NORTHWEST AIRLINES
As the wide-body age began, Northwest was one of the first airlines to order 747-100s, but also a second aircraft type was chosen, the Mc Donnell - Douglas DC-10. Northwest was the first airline to operate both aircraft types in large numbers and also the first to order a long-range DC-10: The DC-10-20, later known as DC-10-40. The designation was changed upon Northwest’s request to mark the superiority over the -30 series, although the CF6-powered -30 series was also a true long-range aircraft. On November 11th 1972, the first of 25 ordered aircraft joined a fleet consisting of Boeing jets. To standardize the fleet, the long-range DC-10-40 got the same engines as their Boeing 747, the JT9D-engine from Pratt & Whitney and the DC-10 was used on domestic services as well as on the trans-pacific routes where it supplemented the jumbo jet. It is said that Northwest's DC-10-40s had a bad performance compared to the later added series 30 aircraft. But Northwest's then-CEO insisted on Pratt & Whitney engines for fleet commonality ("if I want aircraft engines, I’ll buy from PW; if I want a light bulb, I’ll buy from GE")
Although Northwest announced a program to modernize its fleet at the end of the 1980s, none of the ordered A330s/340s arrived so that the DC-10 is still the first choice in Northwest’s European network. More DC-10s were added, including large parts of Korean Air Lines' and Swissair’s fleet, to fill the gap until the ordered Airbus jets arrive - like Continental was also boosting its fleet with used DC-10s until the 777s arrived. These were all DC-10-30s and today, Northwest still operates large numbers of both long-range DC-10s. So the total fleet increased to 46 aircraft, giving Northwest the honor to be the fifth largest DC-10 operator of all times. Since Northwest introduced the DC-10 in 1972 none of them was involved in a mayor accident! The DC-10 is still in service, together with the largest DC-9 - fleet of the world, 747, A319/320, A330 and 757. In late 2001, the first aircraft (series 40 and old series 30 aircraft) were phased out and replaced by 757-300s. Northwest announced that they will retire the DC-10 from intercontinental routes by October 2006, leaving the DC-10 only on US mainland - Honolulu routes. The last DC-10 service took place on January 8th 2007. It was a flight from Honolulu to Minneapolis/St. Paul starting the day before, operated by 47844/ 336. In the following weeks, the last two DC-10s served as standby aircraft and operated a couple of flights - but finally, also this era came to an end after 34 years.
Photos
Upper right: Say cheese! One of Northwests DC-10 posing for a photo on August 25th 1998 in Amsterdam - BY MIGUEL SNOEP
Left: Two Northwest DC-10s in Amsterdam - BY JEROEN WESTRAM
Upper right: Very good shot of N227NW at Anchorage - BY OLAV RHENSIUS
Following aircraft were operated by or for Northwest Airlines:
Registration | Aircraft | Fleetnr./Name | Operated from - to | Where is it now? |
N141US | 46750/ 28 | 1141 | 13.06.1973 - 25.09.2001 | SCRAPPED |
N142US | 46751/ 36 | 1142 | 16.02.1973 - 06.06.1984 | WRITTEN OFF |
N143US N133JC | 46752/ 53 | 1143 | 10.11.1972 - 15.05.1984 and 17.05.1986 - now | -stored- |
N144US | 46753/ 66 | 1144 | 12.12.1972 - 30.04.1984, 04.1986 - 16.06.1986, 20.07.1991 - 04.03.2002 and 11.03.2002 - 23.04.2002 | -stored- |
