Carr - Woolman Flight Appreciation Center

Delta Air Lines' Honor Guard for the Fallen

In my search for "Delta Family" stories, I came upon this today. From the blog, "SEASIDE CAFE LE WUILLEMET" This is a story the blog’s author received in one of those endless email forwards, but she does not know who started it Normally, I would not perpetuate these things, but this one is a great story. It is just the thing I am looking for here at the CWFAC. It is a story about Delta having an honor guard of employees to receive the body of a fallen service person when in transit aboard a Delta aircraft at ATL. This video choked me up a little when I watched it. This is a great story.

"Dear Net members,

As a retired Air Force Reserve Lt. Colonel, I am truly touched by the actions of Delta's Honor Guard people and proud of Delta Air Lines for making this caring moment possible for our fallen heroes. What a tribute to those men and women who have sacrificed their lives to insure our freedom and safety. God Bless them.

This is from a friend at Delta.....makes me very proud of the Delta family:

My son, Ura (aka Bucky) told me about this video and the program Delta started a few years ago at the Atlanta airport. DL carries a lot of human remains shipments and they started an honor guard to meet and honor all our veterans. The honor guard initially was on the day shift only but recently expanded to the night shift and Ura has become involved. They honor all veterans not just those of our most recent conflict. In this case, the veteran is the father of a DL employee and he is being escorted by his grandson who is in the Air Force. A videographer saw one of these ceremonies and asked if he could film one and this is the resulting video. Brian McConnell is the DL employee who is heading this honor guard and he is trying to be sure we also honor the casualties of the Iraq/Afghanistan. I think this is a wonderful thing that was started by employees and makes me proud of DL. Ura has always been involved with things that honor our military like the military lounge DL sets up each Christmas. (in fact that is where he met his wife. They were both volunteering in the lounge). I am very proud of his participation.

 Delta's Atlanta Worldport Honor Guard

March 20, 2006....

....One evening on the Atlanta ramp, Tom Schenk was delivering bags to a gate when he saw what appeared to be a soldier standing at the front of the aircraft saluting a coffin. Compelled to investigate, he walked to the belt loader, wading through bags and workers in their flurry of activity. There he saw a female Marine; she had tears in her eyes. He stood at attention and joined her in rendering honors. After the body was loaded onto a cart, Mr. Schenk, a retired Navy Petty Officer, introduced himself and inquired about the deceased.

 The young Marine escort revealed that the casket contained the body of her brother. He was killed in Iraq protecting her and others in their unit. Unsure of just what to do, Tom Schenk determined at that moment that we must begin to show a greater degree of honor and caring when we have the opportunity. His passion drove him to rally support from many willing Delta employees.

 The paint shop in Atlanta designed and created a special cart, on their own time, to be used when receiving a military body. Worldport leadership has continuously offered assistance, removing operational obstacles by allowing volunteer agents time to help in this effort. Caring people in Worldport Cargo have worked hard to make sure the special cart makes it to the inbound on time and that the escorts are carried to the correct outbound gate. The ACS Forum has welcomed, supported and promoted the Honor Guard all over the Delta system. A host of Customer Service Agents have dedicated themselves to making this unique service outstanding – occasionally donating time on their off days to make it happen. The Chief Pilot's office has made it a priority to keep everyone informed whenever they have a military HR and escort. A VFW post and other anonymous individuals have donated money to purchase flags, emblems and vests. What a caring and focused team we have here!

 "It's the least we can do." says Mr. Schenk, "These people took a stand for us so we can continue our way of life." One of the escorts said it best, "It's so uplifting at a time like this to be surrounded by people who really care. It's an honor and privilege to know the people of this airline." We agree. -- Frank 'n' Carol Ann (Legge Wichterman) Faulkner, Chandler, AZ"

Do you have a great "Delta Family" story to share at the Carr-Woolman Flight Appreciaton Center? Let me know. I would love to hear from you. Remember at Delta, "Good Goes Around." 

Lifting Body Aircraft

This is the first entry for the Reed Technical Research Hangar category of the Carr - Woolman Flight Appreciation Center. It is named in honor of the late NASA flight research scientist, Dale Reed. I will have videos put into this category that will feature some of my favorite aircraft and aeronautical research issues. Dale Reed pioneered NASA lifting body research which led to the development of the Space Shuttle. He was one my favorite engineers at my time at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. He was a great person to know. Meet Dale in this video a look at his specialty, the development of "Flight Without Wings," the lifting body concept.

Alaska Airlines' Aviation Geek Night

If you are an aviation or more specifically, an airline fan like I am, you have probably wished your favorite airline would let you go behind the scenes to see how they train. This is akin to getting the golden ticket to the Willy Wonka factory. When I was a kid, I got to go on a tour of TWA's training academy in Kansas City. Later, Delta folks let me and my brother hang out with them behind the scenes at MEM (Memphis, TN.). The good people at Alaska Airlines are now giving airline fans a look at their training facilities. Follow the link to a review of Alaska's first ever, "Aviation Geek Night."  Thanks Alaska!

