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Northwest Airlines History Center
@northwestairlines.bsky.social
1.1K followers 90 following 300 posts
Social Media account for the Northwest Airlines History Center in Bloomington, MN. We are an independent, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum. Visit us online at northwestairlineshistory.org , or in person Thurs-Sat in the Crowne Plaza AiRE Hotel.
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Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
aviationlibrarian.bsky.social
1950 International Harvest Advertisement
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With Northwest DC-4 N95415.
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#InternationalHarvester #avgeek #AviationHistory #DouglasDC4 #NorthwestAirlines #VintageAdvertising #Tractors #AirlineHistory #Airlines #AviationIndustry #aviation @northwestairlines.bsky.social
This is a black-and-white magazine advertisement for International Harvester tractors used at airports. The main photograph shows the nose and left side of a Northwest Airlines Douglas DC-4 passenger aircraft parked on an airport ramp. An International I-9 tractor, driven by a worker, is towing the aircraft by its nose landing gear. The airline’s name and round logo are visible on the aircraft’s fuselage. Below and to the left is a smaller photograph of an International Super-A tractor being driven outdoors, illustrating grounds-keeping use. The text promotes International tractors as dependable mobile power for airlines and airports, emphasizing towing, pushing, and maintenance tasks. The advertisement is branded “International Industrial Power” and identifies the manufacturer as International Harvester Company of Chicago.
January 12, 2026 at 6:21 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Yesterday’s announcement about Sun Country was a gut punch - we had just opened a new exhibit case talking about them. We’ll be reaching out to see what we can preserve & display as our museum’s scope expands to all commercial aviation in the Northland.
January 12, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
aviationlibrarian.bsky.social
Bonanza Air Lines F-27 Postcard
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N754L
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#BonanzaAirLines #FokkerF27 #TurbopropAircraft #VintageAviation #travel #Postcards #CivilAviation #Oldpostcards #AirportRamp #Avgeek
The postcard shows a side view of a turboprop passenger airplane parked on an airport ramp. The aircraft is a Fokker F-27 Friendship operated by Bonanza Air Lines, with the registration number N754L painted near the tail. The fuselage is silver with “Bonanza” written near the front and “Bonanza Air Lines” along the rear. The vertical tail is painted bright red with black and white Bonanza branding. The plane has high-mounted wings with two propeller engines, one on each wing. A small red ground vehicle is positioned near the nose of the aircraft. The background is flat, open airfield terrain under a pale sky, with no terminal buildings visible.
January 11, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
aviationlibrarian.bsky.social
Good night from - Minneapolis, Minnesota Airport Postcard.
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Northwest DC-10 N144US.
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#Minneapolis #Minnesota #Airport #Postcard #Aviation #NorthwestAirlines #dc10 @northwestairlines.bsky.social
This is a horizontally oriented vintage color postcard showing Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport at night or very early dawn. Along the bottom margin, printed in simple black lettering, is the caption: “Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport.” The foreground is dominated by a wide expanse of airport tarmac, textured and slightly reflective, suggesting cold weather or recent moisture. The surface stretches from the bottom edge of the image toward the aircraft, creating a strong sense of depth and openness. Centered slightly left is a large Northwest Orient Airlines jet, likely from the early jet age. The airplane is parked at a gate and viewed from the side at a slight angle. Its fuselage is long and cylindrical, painted white with a bold red tail fin. Along the side of the aircraft, the words “NORTHWEST ORIENT” are clearly visible in dark lettering. The cockpit windows are visible at the front, and the engines hang beneath the wings, appearing heavy and metallic. The aircraft’s landing gear is down, firmly planted on the tarmac, giving the impression of weight and stillness. Small ground-service vehicles and equipment cluster near the plane, lit by artificial lights but without visible human figures. To the right of the airplane stands the airport terminal building, low and modern in shape, with clean horizontal lines. Large windows glow softly from within, emitting warm yellow light that contrasts with the cool tones of the sky. Several tall floodlight poles rise above the scene. Their bright white lights flare outward, creating starburst effects and illuminating the plane, terminal, and pavement below. These lights are among the brightest elements in the image. The sky fills the upper half of the postcard and transitions smoothly from golden yellow near the horizon to pale blue and then deeper blue overhead, suggesting either sunrise or sunset. This gradient adds a calm, expansive atmosphere to the scene.
January 10, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
aviationlibrarian.bsky.social
1960 Yakima Air Terminal Postcard
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West Coast F-27s
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#Avgeek #Yakima #YakimaAirTerminal #WestCoastAirlines #FairchildF27 #FriendshipF27 #Turboprop #Avation #AirportHistory #AirlinePostcard #AviationPhotography #PacificNorthwest #1960sAviation #TransportationHistory @northwestairlines.bsky.social
A color postcard view of the Yakima Air Terminal in Washington, dating to about 1960, showing West Coast Airlines Fairchild F-27 Friendship turboprops parked on the ramp. The modern terminal building reflects postwar airport design trends of the late 1950s, emphasizing clean lines, large windows, and a welcoming civic presence. West Coast Airlines was in the midst of transitioning from piston aircraft to turboprops, and the F-27 symbolized faster, quieter, and more reliable regional air service across the Pacific Northwest. Scenes like this illustrate how medium-sized cities such as Yakima were fully integrated into the emerging turboprop airline network, linking agricultural and industrial communities with major hubs like Seattle and Portland during the jet age’s opening years.
January 8, 2026 at 8:24 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Yikes!
flightradar24.com Flightradar24 @flightradar24.com · Jan 6
Between Friday 2 Jan and tomorrow, KLM has canceled more than half of its scheduled flights.

