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I was fortunate as a child to travel aboard several of Delta ’ s piston-engine props – Convair and Douglas types . I distinctly remember that the name DELTA was painted on the inside of each cowling facing the passenger cabin so that those customers sitting near the engines would not forget which company was transporting them safely and comfortably to their destination .
The 1950s was a decade of rapid advancement in the airline industry as piston-engine types were joined by new turboprops and , in the second half of the decade , successful pure-jet airliners were introduced .
Delta passed on the first generation of turboprops , which were also referred to as jet-props or propjets
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. The company ’ s first turboprop aircraft was the Lockheed L-100 Hercules , introduced into all-cargo service in 1966 . In 1972 , six Fairchild Hiller FH-227s would also join the fleet with Delta ’ s acquisition of Northeast Airlines .
Consequently , Delta ’ s fleet in the 1950s was the domain of piston engine products from Douglas , Convair , Curtiss , and even Lockheed . In 1959 , Delta would enter the jet age as launch customer for the Douglas DC-8 ( see Delta Enters the Jet Age in this issue ).
Here is a look back at that decade , when families would drive to the airport to spend the day just watching airplanes and perhaps have a meal in the terminal dining room .
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