Martz Air Lines, from bus to plane
Frank Martz began by carrying Pennsylvania miners by car and then bus. In the 1920s, his innovative spirit led him toward aviation and the creation of The Martz Air Lines.
The 1931 Buffalo to New York route tells this rare transition from road network to air service, with a brochure that even listed many emergency landing fields.
A regional airline born from road transport.
The same service logic, but by air.
Simple, slow and period-consistent.
Short legs, timetable and emergency fields.
Understanding the flight
The interest of this page lies in the continuity between bus and aircraft. Martz is not only selling an aviation adventure: he extends a regional public transport culture.
The route is short and concrete. It contains timetables, useful stops, a stewardess on board and the idea that aviation can complement the road.
Before departure
- Choose an old single engine aircraft, stable and not too fast.
- Respect the indicative timings to recover the brochure tone.
- Identify emergency fields in valleys and urban areas.
- Keep favorable weather: the page describes a commercial service, not a raid.
Suggested route
Buffalo and Finger Lakes
Buffalo, Dansville and Elmira establish the route in New York State.
KBUF → KDSV → KELM
Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre / Scranton and Stroudsburg recall the road and mining roots of the company.
KELM → KAVP
New York
Newark completes the connection toward the major metropolis.
Experience tips
The flight is short, so polish the context: timetable, passengers, mail and airline weather.
A too-fast aircraft erases the point. The regional pace should remain visible.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2012