Airlinebuff77 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 35 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4566 times:
Are there any plans for Continental to come out with a retro scheme? I think it would look pretty sharp on a 757 or 777. Correct me if they've already done this. Im pretty new to here.
FlyHoss From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 598 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4534 times:
No retro schemes at CO. However, that's exactly what I'd like to see done to the "Peter Max" 777; I know there are many fans of that paint job, but I'm not one of them. I'd like to see the airplane repainted in the original gold tail scheme.
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3723 posts, RR: 25 Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4352 times:
Personally I would love to see a 'Black' meatball 777, 'Red' meatball 764/2 or how about a 'Golden Jet' 757-300? However, from what I have been told was that CO's former chief, Gordo, was not too wild about 'theme' planes and really had to be sold on the Peter Max proposal back in '99'. Perhaps Kellner might be a little more receptive to the idea. That said, given today's travel market and the fact that airlines are doing everything just to say aloft, the expenditure of dwindling funds might best be used elsewhere than to paint a plane or two.
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8737 posts, RR: 52 Reply 3, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4303 times:
Honestly does Continental have a past that they want to celebrate. I don't think that all of those bankruptcies seen by the golden tail livery are a good thing. When CO had that livery, it was a horrible airline known for delays and poor customer service. I don't think it is a memory that the individuals at Continental want to bring up. Of all the airlines around today, Continental has the most troubled history. Although it was an awesome livery, I don't think it will bring good sentiment. In the late 80s and early 90s, Continental hardly was the proud bird with a golden tail.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 27 Reply 4, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 4259 times:
Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 3): Honestly does Continental have a past that they want to celebrate. I don't think that all of those bankruptcies seen by the golden tail livery are a good thing. When CO had that livery, it was a horrible airline known for delays and poor customer service. I don't think it is a memory that the individuals at Continental want to bring up. Of all the airlines around today, Continental has the most troubled history. Although it was an awesome livery, I don't think it will bring good sentiment. In the late 80s and early 90s, Continental hardly was the proud bird with a golden tail.
As much as I love Continental Airlines....I must agree.
The only people a retro-scheme would appeal to would be airline enthusiasts. The meatball to me, and I hate to say this, because Continental was so much more; became synonomous with Frank Lorenzo.
If Continental Airlines ever did a retro scheme...it would have to be the original Golden Jet livery...but then again, one must remember, CO was such a small airline then...the number of people it would bring warm fuzzy feelings of nostalgia to, are either dead, or surfing A.net.
CATHAY747 From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 170 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 3647 times:
Yes, I sure wish they'd do a retro-jet in at least one of the Golden Jet liveries; original up thru the final modification used before the Landor (black "meatball") livery. Check this out from Modified Airliner Photos (I think I'm allowed to do this, yes?), it's delicious.....
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3723 posts, RR: 25 Reply 8, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 3533 times:
I don't know, the 'black' meatball pre-dated Lorenzo by some 13 years. For all intents and purposes it could still be considered 'retro' could it not? Regardless, the 'Thunderbird' or 'Golden Jets' designs would certainly compliment any big bird in CO's fleet. Still, I love and miss those 'black' meatballs and that loud and 'groovy' gold, red and orange cheatline of the 'swingin' 70s.
Ewr756 From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 35 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 6 months 6 days ago) and read 3412 times:
As a CO employee, I certainly do not want to relive the "meatball" days. Some things are better left buried and not dug up. Besides, with the current cost-cutting atmosphere, it won't happen in the near future.
Turnit56N From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 3255 times:
Please, no memories of Lorenzo or the days when CO was the scum of the airline industry. Those wonderful days when pilots used to change into their uniforms in the bathroom before their flight because they didn't want to walk through the airport with everyone knowing they were a CO pilot.....
CO would like everyone to forget about everything pre-Bethune and I'm all in favor of that.
IRelayer From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 1070 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 3148 times:
The only one I would like to see is the Golden Jet. All of the meatball schemes, while I liked them, just scream "80's".
CODC10 From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 2166 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 3040 times:
The Saul Bass-designed "Meatball" scheme, officially dubbed Contrails, was rolled out in 1968.
I'd love to see the Proud Bird livery from the late 50s/early 60s (the one Contrails replaced) on a CO airplane one day, maybe a 757 or 737-800 since its proportions will be similar to the 707s it looked so good on.
Continental, while limited in national reach, was a paragon of customer service and innovation and offered legendary Golden Jet service to the West Coast. It certainly would not be offensive in the least to bring this scheme back, and even until the Lorenzo years, the tradition carried with the Contrails livery. CO just became so horrible in the 80s and early 90s that the public's perception of them was absolutely shot.
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3723 posts, RR: 25 Reply 14, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2994 times:
Quoting CODC10 (Reply 13): It certainly would not be offensive in the least to bring this scheme back, and even until the Lorenzo years, the tradition carried with the Contrails livery
Thank you, I guess I was just not articulating my feelings well enough. I remain an advocate for the 'black' meatball.
Socalfive From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2969 times:
Quoting RoseFlyer (Reply 3): Honestly does Continental have a past that they want to celebrate. I don't think that all of those bankruptcies seen by the golden tail livery are a good thing. When CO had that livery, it was a horrible airline known for delays and poor customer service. I don't think it is a memory that the individuals at Continental want to bring up. Of all the airlines around today, Continental has the most troubled history. Although it was an awesome livery, I don't think it will bring good sentiment. In the late 80s and early 90s, Continental hardly was the proud bird with a golden tail.
