America in general or Bolivia in particular, you might want to look at the Facebook page:  "Friends of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano" 

 

Si le gusta la aviacion, especialmente de Sud America o Bolivia; tal vez le gustaria mirar a la pagina de Facebook:  "Friends of Lloyd Aereo Boliviano"