Pan Am Flies Again This Fall

NWA Collectibles Needed at the NWA History Centre

Lady Sylvia Townley-Peeler stands in front of the poster she donated to the NWA History Centre, made up of 16 photographs of Lady Sylvia in uniforms she wore during her storied career as a flight attendant. When asked her favorite, she answered without hesitation, "the yellow one!"

Have you been meaning to donate your vintage Northwest Airlines artifacts to the NWA History Centre Museum in Minneapolis/St. Paul - NWA's original home towns?

You probably just haven't gotten around to it yet.

A story today in the Detroit Free Press talks about Northwest Airlines collectibles increasing in value. In the article, Bruce Kitt, president of the NWA History Centre has much to say.

After reading it you might be induced to scramble to find old NWA mementos in your basement, attic or deep dark recesses of closets and drawers you haven't cleaned out in years. You may be thinking about photographing them and putting them on eBay or another web auction for some quick extra cash. If that is your desire, go for it and good luck!

There is another alternative you may wish to consider. Maybe you hadn't thought about future generations and how they would enjoy seeing your artifacts in a museum, how they might enjoy a glimpse into the history and heyday of a great airline that has now disappeared from view.

If you haven't done it before, visit the NWA History Centre in person. For details, check out it's website.

You'll enjoy it!

The Sun will Never Set on Northwest Airlines

American Airlines in Trouble Over 'Beauty Contest'

Virgin Atlantic Flight Attendants

Oh, my. Will they never learn?

American Airlines flight attendants are upset over a company-wide competition to find the best-looking female and male air stewards at each crew base. A campaign called "The Face of Your Base" was launched this week and is the talk of the airline. The winners would pose in the airline's newest uniforms for marketing purposes.

"This campaign just transported us back 50 years to the days of girdles, weight-checks and single, female-only stewardesses having to quit when they were married, pregnant or reached the ripe old age of 30," said Laura Gladling, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

On NWA, we were allowed to work until the age of 32, Lady Skywriter says, and adds that NWA had several male cabin attendants 50 years ago, one of whom - Bob Reardon - is still flying, and over 80 years old. Back then, male flight attendants were exempt from age restrictions. However girdles, weight-checks and having to quit when we were married or pregnant, were sadly the case at NWA too.

Gladling is calling for an end to the beauty contest because it undermines the flight attendant's primary duty: in-flight safety.

So my friends, what do you think about "The Face of Your Base?"