777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3729 times:
I've wanted to post this question for some time but have always forgotten to do so:
My family and I had the fortune to make the trek from cold ORD to sunny and warm HNL for the holidays from about 1982-1988. We were equally as lucky to fly UA's ORD-HNL nonstops (then flights 41 and 42, IIRC) on a B741 or 742.
I seem to recall at least one of the aircraft bearing the name of an aviator on on the both sides of the aircraft, just below and slightly to the front of the cockpit. One of the names that I remember quite clearly was "William D. Patterson". I'm assuming it was the individual honored on this link: http://www.history.noaa.gov/cgsbios/biop4.html
I was wondering if this is correct and if anyone can recall any other UA 741s or 742s that paid tribute to famous pilots of the past...
FLY777UAL From United States of America, joined May 1999, 4508 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3716 times:
That would have been for William A. Patterson, former President, Chairman of the Board, and CEO of United from 1934 to 1966...
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3710 times:
Quoting FLY777UAL (Reply 1): I'm pretty sure it would have been for William A. Patterson, former President, Chairman of the Board, and CEO of United from 1934 to 1966...
Ah yes, that would probably make more sense! You'll have to forgive my inability to remember the exact initials! Huge difference in William A. and William D.!!!
N174UA From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 979 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3680 times:
"Justin Dart" was another on the 742. Rode that plane a few times between SFO and HNL. Dart was on the board of UAL...not sure of his role in UA.
Edward Carlson, CEO of Westin/UA may have been on a 742, but not 100% sure on that.
Rode on the Patterson (742 version) from LHR-SFO as #931 in 1991.
Leon Cuttelbach (sp? he was the first pilot to fly airmail) and was on a UA 727.
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3667 times:
Quoting N174UA (Reply 3): Leon Cuttelbach (sp? he was the first pilot to fly airmail) and was on a UA 727
Hmmm, I wasn't aware of them naming other airframes. Interesting. When did this practice end?
Isitsafenow From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4984 posts, RR: 28 Reply 5, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 3647 times:
It goes back to the DC 8's. UA had names on some of the first ones delivered to them. Pat Patterson had the second or third if I recall.
The first DC 8 was named the R. A. Freng or something like that. I had a large color picture of it but not sure where it is now.
safe
If two people agree on EVERYTHING, then one isn't necessary.
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 3635 times:
Quoting Isitsafenow (Reply 5): It goes back to the DC 8's. UA had names on some of the first ones delivered to them. Pat Patterson had the second or third if I recall.
Interesting. It'd be cool to see them do that again but I can't imagine any of the current board members get their names on anything! Even if they did, I'd be willing to bet that there'd be some po'd employees!
Maybe they'd consider naming an aircraft each month after the "pilot of the month", "mechanic of the month", "FA of the month", etc. That might be a nice way to boost morale. While it'd be a tough thing to emulate at a commercial airline, I've heard that the crew chiefs and pilots of USAF fighter aircraft often have their names painted on the side of the aircraft. I would assume that it boosts morale by giving them a sense of "ownership".
N174UA From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 979 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 3584 times:
Quoting 777fan (Reply 6): Interesting. It'd be cool to see them do that again but I can't imagine any of the current board members get their names on anything! Even if they did, I'd be willing to bet that there'd be some po'd employees!
Some customers had their names on planes for a while, as did some employees.
Quoting 777fan (Reply 6): Maybe they'd consider naming an aircraft each month after the "pilot of the month", "mechanic of the month", "FA of the month", etc. That might be a nice way to boost morale. While it'd be a tough thing to emulate at a commercial airline, I've heard that the crew chiefs and pilots of USAF fighter aircraft often have their names painted on the side of the aircraft. I would assume that it boosts morale by giving them a sense of "ownership".
Personally, and I don't think this will ever happen, but name a plane for each person (pax and crew) lost on #175 and #93.
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 3578 times:
Quoting N174UA (Reply 7): Personally, and I don't think this will ever happen, but name a plane for each person (pax and crew) lost on #175 and #93.
A nice tribute, but kinda morbid. I'd be inclined to think that some already nervous fliers would balk at getting on the plane to begin with.
