L1011 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1583 posts, RR: 10 Posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 608 times:
I posted this question back in October, but since we have so many new people on the forum, I'm asking it again.
Has anyone else been on the last flight of a failing airline or the first flight of a new airline? On 8/31/91, I flew DCA to LGA on the last flight of the Pan Am Shuttle, B727-230 N877UM. An aura of sadness seemed to engulf the flight attendants, lots of hugs and tears. Free champagne was served with the snacks. In the Marine Air Terminal at LGA, passengers were taking down Pan Am logos for momentos. I still have my boarding pass and napkin.
The next morning, I flew LGA to DCA on the first Delta Shuttle, B727-227 N555PE. It was a festive occasion. Cake was served in the departure area and flight attendants were smiling and excited. There was no sign of Pan Am anywhere. My plane was completely in Delta Shuttle colors, although it had been used by Pan Am. All this was done overnight, except for the aircraft paint job. I made this trip just to be a part of history. One of the flight attendants notified the news media onboard of my mission, but they were not interested.
Has anyone else had such an experience?
flyf15 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 608 times:
Well, I have not been on any first or last flights, but as info becomes available, I am going to start working on getting a ticket for AirTran's first MD-95 (71*) flight.
Cody From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1918 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 608 times:
The only thing I've ever done was witness UAL's first 777 flight end its journey at Dulles. They had the terminal all decorated up with 777 momentos and a large group of UAL employees met the plane as it came into the gate.
Cody From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1918 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 608 times:
JETPILOT From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3130 posts, RR: 32 Reply 4, posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 608 times:
I flew jump seat on the last flight of a Tower Air 747 100 before it was cut up. The captain pulled into the gate and quietly removed the aircraft registration plaque with registration numbers on it from the panel and placed it in his pocket. The first officer asked him why he wanted it and he answered today is my last flight tommorrow I will be retiring along with her. I flew this airplane from boeing field and delivered it to Pan Am when I was captain there. They might cut her up for scrap but her soul will be with me. I know how she feels to be useless and old.
C-GMWW From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 608 times:
I was on the first flight on Canadian Airline new logo showing. We flew from Bejing to Vancouver. Everybody was all excited and crowded around us like we where the very first 747 ever built. It felt pretty good knowing the Captain and I where delivering more than a new logo to Canada.
L1011 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1583 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 608 times:
I asked the flight attendants if they had worked for Pan Am, and the ones on that flight said no, they had always worked for Delta. But on a later Delta Shuttle flight, I had a flight attendant who had worked for Pan Am, but on the mainline, not the Shuttle.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29352 posts, RR: 62 Reply 8, posted (14 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 608 times:
I was on the ground crew at Anchorage in September of 1994 when Alaska Airlines flew it's last 727 flight the aircraft was N753AS(727-100F) and it was operating as a freighter. They didn't do anything special for it in Anchorage but they did pull out the firetrucks and give the salute down in Seattle. Made the company newsletter. I guess the headquarters gets all of the perks. It said the plane had been sold to a fishauler in the south pacific but I recently saw a picture of it parked at the wrecking yard in Shelton Washington. It was in the background behind a parted out 727. I am not complete sure that that is the same plane and the person who took the picture couldn't remember because he was looking at the -200 in front. But I know of only one 727 that was ever painted in the Arco Alaska house colors so I am pretty sure that is it.
This picture is on www.airplanehome.com. The guy that took it is the same one that is converting that old Olympic airways 727 into a house.
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