Northwest Orient Tapestries

Defunct Northwest Orient Airlines

Northwest Airlines was founded in 1926 as Northwest Airways, a reference to the historical name of the Northwest Territory. Like other early airlines, Northwest's focus was not on moving passengers, but in flying mail for the Post Office. Northwest began carrying passengers in 1927, and in 1947, Northwest was the first airline to begin direct service between the United States and Japan. By the '60s, Northwest had regular service to Hong Kong, Manila, Okinawa, Osaka, Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul, making them the world's leading transpacific airline serving the Asian region, formerly known as 'The Orient.' Northwest began marketing themselves as Northwest Orient Airlines in 1969, which included a total rebrand and a fleet refresh with 747 jumbo jets.

McDonnell Douglas MD-82 - Northwest Airlines "Orient Colours" (Art Print) digital artwork by The Art of Flying. http://www.theartofflying.biz

The most notorious unsolved FBI case featuring mid-air parachutes and $200,000 stolen cash. On the afternoon of November 24, 1971, a nondescript man calling himself Dan Cooper approached the counter of Northwest Orient Airlines in Portland, Oregon. The rest is unsolved mysteries.

McDonnell Douglas MD-82 - Northwest Airlines "Orient Colours" digital artwork by The Art of Flying. http://www.theartofflying.biz

D.B. Cooper - Can't Catch Me!!