On May 15, 1918, the U.S. Postal Service inaugurated the
first regular airmail service in the world. The aircraft and pilots were from
the U.S. Army and flew a route from Washington D.C. to New York City with a
stop in Philadelphia. President Woodrow Wilson was on hand to share the
historic moment and even provided some letters for delivery.
Western Airlines M-2 model that will be on display in "Handle with Care."
Delta's first airmail flight, 1934.
A hundred years after those first
airmail flights, we have become reliant on air cargo as consumers demand
products available from all over the world in a matter of days. The story of
air cargo is tied to the history of aviation, both as technology changed and
businesses developed better ways of serving their customers.
Starting the first week of December 2018, the Delta Flight Museum will explore the early days of airmail, the newest technology used by Delta Cargo, and some interesting stops in between. This exhibition will be on view through April 2019 and can be seen by all visitors to the museum when Hangar Two is open to the public.