Why the red tail?
 

In a bit about Minnesota's 150th birthday, the Star Tribune solicited readers to share their personal memories of the state's past. One caught my attention:

It's kind of morbid . . . :eek:

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...tml?page=3&c=y

I suppose that's true....well at least the new Delta tails are red too....

makes sense years ago flying was thought to be dangerous. Back then people thought the FAs jobs was for an emegency versus getting a drink or blanket like today.

And considering where NW conducted most of their original business was in the North West. Snow covers the ground for months and months so the Red would contrast with the white.

It makes perfect sense when you put it in historical perspective. In March 1948, Northwest flight 4422, a DC-4, crashed into a mountain in Alaska. The fireball was witnessed from the ground, but after extensive search, the wreckage was not found. It was a hot topic at the time, and one of big concern to NW executives. Given the concerns, an artist that came up with a color scheme that claimed to help locate downed aircraft would have a big advantage over other designs.

If the logo design contest was in 2008, an artist that came up with a color scheme that saves fuel would probably win.

By the way, the wreckage of NW4422 was later found, in 1997, 49 years after the crash.

According to Wikipedia the wreckage was found by two pilots, "Northwest pilot Marc Millican and Delta pilot Kevin McGregor". In this instance it seems
there was pretty good cooperation between the potential merger partners.
Sign of good things to come? I am not holding my breath.