End of An Era?
12-16-2008, 06:27 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,619
it is a very significant gesture, and I will treasure it. After all the years of turmoil, the disappointments, the broken promises, I realize that little red tail will always mean a lot to me and my family. That tail was there at the beginning, before anyone heard of Charles Lindbergh. It bore the US registration designation, as the first and oldest Airmail carrier. It suffered through the most challenging weather, mountainous terrain, and the most corrosive labor relations. It spawned the movement of the Air Line Pilots Association, of which all the others followed. When the great designers of the early era of aircraft launched a new airliner, more often than not, it wore a red tail. When our nation went to war, the red tail went to the harshest extremes of our land, pioneering the Alaskan wilderness, the Yukon, and in the midst of combat, the Aleutians. And it introduced the Great Circle Route to the Orient, where it would not only thrive, it would create another National Airline in it's own image. It grew to the fourth largest airline in the world, and expanded it's domain to over 225 destinations. That Red Tail brought me home from Okinawa, it took a young couple on a honeymoon, and a family to Hawaii, twice. It brought my aging mother to live with me, as dementia claimed her memories, but not her smiles, and it took my best friend home to be buried. I am proud to fly with a new tail, with a dramatic history, and a legacy of concern and responsiveness to customer and employee. But I will always be a 'Red Tail", just like I will always be a "Rescue" pilot. That little aluminum piece will to the end be among my most cherished mementos. To whoever had the thoughtfulness, I am grateful!
12-31-2008, 06:38 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: DAL-S, B
Posts: 126
I was really impressed when I read that NWA management sent each employee a piece of the vertical stab of a NWA B747...
I was therefore very saddened and disheartened to find this:
Northwest Airlines Piece of a Boeing 747 Red Tail - NWA - eBay (item 130277918528 end time Dec-31-08 21:02:50 PST)
Someone is selling theirs on eBay... Current bid, $89. Sad.
Edit: Oh, silly me... It's not just one jerk who had that idea... There's over a dozen of them being sold on eBay... What a shame.
I was therefore very saddened and disheartened to find this:
Northwest Airlines Piece of a Boeing 747 Red Tail - NWA - eBay (item 130277918528 end time Dec-31-08 21:02:50 PST)
Someone is selling theirs on eBay... Current bid, $89. Sad.
Edit: Oh, silly me... It's not just one jerk who had that idea... There's over a dozen of them being sold on eBay... What a shame.
Last edited by E1Out; 12-31-2008 at 06:40 PM. Reason: updated info
01-01-2009, 01:47 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,325
I was really impressed when I read that NWA management sent each employee a piece of the vertical stab of a NWA B747...
I was therefore very saddened and disheartened to find this:
Northwest Airlines Piece of a Boeing 747 Red Tail - NWA - eBay (item 130277918528 end time Dec-31-08 21:02:50 PST)
Someone is selling theirs on eBay... Current bid, $89. Sad.
Edit: Oh, silly me... It's not just one jerk who had that idea... There's over a dozen of them being sold on eBay... What a shame.
I was therefore very saddened and disheartened to find this:
Northwest Airlines Piece of a Boeing 747 Red Tail - NWA - eBay (item 130277918528 end time Dec-31-08 21:02:50 PST)
Someone is selling theirs on eBay... Current bid, $89. Sad.
Edit: Oh, silly me... It's not just one jerk who had that idea... There's over a dozen of them being sold on eBay... What a shame.
When I'm old and grey, a C note would not even come close. I might get cremated with the thing, that way I make a splash on my final flight(when I go West).
Last edited by capncrunch; 01-01-2009 at 01:53 AM.
01-02-2009, 07:52 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: 88B - Loud Pipes Save Lives
Posts: 1,597
I just flew a 757 to VCV a few days ago. I think the entire Tristar fleet is out there. However, it broke my heart to see two being scrapped. I remember signing my name below the Captains window on the last Tristar flight on July 31, 2001. I think DAL should take a queue from NWA and send a Tristar piece to DAL folks in the classic widget logo.
I am really impressed NWA did this for you guys. That was quite a surprising gesture to the employees.
I am really impressed NWA did this for you guys. That was quite a surprising gesture to the employees.
01-02-2009, 08:26 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,369
The guy's a fraud. I doubt he's an instructor and he loves to backseat pilot for the airlines:
Is it even a guy? I'm itching to populate my ignore list with one, but I don't know if I can take my eyes off of this train wreck.
Back on topic to the original poster; I saw the e-bay item and though the circumstances of ebaying it are disheartening, I am glad I got to see a picture of it. How neat! If it was me I would have kept it.
Originally Posted by normajean21
i dont care about him being high and long. what bothers me is he didnt kick rudder
Originally Posted by me
Ok Mr Standards Guy.... What airline do you work for?
Originally Posted by normajean21
T&A airlines 
Back on topic to the original poster; I saw the e-bay item and though the circumstances of ebaying it are disheartening, I am glad I got to see a picture of it. How neat! If it was me I would have kept it.
01-02-2009, 08:39 AM
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Position: A330
Posts: 91
Well said. Just like watching that horrible accident. You can't stand to watch it, but no way you're taking you eyes off it. Humorous, entertaining, and a pain in the ass. Like a hemorrhoid that just flared up and won't go away.
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