Northwest Airlines - an Inside Look

Classic Japanese released laserdisc of the Northwest Airlines operation. A variety of aircraft are looked at.
www.avgeektv.com

[@skywagon19c]

I was a flight attendant for NWA for 41 years. Started on the Electra and ended my career on the Airbus. The 747 was the jewel in the air. Thank you Northwest for a career that was so memorable.

[@rob2326]

I was based in MSP in 2007. I miss Eagan !

[@jeffd.2390]

I was NW from 79. Now DL total 44 years.

[@carlitosanderson6825]

Definitely "The Jewel of the Air"......

[@korea3175]

Wow

[@Planemaster1230]

Ever been to the NWA history center?

[@ahahm]

Northwest had some of the very best trained pilots in the aviation industry!

[@nonstopet981]

RIP Northwest Airlines

[@tengoindiamike]

This is avgeek GOLD thanks for sharing. I miss the NWA bowling shoe livery and those days classic!

[@hilaryzschultz]

Best livery ever

[@thihal123]

@tenfoindiamike, what an appropriate description of the livery. I never thought of it that way.

[@JavierLopez-xt1zs]

This brings me back memories, I worked for NWA at Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport

[@guywill7875]

loved flying Northwest. Not the hippest or most glamourous airline but they were no nonsense and did a great job. Great employees too

[@benjaminmendenhall4497]

Yes they are and very nice people to that work for them

[@gotacallfromvishal]

NWA was super hip. they were called NWA for starters, their uniforms were nice, and you could go from redneck minneapolis to japan or hong kong non stop.

[@mitchellking2590]

I miss seeing redtails at MEM. They were so cool! So many great memories. And man, there’s something about those late 80s early 90s soundtracks. We sure thought they were something.

[@mitchwinder1204]

From the mid-‘90s until the Delta merger I flew weekly, and multi-weekly, on NWA. MSN became my home base after they pulled out of RFD. Those Mesaba (NW Airlink) Saabs usually took me to MSP or DTW where I’d get on DC-9s that were beautifully refurbished on the inside even with all their squeaks and rattles. What set the airline apart for me was the people. I flew enough in those days that gate agents, and even a few flight attendants, became recognizable at certain destinations. I no longer fly regularly these days. Thankfully. But the once or twice a year when I do I’m usually thinking back to those Northwest days, and certain experiences that I remember. (I still rock my WorldPerks tags on my bag.) I’m glad this video popped-up. It reminds me just how much I miss my old friend. If anyone reading this was a part of NWA in the era I wrote about above, thank you. The airline was a big part of my life back then. Rest well, old girl. And thank you.

[@d05wtt]

I flew Northwest exclusively throughout the ‘80s in the upper deck business class of 747s across the Pacific regularly. Just like you, I got to know some of the gate agents, the check-in/ticket counter agents, and the flight attendants. Now, like you, once or twice a year with another airlines. I miss Northwest.

[@andrewhurricane]

You probably were cared for by one of my good work friends Tina, a flight attendant with a strong Michigan accent who was in the Mesaba trainee class of 97. I will pass along your comment to her. I know she worked many a flight to Madison! Thanks for all the great memories. We all miss these days...

[@mitchwinder1204]

@@andrewhurricane Thanks, and tell her thank you from me. I hope she had the good times I had.

[@jdhiner1]

I did the interior upgrades and lav replacements on NW dc-9s at sabre tech in phx 96-97

[@ryanhell921]

I remember riding Northwest DC9's and the Saabs when I rode from MSP to International Falls while I was in the Army, 80's and early 90's. Was a blast for me😁

[@jmurphy1973]

I miss seeing those redtails at the airport. Great video. Flew with NWA many times and got to fly on some great birds: DC-10, 747, DC9 and even the ol' SAAB 340

[@benjaminmendenhall3104]

And they also had 727s and I still have a card that a pilot name on it

[@shindrithargriethrat8408]

I used to fly Northwest when I was stationed in Hawaii and would visit my girlfriend in Seattle. I loved the anticipation of the trip, back in the days when you got a paper ticket.

