Classic Aviation: Northwest Lovers Edition!

Requested by / starboard76 & / helicopterpilot16 . Footage taken from various tapes ranging from around 1989 to 1993. Enjoy!
Shot by my friend Craig Pilkington (Aviation Media ©)
Edited / uploaded by me with the kind permission of Aviation Media ©

[@Delta_NWAB747fan]

I miss flying on northwest, but I’m glad I was able to be one of their millions of customers. “We give you half the world, on Northwest Orient, AIRLINES!”

[@alooga555]

I flew on a Delta 747 to Tokyo 3 years ago (the fleet has since been retired). The pilots' carrying cases still proudly said "NWA 747 DTW." Loved it.

[@runsame]

Nice to see the DC-10 again in a vid :-)

[@kiahn6515]

I love Northwest I miss my Northeast.My first fly back on 1977 December 17th from Seoul to Washington D.c. From Ki Ung Ahn I miss my home town Fairfax Va Seoul Korea

[@markpotvin7119]

The old Northwest Orient colors were hideous, and made the aircraft fleet look beat up. I liked the the gray and red colors, but couldn't understand investing in the pearl white theme if they were goint to merge with Delta.

[@mar1812]

Mark Potvin I agree. They looked like old cargo jets.

[@dtwfa1]

The best part of my day as a Northwest Flight Attendant , was the time on my jumpseat looking out the window on take off and landing...never the same view twice...I miss the redtail..thanks for the memories....love stl station great people!

[@brucerdavidson]

Thank you, Ryan for posting this video. I worked for NW for 23 years in the reservations division in LAX, TPA, and DTT. The 747 was most likely NW001 bound for Tokyo Narita or the Osaka flight, but I cannot recall the flight number. The 727 service used to operate up the coast ot Seattle, NW81 which connected with NW007 SEANRT or NW019 SEASELMNL. I am in a completely different field now, but I always recall the good times with NW and the fantastic people whom I was priveleged to work alongside.

[@boeingtrijet]

Gotta love the "Bowling shoe" colours!

[@DanielSander]

Love the DC10

[@Dana_Danarosana]

I just (accidentally) learned that Northwest had all of their DC-10's specially fit with JT-9D engines instead of the standard CF-6's so they'd have commonality with their 747's for maintenance streamlining. I've flown on many DC-10's but only on Northwest. So, I just realized I've never been on a normal DC-10 w/ the GE engines... MINDBLOWN!,

[@RyanBomar]

Very interesting, thank you!

[@Dana_Danarosana]

Tom Johnson So did NWA have more DC-10's than those 20 40 series? I remember distinctly the safety cards said DC-10-40 on the ones I was on... so I know that's all I've ever been inside of... they were used heavily on the MSP-LAX route.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

Tom Johnson Thank you. I appreciate all this. My source is a Delta pilot I went to college with (initially flew for NWA). Was his reasoning accurate? Did NWA have those 40 series with the P/W engines for the reason of maintenance commonality with the 747's or was it some other reason? Otherwise I don't understand a reason for doing that. As I understand it, the JT-9's produced considerably less thrust than the CF-6's. (Sorry if I'm being a pest... I'm just interested)

[@bobbypaluga4346]

Dana Danarosana I’ve flown many times on AA to DFW, JFK, Miami, O’Hara and Northwest to MSP, SEA, JFK, most flights were on DC-10’s, or 47 (NW), with a few on AA MD-80’s. I do recall the AA DC-10 rides were a bit louder with a bit more vibration at takeoff. I have no idea If it had anything whatsoever to do with the engine maker or the way AA flew their 10’s. As we all know AA had their own habits in flying and repairing the 10 (AA 191) That growling-grinding buzzsaw noise was definitely more pronounced on the NW big boys. There is a AA DC-10 taking off from Detroit on KZbin, you can really hear that beautiful sound but I swear from inside the aircraft the NW aircraft seemed more pronounced. Those were the good days, AA had a midnight 747-400 that flew Miami-DFW-PHX-LAX. I suppose it was a repositioning flight as the load wasn’t that great. If you were LA bound and didn’t mind getting to your hotel at 2 am, and you lived to fly the biggest dogs in the pound, the 50 minute flight was great fun.

[@scottheckert4721]

I remember reading an article that the NWA CEO ( I think) was quoted “ if I want to buy a light bulb I’ll buy a GE abut if I want an Jet engine I want a Pratt and Whitney “. Or something like that

[@880vader]

great job love seeing those Boeing 727s

[@AccessAir]

The 727-251, N278US that taxis by starting at around 4:23 is the same aircraft that on 3 December 1990 collided with the Northwest DC9-14, N3313L at Detroit Metro Airport.

[@jetfreak4]

Ryan, you are my personal hero on here. Tell Craig the same thing goes for him too, My age range in most of your videos at the time was three to seven years old, and until these videos I only had limited memories of what those days were like. This enables me to relive my childhood essentially as an adult and makes me not mourn as much about what I missed out on. It especially reminds me of KSTL...of the days when airports chimed with JT8D symphonies and roars of classic 747s, L-1011s, and DC-10s

[@chicagoman58]

The classic livery from the 70s (such as the one on the first three planes in this video) was the best. Even better the "Orient" in the name.

