The story of the 747’s genesis is well-known, and we don’t need to rehash it here. However, the global passenger and cargo traffic forecasts that Pan Am was looking at that gave Juan Trippe the confidence to place a ‘handshake order’ were also on the desks of Northwest and many other major carriers. In the mid-1960s, the post-war demand explosion and then the boom from the introduction of pure-jet equipment were still fresh memories for traffic planners. Conventional wisdom held that high-end international passenger traffic would rush for the expensive new supersonic craft under development but cargo volume and economy-class passengers would be happy with subsonic travel, as long as per-mile costs could continue to drop as aircraft capacity increased.
NWA’s own analysis said the burgeoning cargo business it was experiencing between Asia and North America was only going to become more important as factories in Taiwan and South Korea started coming on line to supplement the significant manufacturing being done in Japan. The time zone differential from East Asia meant that simply adding more frequencies with more 707s would not work as one end of the route would always be in a night cycle where staffing, passenger facilities, and ground and air connections would be unavailable (or airports might be closed outright.) Therefore, Boeing’s Model 747 concept held great appeal.
To be sure, many carriers ordered 747s without a good business case – even disregarding the demand and cost shocks that would come in the early 1970s. Eastern and Delta didn’t fly any intercontinental routes, and were adding fleet types without regard for standardization. On the other hand, Northwest had a clear fleet rationalization plan in mind: 747s would replace 707-320s on long-haul service, just as 727s would phase out 720s, Electras, and DC-7s within North America. NWA placed an order for 10 frames in 1966 for deliveries in 1969-70.
While the 747 had development delays and its introduction with Pan Am was bedeviled with engine and equipment issues, by the time Northwest took its initial deliveries most of these problems had been understood and corrected. NWA’s first revenue flight took off June 22, 1970, from Minneapolis / St. Paul to New York JFK.
All ten frames of the first order were delivered in 1970-71, and Northwest topped up its order with five more 747-100B longer-range variants to be delivered in 1971.
By 1980, Northwest has started to swap in the newer, more-capable 747-200 (as well as a handful of all-cargo models), and would later go on to be the launch customer for the extended 747-400 – which we’ll cover in a separate entry. The -400s would pass on to Delta when the companies merged, but the remaining -200s were quickly disposed of, as well as the all-cargo subfleet.
If you use these photos, please credit the Northwest Airlines History Center – please also contact us to let us know how you’re using them and if we can be of further help!
Passenger Service
Stripes partway between the Electra and 707 1960s schemes in this Boeing illustration used to announce Northwest’s initial order. Madison Park in Seattle is positively pastoral! From the James Borden collection.The late 1960s livery flies high in this Boeing illustration. From the James Borden collection.Pre-delivery shot of N601US from Boeing, via the John Deveny collection.Delivery of N601US. From the James Borden Photography Collection.Delivery of N601US. From the James Borden Photography Collection.“The” standard inflight profile publicity shot for N601US, June 1970. From the James Borden collection.N603US at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US and its new tug at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N603US passing behind 727-200 N274US at MSP, 6/22/70. The passenger holding a garment bag at center was in a planespotter’s ideal state. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.747-100 N603US passing outside North Central’s DC-9-30 N959N at MSP, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.Containerized freight loading on N603US being demonstrated to the press before the first MSP-JFK departure, with staff looking on, 6/22/70. NWA publicity photo, NWAHC collection.N602US getting pushback as she prepares to depart from Seattle to Tokyo, June 30, 1970, as a substitute for the 707-351 usually run (so as to position the aircraft to launch 747 service from Tokyo the next day.) NWAHC collection.Passengers arriving on the first NWA 747 scheduled flight into Seattle, July 1, 1970, NW7 from New York and Chicago, continuing on to Tokyo. NWAHC collection.Loading containerized baggage into N603US before Flight 7’s departure to Tokyo, 7/1/70. Scissor-lift also in use with the catering truck parked alongside. NWAHC collection.Fueling underway prior to Flight 7’s departure for Tokyo, 7/1/70. NWAHC collection.Undated company publicity slide featuring a -100 series. NWAHC collection.September 1970, MSP. Photo by Noel Allard.Air-to-air publicity shot for N615US, November 1971. From the James Borden collection.N615US air-to-air publicity slides. NWAHC collection.N608US test flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul on a rainy May 1972 day. Photo by Noel Allard.N608US test flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul on a rainy May 1972 day. Photo by Noel Allard.N608US test flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul on a rainy May 1972 day. Photo by Noel Allard.N615US air-to-air publicity slides. This particular shot was frequently used in company promotional literature. NWAHC collection.Air-to-air publicity shot for N615US, November 1971. From the James Borden collection.N615US air-to-air publicity slides. NWAHC collection.