[@jonahair747]

This video is amazing! One of a kind! I grew up with Northwest and always going inside MSP Airport to watch all the -9’s and 727’s taking off and landing. Miss those days terribly. Thank you for sharing this, brings back a lot of good memories along with my childhood. Those were the good ole days! Nothing like how it is today... so sad...

[@Delta_NWAB747fan]

Jonahair747 I agree, these were the golden days with older B727s with DC-10s and new A319s flying outbound and inbound together. I miss the regular KLM B747 flying into DTW. I’m glad I got to see it in person and be a part of NWA history at DTW. I miss the DC-10s, MD-11s, B727s, and especially the B747

[@Tigers9596]

Just stumbled upon this video. What’s crazy is I believe the same airplane was involved in an rudder incident over Alaska. I’m sure you’ve heard about it. NWA 85

[@benjaminmendenhall3104]

Jonahair747 me too I miss northwest

[@saamthepuffer4336]

@@Delta_NWAB747fan well there’s no more 747s the only airline that did not discontinue it was Lufthansa

[@topofthegreen]

Back when pilots had real skills. Service was far better.

[@derek1213]

Best livery of its time. My parents flew on them often

[@fadi83126]

This video is a found treasure! I see 90s classic aircraft everywhere. Makes my heart melt

[@lorenzo2011ist]

It was a sincere pleasure to work for NWA! Harmin, FA Class 5-97B here.

[@Gqboy731]

As a former NW flight attendant, this took me back. Wonderful memories! Thanks for sharing.

[@lorenzo2011ist]

Fly Guy cheers! FA 5-97B here!

[@HEMI-MOMMA]

Cheers, brother. I was also a NWA F/A; was based in DTW and flew the 10 day Far East route. Miss our red tails so much!!!!

[@KeepinItCrispy]

This is so great to watch, especially without all the mostly unnecessary, obnoxious, and redundant narration you usually get with these kinds of things. These cheesy 90s synth music just makes it that much better 😊

[@gw78787]

Was such a great company to work for in the mid 80!s! Enjoyed every minute of it!

[@tamarajohnson5771]

Worked airlink with Northwest and was proud to be an employee

[@accountnumber90]

Northwest was the first airline I ever flew on.

[@jhfisk]

I love and miss NWA. It was a great airline. Awesome video!!

[@nonconnahhospitalityadviso3013]

WOW....this brings back my entire childhood. Would give anything to have Northwest Airlines back!

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

Memories. Always too that Northwest DC-10 with that red painted number 2 tail engine always got your attention.

[@northwest8604]

Just a fantastic video!!! Reminds me of the days when would fly on Northwest!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@benjaminmendenhall3104]

northwest8604 I have a airplane fact card with a picture of northwest I got it one day when I was on the airplane before I got off of my flight I got it from the flight atendet. That’s msp airport I remember that plane in side the airport

[@northwest8604]

@@benjaminmendenhall3104 Very nice!!!! I got those card also, I received them from a friend ours. He was a pilot for Northwest.

[@Ericb2424]

i worked for this airline at MSP for 20 years and 3 years for delta I miss this airline great video and memories thanks for posting

[@marktemple4081]

28 great years for me also...I don't miss the circus but certainly miss the clowns 😅

[@davidspangler7667]

Former NWA flight attendant. Flew on dc9, 727, dc10, 747,757 and airbus 319/320. Always preferred Boeing and miss the 47 "queen of the sky" favorite working trip was 5 day Shanghai trip. Best trip on days off was flying into Rome. Spent 2 days in Rome. Took a train to Venice. Spent 3 days in Venice. Took train to Milan. Spent 1 night there and flew back to dtw. Was not paid well but I loved it. Sad that delta bought them and retired the 747 b

[@darringraham2613]

A time in aviation that I would go back to faster than a blink of an eye ✈❤

[@jayd1426]

Northwest Airlines: The spirit of Aviation

[@jacobmaeser3556]

very true

[@sumaiyakausar9482]

I agree

[@TravelFilming]

Flew them back in the day as they had a a partnership with KLM. Loved flying with them!

