Historic flight plan

1933: Western Air Express, mail and passenger routes across the American West

A Michel Lagneau historic route presented as a clear cockpit briefing, ready to help you prepare the simulator, follow each stopover and enjoy the journey.

Period1933AuthorMichel LagneauReading4 min

32Waypoints~ 15 388 kmDistance3Segments

Interactive route, leg by leg, with animated playback.

Real route map

Approximate track based on the article waypoints and available aeronautical coordinates.

01California and Intermountain02Midwest and East03Northwest and Southwest

Pre-flight briefing

Western Air Express, mail and passenger routes across the American West

Understand the mission

Start with the historic context: it sets the atmosphere, aircraft choice and overall logic of the journey.

Prepare the simulator

Check scenery, recommended aircraft, fuel and weather before launching the first leg.

Follow the legs

Use the airport codes, flying times and route notes to build your navigation leg by leg.

Enjoy the journey

Let the route shape the experience: adjust lighting, document waypoints and take time to rediscover the story.

Historic flight plan

Michel Lagneau route notebook

Settle into the cockpit, prepare your aircraft and follow the journey as a proper historic crossing.

Foundational routes of American aviation

Western Air Express was founded in 1925 with an airmail contract between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Passenger service soon followed, and the airline later became Western Airlines before joining Delta Air Lines in 1987.

The 1933 network spreads across the American West, from the Rockies to California, with extensions toward Chicago and New York. It is ideal for a Fokker F.VIIb/3m, Boeing 247 or any suitable 1930s airliner.

Period1933

AirlineWestern Air Express

Suggested aircraftFokker F.VIIb/3m, Boeing 247 or equivalent

NavigationGPS with classic radio-navigation

Flying atmosphere

Period brochures had to reassure passengers who were still discovering air travel, lift, turbulence and weather.
The longer lines are best flown as service days, gradually moving from one major network point to the next.
Routes 4, 5 and 6 are especially rewarding if you enjoy western terrain and high-country flying.

Suggested route

Route 1 - California, Nevada and Utah

This chapter structures the Route 1 - California, Nevada and Utah segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

KSAN → KLAX → KLAS → KSLC

Route 2 - Salt Lake City to Denver

This chapter structures the Route 2 - Salt Lake City to Denver segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

KSLC → KCYS → KDEN

Routes 2a and 3 - Eastbound and Detroit

This chapter structures the Routes 2a and 3 - Eastbound and Detroit segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

KOMA → KORD → KCLE → KJFK → KDTW

Route 4 - Pacific Northwest

This chapter structures the Route 4 - Pacific Northwest segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

KSLC → KBOI → KPSC → KPDX → KTIW → KSEA

Route 5 - Montana

This chapter structures the Route 5 - Montana segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

KSLC → KPIH → KBTM → KHLN → KGTF

Routes 6 and 7 - Colorado, New Mexico and Texas

This chapter structures the Routes 6 and 7 - Colorado, New Mexico and Texas segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

KCYS → KDEN → KCOS → KPUB → KTAD → KSAF → KABQ → KPUB → KAMA → KSPS → KFTW → KDAL

Routes 8, 9 and 9a - Returns and northern California

This chapter structures the Routes 8, 9 and 9a - Returns and northern California segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

KDEN → KCYS → KOMA → KORD → KDEN → KCYS → KSLC → KLAS → KLAX → KSAN → KSLC → KRNO → KSMF → KSFO

Navigation steps

Route 1 - California, Nevada and UtahSan Diego KSAN → Los Angeles KLAX 95 NM
Los Angeles KLAX → Las Vegas KLAS 204 NM
Las Vegas KLAS → Salt Lake City KSLC 320 NM
Route 2 - Salt Lake City to DenverSalt Lake City KSLC → Cheyenne KCYS 326 NM
Cheyenne KCYS → Denver KDEN 78 NM
Routes 2a and 3 - Eastbound and DetroitOmaha KOMA → Chicago KORD 361 NM
Chicago KORD → Cleveland KCLE 272 NM
Cleveland KCLE → New York / Kennedy KJFK 368 NM
Chicago KORD → Detroit KDTW 202 NM
Route 4 - Pacific NorthwestSalt Lake City KSLC → Boise KBOI 251 NM
Boise KBOI → Pasco / Tri-Cities KPSC 203 NM
Pasco KPSC → Portland KPDX 151 NM
Portland KPDX → Tacoma Narrows KTIW 101 NM
Tacoma KTIW → Seattle-Tacoma KSEA 15 NM
Route 5 - MontanaSalt Lake City KSLC → Pocatello KPIH 129 NM
Pocatello KPIH → Butte KBTM 183 NM
Butte KBTM → Helena KHLN 45 NM
Helena KHLN → Great Falls KGTF 58 NM
Routes 6 and 7 - Colorado, New Mexico and TexasCheyenne KCYS → Denver KDEN → Colorado Springs KCOS 78 NM then 62 NM
Colorado Springs KCOS → Pueblo KPUB → Trinidad KTAD 33 NM then 62 NM
Trinidad KTAD → Santa Fe KSAF → Albuquerque KABQ 130 NM then 43 NM
Pueblo KPUB → Amarillo KAMA → Wichita Falls KSPS 228 NM then 175 NM
Wichita Falls KSPS → Fort Worth / Meacham KFTW → Dallas Love KDAL 90 NM then 25 NM
Routes 8, 9 and 9a - Returns and northern CaliforniaDenver KDEN → Cheyenne KCYS → Omaha KOMA → Chicago KORD 79 NM, 403 NM then 361 NM
Denver KDEN → Cheyenne KCYS → Salt Lake City KSLC → Las Vegas KLAS → Los Angeles KLAX → San Diego KSAN 79 NM, 325 NM, 320 NM, 204 NM then 94 NM
Salt Lake City KSLC → Reno KRNO → Sacramento KSMF → San Francisco KSFO 365 NM, 98 NM then 73 NM