Delta Declares Retro Uniform Week!

From March 23rd to the 29th Delta and its new family members at Northwest will have a retro uniform week for flight attendants. Very cool! If you see, an F/A wearing a throwback Delta, Republic or North Central uniform let me know here at the Center. If you get an image and permission from the F/A, I will post it here. I am really pleased that Delta will honor its Northwest heritage like this. Now, can retro liveries on some aircraft be far behind? Will we see a North Central or Republic Herman the duck flying again? One can only hope. Something Northwest never was willing to do. They did turned North Central's famous DC-3 "728" into a Northwest retro aircraft! Sacrilege that was! 

One note, for international security restrictions (oh please!) throwback uniforms will only be allowed for domestic Delta/Northwest flights. Sigh..... As of March 30, all flight attendants will sport the modern, new Delta uniforms. 

Widgetheads.net is now a Carr - Woolman Flight Appreciation Center Destination

This message is for Concourse B. Attention on the Concourse. The Carr-Woolman Flight Appreciation Center would like to announce the arrival of a new Delta Air Lines gate. Widgetheads.net is now occupying Gate B14. Widgetheads.net is a site devoted to technical data for Delta Air Lines. It covers aircraft information files, re-paints, modifications, what new aircraft have joined the fleet and what have left the fleet. There are updates in stations converting from Delta to Northwest. I especially like his nice family history chart that denotes the Delta and Northwest heritage. He has denoted Republic Airlines (1979-86) and its linage including North Central, Southern and Hughes Air West. A lot of good data can be found here for the widgethead in all of us Delta fans. Widgetheads.net, the Delta fan site piloted by one of our own. Depart for Widgetheads.net though Gate B14. Your captain is Justin Halbsgut. In addition, please note that Finnair is now located in Gate B15.

Delta Family Stories

“The Delta Family,” that phrase is much bandied about when you hear about employees and their relationship with Delta Air Lines.  One of my goals here at the Carr – Woolman Flight Appreciation Center is to try and collect some stories that exemplify, “The Delta Family,” or memories of a “Delta Family” experience. I do this to remember the past, but to also encourage the new Delta family members from Northwest and the old Delta family to keep this spirit alive. It is what has made Delta rare amongst corporate cultures in America and rare in how this spirit exemplifies Delta’s customer service.

The first story I found comes from Matt McCracken, founder of McKinney Avenue Capital in Dallas, Texas, USA. Mr. McCracken’s father was a pilot for Delta. He wrote his thoughts on growing up in the Delta family in 2005. Here is an excerpt:

 

“September 15th, 2005

 

Delta Air Lines - A Personal Reflection!

Posted by Matt at 7:00 pm

 

….My fondest Delta memories are of attending the summertime Delta picnics. The swimming pool with the extra-high slide, the “old” guys playing softball, Grandy’s fried chicken and country dancing. One year, we managed to sneak away a couple of our parents’ beers and we went out to the car and tried to act like grown-ups by “throwing one back”. I think I might have been 10 or 11 at the time, so it was a real struggle but somehow I managed. (I think I poured ¾ of mine out while no one was looking.)

When I grew up, I wanted to marry a flight attendant because I knew them to be the sweetest people in the world. (Some of the pilots may disagree with me, but when you’re a cute kid wearing a suit and tie, the women adore you.) On my first flight alone, I was served 5 ice cream sundaes. That was back when non-revving meant sitting in first class.

The only time my brother and I got along was when we were non-revving. We fought incessantly when we were at home but while we were flying our father would constantly remind us that Delta would pull our passes if we didn’t behave. He would tell us story after story about kids having their flying privileges revoked so they had to stay home with the baby sitter while everyone else went to Disney Land. I’m now convinced that these stories were fictional but they worked.

I remember the tremendous pride I felt when our college marketing class studied the “Delta Family”. I remember testimony after testimony of fellow Dallasittes who cherished flying Delta over AA because of the superior service they received. I remember the Spirit of Delta poster on the wall in our game room which was ironically sold within weeks of bankruptcy – the plane not the poster. I remember my dad telling me about how Delta was considered a nothing airline compared to Braniff and how his buddies ribbed him when he was hired in ‘72.

Unfortunately, I also remember making a sales call to Delta and having a member of Delta’s management explaining to me that Southwest wasn’t a competitor. I remember the first strike vote. I remember the revolving door at the upper management level.

I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Delta. They offered my father gainful employment which allowed him to send my brother and me to a couple of the finest schools in the country. They offered us the opportunity to be reunited with our extended family every summer and Christmas. The absolute best part about your Dad being a pilot was the flexibility it offered him. My dad coached all my little league teams – even soccer. I cannot remember a HS or college game of mine that he wasn’t able to attend. All though he was gone a lot, he was always there whenever it mattered. Birthdays, Games, School Plays – Anything that mattered, he was there.”