[@cslan4]

Man just love the old "orient' paint on the 727's & 747's oh man the good old days of Northwest RIP NWA.

[@TheUPS300]

Traveled on Northwest Orient LAX-NRT-BKK in 1989 as a kid...Magical experience. Always wanted to fly for them when I grew up....9/11 changed everything for an upcoming pilot. The trip was on B747-200s all the way to Bangkok. Remembered a sea of red tails in Narita around 5pm as all the arrivals were in. Quite impressive presence in Asia. Sad day for me when the name Northwest was abolished.

[@flyby9741]

Can't get enough of this wonderful world of aviation. I sincerely thank you and everybody else that puts together and shares these videos to the aviation enthusiasts' delight.

[@WhateverMcCoy]

Ah, Northwest. A great airline with great paintschemes.

[@joedfd43]

Oh, I was done when I saw the DC-10. Great stuff!

[@aviationmd]

I didn’t really like northwest orient’s livery in my opinion. I just like the normal NWA livery and it’s new and final one. Northwest orient’s livery is a bit too silvery

[@harminsambajon4556]

Yes, looked dirty to me.

[@flllooofie]

I worked for a mere 16 yrs in maintenance area at msp and I miss those nice memories. Too bad they wanted to sell off, I also enjoyed the people in Minneapolis, very outdoorsy like myself.

[@chicagoman58]

As I recall, NWA pilots used to like to climb more steeply on takeoff than other airlines. I think 2:39 shows that.

[@benzoid123]

Sad reality is-where are all these aircraft now in 2018? Ripped apart or sitting in a desert

[@jimbranca1565]

never gotta chance to fly Northwest Orient was booked on a flight once in the 80s but they were on strike when i checked in I got put on a united flight instead

[@HarryWang170]

Just beautiful. I loved Northwest and it was a classy airline. Flew many, many times KLAS-KMSP-KGRB and back. I sure miss them...

[@Springbok295]

Well done! Nice to see the red tails again. Those DC-10-40s were sure dogs on performance.

[@automat1c999]

I don't know why but, your videos can calm me down whenever I am upset or something like that. Maybe is that because I love planes, but your videos are very charming.

[@nenblom]

I love to the see the 727s in action!!

[@vanhalo]

Are there any DC-10-40s in this montage? (Specifically the one around the 1:45 mark)

[@guywill7875]

Loved Noerthwest they were so airline-eeee

[@bobbypaluga4346]

Great aircraft, I wasn't aware that Northwest had such a presence at LAX. SEA or MSP, DTW, MEM, sure but LAX? I didn't see even a single NW DC-9 in the video which is weird. Of 320 aircraft in their fleet over 100 were DC-9s with an average age of 35 years. The interiors looked 50 years old with liberal use of white chalking most everywhere. Gawd I love the 747-400, the safest aircraft in the sky. Does any aircraft look as beautiful and as graceful taking off than a 757? Next time you play aviation trivia with another aviation nut, ask them what aircraft were flown by both DA and NW when they merged. It was the 757.

[@dualactionsurgilator]

Great NWA footage. I used to love watching the redtails come and go from their home base at MSP. Is all this footage from LAX?

[@RyanBomar]

That's such a great thing to hear, thank you so much for the comment!

[@HenryHerbertTailor]

Awesome! You have just preserved a piece of aviation history.

[@michaeldiamondz]

Ryan, let me echo many of the other posters on here -- it means a lot to me that you've posted this and many other classic aviation spotting videos here. This one holds special significance as my grandfather worked 35 years for Northwest Orient, mostly in SEA but also MSP, until his retirement in 1983. He would have likely touched many of these birds. Some of my fondest memories were of visiting him in the hanger at SEA, where he'd sit me up in one of those big JT9D's. Thank you -- and keep the videos coming!

[@backiniowaswab4106]

I'd get to know Northwest Orient/Northwest Airlines very well during my time in the Army. They were the first airline that I ever flew with, that flight taking me and another enlistee from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Atlanta, and then from there to Columbia, South Carolina. Then it was on a bus to Fort Jackson and the start of basic training. I would fly with them a couple more times when I came home on leave from Hawaii and when it came time to transfer from those wonderful islands to the more mundane and less glamorous Fort Gordon, Georgia.

[@chicagoman58]

@Starboard76 Yes, the 1970s livery with the solid red tail was NWA's best ever. Originally the livery said "NORTHWEST ORIENT",which was even cooler than what you see in these videos.

[@jetfreak4]

I only wish we could have quality footage like this from the 1960s and 1970s...what I wouldn't give to be able to hear all those turbojet powered DC-8s, 707s and Convairs, plus the 747s with the early engines and pre-smokeless 727s and DC-9s.

[@RicardoFerreiraMiranda]

Nice video. The people at NW were fine but we pax were malnourished in their flights.

