February 21, 2006 Orlando and Fort Lauderdale host Ship 102 for first legs of Farewell Tour Ship 102 visited Orlando, Fla. on February 21, as part of its barnstorming tour of 11 stations before retiring March 6. The aircraft, known as "The Spirit of Delta," made a circle flight with selected employees, retirees, The American Red Cross, and local officials. Employees raised $30 million in 1982 to buy the plane for Delta, the first 767 in its fleet. Andrew Shulman, 610/MCO, said that when the heard about the grassroots effort to buy the plane, he supported it wholeheartedly and "pretty much talked myself hoarse" convincing others of its importance. "It is this spirit that is Delta Air Lines, a spirit I pray will be reborn with the beginning of the new Delta," he said. Later the same day, Ship 102 went on to Fort Lauderdale for a wonderful late afternoon event. Dan A. Lewis, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Delta Air Lines spoke to a large crowd at the gate. Families from the Make a Wish Foundation and the March of Dimes enjoyed a circle flight on Ship 102, and the plane did a flyby and tipped its wing as the sun went down on the first day of the Farewell Tour.
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