Airline Pilot Forums

I actually received TWO Fedex packages from NW today.

Of course in true NW fashion, one was at my old address and one was at my new address.

I was pleasantly surprised at the contents of those packages.

The first was my (belated) 20 year service pin.

And in the second ...

A piece of aircraft aluminum in the shape of a 747 vertical stab. A piece of ship number 6622, the last passenger 747 to fly scheduled service at NW.

The company actually took the time to take pieces of aluminum from that last ship after its retirement and mount them with inscriptions and then sent them to every NW pilot that ever flew the 747 classic at NW.

The 20 year pin I could give a rats a$$ about, but the aluminum marks the end of an aviation era and I am actually pleased to receive it as a gift.

whats a vertical stab

The company actually took the time to take pieces of aluminum from that last ship after its retirement and mount them with inscriptions and then sent them to every NW pilot that ever flew the 747 classic at NW.

Actually I think ALL employees are getting it. I got mine today, and I flew the whale, but a gate agent was showing off hers yesterday. She said everyone was getting them.

Actually I think ALL employees are getting it. I got mine today, and I flew the whale, but a gate agent was showing off hers yesterday. She said everyone was getting them.

That's correct. They went to ALL NWA employees. I think they are nice.

Cool,

Its a nice gift.

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!

whats a vertical stab

Vertical Stabilizer, or more generically, the airplanes tail.:)

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!

Well said. I think on a personal level this is a great memento, however, it still won't beat being able to take my kids to the Smithsonian and show them the exact airplane that I flew many times. Ship 6601 holds many great memories for both me and my wife. Glad to see it found a nice home in DC.

whats a vertical stab
I'm 22, and I would be a senior in college right now if I would have stayed there. I'm a full time flight instructor now, so I don't really have the time to go back to school.

:confused:

lol nice observation

:confused:

hah this is rather funny.

Originally Posted by normajean21 http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mergers-acquisitions/34626-end-era.html#post519168)
whats a vertical stab

:confused:

Your next FO.:eek:

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!

You should always be proud of your NWA heritage. You are a class act and a gentleman in every sense of the word.

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) (http://cgi.ebay.com/Northwest-Airlines-Piece-of-a-Boeing-747-Red-Tail-NWA_W0QQitemZ130277918528QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item130277918528&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

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 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) (http://cgi.ebay.com/Northwest-Airlines-Piece-of-a-Boeing-747-Red-Tail-NWA_W0QQitemZ130277918528QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item130277918528&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

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.

It closed at $115.68. What douches...selling out their heritage for a C note.

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).

What a truly classy gesture on the part of NWA, and very eloquently spoken by Kingbird.

After receiving something like that, I just can't imagine turning around and selling it on ebay.

It is sad, but I would love to have one as I colled this kind of stuff. If I were given one, there is no price that you can out on it!

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.

hah this is rather funny.

The guy's a fraud. I doubt he's an instructor and he loves to backseat pilot for the airlines:


i dont care about him being high and long. what bothers me is he didnt kick rudder

Ok Mr Standards Guy.... What airline do you work for?

T&A airlines :D

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.

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.

cencal:
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.:D

What a truly classy gesture on the part of NWA, and very eloquently spoken by Kingbird.

After receiving something like that, I just can't imagine turning around and selling it on ebay.
I would imagine most are fairly new nwa employees...at least, I would hope so. I'm keeping mine.

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 hope Anderson gets your message. That would be a great gesture for every original Delta guy.

Carl

If you like one, two would be even better. Here's your chance!

Northwest Airlines ---Piece Of The Red Tail--Boeing 747 - eBay (item 330297365174 end time Jan-04-09 19:41:06 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/Northwest-Airlines-Piece-Of-The-Red-Tail-Boeing-747_W0QQitemZ330297365174QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item330297365174&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50)

If you like one, two would be even better. Here's your chance!

Northwest Airlines ---Piece Of The Red Tail--Boeing 747 - eBay (item 330297365174 end time Jan-04-09 19:41:06 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/Northwest-Airlines-Piece-Of-The-Red-Tail-Boeing-747_W0QQitemZ330297365174QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item330297365174&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

I can't help but think those guys who sell their piece of the tail are a real class act.

I can't help but think those guys who sell their piece of the tail are a real class act.

Would we get an "employee discount" from these guys on ebay?

Man I am just waiting for a new shipping discount.

End of one Era and the beginning of another!

All this talk about selling a piece of tail!

Where are the moderators?:rolleyes:

All this talk about selling a piece of tail!

Where are the moderators?:rolleyes:

That is funny.

All this talk about selling a piece of tail!

Where are the moderators?:rolleyes:

They're not vice cops!:cool: More likely to be found on the demand side.;)

All this talk about selling a piece of tail!

Where are the moderators?:rolleyes:

Doesn't apply to me. I'd have to get a piece of tail before I could sell it.

Carl

I think the red tail gift is really cool. Made me nostalgic, and I have no connection at all.
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