Magyarorszag From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3547 times:
Quoting 777fan (Thread starter): I seem to recall at least one of the aircraft bearing the name of an aviator on on the both sides of the aircraft, just below and slightly to the front of the cockpit. One of the names that I remember quite clearly was "William D. Patterson".
At that time, UA had a few B747-122s with names on. It was well before the Customer and Employees naming.
N4703U "William M Allen"
N4711U "Charles F McEarlean"
N4712U "The Original Eight"
N4714U "Justin Dart"
N4717U "Edward E Carlson"
N4718U "Thomas F Gleed"
N4719U "Friendship Japan"
N4720U "William A Patterson"
N4723U "William A Patterson"
N4727U "Robert E Johnson"
N4728U "Gardner Cowles"
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3534 times:
HPAEAA From United States of America, joined May 2006, 1020 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3415 times:
How does UA name their a/c? I know at MQ they have a dedication program for employees that go above and beyond.... there are plaques right as you enter..
MakeMinesLAX From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 506 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3317 times:
Quoting Magyarorszag (Reply 9): N4703U "William M Allen"
N4711U "Charles F McEarlean"
N4712U "The Original Eight"
N4714U "Justin Dart"
N4717U "Edward E Carlson"
N4718U "Thomas F Gleed"
N4719U "Friendship Japan"
N4720U "William A Patterson"
N4723U "William A Patterson"
N4727U "Robert E Johnson"
N4728U "Gardner Cowles"
I'm sure the double "Patterson" is a typo - his name was on N4723U only.
Here are some non-747s from way back:
727-22 N7049U - Friendship Sweden
727-222A N7255U - City of Cleveland (suspect - appears in only one list)
727-222A N7280U - Leon D. Cuddeback
727-222A N7444U - City of Cleveland (more likely - appears in two lists)
767-222 N606UA - City of Chicago
767-222 N607UA - City of Denver
DC-8-21 N8001U - Warren Burke
DC-8-21 N8003U - Capt. R. J. Johnson
DC-8-21 N8004U - Capt. R. T. Freng
DC-8-21 N8005U - Capt. W. D. Williams
DC-8-21 N8006U - Capt. R. L. Dobie
DC-8-21 N8012U - J. A. Herlihy
DC-8-21 N8018U - Wm. A Patterson (again, pre-dating 747 obviously)
DC-8-21 N8019U - W. E. Rhoades
DC-8-21 N8021U - W. C. Mentzer
DC-8-21 N8022U - Wm. B. Stout
DC-8-21 N8023U - Hana-Maui
DC-8-21 N8024U - Hilo
DC-8-21 N8025U - Annie Johnson
DC-8-21 N8026U - Oahu
DC-8-21 N8027U - Kauai
DC-8-21 N8028U - Waipahu
DC-8-21 N8029U - J. H. Doolittle
DC-8-51 N8007U - Capt. Harry Huking
DC-8-51 N8008U - Capt. R. L. Wagner
DC-8-51 N8009U - Capt. Geo Douglass
DC-8-51 N8010U - Donald Douglas Sr.
DC-8-61 N8070U - Capt. R. D. Petty
DC-8-61 N8073U - Eric A. Johnston
DC-8-62 N8967U - Harold Carry
DC-8-62 N8970U - Hilo Hattie
DC-10-10 N1804U - Curtis Barkes
As well, nearly all of the 737s carried names of cities when in the old livery (i.e. pre-Saul Bass). This has been covered before.
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3307 times:
The Hilo Hattie DC-8-62 is hysterical, especially considering they provide UA with prizes for the "Halfway to Hawaii" game these days. I'm surprised that the practice hasn't continued on...
