"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."
WELCOME ABOARD JETPIEDMONT!
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 Airlines Flight 41 was carrying one paying passenger, Piedmont's 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 Airlines was named Air Transport Worlds' "Airline of the Year" in 1984.
August 5th, 2024, marks the 35th anniversary of the merger with US Airways (formerly USAir) and the end of scheduled operations as Piedmont Airlines. On September 27, 2005, US Airways was purchased in bankruptcy by America West Airlines. A merger of the two airlines' FAA operating certificates occurred on September 25, 2007 (the US Airways certificate survived), ending the 24-year history of the America West Airlines name. On December 09, 2013, US Airways purchased American Airlines in bankruptcy and US Airways and American Airlines merge to form American Airlines Group, operating today as the NEW AMERICAN AIRLINES since October 16, 2015.
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 THE ORIGINAL & LEGACY PIEDMONT AIRLINES!
posted on Aug 26, 2024 by Piedmont Aviation Historical Society
Will The Real Piedmont Airlines Please Stand Up
In 1931, Richard "Dick" Henson established a fixed-base operation known as Henson Aviation in Hagerstown, Maryland. Over the years, the company operated as an Allegheny Commuter airline. On July 29, 1983, Piedmont Airlines received regulatory approval to acquire Henson Aviation, Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary, marking a historic moment in aviation as it was the first instance of a certified airline fully owning its regional affiliate.
Consequently, the airline was rebranded as "Henson, The Piedmont Regional Airline". Between 1983 and 1989, Henson experienced significant growth, quadrupling its size. Following Piedmont's merger with USAir in 1989, Ed Colodny, the CEO of USAir, rebranded "Henson, The Piedmont Regional Airline" to "Piedmont Airlines," operating under the USAir Express brand to safeguard their $1.59 billion investment in the legacy Piedmont Airlines.
Currently, the "new" Piedmont Airlines operates as one of six American Eagle regional airlines flying to over 50 destinations in the eastern and midwestern United States, along with Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City in Canada.
posted on Jul 24, 2024 by Piedmont Aviation Historical Society
Former Chief Concorde Pilot is First to Fly both Concorde and Overture
"I've long believed that Overture is the rightful successor to Concorde. After experiencing Overture's flight deck, which is incredibly well designed and delightful to fly, my excitement and enthusiasm for this aircraft has only intensified." = Mike Banister
posted on Jun 17, 2024 by Piedmont Aviation Historical Society
Boom Supersonic Completes Overture Superfactory at PTI
"As the state that was first in flight, North Carolina is excited to see Boom's progress toward delivering the world's first sustainable supersonic airliner. Our state has the skilled workforce, infrastructure and perfect location to help Boom revolutionize air travel."
posted on Apr 30, 2024 by Piedmont Aviation Historical Society
Our State: Remembering Piedmont Punch
Throughout its history, Winston-Salem's Piedmont Airlines stayed one step ahead of the competition by coming up with innovative ways to satisfy its customers, like a one-of-a-kind beverage that former passengers and employees still thirst for.
posted on Jan 28, 2022 by Piedmont Aviation Historical Society
Boom Supersonic Announces Overture Superfactory
Boom Supersonic, the company building the world's fastest and most sustainable supersonic airliner, today announced it has selected the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina as the site of its first full-scale manufacturing facility.
The Overture Superfactory will be a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, including the final assembly line, test facility, and customer delivery center for the Overture supersonic airliner. Carrying 65 to 88 passengers, Overture is capable of flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at twice the speed of today's fastest passenger jets.
posted on Dec 15, 2016 by Piedmont Aviation Historical Society
Announcing The Tom Davis Memorial Flight Training Scholarship
The Piedmont Aviation Historical Society is proud to announce the creation of The Tom Davis Memorial Flight Training Scholarship at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in honor of Davis by the Tom Davis Fund.
The scholarship supports a flight student at $25,000 annually, in an effort to provide a significant financial gift toward a student pilot's flight training.
First preference shall be given to a descendant of an employee of Piedmont Aviation, Inc. In the event the first preference is not identified, it will then be awarded to a descendant of US Airways.
If those two preferences are not identified, then it will be awarded to a student from North Carolina.
EXPLORE PIEDMONT AIRLINES ARCHIVES
PIEDMONT "CARELINES"
This video was produced in 1979 as a way to introduce Piedmont's "Carelines" Program. It was more than just a name. Carelines was designed to provide excellent service to customers as well as employees. It also ushered in the Piedmont slogan, "We Care." The video offers some great old footage and features the employees of Piedmont and a message from Founder and President, Tom Davis, Jr.
PIEDMONT'S 100th BOEING AIRPLANE
This video was produced by Boeing on May 23, 1985 when Piedmont took delivery of their 100th Boeing Jet, N304P a 737-300 christened the "Nancy Davis Pacemaker." The plane was named in honor of Piedmonts' Founder and President, Tom Davis' wife. There is an interview with Mr. Davis about Piedmont Airlines, the christening and departure from Boeing Field.
A MODEL OF HOW GOOD AN AIRLINE CAN BE
A 1987 corporate video produced by Piedmont Airlines based in Winston-Salem, NC. It was introduced shortly after the merger with USAir was announced in March, 1987. A Model of How Good an Airline Can Be.
PIEDMONT | USAir MERGER NEWS
During the first week of August 1989, Brian Thompson of WBTV (CBS in Charlotte) did a three-part series on the impending merger of Piedmont Airlines and USAir. The series, titled "Fasten Your Seat Belts" looked back at Piedmont's history and the challenges and problems the merger was already creating.
MERGER DAY WXII AUG 04, 1989
The original Piedmont Airlines based in Winston-Salem, NC ceased operations on August 4, 1989, and the company was merged into (then) USAir. Piedmont Airlines founder Tom Davis addressed employees at the Winston-Salem Hangar during a goodbye ceremony. This is from WXII-TV Channel 12 that evening.
THE LEGACY OF PIEDMONT AIRLINES
Produced by FOX8 WGHP and featuring an interview with Chris Runge, Curator of the Piedmont Aviation Historical Society, on the Legacy of the original Piedmont Airlines founded in February, 1948 by T.H. "Tom" Davis, Jr. including interviews with former legacy Piedmont Airlines employees.
COMING SOON Flying Through Time: The History of Henson, The Piedmont Regional Airline
