Northrop Delta – AB Aerotransport

Author: Rob J. M. Mulder

 

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Book Details

Author:

Rob J. M. Mulder

Pages:

176 pages, 193 photographs, 16 colour profiles

Format:

215 x 302mm (A4), hardback

Language

English

Publisher:

European Airlines Rob Mulder

ISBN:

978-82-93450-00-9

Price:

NOK 250
(Local VAT or custom charges not included)

About The Author

Rob J M Mulder

Rob J M Mulder

The aviation historian Rob J. M. Mulder (1958) has written and published numerous books about Norwegian and international aviation history. Four of his books ("Junkers for Scandinavia", "Fornebu Lufthavn - en lufthavn blir til", "The Beginnings of Norway's Airlines, Part 1: 1918-1922" and "Beauty of the Skies - The de Havilland DH91 Albatross") have been awarded "Best Norwegian Aviation Book of the Year", and he has also been awarded the title "Aviation Enthusiast 2013". He runs several websites and has written many articles for Norwegian and international aviation magazines.

At the beginning of the 1930’s, night air mail services started to become more and more important for European Airlines. Navigation and safety equipment 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.

In Sweden, AB Aerotransport’s Managing Director, Carl Florman, became interested in faster airliners as well. In May 1933, Bernt Balchen introduced them to the Northrop Gamma and was interested in a similar Aircraft for his airline. Offers were requested through Northrop 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, ABA sold the Delta 1C to Spanish airline Lineas Aereas Postales Espaňolas – LAPE. It remained in civil and military service until well after World War II.

After intensive research, the author (Rob J. M. Mulder) describes in detail the history and operation of these two aircraft. But Bernt Balchen’s role in the story and the visit of a Northrop Gamma to Norway is described. Also, we learn about the history and development Northrop Alpha, Beta and Gamma, as well as the other Deltas. In addition, the militairy types and their use in Norway and Sweden and other countries is described. The book is illustrated with many photographs, tables, colour profiles by Juanita Franzi, Nils Mathisrud and Torstein Landström Wallmo. Mats Averkvist supplied drawings and was a great support for the author.

Book review

Svensk Flyghistorisk Tidskrift 2-2016 (Swedish)
FlyNytt 3-2016 (Norwegian)
Flyhistorie Nr.40 – Juni 2016 (Norwegian)
Flyvehistorisk Tidskrift Nr.2-2016 (Danish)
FLYV – August 2016 (Danish)
Air Britain – Aviation World – Autumn 2016 (English)
Flugzeug Classic 11/2016 (German)
Airfix Model World Feb 2018

Scale model of Northrop Delta: Azur/Frrom 1/72 Delta ‘Civilian Version’
In-box review press this line