As traditionally the second smallest US trunk carrier behind only Northeast Airlines, Continental Airlines (CO) was a master of making do with few resources. When the airline first received Boeing 707s in 1959, it invented 'perpetual maintenance' in order to achieve the most productivity out of the expensive new aircraft. The introduction of the 707 turbojets and Vickers Viscount turboprops meant that the airline had some almost-new Douglas 'propliners', and used two of these (along with a grizzled veteran from an earlier era) in solo flying duties to both meet some short-term marketing needs and as a way to maximize its investment.
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