Northwest's present livery is full and original. But like all liveries, good and bad, there comes a time for change (unless you're American Airlines.) And when that day arrives, I have envisioned the simple yet exciting new color scheme for the great airline of the north.

The new white background enhances Northwest Airline's image as "snowbirds" while the tails, following tradition, remain a sharper shade of red (this makes them easier to see against the famous white background of Minneapolis in the winter.) But, the brilliant and original compass logo has remained, although a new oversized and stylized version showing a blue sky within its borders has been adopted.

The most striking difference is the introduction of the "NW" ribbon. Acting as a cheatline, it twists and turns toward the front in the form of an N and W. It waves its way down the fuselage, showing movement even when the aircraft is idle.

Shown here are a 757-200N, a 717-200 (which I hope Northwest will add to their fleet in the future) and an Avro RJ-85, operated by Mesaba Airlines.