Air
Midwest (USAir Express) Beech 1900D N218YV
(c/n UE-218)
In 1991 Air Midwest was acquired by Mesa Air group
and continued operations as a subsidiary
of that company
flying Beech 1900s with USAir Express liveries. At one time
Air Midwest could
boast some 118
aircraft in its fleet. This was reduced to 20 by 2007 and, I
believe, by mid-2008
Mesa announced plans
to discontinue it completely. As of writing (October 2008) I am
not sure if
Midwest is
totally defunct, but even if it is not, it is a mere shadow of its
former self. The above
phpto, by Art
Brett of Photovation Images depicts a typical Air Midwest component
inbound to
Tampa
International in September 2003 during more solvent
times. This particular 1900 was
sold to Florida-based
Gulfstream International Airlines.