Remarks: In a holding pattern somewhere near Chicago on board UA906T from SFO, I watch the sunset using my United benefits for the first time. They had just been activated that day, in fact, and I took the opportunity to fly SFO-ORD-SDF. Hadn't had flight benefits on United since the late 90s under my Dad, and I was surprised to see the plane look exactly the same as I remembered years later!
Remarks: This freight doggy shows off its sexy curves between runs. Thanks to the very cool crew who let Jordan and I check out the cockpit before they departed. First pic in the database of this one, ex-Allegheny Commuter way back when. Gemini jets made a model of this aircraft in the Allegheny Commuter livery, actually.
Remarks: I rarely sleep well on flights, but I remember knocking out for the entire flight wheels up to wheels down on this 7AM ORD-SFO departure. That "Stealth" grey livery which is scattered across terminals B and C is now history, as is Continental who managed to sneak into the frame. A hint of things to come, perhaps. 413 wore the faded stealth livery its whole life with United finally being repainted in the post-merger livery at the very end of 2011, one of many United planes to never wear the interim livery.
Remarks: Looking back at old Northwest pictures, I sometimes forget that they're gone. I was always a huge fan. 355 climbs away on an afternoon departure to Minneapolis, which it did not overfly by 150 miles. ;)
Remarks: At the time, there were still a couple America West planes around so I didn't think much of this. Now it is always a welcome treat. Seen here arriving from a short 30 minute hop from Phoenix. Despite the short duration of this flight, US Airways flies 757s on the route to this day.
Remarks: "Tripple Crown" arrives just in time to relieve "Slam Dunk One" of its spot at gate 7. The livery was adopted in 1997 in recognition of Southwest's employees earning the airline the Tripple Crown award five times. Seen here with the old "Mustard Rocket" tail, it departed to Oakland.
Remarks: Song sang its last tune on April 30th, 2006, however, the last aircraft wasn't repainted until New Years Day of 2008. While under the Song banner, 48 757s were flown in a Y199 config first mainly on Florida routes and later on leisure routes to the West Coast. Not only were they zesty on the outside, but they also were the testbeds for Delta's current On Demand PTVs. 14Q is seen here on a regular Delta flight from ATL.
Remarks: No. 2 engine shut down to conserve fuel for the 8 second taxi to the gate, 606 arrives from Seattle and will depart for Boise. Both routes have since been discontinued by Southwest.
Remarks: One thing at SJC that seemed to survived the dot-com bubble burst of 1998: The Intel jets. These robust little 135s still patrol the CA coast between SNA and SJC all day long. I'm surprised that I only have a handful of pictures of these things, they've been a big part of the scene at SJC for years.
Remarks: The terminal at Kahului and its scenic surroundings as seen on final from UA34, a 772 from SFO. Though the terminal is empty here, in the 40 minutes I waited for my Go! flight to HNL, an onslaught of arrivals from the mainland filled every last gate. The terminal is the same basic design as the ones used in Hilo and Lihue.
Remarks: "Island Rhythm" stares down the competition in the early morning light after a flight from JHM. Given a choice between the three, I'd take the Dash all day every day.
Remarks: WOW look at the size of all that! Coming to a screeching halt after the 12.5 hour flight from FRA. Well done, Lufthansa! There was so much to do between the IFE and the gallons of free liquor the F/A kept giving me, I managed to stay awake the entire flight. I paid for that later.
Remarks: I was surprised to see this here, seeing as Frontier/Midwest/Republic/Whatever discontinued the MKE-SDF route they flew these on weeks before. As it would turn out, the airframe on 271 has timed out, and it is awaiting its ferry flight doomed to be scrapped in the desert. Since flying for CHQ, this one has been passed around between all the big guys, it's worn the colors of America West, TWA, Delta, United, Chautauqua house colors, and finally ended its long life under the Frontier brand. I like it in these colors. Goes out to fellow 1AP member Steve, whose job it is to fly this thing, and who gave me the info on 271.
