Jumbo Red Tails Pt2: 200s Into The 2000s

Northwest's 747 Classic fleet was expanded well into the 1990s as the airline was well known for purchasing quality used aircraft (not just 747s but also DC-9s and DC-10s) and getting maximum usage from them. This wise policy enabled the 747-200s to continue in service into the late 2000s. The 747 classics would in all wear four different liveries in Northwest service.

Despite being launch customer for the 747-400 Northwest kept the faith with its 747 Classics and actively acquired several new examples. In July 1996 three ex-Singapore Airlines aircraft joined the fleet, two being 747-212Bs (N641 & N642NW) and one being a 747-249F. She became N643NW - the 43rd and last 747-100/200 in the Northwest fleet. She was painted into an 'Investing in World trade' scheme as you can see below right:

By this time Northwest was operating in the bowling shoe livery and several of the earlist 747-151s had already left the fleet. Eight of the twelve 747-100s were retired in 1994/95 including both the ex-National 747-135s. The last 747-151 in service appears to have been N601US itself which operated its last revenue service on September 25, 2000. Her cockpit has since been saved and is on display at the Smithsonian Museum.

The 747-251Bs also began to leave service towards the end of the 1990s with the first to go, N611US, operating her last revenue service on November 27, 1998. Their numbers gradually dwindled through the early 2000s and the remaining aircraft could be found more and more operating charter services. The pair of ex-Singapore 212Bs survived until 2007.

The last scheduled service operated by a 747-251B was operated on September 12, 2007 operating from Tokyo-Minneapolis via Seattle. The aircraft was N624US which was one of a pair kept on for charter services. She wasn't finally withdrawn until November 28, 2009 and was the last passenger classic 747 in the Northwest fleet, and the only one that transferred to Delta ownership when Northwest ceased to exist.