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PIEDMONT || Flight of the Pacemaker
written by: Frank Elliot
compiled by: Elizabeth Norfleet
A readable and entertaining history in words and pictures of a southern institution that became one of the nation's
leading airlines. Drawing on exclusive access to Piedmont's files, the book traces the antecedents of the airline
before World War II and documents its growth over the ensuing decades into an international carrier.
Happy Birthday from JetPI & The PAHS! 03/10 : Frank Brown, Debary, FL 03/10 : Gene Flowers, Murfreesboro, NC 03/10 : Calvin Hubbard, Charlotte, NC 03/10 : Michael Hurtado, Hewlett, NY |
Welcome Aboard JetPiedmont.com!
On a cold day in February, 1948, a small DC-3 took to the skies over
Wilmington, North Carolina enroute to Cincinnati, Ohio with intermediate stops in Southern Pines, Charlotte and Ashville, North Carolina, Tri-Cities, Tennessee
and Lexington, Kentucky.
Piedmont Flight 41 was carrying one paying passenger, founder T.H. Davis who was not yet 30 years old and a handful of local dignitaries.
From this humble beginning, Piedmont Airlines grew from the smallest of 17 local and trunk airlines to become the 6th largest airline in
the United States in terms of passengers carried, flying over 200 jet aircraft from Los Angeles to London and more revenue passengers annually than British Airways,
Pan Am or TWA while consistently placing in the Top 3 U.S. flag carriers with the fewest passenger complaints according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
In recognition of its outstanding success, Piedmont was named Air Transport Worlds' "Airline of the Year" in 1984.
August 5th, 2009, marked the 20th anniversary of the
merger with USAir (now US Airways) and the end of scheduled operations as Piedmont Airlines.
While the "Route of the Pacemaker" no longer exists, the spirit of Piedmont that came to life on that fateful day in February, 1948 lives on in the men and women
who served our customers with that "Piedmont know how"!
We invite you to sit back, relax
and enjoy the web site...
as you explore the history and accomplishments of
PIEDMONT AIRLINES
"If you're driving down the road and see a turtle sitting on a fence post,
don't be too impressed.
That turtle didn't get there by itself." - T.H. Davis
JetPiedmont.com News
 Kindness and PatienceWe enjoy all the posts made to the Forums section, but once in awhile somebody will post something that is simply too good not to take an extra effort to share.
I chose this story for two reasons - one, it’s funny. Two, it demonstrates just how serious we all were about family, quality, and “getting the job done” without credit or blame.
(I have taken a bit of literary license and “un-named” the folks in following story.)
A very wise and patient captain offered an enthusiastic non-pilot flight crew member a chance to try his hand at landing one of the old DC-3s at Winston Salem on an empty trip back from a charter.
The excited employee took the right seat, set up his approach to runway 33, crossed the end of the runway, and started his landing in the venerable DC-3. After the third bounce, the captain, in a calm and quiet voice, simply said, “Are you done yet?”
Andy Ray
Forum Moderator
(Thanks, contributor! You know who you are!) NC Transportation Museum Honors Piedmont Airlines
The N.C. Transportation Museum honored Piedmont Airlines on February 20 with a special “Piedmont Airlines Day”. The event included a program with Carol Dobyns Fair, a flight attendant with Piedmont Airlines and US Airways for 47 years, as well as tours featuring the museum’s Piedmont Airlines DC-3 and “The World Aloft” exhibit.
The DC-3 is currently in the Back Shop awaiting cosmetic restoration. The airplane is not regularly exhibited to visitors and this special event gave those attending “Piedmont Airlines Day” a unique opportunity.
“The World Aloft” exhibit features Orville and Wilbur Wright’s efforts to make powered flight known worldwide. A full size replica Wright Flyer, period artifacts, models and pieces of the original Wright Flyer with an amazing history of their own are displayed at the NCTM.
FAY, INT, ROA Breakfasts & LuncheonsRegistered JetPiedmont users are encouraged to log in and check the Up & Coming Events section for information on the bi-monthly luncheon in FAY, the monthly luncheon in INT, and the monthly breakfast in ROA.
FAY has changed locations. Check EVENTS for latest location. PIEDMONT: Flight of the PacemakerPIEDMONT: Flight of the Pacemaker is a wonderful book. It is one of those ‘must haves’ if you ever worked for Piedmont. You will enjoy it even if you did not work for Piedmont. It is about a lot of people who worked together toward a common goal to pull off one of the greatest success stories ever. It is both captivating and fun. It is a genuine pleasure read and to have.
PIEDMONT: Flight of the Pacemaker is a 9x12 hardcover 400-page volume is loaded with over 600 photos in 16 very easy-to-read and insightful chapters. You can read a little or a lot at one time. Each chapter is complete within itself. The whole thing is very well done.
Copies are available directly from the Piedmont Aviation Historical Society (PAHS) and in select book stores. If you care to order your copy directly from PAHS, just click the link and download the order form.
Makes a great gift, too!
Andy Ray
JETPIEDMONT.COM Forum Moderator
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