Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

dflprincess

(28,482 posts)
Wed Dec 20, 2017, 08:55 PM Dec 2017

My coworkers and I stood at our office windows today and managed to catch a

glimpse of a 747 as it made its final final descent into MSP.

I don't know why, but we were all a little awestruck by it. I never flew on one but, from the pictures, it was an incredible plane.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My coworkers and I stood at our office windows today and managed to catch a (Original Post) dflprincess Dec 2017 OP
Isn't that plane Wellstone ruled Dec 2017 #1
Yes - that's what made it an event nt dflprincess Dec 2017 #4
Seems to me,it was a major Wellstone ruled Dec 2017 #6
The paper's article about it said it wouldn't fit in the hangars they had at the time dflprincess Dec 2017 #7
Remember that photo. Wellstone ruled Dec 2017 #8
My cousin worked on the ground crew for Northwest. When they went Delta he quit geardaddy Dec 2017 #10
That was baked into the Cake Wellstone ruled Dec 2017 #11
That was the last one. The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2017 #2
I thought of you while we were watching it. nt dflprincess Dec 2017 #5
IIRC, I was on one in the mid-80s to fly to Europe via Northwest Orient. Enormous! WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2017 #3
I flew on them a few times geardaddy Dec 2017 #9
 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
6. Seems to me,it was a major
Wed Dec 20, 2017, 10:01 PM
Dec 2017

thingee when Northwest put that Plane into service. Seems to me thy NWA built a special Hanger for that plane at the time.

dflprincess

(28,482 posts)
7. The paper's article about it said it wouldn't fit in the hangars they had at the time
Wed Dec 20, 2017, 10:06 PM
Dec 2017

There was a photo of it only part way into an existing hangar.

I think the one they built for it is the one along 494 at about 33rd Avenue....but don't quote me. Velveteen Ocelot would be the one who could confirm that.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
8. Remember that photo.
Wed Dec 20, 2017, 10:22 PM
Dec 2017

A friend of ours was a NWA ground crew member at the time. Do remember the Hanger by 33rd being built.

Thanks for the info. Old memories of a different era. And to thing,all those super great employees are no longer members of the most Profitable Airline in the world.

geardaddy

(25,348 posts)
10. My cousin worked on the ground crew for Northwest. When they went Delta he quit
Thu Dec 21, 2017, 11:25 AM
Dec 2017

because Delta got rid of the unions (except for the pilots union).

The Velveteen Ocelot

(120,953 posts)
2. That was the last one.
Wed Dec 20, 2017, 09:06 PM
Dec 2017

I saw the first one (the first of the -200 series) when it arrived at MSP in 1970; a group of us went to the airport to watch it take off because we didn't believe it could fly. When they take off, the huge wings actually move upwards because they generate so much lift.

I've only flown on them a couple of times but got some simulator time when I worked at NWA. It flew very nicely. Also got to crawl around in one that was halfway taken apart when it was down for a heavy check. I stood out on a wing. It's really high up.

The end of an era, I guess.

geardaddy

(25,348 posts)
9. I flew on them a few times
Thu Dec 21, 2017, 11:21 AM
Dec 2017

To Europe and to Asia. Excellent plane. I remember flying on one with CAAC to Shanghai from SFO back in 1984 when I was going to spend my sophomore year in college in Beijing. My friends and I snuck into the lounge in the upper deck for a look. That was super cool.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Minnesota»My coworkers and I stood ...