For Winston-Salem, passing with flying colors is not a novelty. While major airline companies were flying commercial airplanes on a larger scale, Winston-Salem’s Piedmont Airlines found a way to go above and beyond to make a lasting impression on its customers. Enters The Piedmont Punch. The beverage was made in October 1981, and distributed exclusively to passengers who boarded the airline. Pretty quickly, it gained popularity and certainly took off.
Unfortunately, the drink dissipated after Piedmont Airlines merged with USAir. Although the formula for the drink remains a big mystery to most, the good news is that fans have attempted to recreate the recipe for this famous beverage. The drink combines white grape, apple, pineapple, lemon + lime juice, water, and almond extract.
That’s not all — Winston-Salem has been the anchor for many groundbreaking milestones. The first Piedmont Airlines female stewardess training class was held on Jun. 1, 1962, in Winston-Salem. The airline broke ground at the Smith Reynolds Airport five years later, investing $8 million to plant its home office and maintenance facility.
The Twin City became home to the busiest airport in the state in 1963 based on departures, thanks to Piedmont Airlines, which had a huge impact on the city.
What became of this renowned airline, you ask? Today it is known as American Airlines after Piedmont merged with US Air in 1989, after it underwent various mergers over the years.