[@Starboard76]

@chicagoman58 I'm very aware of that, I grew u[ shooting Northwest Orient 747s, but unfortunately, I was shooting photos..not vhs, which I've pillaged the internet and only one vid exist and it's mediocre. But I Ryan's friend Craig wasn't the only one shooting in the 80s..someone else out there has it..they just haven't uploaded yet...I'm sure.

[@scottheckert4721]

How did you get all that classic NWA and not one DC-9??? 😆

[@Starboard76]

Excellent compilaions Ryan! Thank you for delivering 1000% on this one! The Northwest 747s in their original schemes are awesome! Can't read the restorations.but so what! It's great to see my 'photos' come to life here!

[@jorgefigueroa4437]

The Orient name were removed to simply Northwest

[@RyanBomar]

@chicagoman58, I included a note at the 3:17 mark. The seven-two is seen still wearing Northwest Orient titles.

[@mattbauckman9907]

Was that Southwest at 8:17? Very cool.

[@Xemikaal]

Too bad they "disappeared" .... :( I really liked this company, especially the original colours and the Orient times. There was three -400 series that became to wear it (N662US, N663US and N666US) Gorgeous!!

[@bobbypaluga4346]

Could it be that when this was filmed 1989-2000 would be my guess that NW had some Hong Kong and-or Tokyo flights out of LAX? I flew CO to the Orient as well as HNL on their DC-10s, but I had the idea that the Orient flights were out of SEA, it still grinds my gears as to why NW had so many flights out of LAX.

[@gdlovely]

Hello My name is Gretchen Miller and I am working with the Travel Channel on a new series. I am trying to find footage both interior and exterior of a Northwest Orient 727. Would you possibly be able to help me with this. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Gretchen Miller Indigo Films

[@400exNick]

Awesome footage! I stayed at a hotel right on the runway at SeaTac back in 2000 and remember those dc-10’s blasting off and watching it laying in bed lol it was my first time seeing jumbo jets up close and I’ve been a huge fan ever since. DC-10 and MD-11 are the best looking commercial planes ever made IMHO. With the tristar close behind.

[@jorgefigueroa4437]

Northwest Orient

[@Sanctimoniously]

Those 727s though!

[@stevehofmaster7489]

Awesome display of gorgeous Northwest aircraft.I sure miss our 727 airplanes and I miss my Northwest Airlines!

[@chicagoman58]

Thanks for adding the note about the Northwest Orient titles! There were not many liveries more exciting than a 747 bearing the NORTHWEST ORIENT livery!

[@Bruzins]

Awesome footage!! Watching these birds from the hill on the south side of LAX in the late 80s/early 90s is what fostered my love of aviation. The Northwest birds were always my favorite. Thanks for posting this !!!

[@nenblom]

I remember back in the 70s and 80s, the 747 was THE plane to fly on!! I flew on it a few times as a kid on trasatlantic crossings from my native country of Sweden to the United States. I wish they would fly that route again!

[@AccessAir]

You do know that the NW 727-251, N278US that taxis by starting at about 4:32 is the same NW 727 that collided with the NW DC9-14, N3313L at Detroit....

[@吉一宇田川]

ノースウエスト好きだったな。あの銀色の機体に赤い尾翼・・・海外から成田に帰ってくるとたくさんのノースの機体がスポットに駐機していてここはアメリカと思うこともありましたね。

[@11Airshow11]

Awesomeness

[@barbarairwin4369]

Viewing, Classic: Northwest Lovers Edition !

[@IMEMINE.]

WHALE

[@JJ_Skippy]

Ahh, NWA. One of my favorite airlines I never got to see.

[@perezster]

Beautiful

[@guywill7875]

I never got the old liverey before they went to gun metal grey with the black cheat line that ran up to the front door then ended there why not take the black cheat line all the way to the front of the fuselage?

[@suhaimifariz2713]

The whole livery was weird - why paint only a portion in white & the rest bare metal (not even polished!? Why was the tail bright red with no logos whatsoever?

[@guywill7875]

rue, they had a good cheatline and then chopped it off at the forward door..... and your right the bare aluminum top was cheesy. toward the end on Northwest the livery was beautiful, and then they became Delta. All is good the current Delta Livery is beautiful

[@RyanBomar]

I sent you a PM

[@milabluelady]

Video Espetacular, muito bom. Gostei.Abraço amigo Ryan.Milabluelady.

[@AidenPark-i8i]

I'm glad to see continental lovers edition!

[@MrSunwing]

i have the model of that 1:400 scale!!

[@hkreimes]

Great videos Ryan. Thank you for sharing. Herman

[@tdavidfoley4786]

Is it bad that those 75's damn near bring me to tears?

[@GamingAirlines]

Haha. FAA.

[@Skybolter]

I LOVE THE 747.

[@richardsundown2175]

Miss seeing those red tails growing up in Detroit that was our airline

[@ez8546]

Actually Detroit's airline was North Central.

[@aviationdude]

Amazing!

[@airplaneman73]

At 4:27, N278US, isnt that the plane involved on the runway incursion with a DC-9? I believe it was flight 1482