James John Hoogerwerf, former Delta Boeing 767 captain and aviation historian, has published a book titled
Speed, Safety, and Comfort: The Origins of Delta Air Lines, where he traces the evolution and growth of Delta Air Lines. NAAA shared photos and information with Hoogerwerf about Huff-Daland Dusters Inc., the forerunner to Delta Air Lines, which was the first known aerial application business established. Huff-Daland Dusters completed the first commercial dusting of crops with its own specially built aircraft, the Puffer.
Huff-Daland Dusters rebranded as Delta Air Service in 1928 to focus more on providing transport of passengers and air mail. The following year Delta, began flying its first passengers from Monroe, LA, eventually establishing routes across the southeastern U.S. Hoogerwerf’s book details the history of Delta’s beginnings and the company’s contribution to agriculture, southern industrialization, and the development of commercial aviation in the U.S. You can purchase
Speed, Safety, and Comfort: The Origins of Delta Air Lines at any major retailer, including
Amazon.