N145US | 46754/ 79 | 1145 | 31.03.1973 - 03.09.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N146US | 46755/ 97 | 1146 | 09.05.1973 - 04.09.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N147US | 46756/ 102 | 1147 | 02.06.1973 - 07.12.2001 and 2002 - 30.04.2002 | -stored- |
N148US | 46757/ 108 | 1148 | 06.07.1973 - 05.08.2001 | SCRAPPED |
N149US | 46758/ 111 | 1149 | 25.07.1973 - 26.07.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N150US | 46759/ 113 | 1150 | 31.07.1973 - 2001 | SCRAPPED |
N151US | 46760/ 120 | 1151 | 30.10.1973 - 02.10.2001 | SCRAPPED |
N152US | 46761/ 124 | 1152 | 07.11.1973 - 29.04.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N153US | 46762/ 126 | 1153 | 14.11.1973 - 03.09.2002 | -stored- |
N154US | 46763/ 128 | 1154 | 28.11.1973 - 20.09.2001 | SCRAPPED |
N155US | 46764/ 130 | 1155 | 12.12.1973 - 04.01.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N156US | 46765/ 143 | 1156 | 08.03.1974 - 07.12.2001 | SCRAPPED |
N157US | 46766/ 151 | 1157 | 17.05.1974 - 03.09.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N158US | 46767/ 161 | 1158 | 09.07.1974 - 06.05.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N159US | 46768/ 164 | 1159 | 09.08.1974 - 02.01.2002 | FAA destructive tests |
N160US | 46769/ 168 | 1160 | 10.09.1974 - 14.09.2001 | SCRAPPED |
N161US | 46770/ 175 | 1161 | 05.11.1974 - 30.08.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N162US | 46771/ 180 | 1162 | 06.12.1974 - 07.2002 | SCRAPPED |
N211NW | 46868/ 171 | 1211 | 23.01.1991 - 05.01.2005 | -stored- |
N220NW | 46577/ 114 | 1220 | 1991 - 06.12.2001 | SCRAPPED |
N221NW | 46589/ 132 | 1221 | 17.05.1991 - 10.10.2005 | -stored- |
N223NW | 46580/ 183 | 1223 | 22.10.1991 -11.09.2006 | American Trans Air |
N224NW | 46581/ 184 | 1224 | 31.05.1991 - 09.10.2006 | American Trans Air |
N225NW | 46582/ 187 | 1225 | 18.02.1992 - 11.11.2006 | American Trans Air |
N226NW | 46583/ 292 | 1226 | 27.02.1992 - 01.04.2002 and ???? - 2006 | American Trans Air |
N227NW | 46969/ 241 | 1227 | 23.06.1992 - 10.2004 | -stored- |
N228NW | 46578/ 131 | 1228 | 07.07.1995 - 03.12.2002 | -stored- |
N229NW | 46551/ 60 | 1229 | 17.08.1995 - 23.09.2005 | -stored- |
N230NW | 46552/ 71 | 1230 | 17.08.1995 - 05.08.2005 | SCRAPPED |
N232NW | 46961/ 236 | 1232 | 20.11.1995 - 25.10.2005 and 29.12.2005 - 16.01.2006 | -stored- |
N233NW | 46640/ 240 | 1233 | 21.02.1992 - 26.10.2005 and 30.11.2005 - 22.06.2006 | -stored- |
N234NW | 46912/ 188 | 1234 | 07.1996 - 19.01.2007 | American Trans Air |
N235NW | 46915/ 199 | 1235 | 07.1996 - 28.10.2006 | American Trans Air |
N236NW | 46934/ 160 | 1236 | 01.08.1996 - 19.04.2006 | -stored- |
N237NW | 47844/ 336 | 1237 | 12.1997 - 18.10.2004 and 21.12.2004 - 08.01.2007 | -stored- |
N238NW | 48267/ 434 | 1238 | 30.04.1998 - 23.08.2006 | Omni Air International |
N239NW | 48290/ 435 | 1239 | 06.1998 - 24.09.2006 | Omni Air International |
N240NW | 48319/ 438 | 1240 | 08.04.1998 - 2006 | Omni Air International |
N241NW | 48282/ 355 | 1241 | 03.2000 - 29.05.2005 | -stored- |
N242NW | 47845/ 356 | 1242 | 05.2000 - 2006 | -stored- |
N243NW | 48315/ 436 | 1243 | 31.03.2000 - 15.09.2006 | Omni Air International |
N244NW | 48316/ 437 | 1244 | 20.04.2000 - 17.08.2006 | Omni Air International |
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