[@whistlenuts2564]

Great video. I worked for them in early 90’s. Good company

[@beraniden]

First flight on a 747 was is 2000 with Northwest , awesome flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam , great memories !!

[@tamarajohnson5771]

I'm proud to say that I was a ramp lead for Northwest Airlink for over a decade. Loved my job and the best feeling in the world was sitting on our tugs and beltloaders after getting all our aircraft out on time and watching them take off.

[@AirborneRenegade]

I miss the 757s and a330s that landed at memphis alot. Well, heck I miss all of em.

[@donnabrown4349]

Delta still flies 757's.

[@KevinMeno2008]

@@donnabrown4349 A330s too

[@jay-rus4437]

Worked for NW out of Tulsa International back in the day. We began operations of “airlink” in an effort to reduce costs....running SAAB 340 Turboprops flying into Memphis. It was a fun time. I wasnt a pilot, but was in flight school at the time and loved working around the planes. Had the opportunity to ride jump seat too. Later tried getting on for southwest, but that didnt happen. Shifted into civil engineering and construction management and the rest is history.

[@Code3forever]

Have flown Northwest from LA to Minneapolis. My high school friend who flew for Northwest as a captain on 747s convinced me it was safe to fly their DC-10 Series 40. It was a smooth flight. There was that fear after AA went down at O'hare in 1979.

[@Gqboy731]

NW was my first airline and I had great memories from working there. Miss working on the 747.

[@adamam20000]

thank you very much for the video , the videos bring many memories back , i am from Egypt and i went to school in Florida , and i would fly back to Egypt two times a year , i would book KLM as it was the cheapest option for me , and KLM had a partnership with northwest at that time , so out of my 3 legs flight to and from Cairo , 2 of them were northwest , great airlines , never had any problem with them

[@tclynn10]

My uncle used to fly the left seat for Northwest Orient back it the 60 and 70's man the stories he told us!

[@53smalltrain]

Was he Seattle base?

[@tclynn10]

@@53smalltrain No he and my cousin were based out of Minneapolis

[@53smalltrain]

@@tclynn10 Thank you Lynn. I was based in HKG and i thought if he was based in Seattle / even the ORD, we came across a lot when flying together in the Orient during the 70's.

[@KevinMeno2008]

NWA red tails all day!

[@detlefkurpanek]

Wow! What an amazing compilation! 727s, 747s, DC9s and more. Some of the best 747 air-to-air footage I have ever seen. Classic aviation! Great vid~!

[@paulgiannico1549]

I miss seeing Northwest Airlines at airports. Great video.

[@johnfisher747]

There was an abundance of captains on that opening Tokyo flight 😆

[@johnfarr2738]

john fisher on a flight that long on a 747 airlines carried 2 crews

[@jasonbabila6006]

I remember seeing NWA at Honolulu International Airport.

[@shindrithargriethrat8408]

I used to fly NWA all the time when I was stationed in Hawaii, to see my then girlfriend in Seattle.

[@scotdor]

Great video! Brings me back to my days in the Performance Engineering Department, back in the 90s.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

Thanks for this video !! I especially lpved the pilots doing their checklist in the cockpit. I sorely miss Northwest and all the airlines that have have gone out of business or merged. I miss the glory days of aviation. There must be some way, that we can get back the fun and excitement of air travel again.😔

[@ianwinkler5562]

Wow, this is a gem!

[@iamsfa777]

So beautiful.... Truly miss NWA ❤️❤️❤️

[@jarhead565]

Red Tails shall rise again

[@CrashTestPrivate]

If only

[@jayd1426]

I love you Northwest! Northwest airlines is the greatest airline in history and its not just because I’m biased, it’s a FACT.

[@jayd1426]

Aurantiaco what Northwest Airlines has accomplished in its history has been impeccable. Reliability, comfort, grace, and quality. Over 84 years, they were known as the one and only global airline. Best aircraft like 747s and DC-10s, on time departure, best pilots and flight attendants, the list goes on. Northwest will always be a legendary airline. SOME PEOPLE JUST KNOW HOW TO FLY, THEY SET A GOAL AND THEY AIM IT HIGH!!!!!! (Northwest Some people just know how to fly ad)

[@jayd1426]

Aurantiaco I flew my first flight with Northwest from Baltimore to Detroit on the DC-9. My parents first flight was on Northwest from India to Amsterdam than the next flight Amsterdam to Detroit. Both on DC-10. Northwest will always remain in our hearts

[@giltracy505]

Excellent film thank you!