What other stories are out there? If you are reading this and worked for Delta or had a family member work for Delta and have a story to tell, let me know. What about you Delta employees today? Tell me how “The Delta Family” is doing today. I am looking for positive stories here, not messages of, “Tim, it just ain’t what it used to be.”  Yeah, I know, times are different now, but I bet a lot of you still think of yourselves as family and have good stories to tell. My email link can be found on the panel to the right of this post. 

 

A North Central Airlines Artifact Found in Duluth!

I always like to scan the world wide web for new findings on North Central history that might be out there whether it is an interesting item for sale on eBay or something like this from a monastery on Lake Superior in Minnesota. Ok, the North Central history is not in the monastery, but it is in the Duluth airport. However, on the weblog, “Monastic Musings” I found this image and a description. The writer is Edith OSB.

“I noticed a plaque at the Duluth airport commemorating its dedication and noting the significant contributions made by North Central Airlines, including the logo of that airline which was subsumed first by Republic Airlines and then by Northwest Airlines decades ago.

With Northwest's coming merger with Delta, all traces of the "northland" in the airline industry will disappear. A little nostalgia for flying under the sign of the full moon and the duck seems in order. 

Others who have fond memories have a North Central Airlines website, tracing the history all the way back to Wisconsin Central Airlines' founding in 1944 as an outgrowth of the air dept of the Four Wheel Drive Company (FWD), a major manufacturer of four wheel transmissions and heavy duty trucks. In 1939, they desired a better way to transport their staff than the diminishing rail service or primitive road system could provide, and so they formed a flight department.

The plaque is placed on a now out-of-the-way wall. Disembarking passengers rush past it on their way to baggage claim. It opens my eyes to these pieces of history that must be scattered around the city. Perhaps now I'll notice more of them.

Posted by Edith OSB on Tuesday, January 06, 2009”

Edith made a great find! Herman looks a little worse for wear on the plaque. I wonder how his nose and tail got bent.  What else is out there along the route of the Northliners where airports remain largely intact from those days? The Carr – Woolman Flight Appreciation Center is dedicated to North Central and Delta archaeology. Thanks again Edith!

 

The Carr - Woolman Flight Appreciation Center, "Welcome Aboard"

"No one person is an airline. An airline is a team. It must be friendly, courteous, cooperative, efficient and bound as closely as a devoted family." – C.E. Woolman, founder of Delta Air Lines

 CARR-WOOLMAN FLIGHT APPRECIATION CENTER

            Welcome to the Carr-Woolman Flight Appreciation Center. This site is dedicated to one of the passions of my life, aviation, and specifically the airline industry. I named it for two of the pioneers of American civil aviation, Hal N. Carr and C.E. Woolman. These men led my two favorite airlines of all-time. Mr. Carr led the late, great North Central Airlines and Mr. Woolman led Delta Air Lines. 

            Mr. Carr took a fledgling regional airline and built into one of the nation’s leading regional carriers in the 1970s. He then went onto help amalgamate a number of regionals into Republic Airlines, which was for a time, the nation’s largest airline. Sadly, to me, Republic was lost into merger with Northwest Airlines. Republic was a victim of over expansion in the early 80s era of de-regulation.

            Mr. Woolman’s legacy begins with purchasing a crop dusting service, turning it into a mail service and then passenger service. He carefully grew Delta from its roots covering routes from east Texas to Georgia in the 1930s. He stewarded Delta’s reach beyond America’s south though the mid-1960s. While he stepped away from day to day operations as Delta headed into the late 1960s, his imprint on the “Delta Family” continued. While there is debate inside and outside of Delta as to how much of this family spirit is still there, in my experiences it largely is. It is what makes Delta so rare. I hope the infusion of Northwest people, only strengthens the family, especially those who go back to Republic Airlines.

            I look upon the recent merger of Northwest into Delta as the two legacies having joined, in fact. I am glad to see the corporate DNA of North Central and Republic now merged into Delta. As a fan of both, it is practically the best of both worlds. Seeing the image of a once, North Central DC-9 now in Delta livery was very cool for me to see.  Now, if only Delta could have the widget and Herman the duck on the plane, that would be airline nirvana for me.

            If you look to the left of the page you see the CFAC divided into concourses with gates (links) to sites about Delta, North Central and other airlines of the past and present that I have an interest in. If you put your cursor over a gate, you will see a description of the destination.

On the right, you will see connections to sites that will help you learn more about aviation. Visit the Control Tower to find out more about the technical and business sides of aviation. Go to the Passenger Information Desk for the latest on the ins and outs of airline travel.  My lists in all areas are by no means comprehensive, but I think are a good selection to help you learn more about the world of aviation. I hope you enjoy the Carr-Woolman Flight Appreciation Center. Welcome Aboard.