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IT's OFFICIAL: Follow the Red Tail is no more !!

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
A4's... this is going to sting a bit... but it has begun. DC-9 in MSP.

What's gonna' be "funny" is watching all those "southern boys" learning how to operate in really, really cold WX. It's an acquired process ... you can't get it from a book.

When I left my first airline ... those guys were "experts" at navigating around/through multiple lines of CB's and in the "tropical" climes having done it forever and establishing a corporate data base for other pilots --- while the iceheads up in North Korea (the upper MidWest) went absolutely bug-shit whenever they encountered a CB.

But ... they were absolute pro's when operating in/around cold WX, snow, and mountain wave areas ... the ATC slogan used to be: "Follow the Red Tails" --- if you wanted to stay out of CAT when flying across the Rockies and/or western Canada/Alaska ...
 

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
I thought United was the oldest by a few months, but I'm probably wrong.

Naaaaaa ... "Varney" doesn't count; neither does "Boeing Air Transport".

"United" didn't come about as a corporate name until Bill Boeing bought Varney and some others and started the United name in 1929 --- sooooooooooo, it's not the same continuous corporate name, i.e.: "BRAND".

Northwest is/was the longest continuous airline corporate name in use after the demise of Western Airlines (they "won" over NW by a few months as they were "founded" in 1925 but didn't start operations until April, 1926) ...
 

LazersGoPEWPEW

4500rpm
Contributor
I've got some more. :D. Got these in an e-mail earlier today.

n50101973_31508327_7729.jpg

n50101973_31508326_7483.jpg

n50101973_31508328_7980.jpg

n50101973_31508329_8223.jpg


Photographer: Unknown Delta NRT Agent.
 

geekcoach

New Member
A4sForever - was this photo one of yours, or one that came from the Wikipedia entry and just isn't there anymore?


I ask because I'm sure my family MUST have this photograph somewhere (that's my grandfather, Joe Kimm, middle right - still alive, btw) but it's not one I immediately recognize.

More information about its origins would be helpful.

Having a grandfather and father (Clint Viebrock) both retired NWA pilots, I've been very sad about the demise of an honored carrier.
 

Godspeed

His blood smells like cologne.
pilot
My favorite oldie but goodie is Alaska Airlines (especially in the PNW)... They've been around for 60+ years... Greatest customer service and mileage plan i've ever had the pleasure of dealing with... They take great care of military too.

AS-History_40s.jpg
 

geekcoach

New Member
http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/member.php?u=8537
I ask because I'm sure my family MUST have this photograph somewhere (that's my grandfather, Joe Kimm, middle right - still alive, btw) but it's not one I immediately recognize.

In case anyone is interested, I emailed this photo to my grandfather and he supplied the following details about the Ford Tri-Motor photograph...

"Taken in 1956 at Butte Airport. We were on a Coast to Coast celebration of Northwest's 30th Anniversary. Walt Kollath, Mechanic; Deke DeLong, Co-Captain; Joe Kimm, Co-Captain; Coral Yahr, Stewardess."
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
 

geekcoach

New Member
Yes, he really IS a legend - and a pioneer - isn't he? Whenever anyone asks me who my heros are, he's always at the top of my list. At age 7, it was so important to me that I was named after him that I changed the spelling of my name to reflect it. :)

Thank you for the link. I had a copy of the original newsletter from my father, but this is just as important.

Joe will be tickled to hear such kind words spoken of him. Do you know that until last month, anyway (maybe even still), he's been delivering Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors? At 97!

Anyway, I thought you might like to know that. If NWA and the Red Tail are to live on in any fashion, it will be through those of us who remember the people who made it the great company that it was.

Kimm Viebrock
 

A4sForever

BTDT OLD GUY
pilot
Contributor
That is a lot of paint...
Mixed w/ a lotta tears, too .... oh, well -- onward & upward. :)

Funny how many of the Delta PR shots encompass a former NWA Whale ... 'course as it's the same bunch of corporate prostitutes & carpetbaggers running the "show" ... why not ??? :)

Here's a big job awaiting repainting ... and an 833,000# crew heading for some fisheads & rice and something to wash it down with on the NRT layover ... :D

 

HackerF15E

Retired Strike Pig Driver
None
Wonder how much Eastern and American saved on weight with polished airplanes.

Since more airlines don't do it, I have to imagine the time/cost associated with keeping polished airplanes free of corrosion (especially in the norther tier!) offset -- or more than offset -- the fuel savings from the weight.
 
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