[@Vulpane]

Flew on NWA Pacific flights back then and man did that red, white, and grey scheme look so good on 747s

[@lauraz2896]

Took many flights on NWA from SFO to HKG via NRT on 747-300s during the mid to late 90s on both business and first class. I also flew KLM to Europe via AMS. I always had a good experience.

[@jayd1426]

Must have been 747-400s. NW never had -300 747s

[@lauraz2896]

Jay Deshpande Oops I guess it was 747-200 and 747-400s

[@lauraz2896]

Hmmm. I don’t see any 747-200 for them on Wikipedia. I remember that they had two versions. One had business class upstairs and the other had only first class upstairs,

[@imonymous]

@@lauraz2896 They definitely had the 200s.

[@ROMEROME1990]

The NWA bowling livery upon the 747 is astonishing. DAL should use the bowling shoe heritage livery upon current aircraft, one fleet per aircraft.

[@ouzienavantj8018]

Vintage is the best age! I wish i was live on that era

[@johnwilkinson4399]

I was a mechanic at DTW. I really miss the DC-10. I used to love taxing them.

[@emjeebutterz4405]

I am just old enough to have witnessed the final 8-10 years of Northwest operation. I still remember when my hometown of Detroit was filled with their aircraft, just as it is today with Delta. Lots of nostalgia in this video.

[@airplanefreak27]

Love this video! Thanks so much for sharing. The bowling shoe livery has got to be the best livery on an aircraft, especially the 747, 727 and DC-10. Probably best logo too - I've always loved the many images-in-one ("N", "W" and compass that points northwest 😍)

[@aaord7872]

Nice video thanks for sharing.

[@runJFK]

NWA was a great airline. Miss it!

[@Stanger182]

DC-10s from SEA to MSP, and then sometimes MSP to FAR on a DC-9

[@tylerreilly2642]

This is pure gold.

[@danb715]

I miss NWA very much, why did we have to merge with Delta? I used to work at NWA back in the early 2000's until 2 weeks before the merger. Great people I worked with, they were like my own family. We knew each other. I was a Ramp Agent/Assistant Lead. Long live NWA forever! :)

[@lancetheman28]

I had the privilege of sitting in seat 1A on a Northwest flight. Best experience ever!

[@willemlenteren1485]

northwest have beautiful 747s

[@sumaiyakausar9482]

Agree!

[@claudiodiez55]

Great Video I am a 747 GEEK I live 3 miles from ORD between 2 runways and on arrival they are 1800 feet up and you know that sound and I always look up.

[@hallgeirhansen9124]

Seen this airline around. They fly a lot of cool old aircrafts. Got to try them one day.

[@kpec3]

Fascinating video.

[@carlitosanderson6825]

Simply WONDERFUL! I remember them well!!!!

[@CO84trucker]

I flew Northwest Flight 40 & 41 (DTW-AMS) in a DC-10 during a trip to Europe back in '99. I was a little on edge though thanks to the past safety record of that bird.

[@GeneralHawk505]

The music brings back old 80s vibes with NWA.....

[@alleycatvietnam]

Flight 85 had a major problem with its rudder, great airmanship prevented a catastrophe. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Airlines_Flight_85

[@benludlum9451]

Thank you for sharing. I missed NWA.

[@sincityrrt301]

Awesome video !!! Thank you ! 747 holds the most Beauty.

[@skylineXpert]

flew with them in 2002 and ended up due to strong winds in AMS on one of their DC10. And today i have a 727 and DC10 in me model collection (1:200 snap fit)

[@brianglade848]

I have a model DC10, I built a true scale diarama with it, the model in a million pieces in a field,I titled it...."The 70s"

[@thegeneralbenjamin9518]

Very nostalgic to me.

