While the financing was in progress, an order was placed with Stinson Aircraft Corporation for Stinson planes equipped with Wright Whirlwind engines. These planes are enclosed cabin type, heated for winter flying, equipped with brakes on the wheels and hand starting. Balsa wood is used to insulate the cabins of these planes, because of the cold weather conditions which prevail in the Northwest. The planes are also equipped for night flying.”

1st three planes a few days prior to delivery flight to Northwest Airlines.

            “On Oct. 31, a fleet of three planes left Detroit and flew in formation to Chicago in 2 hours and 40 minutes and from Chicago to Milwaukee in 50 minutes. Twelve people were carried on this trip. Edward A. Stinson, president of Stinson Aircraft Corporation, Capt. Raymond B. Collins vice-president of the United Trust Co. of Detroit, and David Behncke each piloted a plane. C.R. Holman, a pilot of Northwest Airways, also made the trip, as did Frank W. Blair, president of United Trust Co., Detroit; Harold H. Emmons, William B. Stout, Col. L.H. Brittin, Carl H. Keller, William A. Mara, Ben B. Jacobson and Frank E. Bogart.

            At Milwaukee, a reception was held for the visitors. In spite of fog and snow, the planes left Milwaukee early Nov. 1 and reached St. Paul in the afternoon. Since this time, Stinson planes have been in regular service on the Northwest Airways run. One plane leaves Chicago at 5:50 a.m. and arrives in St. Paul at 10:30 a.m., making stops at Milwaukee and La Crosse. In addition, planes leave Minneapolis at 12:00 p.m., St. Paul at 2:10 p.m., La Crosse at 3:30 p.m., Milwaukee at 5:25 p.m. and Chicago at 6:15 p.m.

            It is planned to carry passengers on this line in conjunction with railroad service in a short time. Passengers coming from the Pacific Coast on transcontinental trains may be taken off at St. Paul and travel to Chicago by plane in time to make connections with the Twentieth Century Limited, for New York. Passengers traveling from New York to the Pacific Coast may leave the train at Chicago, take a plane to St. Paul, and the catch the transcontinental train which leaves Chicago the previous night.

            The officers of the Northwest Airways are: H.H. Emmons, president L.H. Brittin, vice president and general manager, Frank W. Blair, treasurer and William B. Stout, secretary. The Board of Directors is composed of Detroit and St. Paul men.

            “On Feb. 1, David L. Behncke, air mail pilot on the Northwest Airways, crossed the State of Wisconsin, a distance of 175 miles, in 75 minutes or at the rate of 2-1/3 miles per minute. For a portion of the distance he exceeded 175 mph. Before climbing into the cockpit at La Crosse, Wis., he wired the Milwaukee post office that he would arrive ahead of schedule time and asked that a mail truck meet him at the county airport. As his plane was coming down on the field, the telegram was delivered.