N53614 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 229 posts, RR: 1 Posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 3999 times:
Hello all,
My only 747 flight was with United Airlines in Spring 1998. I DO remember that it was:
-A 747 "classic
-in the Blue/Gray scheme
-Operating as UAL 52 SFO-IAD
What I would like to know is if there's any way to know if it was a 747-100 or a 747-200. I didn't bother looking up at the windows or anything like that, as I wasn't into airliners at the time.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26723 posts, RR: 83 Reply 1, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 3969 times:
You sure it wasn't a 747-400? I'd be surprised if UA had 747-200s still around in 1998.
N53614 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 229 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3918 times:
I'm reasonably sure it was a 747 classic. I think I also took a safety card and it just said "747" on it (no -200, -400, etc).
Kdeg00 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 145 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3829 times:
I did a quick photo search to see if I could trip up what I remember, but I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that the -200s didn't get repainted into the blue/grey scheme. Please correct me if I'm wrong and I will double check with a retired UA 747 pilot friend whose memory and knowledge are far better than mine.
MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6242 posts, RR: 51 Reply 4, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3808 times:
It could have been a 747-100. There were still a few hanging around in 1998.
MSPNWA From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 1573 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3736 times:
I'd say it's very likely that it was a -200. I pulled up four random spring 1998 dates on the BTS website, and all of them showed flight 52 operated by a 742, ex-Qantas examples to be precise. If you knew the exact date, we could identify the exact plane you flew on. But I assume you do not know that information based on your initial criteria. Is that correct? Either way it looks you flew a -200.
Cessna172RG From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 745 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3726 times:
Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6468 posts, RR: 8 Reply 7, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3683 times:
Quoting Kdeg00 (Reply 3): I am going to go out on a limb and suggest that the -200s didn't get repainted into the blue/grey scheme.
Most (likely all) of the -238s ended up blue/gray.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21495 posts, RR: 24 Reply 8, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3638 times:
In addition to the 7 ex-QF -200s built in the mid-1970s, UA also took delivery of 2 new -200s in March and April 1987. They were among the last 7 all-passenger 747-200s delivered. Both were sold to NW in 2000 and converted to freighters. I think they're both still with NW, although probably not for much longer as DL recently announced that the all-cargo operation was being shut down.
N53614 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 229 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3613 times:
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the assistance with this.
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 10, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 3590 times:
Quoting Timz (Reply 7): Most (likely all) of the -238s ended up blue/gray.
United_Fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7160 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3466 times:
Quoting Stitch (Reply 1): You sure it wasn't a 747-400? I'd be surprised if UA had 747-200s still around in 199
The -200's were around til Dec 2000.
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
MSPNWA From United States of America, joined Apr 2009, 1573 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 3309 times:
Quoting N53614 (Reply 9): Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the assistance with this.
MSPNWA, the flight happened in April of 1998.
Again, I really appreciate the info!
Your welcome!
Every little piece of info helps. I checked all 30 days in April 1998, and flight 52 was flown 23 times by a -200 (all ex-Qantas), 4 times by a -400, and 3 times by a -100. So it could have been a -100 too. All 3 with a -100 were flown in the middle of the month. I know a couple of 741s were painted into the gray UA colors, so it could be either classic with the info we have.
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 8): I think they're both still with NW, although probably not for much longer as DL recently announced that the all-cargo operation was being shut down.
They sure are, but I think N645NW is stored. N646NW was active last time I checked. They're both part of the uncommon group of younger classic 747s that did not have the wingtip antennae. I saw one of those two and many more of the NW cargo 747s in Anchorage back in 2006. Sadly that was probably the last time I will see them up close.
Cross757 From United States of America, joined Jun 2007, 143 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2517 times:
Hello,
I apologize if this is against a-net forum protocol, and I'm not to hijack N53614's thread, but I have also been wondering about the type/reg of a UA 747 flight I was on in 1993 on a summer trip to London from ABQ. After reading the responses here it seems that someone might be able to give me an answer, too. MSPNWA, perhaps you might be able to tell me?
The specific date was 10 June 1993 from IAD-LHR. I believe the flight number was 918 or 921 (or something close). I'm also positive it was a "classic" (I sat just over the leading edge of the wing and there were no winglets), and I saw the 747 at the gate from a few gates over as we pulled in on my inbound connecting flight from DEN (Stapleton) and I know it was in the "old" (non-stealth) colors. If it helps, the flight left IAD around 1900 local time and arrived at LHR about 0630 the next morning. My flight home was on 25 June from LHR to SFO on a UA 747SP (I realize now how fortunate I was to fly on one because I don't think UA kept them around much longer). It was in the old colors as well.
By the way N53614, how did you enjoy the flight?
Thanks, and again I apologize if I broke any rules here...
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