United leading the way

Shortly after the historic Pasco, Washington-Boise, Idaho-Elko, Nevada  flight of Varney Air Lines on April 6, 1926, this group posed before a Laird Swallow biplane at Boise. Shown (from left) are pilot Joe Taff, pilot Franklin Rose, Hal Bruntach, Mrs. Walter T. Varney, Walter T. Varney, his father Thomas Varney, chief pilot Leon Cuddeback, the senior Varney’s chauffeur, and a representative of the US Post Office.

This flight was the beginning of United Airlines. The historic flight in 1926 was the first contracted mail service of a private airline. Varney Air Lines was the only bidder of the government contract and began at Pasco, Washington with 207 lb.of mail.  The Laird Swallow flew at a top speed of 90 mph and was supposed to make a stop in Boise on its way to Elko. But a storm forced a landing in Oregon. The mail finally arrived in Elko three days after takeoff.

Varney soon added Salt Lake City, Portland and Seattle to its route. By May 1934, it had merged with Pacific Air Transport, Boeing Air Transport and National Air Transport to become United Airlines.