Actually this is too bad because Lorenzo didn't invent this scheme, he inherited it when Texas Air raided Continental in the 1981 hostile takeover and merged the "Flying Junkyard" into Continental as the first of what would be many bad moves. The Proud Bird with the Golden Tail was instituted during the glorius years of founder Robert Six. Up until 1980, Continental was a fantastic organization with a glorious past. What's too bad is, a lot of us only remember Lorenzo as if he were the founder of this once-- and is now again-- great company. I think think the gold tailed bird should be retro'd, there's still enough old-timers out there that would remember Mr. Six.
WesternA318 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 5387 posts, RR: 25 Reply 16, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2940 times:
I always think the red meatball was the Lorenzo thing, meaning CO was bleeding. The Black meatball on the other hand looked so classy when Six was around. I say bring the Black meatball or anything before that back, leave the red ball in the grave with EA and TX, and maybe one day, Lorenzo.
Woohoo! Back to Beirut in Oct '13! (Along with a stop in DOH for 4 days)
Socalfive From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2902 times:
Quoting WesternA318 (Reply 16): I always think the red meatball was the Lorenzo thing, meaning CO was bleeding. The Black meatball on the other hand looked so classy when Six was around. I say bring the Black meatball or anything before that back, leave the red ball in the grave with EA and TX, and maybe one day, Lorenzo.
Good plan, I agree totally. Another little known fact, or lost and forgotten fact is that even before Lorenzo got hold of Continental in 1981, he was already so badly hated that CEO Alvin Feldman, upon losing the fight to ward off Texas International committed suicide in his office at LAX--Continental's former headquarters-- once it was known that Lorenzo was indeed in control.
WesternA318 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 5387 posts, RR: 25 Reply 18, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2833 times:
I do remember that, my dad was working there at the time and he had to go home early the next day because of the news and how good he knew Al (They worked together at Frontier before, hashing out FL's successful hub network).
Woohoo! Back to Beirut in Oct '13! (Along with a stop in DOH for 4 days)
Turnit56N From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2626 times:
Ok, I'll agree with the Golden Jet. That looked classy and wouldn't evoke memories of the Lorenzo era.
However, the presentation of the grand history of CO when unveiling the retro livery would be interesting.
"...presented in this retro livery inspired by the grand history of Continental Airlines in the Golden Age of Aviation. This majestic airline began in 1934 during the rise of aviation as Varney Speed Lines, and was renamed Continental in 1937. In 1958 Continental recieved its first jet aircraft, and soon was known for its shining 707 fleet - the Proud Bird with the Golden Tail. During the 60s and 70s, Continental began its commitment to international travel that has continued to today, with trans-Pacific routes and the creation of Continental Micronesia. In 1978, deregulation .....um.....uh....jets flew....uh.... In 1994, Gordon Bethune became CEO of Continental Airlines and proceeded to take the airline from [mumble] to First! It became the jewel of the US legacy carriers, recieving numerous awards from 1999 on for its superior international service, business class travel, customer service........"
JayDavis From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 2000 posts, RR: 18 Reply 21, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1491 times:
CO WAS NOT ALWAYS IN BANKRUPTCY DURING THE MEATBALL DAYS.
I became involved in the airline/travel industry as a bright eyed and eager beaver in 1979, all of 19 years old! I flew on CO from LBB to DEN and then DEN to ICT to interview for a job as a station agent with Air Midwest when they began EAS from Lubbock to New Mexico, as Texas International was pulling out of Hobbs, Roswell, Carlsbad, Clovis and Albuquerque, NM. It was my first time to ever fly in First Class and was I impressed, no doubt!
CO had in-flight entertainment back then with pneumatic (sp?) headphones and you could listen to about 8 different channels of audio music. At that time, CO WAS the largest airline in LBB and had a very prestigious reputation. They flew to ELP, DFW, ABQ and LAX from LBB. CO was a true-class operation when Robert Six was CEO. In a sad twist of fate, WN came into LBB in about 1975 and had the smallest counterspace in LBB and CO had the largest. My how things have changed in LBB, WN now occupies the former CO space, and now CO has the small space that WN used to have.
WesternA318 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 5387 posts, RR: 25 Reply 22, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1478 times:
I remember flying on a CO DC-10 from LAX to DEN back in 1979 and oh man, what a treat, its ALMOST like that now, 'cept without the Polynesian pubs.
Woohoo! Back to Beirut in Oct '13! (Along with a stop in DOH for 4 days)
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3723 posts, RR: 25 Reply 23, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1401 times:
Quoting JayDavis (Reply 21): CO WAS NOT ALWAYS IN BANKRUPTCY DURING THE MEATBALL DAYS.
Thanks Jay! Seems that some just can not understand that the original 'meatball' should not be associated with Lorenzo, and that CO had a wonderful and respected product before that pirate came along in '81'. Now the 'red' meatball, that was all Lorenzo and I can certainly understand why many would thumbs down that idea.
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3723 posts, RR: 25 Reply 24, posted (7 years 6 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1374 times:
As evil and vile as Lorenzo was (and if there is a God he an Ichan will share a room in Hell) however, he did put my adopted hometown airport, IAH on the aviation map. Had Texas Air Corp not acquired CO and moved it to Houston, IAH would likely be nothing more that a focus city at best, if even that, given that the big players at IAH at the time are no longer with us. I rather wonder what IAH would look like today if CO had stayed in LA or moved their HQ to the NYC area?
WesternA318 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 5387 posts, RR: 25 Reply 25, posted (7 years 6 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1153 times:
Who knows? Maybe it would be a Southwest dominated airport...
Woohoo! Back to Beirut in Oct '13! (Along with a stop in DOH for 4 days)
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