2 Jan: 202 (28%)
3 Jan 294 (43%)
4 Jan 398 (57%)
5 Jan 463 (71%)
6 Jan 417 (64%)
7 Jan 600 (92%)

Image of active KLM flights now compared to same time last week.
Active KLM flights on Flightradar24 now Active KLM flights on Tuesday, Dec 30 2025 same time.
January 6, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
afacwa.org
Flight Attendants across the industry are proud of the heroic actions of aviation’s first responders on NWA Flight 253 on December 25, 2009. This AFA crew successfully stopped the Christmas Day “pant bombing” attempt.
December 26, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
mplsphotobot.bsky.social
L. S. Holstad (1939)
Source: Hennepin County Library

Leonard Holstad, assistant treasurer of Northwest Airlines
December 27, 2025 at 4:00 AM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Had a lovely visit to the San Diego Air & Space Museum today (taking a quick getaway from the Northland):
December 27, 2025 at 3:29 AM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Happy Holidays to all and much gratitude to all our supporters and members!

Our museum will be open regular hours this Friday and Saturday, but we’ll be closed today.

(Should we do Xmas logo gear on our online store next year?)
The 1990s Northwest logo (of the “Bowling Shoe” scheme) against a red-and-green background and with a triangular Christmas tree substituted for the compass triangle.
December 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Festive holiday greetings to all from our little museum! A gift membership or financial contribution helps us spread the wonder of commercial aviation to kids of all ages! northwestairlineshistory.org/join-us/
The 1950s era Northwest Orient Airlines logo with a Christmas tree swapped in for the traditional compass rose, and some color changes to make it a festive graphic for the holiday season.
December 24, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
vincempls.bsky.social
#OnThisDay Dec 20 2017: The last Delta Airlines Boeing 747 performs a low go-around before making its final landing at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport. A homecoming of sorts, the jumbo jet was originally purchased by Northwest Airlines in 1999. It is retired in Atlanta later that day.
The last Delta 747 performs a go-around before its final landing at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport Dec. 20. Air Force Photo/Paul Zadach Crowd standing in the snow next to the runway waving to the 747 as it makes a low pass. Some are waving, some are on ladders, many taking photos. There is also a dog.
December 20, 2025 at 5:40 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
We are running a promotion on shop.northwestairlineshistory.org thru Friday night this week: 20% off and free shipping for orders of $75+ with the promo code HERMAN2X at checkout.

