This post is dedicated to all Trolley Dollies around the world’s sky (a.k.a. Stewardesses, Air Hostesses, and Flight Attendants). Thank you for your service, Ladies!
70 years ago, on March 16, 1945, Birdie Perkins boarded Delta’s passenger aircraft as its first flight attendant…
I wanted to visit the hangars of the Delta Flight Museum since its grand re-opening in 2014. The museum exhibits several historic aircraft and interesting collections of rare items from Delta Air Lines history. The sight is located in two Delta hangars of Atlanta airport – the Hangar One- “Prop Era” and the Hangar Two- “Jet Era”.
Hangar One. Five aircraft, three interactive touchscreens, 72 feet of exhibit cases and two wall graphics show Delta and the airline industry from take off in the 1920s to the arrival of prop-jets in 1959. The major piece of Delta’s Propeller Age is fully restored Delta Douglas DC-3 Ship 41 aircraft. In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful vintage style aircraft. The plane is the second-delivered DC-3 of Delta’s order for five new planes from Douglas Aircraft Co. and the only Delta passenger Douglas DC-3 in existence. The first-delivered DC-3, Ship 40, named “City of Atlanta,” was being used for pilot training, so Ship 41 became the first DC-3 to carry Delta passengers. Entered scheduled service on December 24, 1940.
***Just FYI,
The first flight attendants were required to be single women (never married) between 21 and 26 years old who were registered nurses. They had to stand between 5’ and 5’6” tall, weigh 100 to 120 pounds, and they could not wear glasses or contacts.
Hangar Two. The Jet Age. Exhibits highlight customer experience and Delta’s growth from 1959 to today. The centerpiece of the hangar two is Boeing 767 The Spirit of Delta, the Delta’s first Boeing 767. When after 35 consecutively profitable years Delta posted a net loss, Delta employees spearheaded “Project 767” to raise money to pay for this aircraft. Led by three flight attendants, the project was an inspiring effort to raise $30 million through the combined donations of employees, retirees and friends.
The Delta Flight Museum is a nonprofit organization. So the “Project 767” has been re-born and the Spirit of Delta again depends on donations. The last year’s Brick Campaign was one of the ways to support the museum’s reconstruction. If you would like to support Delta Museum, here is the website – Support Delta Museum.
By the way, don’t miss my series of posts Delta Air Lines – The History In Magazine Advertising, dedicated to Delta’s 75 Anniversary.
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gmeanm3r
Hi Alex, I really like the air travel nostalgia – back when flying was so glamorous and romantic. This Delta museum seem to capture it all. I adore the elegance of the “trolley dollies” back then, but I’m still amazed with the very restrictive qualifications imposed then. Really nice coverage of the museum and its fundraising effort. Love the very last shot.
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