Dorado Wings

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Dorado Wings was a small airline that operated from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico to Dorado Airport in the tourist center of Dorado. Dorado Wings was the only commercial operator at Dorado Airport. Dorado Wings existed from 1964 to 1982. In early 1982, the airline was purchased and it's name was changed to CrownAir which operated until 1988. Aircraft operated were 13 BN-2A (Britton Norman Islanders), 3 Hanley Page Jet streams, 5 DHC-6-300 (Twin Otters), 1 Piper Navajo, and 1 Metro Liner.

Flights from San Juan to Dorado took a mere 20 to 25 minutes. Because of the shortness of their flights, Dorado Wings airplanes were a constant sight every day at many airports throughout this part of the Caribbean. Airports served in Puerto Rico were San Juan International (SJU), Isla Grande, Dorado Beach (DDP), Mayaguez, Palmas Del Mar, and Aguadia (former Ramey Airforce Base). Other airports served were St. Thomas (STT), St. Croix (STX), Tortola/Beef Island BVI, Virgin Gorda BVI, St. Kitts, St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Barts, and Anguilla. Still more airports were served on a charter basis.

[edit] Incidents and accidents

In 1981, a Dorado Wings airplane suffered an accident on a Non Revenue flight after Take Off at San Juan airport. There were no major injuries or fatalities, though the aircraft was totaled.

The airline was, at the time, part of a group of smaller Puerto Rican airlines that were seen commonly at San Juan's international airport. These also included Flamenco Airways, Prinair, Oceanair and Vieques Air Link, of which, as of 2004, only Vieques Air Link survives.