NORTHROP DELTA - AB AEROTRANSPORT

At the beginning of the 1930’s, night mail services started to become more and more important for European airlines. Navigation and safety equipment had improved drastically and aircraft became much more economical to fly. The introduction of the fast Lockheed Orion by Swissair in April 1932 led to a true revolution within air transport. Everyone wanted aircraft that flew faster than their existing obsolete Fokker or Junkers aircraft did.
In Sweden, AB Aerotransport’s managing Director, Carl Florman, became interested in faster airliners as well. In 1933, he saw during a visit to Norway a Northrop Gamma and was interested in a similar aircraft for his airlines. Offers were requested and through Northrop’s representative, Norwegian aviator Bernt Balchen, AB Aerotransport ordered in October 1933, a passenger Delta 1C and, in January 1934, a mail aircraft, the Delta 1E.

The operation of both aircraft was marked by problems and challenges for the pilots. It took them some time to master the aircraft. The Delta 1E never entered service, as it crashed on a trial mail flight. In 1937, AB Aerotransport sold the Delta 1C to Líneas Aéreas Post Españolas – LAPE. It remained in military service until well after World War II. After intensive research, the author describes in detail the history and operation of these two aircraft in service with AB Aerotransport. The book has 176 pages, 193 photographs and is illustrated with 16 colour drawings by Juanita Franzi, Nils Mathisrud and Torstein Landström Wallmo. Mats Averkvist supported the author with drawings and technical support.


Price: €29.00 + porto
Order: http://europeanairlines.no/euroshop/

Author: Rob J.M. Mulder
Photographs: 193 and 16 colour profiles
Format: 21.5 x 30.2 cm, hardback, 176 pages, English text
ISBN: 978-82-93450-00-9