JohnClipper From Hong Kong, joined Aug 2005, 691 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3275 times:
N401UA A320-232 Alan Temple - Employee
N402UA A320-232 Telma Aloni - Employee
N403UA A320-232 Hiroko Fujishima - Employee
N404UA A320-232 Maria Karla Gozum - Employee
N405UA A320-232 John P. Maori, Sr. - Customer
N406UA A320-232 J. Rex Pippin - Customer
N407UA A320-232 Jeff Mandelbaum - Customer
N408UA A320-232 Peter C. Bond - Customer
N409UA A320-232 Bob Young - Customer
N410UA A320-232 C. Nicholas Keating, Jr. - Customer
N411UA A320-232 Ikaz Imai - Customer
N412UA A320-232 Robert Thomas - Customer
N413UA A320-232 Geoff Wild - Customer
N414UA A320-232 Toshi K. Funaki - Customer
N415UA A320-232 Ronald A. Schy - Customer
N416UA A320-232 Timothy L. Devine - Customer
N417UA A320-232 Rickey Wilson - Customer
N418UA A320-232 Scott Setrakian - Customer
N419UA A320-232 M.J. Suhanovsky - Customer
N420UA A320-232 Charles A. Kelley - Customer
N421UA A320-232 Peter A. Dare - Customer
N422UA A320-232 Yale. R. Brown - Customer
N423UA A320-232 Ron Maehl - Customer
N424UA A320-232 Albert G. Brantley - Customer
N425UA A320-232 Howard A. Morgan - Customer
N426UA A320-232 William Yeack - Customer
N427UA A320-232 Dee Groberg - Customer
N428UA A320-232 Albert J. Viscio - Customer
N7001U B727-022 The Spirit of Seattle
N7255U B727-222 Adv. City of Cleveland
N7280U B727-222 Adv. Leon D. Cuddeback
N7444U B727-222 Adv. City of Cleveland
N9001U B737-222 Lehigh Valley
N9002U B737-222 City of Akron
N9003U B737-222 City of Canton
N9004U B737-222 City of Asheville
N9006U B737-222 City of Bakersfield
N9007U B737-222 City of Birmingham
N9008U B737-222 City of Boise
N9009U B737-222 City of Kingsport
N9010U B737-222 City of Buffalo
N9011U B737-222 City of Cedar Rapids
N9012U B737-222 City of Charleston
N9013U B737-222 City of Charlotte
N9014U B737-222 City of Chattanooga
N9015U B737-222 City of Columbus
N9016U B737-222 City of Dayton
N9017U B737-222 City of Des Moines
N9018U B737-222 City of Eugene
N9019U B737-222 City of Flint
N9022U B737-222 City of Grand Rapids
N9023U B737-222 Cities of Greensboro, High Point & Winston-Salem
N9024U B737-222 City of Hartford
N9027U B737-222 City of Kansas City
N9030U B737-222 City of Las Vegas
N9032U B737-222 City of Medford
N9033U B737-222 City of Memphis
N9038U B737-222 City of Mobile
N9039U B737-222 City of Modesto
N9040U B737-222 Quad-Cities
N9044U B737-222 City of Newport News
N9045U B737-222 City of Norfolk
N9051U B737-222 City of Reno
N9052U B737-222 City of Richmond
N9054U B737-222 City of Sacramento
N9057U B737-222 City of Salt Lake City
N9060U B737-222 City of Santa Barbara
N9061U B737-222 City of Tacoma
N9063U B737-222 City of South Bend
N9066U B737-222 City of Spokane
N9067U B737-222 City of Stockton
N9068U B737-222 City of Tampa
N9069U B737-222 City of Toledo
N9070U B737-222 City of Vancouver
N9071U B737-222 City of Visalia
N9072U B737-222 City of West Palm Beach
N957UA B737-522 Capt. Don Merucci
N4714U B747-122 Justin Dart
N4717U B747-122 Edward E. Carlson
N4718U B747-122 Thomas F. Gleed
N4719U B747-122 Friendship Japan
N4720U B747-122 William A. Patterson
N4727U B747-122 Robert E. Johnson
N4728U B747-122 Gardner Cowles
N152UA B747-222B Carolina Y.C. Woo - Customer
N158UA B747-238B E-Ticket Team Employees
N159UA B747-238B Bobbi Phillips - Customer
N160UA B747-238B Harry M. Kubetz - Customer
N161UA B747-238B Michael Stears - Customer
N164UA B747-238B Jhane Barnes - Customer
N165UA B747-238B Daniel J. Terra - Customer
N107UA B747-422 William A. Patterson
N171UA B747-422 Spirit of Seattle II
N174UA B747-422 Mitch Lee - Employee
N175UA B747-422 Gary Gendreau - Employee
N176UA B747-422 Jan Yamamoto - Employee
N178UA B747-422 Joan Kellen - Employee
N180UA B747-422 Edwin D. Fuller - Customer
N189UA B747-422 Herkea Jea - Customer
N190UA B747-422 Franklin S. Young - Customer
N105UA B747-451 Rosa Santana - Employee
N106UA B747-451 Randy Weinacht - Employee
N605UA B767-222 (ER) Bob Rosseau - Customer