We’ve got exclusive artwork and designs on gear and clothing across the whole NWA timeline & set of carriers!
Model of the tram that runs inside the main concourse at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, with a Northwest Airlines logo as NWA had designed and built that facility. The tram wears a cheerful Santa hat. The tram is not for sale.
December 9, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
aviationlibrarian.bsky.social
1968 Boise Airport Postcard - Note the ex-Bonanza Air Lines DC-9, which has moved through the AirWest system and is working an ex-West Coast route.
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#Airwest #UnitedAirlines #BonanzaAirLines #DC9 #b727 #BoiseIdaho #Airport @northwestairlines.bsky.social @airportarchitecture.byerussell.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:32 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Hey, we’re another Minnesota nonprofit with a #GTTM25 fundraising appeal today! Why pitch in toward our $5K goal for storage cabinets?
* Aviation history is cool
* We don’t get even $1 of support from government (or Delta)
* Full project is coming in $3K below budget!

www.givemn.org/organization...
31 steel map “flat file” cabinets acquired this month at auction for about $2000 (including transport and setup). At list, this is well over $23,000 worth of storage! We will be using these cabinets to house not only posters & artwork, blueprints, training diagrams & signage, but also wings & service pins, dishes & flatware, uniform accessories and much more. They are a major upgrade to our storage setup that will help us take better care & also make artifacts more easily accessible.
November 20, 2025 at 11:05 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Which used to be where Northwest had its headquarters and pilot training complex! #theresalwaysanaviationangle
normcharlatan.bsky.social Norm Charlatan @normcharlatan.bsky.social · Nov 16
The Scantron company is headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, not far from the Vikings practice facility. #localangle
November 17, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
flightradar24.com
Today is International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. Marking the anniversary of the founding of the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations, we celebrate the hard work of tens of thousands of ATCOs ensuring the safety of the skies. #ATCODay
20,000 active flights shown on the Flightradar24 map.
October 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Our newest spotlight exhibit at the museum: “The Neighbors Next Door,” featuring both some legacy flags but also current star Sun Country! We hope to add more room & materials to Sunny as our scope expands to cover all commercial aviation here in the Northland!
October 20, 2025 at 2:47 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
Very busy for our MSP Aviation Collectibles show, today only thru 4 pm, at the Wyndham Bloomington (just south of the Mall of America). Great to see such robust turnout on this beautiful day!
October 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
This Saturday, 9 to 4 - join us @ Wyndham Mall of America for our annual MSP Aviation Collectibles Sale - our biggest fundraiser of the year & biggest event of its kind in the Northland. Admission just $5 and kids are free! Details & pre-registration: northwestairlineshistory.org/aviation-col...
October 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
The sky is emptier. Our families are emptier. Our hearts are emptier. As we get further away even our memories become like the fog that surrounds us this morning; but please do not forget.
September 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
aviationlibrarian.bsky.social
T-tail Tuesday
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1973 Reno Airport with a Hughes Airwest DC-9 Postcard
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#aviation #airplanes #avgeek #planes #postcards #postcard #travel #planespotting #aviación #aviacion #avión #avion #Luftfahrt #Flugzeuge @northwestairlines.bsky.social
This image is a vintage postcard-style photo taken at Reno Airport in Reno, Nevada. It shows a bright yellow jet aircraft on the tarmac with the airline name "Hughes Airwest" printed on the fuselage. The aircraft is a rear-engine jet with a T-tail and the registration number N9344, indicating it's a Douglas DC-9. The tail is painted with a large blue "HW" symbol, the logo of Hughes Airwest. Several passengers are walking across the tarmac toward the terminal, a black glass building in the background. A blue airport utility truck is parked nearby. The weather is clear, with blue skies and scattered clouds, and snow-capped hills can be seen in the distance. The overall look and design suggest this photo was taken in the 1970s.
September 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Reposted by Northwest Airlines History Center
aviationlibrarian.bsky.social
1960 Great Falls, Montana Airport Postcard.
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Northwest Electra N123US.
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#NorthwestAirlines #GreatFalls #Montana #Postcard #Travel #Aviation #Avgeek #Airports #Airplanes @northwestairlines.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 5:56 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
SCHEDULE UPDATE: our museum in the Crowne Plaza AiRE Hotel in Bloomington, MN will be open today and tomorrow, 1100-1700. We will be closed on Saturday the 27th for the extended Labor Day holiday weekend. Normal hours next week!

(yes, I am a timetable nerd)
August 28, 2025 at 7:53 PM
northwestairlines.bsky.social
If you enjoy the history of airlines, join us as a volunteer in Bloomington, MN!

You can join in with just three or four hours a month, and we want to hear about your favorite airliner! Hit the link to us know you’re interested, and we’ll be in touch: northwestairlineshistory.org/volunteer-fo...
August 15, 2025 at 2:54 AM