Pencil drawing prints of Piedmont Airlines prop and jet fleets.

Signed by Piedmont Airline founder, Tom Davis.

Numbered (1087/2500)

Prints are matted and framed with commemorative medallions.

Prints in excellent condition.

Metal frames in good condition with slight blemishes.

Includes certificate of authenticity and picture of Mr. Davis signing.

$650 + shipping.

Eric

Tom Davis was a good man who led a great regional flying in some of the toughest CONUS route structure. Downwind of the Great Lakes and in mountainous terrain, there’s lots of ice and turbulence.

Piedmont’s board had its offices at Winston Salem. The airline had a GA shop, a prop shop, avionics shop and flight attendant training activity. They were Beech dealers. I’m not sure if it was the very first KA200 sold, but it was their first. Smith Transfer bought N123ST (1976 Beech 200 Super King Air, BB-149) and I happened to be at KINT having just dropped off my Bonanza for Annual

“Need a ride home, Fred?” asked the pilots.

Yes, please. The entire board was on the ramp admiring the shiny ship. The pilots couldn’t figure out how to power up the toilet (never used). I was aft in the cabin on my knees looking under the toilet seat, talking to the crew when...just as I disconnected the recirculating hose snap fitting, the crew lifted the Avionics Master.

Why a potty is on the Avionics buss, I never did discover, but I can report that clean blue water ran down the center aisle. Exclamations ensued

So we pulled out the carpet and we all scrubbed—“ALL” includes the entire board of directors—until it was dry. Tom Davis grabbed a towel and scrubbed as well. Everyone was laughing.

The folks that worked for him really admired him. I understood why.

Yes, they still flew me home. And then they showed it to Mr Smith.

Rode their YS-11As between Washington National and New Bern, NC many times.

I used to ride them unaccompanied when I was 6 or 7 from CLT to AVL. I still remember how much the wings flexed on the YS-11.

New Bern is home of Kings BBQ. Still order from there online decades later...

I miss NC and Piedmont!

Eric

Piedmont is the first airline I ever flew on. I was 4 years old. We went from Greensboro to Charlotte to Orlando on our way to Disney. I think we flew on a 737 for the short hop and a 727 to Orlando.

Back then every time the plane left the ground you were served a meal (included with the ticket) even in coach.

Piedmont Airlines was always a spot of pride for NC. Then USAir bought them in the 90s, although I think they still operate as a regional carrier in PA.

Bump

Sold.

Eric

Piedmont was big part of our family lives. We lived in Winston-Salem, my sister was a flight attendant with them, brother-in-law a ticket guy and brother an up and coming fa. It was hard when us air bought them, but life moved on. Piedmont was a large source of pride in our area back then, still is.