Rampkontroler From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 859 posts, RR: 7 Posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 9693 times:
Sorry for the cruddy shots, but if I knew what I was shooting I may have been a little more careful, plus, it was pretty dark out. (I know...excuses excuses!) Anyway, I'm resurrecting this old topic because of these shots and an inquiring mind.
I caught this the other day (10/23) and was going to just toss them, but when I saw the wing and the winglets, I got curious. I know the VC-25 is based on a -200 airframe, so it does not sport winglets. Does anyone know what other Air Force variants of the 747 are out there that would wear the official colors and apparently based on a -400 airframe? (I know whatever this is probably isn't called a VC-25, but it looks like one so I called it that!)
Rampkontroler From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 859 posts, RR: 7 Reply 2, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 9625 times:
Hmmm...I see why you would say that, and to be honest I hadn't considered them. However, Jade has a full green fuselage underneath. I'm pretty sure that this doesn't, and the blue definitely seems to stand out...it doesn't appear green at all to me.
N186BD From United States of America, joined May 2007, 37 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 9574 times:
I think it's KLM. The tail is the right color and I can almost (maybe I'm wishing) make out the faint signs of the KLM titles on the vert. tailfin. I think the silver "chin" may be a shadow. Just a thought.
N186BD
"To be a sober, plodding, industrious youth was to incur the ridicule of the mass of the students." - James Buchanan
Rampkontroler From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 859 posts, RR: 7 Reply 6, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 9535 times:
I can almost agree with the KLM...we do get plenty of those overhead, but the color underneath the nose has me a bit baffled.
I suppose it could be a trick of the light, but somethings not looking quite right to me. Looks like more research is in order for me before I'm satisfied!
Rampkontroler From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 859 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (4 years 7 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 9481 times:
Quoting FLY2HMO (Reply 7): I think its just a shadow illusion. Put your finger over it and it fits the KLM paint scheme perfectly.
Yeah, I think I'm leaning that way as well. Nothing else makes much sense to me. Thanks for your help, guys!
(If anyone else has any other ideas, don't hesitate to chime in. )
777STL From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 3036 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (4 years 7 months 20 hours ago) and read 9158 times:
Quoting N186BD (Reply 5): think it's KLM. The tail is the right color and I can almost (maybe I'm wishing) make out the faint signs of the KLM titles on the vert. tailfin. I think the silver "chin" may be a shadow. Just a thought.
You're not imagining it, I can see the title on the tail as well. That's definitely a KLM 744.
Spottingpete93 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2006, 68 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 years 7 months 18 hours ago) and read 8577 times:
KLM definitely!
Could the oddness with the nose possibly be caused by a shadow of one of the engines? Look where the sun is in relation to the aircraft. Kind of fits does it not?
Rampkontroler From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 859 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (4 years 7 months 12 hours ago) and read 5184 times:
Thanks for all the replies. I've decided that you guys are right and it must be KLM because nothing else seems to fit. I too, see that there is something on the tail which I initially thought was the flag, but could also be the initials.
The sun was quite low and the angle may indeed have cast that funny shadow on the nose.
N766UA From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 7993 posts, RR: 27 Reply 16, posted (4 years 7 months 12 hours ago) and read 4906 times:
The first thing I thought when I opened the picture was: "Uh, that's KLM!" The tail is a dead giveaway. I think the nose is just a shadow, seeing as the sun is setting at the airplane's 6 o'clock.
Sunilgupta From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 770 posts, RR: 15 Reply 17, posted (4 years 7 months 10 hours ago) and read 3763 times:
Quoting Stitch (Reply 15): I saw 28-000 during her last overhaul in 2007 and she didn't have winglets when they were done. As such, I can only assume 29-000 does not, either.
Yes, you are right. Neither of them have winglets. I see them all the time flying over and at ADW.
Rampkontroler From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 859 posts, RR: 7 Reply 19, posted (4 years 7 months 5 hours ago) and read 2067 times:
Quoting JAGflyer (Reply 18): rampkontroler: That VC-25 has winglets!
me: Sir, that's just a KLM 747.
Yeah, yeah, yeah...my head is bowed in embarrassment! I just want this thread to die already LOL! I took a look at the picture last night and, maybe it was the third beer (or was it the fourth? ) that made me think it was more than it obviously must be, but I am now convinced it has to be KLM. Sorry to have created such a ruckus! (I know this is a recurrent topic, but I honestly thought it looked strange.) Thanks again, everyone.
(Let this be a warning about the dangers of drinking and posting!!)
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 9077 posts, RR: 13 Reply 22, posted (4 years 6 months 4 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1520 times:
413X3 From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 1983 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (4 years 6 months 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1432 times:
Drerx7 From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 4906 posts, RR: 9 Reply 24, posted (4 years 6 months 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1386 times:
How can you tell its a 744F - the upper deck is not noticeably shorter...the pics are not 'diagnostic' lol
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) that made me think it was more than it obviously must be, but I am now convinced it has to be KLM. Sorry to have created such a ruckus! (I know this is a recurrent topic, but I honestly thought it looked strange.) Thanks again, everyone. 
Dang... 
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