[@Brenda-yk1dt]

I loved Northwest. Flew on them many times.

[@lynnsulaimi8593]

2:01 NWA FL 085 to Narita 1980 Nwa FL 085 to Narita 2002 Landed at anchorage with a jamed rudder

[@benjaminmendenhall3104]

I remember about northwest I flew with them when I was a kid and I flew from great falls Montana to st. Paul

[@jeanlucdrion1152]

I never knew Elyse Keaton from Family Ties was an architect and a Northwest flight attendant too ? There she is 11:56 , blond hair and everything going to work .

[@Vanadeo]

The visuals on them simulators were pretty amazing for that time, I'm guessing this was 80s or early 90s.. yet we had to wait till 1997 to get something similar or at least 96. Gone all weird now though because 20 years ago we had ATC and various other features that have vanished from the later flightsims or have not been as well done xD but killer graphics..

[@ariel340]

Ahhh the 90's!

[@NovejSpeed3]

I liked and I'm only 36 seconds in!

[@RedLP5000S]

Magical.

[@22640cal]

I used to watch these bowling shoes fly in to Detroit metro all the time :)

[@295g295]

bowling shoes??

[@22640cal]

@@295g295 yes, the livery looks like a bowling shoe lol

[@Afrocanuk]

In 2003 I flew direct from Detroit to Narita aboard NWA.

[@terryhanger5419]

I worked at DTW, use to see this going on from the World Club.

[@benjaminmendenhall4497]

I loved flying nwa and I used it in great falls Montana a lot

[@charlesaloha2056]

Beautiful beautiful Airline The Best of them all

[@jamesthrall6891]

My uncle flew for them from the 50’s to late 80’s Lyle Thrall

[@Dana_Danarosana]

13:21 - for anyone who still can't tell difference in 40 series...

[@LawrenceBurkett]

Amazing

[@johnpitzer5500]

I worked for NWA as a Aircraft Technician for 18 years.

[@jeffcorhn6613]

Former FA here !!! '99 - '00 !!! I loved the B747-400 !!! DTW - KIX !!!!!!

[@brkitdwn]

This was probably produced in 89/90. That's when they started acquiring the 400 series, which they spotlight.

[@goodfella2400]

It would be later than that because the bowling shoe livery debuted in 1989. And in this video 90% of the aircraft are already in the livery. My guess is it’s 1993-94.

[@sumaiyakausar9482]

I miss there livery.

[@gotacallfromvishal]

@31:10 the Japanese are so freaking sweet. We make fun of our domestic airlines but the Japanese show such an appreciation for how far we have come in creating and pioneering this industry. And @11:26 was awesome people watching of MSP in the 90s. Anyways God bless Japan and God bless the USA

[@brentbeatty4171]

I flew on Northwest Airlines... Pittsburgh to Bangkok via Narita Airport

[@triplanelover]

oh yeah, another DTW-NRT trip !! yea !! After you do several years of this you are glad to get off that treadmill. I really don't miss flying those long tiring trips, I did like the whale though

[@beegood9395]

From what year was this video from? Great video! Love the 747 aircraft.

[@mzambershousha]

NorthWest Airlines is what I used to work for! This Bird is going to Osaka Japan where Maru lives! This flight is from Detroit to Osaka Japan! KLM is what Gordon Ramsey owns. Much Love From Florida State!

[@fredworrell2468]

miss northwest airlines

[@02Nawal]

They should have never sold or merged with Delta.

[@Southside30349]

i strongly agree

[@alleycatvietnam]

@ 0:27 I used to fuel @ KSFO most of my flights were wide bodies....The fuel truck is on the wrong side, and the fuel control panel is on the aircraft's port side....Hmm Also, this Flt 85 had a Hard Rudder over....The Crew did an expert job getting her back on the ground safely. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Airlines_Flight_85

[@Space_Man909]

I miss those 747 airliners, even though I still see a lot of saudi and lufthansa 747 airliners, I still miss how it used to be everywhere, just like with the a380, I miss it flying around, well for the a380, lufthansa, emirates and ANA are the only flight carriers that use the a380.