Historic Bluegrass Airlines

Official 1947 Route Map

There is very little information available about the historic Bluegrass Airlines. It is believed to have been started in 1944 by a doctor and his two sons from Bowling Green, KY. It was our understanding that their routes were incorporated into Imperial Airlines in 1946 which later merged into Delta Airlines. However, we cannot find any history of an Imperial Airlines outside of California, and the Delta history makes no mention of Imperial or Bluegrass. Lastly we have obtained the postcard above which indicated Bluegrass Airlines was still operational in March of 1947. What is known is that Bluegrass was one of the first post World War II intra-state airlines. If anyone has information regarding schedules and equipment used, we would be happy to include it here.

Hypothetical Schedule

Equipment unkown.

(assumed to be small twin engine such as the Cessna Bobcat)

Read DOWN	Read DOWN				Read UP	Read UP
15:10	11:50	Lv	Ashland, KY ET	Ar	17:32	14:32
16:10	12:50		Lexington		16:40	13:40
16:42	13:22	Ar	Louisville	Lv	16:00	13:00
16:55	13:35	Lv	Louisville ET	Ar	15:50	12:47
|	13:25	Ar	Bowling Green CT	Lv	14:00	|
16:50			Owensboro			11:00
17:10			Madisonville			10:40
17:45		Ar	Paducah, KY CT	Lv		10:00

Be aware that the time zone is Eastern Time in Louisville, Lexington and Ashland, but Central Time at all other airports.

Navigation

City	Airport	Heading	Distance
Louisville KY	KLOU – Bowman
Lexington KY	KLEX – Blue Grass	106 Deg	51 nm
Ashland KY	KDWU – Ashland-Boyd Co.	75 Deg	93.3 nm

City	Airport	Heading	Distance
Louisville KY	KLOU – Bowman
Bowling Green KY	KBWG - Bowling Green-Warren Co Regl.	207 Deg	83.9 nm

City	Airport	Heading	Distance
Louisville KY	KLOU – Bowman
Owensboro KY	KOWB – Owensboro-Daviess Co.	249 Deg	76.9 nm
Madisonville KY	2I0 – Madisonville	206 Deg	25.6 nm
Paducah KY	KPAH – Barkley Regl.	254 Deg	68 nm

Airport Info

KDWU – Ashland-Boyd Co. - Elevation 544’

Runways 10/28 ILS RW 10 108.90 ILS/BC RW 28 108.90

YRK VOR/DME 112.80 50nm range located 12.5nmWNW 300 deg

KBWG – Bowling Green-Warren Co. Regl - Elevation 547’

Runways 3/21 and 12/30 ILS/GS RW 3 108.75 ILS/BC RW 21 108.75

BWG VOR/DME 117.90 195nm range located 2.4nm SSW 209 deg

BW NDB 238.0 38 nm range located 5.5nm on final for RW 3.

KLEX – Lexington Blue Grass - Elevation 977’

Runways 4/22 and 8/26 ILS /GS RW 4 110.10 ILS/GS RW 22 110.50

HYK VOR/DME 112.60 60nm range located 7.7nm ESE 122 deg

LE NDB 242.0 38nm range located 3.3 nm on final for RW 4

KLOU – Louisville Bowman– Elevation 548’

Runways 1/19, 6/24 and 14/32

BQM VOR/DME 112.20 38nm range located on field

LIU VOR/DME 114.80 195nm range located 8.5nm S 153 deg

LK NDB 414.0 38nm range located 5.2nm S 166 deg.

2I0 – Madisonville – Elevation 439’

Runways 5/23

CCT VOR/DME 109.80 60nm range located 6.7nm E 76 deg

KOWB – Owensboro-Daviess Co. – Elevation 406’

Runways 5/23 and 18/36 ILS/GS RW 36 111.50 ILS/BC RW 18 111.50

OWB VOR/DME 108.60 38nm range located on field

KPAH – Paducah Barkley Regl. – Elevation 410’

Runways 4/22 and 14/32 ILS/GS RW 4 108.50 ILS/BC RW 22 108.50

CNG VOR/DME 113.10 60nm range located 3.8nm final for RW 4

BDD NDB 254.0 38nm range located on 6.6nm final for RW 22