Our History – Our Purpose
The June 2005 issue of “Passages” had a story titled “ NWA technology, teamwork reducing turbulence injuries”. The story was a report of an article that appeared in the “Wall Street Journal” about NWA leadership in pioneering and development of technology in the field of weather turbulence and wind shear. We found it very disappointing that no mention was made of the two Northwest people who were mostly responsible for the initial pioneering efforts. They were Paul Soderlind, then Director of Flight Standards and Daniel Sowa, then the Chief Meteorologist. Both spent many an hour tracking, brain storming, plotting and developing new technology and operational procedures. Their efforts were duly recognized by many world governments, the FAA and the air transport industry. The induction of both individuals to the Aviation Hall of Fame speaks for itself.
Perhaps, the exclusion of any mention of those individuals in the article, may just be a case of the new crop of NWAers just not knowing much about the past and their predecessors. That’s the real purpose of the NWA History Centre; “to perpetuate the efforts and experiences of the forerunners and the creation of a legacy for the edification of those who follow.”
RNPA, the Northwest Airlines Retired Pilots Association, created a scholarship fund in honor and memory of Captain Paul Soderlind. That fund awards annual scholarships for the education of students in various phases of the aviation industry. Anyone interested in participating and/or contributing to that fund should contact – Tom Schellinger at PO Box 240928, Apple Valley, MN 55124 0928 or give him a call at (952) 953-4378.
Flight of the Great Northwest
(Not to be confused with the Modern Day Airline)
On October 13, 1881, one of America’s foremost aeronauts, “Professor” Samuel King and a passenger took to the air in a wicker basket swinging below their hydrogen-filled balloon, the Great Northwest. They were making a much-heralded trip, in the largest balloon ever built, from Chicago to St. Paul. Errant winds first brought them over Peoria, Illinois, but soon strong winds changed their flight towards the northwest. Two days later they were over Durand and later Menomonie, Wisconsin. As they were floating over Menomonie, a dense fog rolled in over the country and the wind shifted. Soon they heard steamboat whistles and decided they were over St. Paul (actually Eau Claire, WI) and they started to descend. When they broke through the clouds, they spotted the Chippewa River and erroneously thought it was the Mississippi. They landed in a swamp many miles north of Chippewa Falls, WI. Five days later they walked into town and a concerned nation gave them a hero’s reception (This memory taken from Wisconsin Tales and Trails, Autumn, 1969).
Editors note: Is there a moral or parallel to this story? It sort of resembles the start of NWA, somewhat floundering at the very beginning, on the right track through re-incorporation, smooth sailing for several years, dropping into the fog of merger, and acquisition, maybe misdirection through de-regulation, a controlled landing in bankruptcy and now hopefully,wide public acceptance and a better and stronger organization.
Ticket Rebates for Late Flights?
Sound Like a Good Idea? - Northwest Actually Did It in 1948
In the early years after World War II the nation’s airlines had a problem – a difficulty in maintaining published schedules. And the flying public was getting restless. Among factors involved were these: (a) new equipment was being integrated into airline fleets, (b) more and more people were deciding that flying was the best way to get where they were going, and (c) the need for more and more ground personnel often brought in people who were inexperienced and under-trained.
To cushion the shock of customer dissatisfaction Northwest Airlines became the first, and so far as it is known the only airline ever to voluntarily offer ticket rebates. If your flight was more than a half-hour late to its destination you received five percent of your
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