N606UA B767-222 (ER) City of Chicago
N607UA B767-222 (ER) City of Denver
N664UA B767-322 (ER) Bill Baxley Jr. - Retired
N672UA B767-322 (ER) John Dooley - Retired
N211UA B777-222 Bill Anderson - Retired
N766UA B777-222 Nancy J. Meyer - Customer
N767UA B777-222 Sam Sotoodeh - Customer
N768UA B777-222 Marcelo Amodeo - Customer
N769UA B777-222 D. Timothy Tammany - Customer
N770UA B777-222 Thomas R. Stuker - Customer
N771UA B777-222 Frank Griffith - Customer
N772UA B777-222 Mary Beth Loesch - Customer
N773UA B777-222 Richard H. Loung - Customer
N774UA B777-222 Greg Milano - Customer
N775UA B777-222 Scott A. Neumayer - Customer
N777UA B777-222 Working Together
N780UA B777-222 Spirit of Adalyn
N225UA B777-222 (ER) Spirit of United
N1804U DC-10-10 Curtis Barkes
N8073U DC-8-71 Eric A. Johnston
Mymiles2go From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 207 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 3172 times:
Does anybody know if any of these have made it onto planes with the new paint scheme?
MakeMinesLAX From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 506 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 3108 times:
Quoting Magyarorszag (Reply 16): I sourced my infos from the Jet Production List. With your message, I checked with Aeromoe website and also the photo DB of A.net.
Here is the answer
My sources were JP Airline Fleets books dating from '77 through '85. As you can see, N4720U must have acquired the name in the early '90s:
Also, it featured the abbreviated "Wm", while N4723U had the full "William".
The last photo of 23 in the database is from September 1992, while the first and only one of 20 with the name dates from October 1992. Possibly it was transferred at this time, and additional photographic evidence would be necessary to determine if both carried the name simultaneously. The JP list shows W.A.P. on both the DC-8 (N8018U) and 747 (N4723U) in '77, but no longer on the former in '78 (a number of the -21s were wfu that year). If the 747 gained it in '77, this would be a precedent for such a transfer.
Since a good number of 742s and 744s arrived between '89 and '92, I thought it possible that 23 was wfu in '92; however, I saw a personal flight log entry indicating it was operating in '96, and that deregistration occurred in '98. Another possibility is that 20 was somehow more visible, desirable, etc. due to a change in fleet utilization, configuration, etc in '92.
In any case, it's a good mystery. Maybe some UAL folks can clear this up.
Xaphan From United States of America, joined Apr 2003, 129 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3095 times:
who was Gardner Cowles? I flew the aircraft SFO-HNL, and none of the UA crew knew the answer.
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2343 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3093 times:
Great info all around. I must say that the 747s with the white engine casing looks a lot better than those with the metallic grey. I'm also glad to see UA's new livery reach back to the orange-red-blue style of the 80s. The grey hue looks so dark, dirty and depressing in comparison to the new scheme...
Magyarorszag From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 21, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 3081 times:
Quoting MakeMinesLAX (Reply 18): Since a good number of 742s and 744s arrived between '89 and '92, I thought it possible that 23 was wfu in '92; however, I saw a personal flight log entry indicating it was operating in '96, and that deregistration occurred in '98.
In the Production List, it appears that N4720U was WFU & stored at LAS 11/1997, and sold to a Willis Lease Finance Corp 22/5/1998.
N4723U was WFU & stored at LAS with no date given, but also sold to Willis 23/4/1998.
I searched for pictures of N4720U, and at Planepictures.net there's one of it in 1991 without titles, and at JP, there's a picture of N4723U in 1996 still wearing titles.