Early 1980s postcard promoting the 747 for Transatlantic flights.
N627US arrives at St. Louis on a military charter, Sept. 12, 1984. Jon Proctor photo used with permission – available through Wikimedia Commons.N627US is shown on this 1980s era promotional card. NWAHC collection.
Click on the image to read an April 1986 brochure on Northwest’s Regal Imperial service, featuring many interior and exterior photos of NWA 747-200s.
Mid 1980s postcard promoting NWA’s Regal Imperial service, featuring photos from their 747 premium cabin.May 1986: Northwest has sent newly-delivered N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, in preparation for the rollout of the company’s post-Republic merger identity. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N637US in Las Vegas for ground and air-to-air publicity photos using the Davis, Gibson Advertising group, May 1986. NWAHC collection.N636US landing at Minneapolis-St. Paul, summer 1986, not yet titled simply “Northwest.” Photo by Noel Allard.Richard Escobedo photo of him with freshly-painted N622US and ground equipment at Detroit in 1989.-100 series N604US being parted out at Marana, Arizona; July 4, 1993 shot. Photographer unattributed; slide from Scott Norris’ collection.-200 series N637US with tug at Osaka-Kansai in September 1994. Photographer unattributed; slide from Scott Norris’ collection.N634US on approach. Photo (C) Jonathan Taylor, used with permission.-100 series N601US landing at Los Angeles, Dec. 27, 1998. Photographer unattributed; slide from the Chris Nash Collection.Sunset arrival at Narita, June 13, 2007. Some of the -200s did get painted in the final livery, like this one. They worked Hawaii runs from Japan as well as various charter assignments. Shot by Scott Norris.Illustration of N638US in final livery from the simulator game Xplane, by user “_Bourgeois_”.Illustration of N638US in final livery from the simulator game Xplane, by user “_Bourgeois_”.
Cargo Service
Of course the 747 had been designed from a cargo hauler from the moment pencil met paper, and the type’s capabilities offered significant improvements over NWA’s subfleet of narrowbody 707-320Fs. Northwest embraced the possibilities of containerized freight with the -200 series freighter, with first deliveries in July 1975, and fleet refreshments in the 1980s and early 1990s. The company ran its 747s in scheduled all-freight service up through December 28, 2009, when Delta decided to discontinue the operation. Northwest’s lift was no longer a unique offering and faced stiff competition from within the US by the comprehensive FedEx and UPS networks, as well as Polar / Atlas on the contract side, plus substantial growth of all-freight and belly-freight operations out of East Asia. NWA’s 747Fs had also become uneconomic on fuel burn and were going to have to be replaced almost immediately after the merger. While NWA did evaluate freighter replacement proposals like the A330F and 777F, the financing necessary would have made the division unprofitable. Northwest was the last major U.S. passenger carrier to deploy all-cargo aircraft, and its Asian market focus with experienced, localized staff was what allowed it to survive as long as it did.
N616US was the first of the 747F fleet. Northwest/Boeing arranged photo shoot, July 1975. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N616US, Northwest/Boeing arranged photo shoot, July 1975. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N616US, Northwest/Boeing arranged photo shoot, July 1975. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N616US, Northwest/Boeing arranged photo shoot, July 1975. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N616US, Northwest/Boeing arranged photo shoot, July 1975. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N616US, Northwest/Boeing arranged photo shoot, July 1975. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N616US, Northwest/Boeing arranged photo shoot, July 1975. From the James Borden Photography Collection.N616US inflight publicity photo, July 1975, via the James Borden collection.N616US demonstrates its nose-loading capabilities in a 1975 press photo.January 30, 1983 shot of N617US loading at San Francisco. Photo by George Hamlin and used with permission.N618US in 1987 at the old Cargo center at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport. Photographer unattributed. Anchorage was the perfect scissor hub for the Cargo division. Photographer unattributed.N640US at Tokyo-Narita, June 13, 2007. D. Scott Norris photo.N646NW at Tokyo-Narita, June 13, 2007. D. Scott Norris photo.N640US at Tokyo-Narita, June 13, 2007. D. Scott Norris photo.N640US in an October 2007 shot. Airport and photographer unattributed; slide from Scott Norris’ collection.N640US at rest in Los Angeles, 2009. Photographer unattributed.
Operations and Training Manuals
The Flight Operations Manual for the Series 100, with the original August 1969 content plus updates through January 1972. Digitized and contributed by Brandon Meyer, whose grandfather was Capt. Jim E. Fife, who trained and flew the 747 for many years. Click here to open– this is a large PDF and may take a few moments.
The Crew Training Manual for the 747-100/200/F, July 1975. Also digitized and contributed by Brandon Meyer, from the holdings of Capt. Jim Fife. Click here to open– this is a large PDF and may take a few moments.
