QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1800 posts, RR: 2 Posted (1 year 8 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 6704 times:
WN tail numbers are fairly easy to decipher: older planes end in "SW", newer ones end in "WN". -300s tails are numbered in the -300 and -600s. 737-700s are numbered in the -200s, -400s, 700s, and 900s.
While looking through the FAA site to see if the -800s were numbered, I noticed that WN has reserved several odd registrations such as "N8319F", "N7917A", etc...
fcogafa From United Kingdom, joined May 2008, 633 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 8 months 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 6540 times:
Could it just be that they are running out of the original series numbers? They have pretty well covered 1 to 999 so they need somewhere to go from there....
trigged From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 497 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 8 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 6259 times:
If they are going to sell planes, could they have reserved those odd numbers to re-register the outgoing aircraft so they can keep the SW suffix numbers for current aircraft?
My speculation is that this may be preparation for inducting the AirTran fleet or even the growth of the fleet in general. After all when they have ship numbers organized as:
retired -200's in the 000's and 100's
-300's in the 300's & 600's
-500's in the low 500's
-700's in the 200's, 400's, 700's & -900's
used -700's in the high 500's
future -800's in the 800's
They are running out of three-digit ship numbers...
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5929 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 5576 times:
Quoting trigged (Reply 3): If they are going to sell planes, could they have reserved those odd numbers to re-register the outgoing aircraft so they can keep the SW suffix numbers for current aircraft?
That would go against what WN has done in the past Many of the -200s kept their old N-Number as long as they were registered in the US (although a private owner or two did change the N-numbers).
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6080 posts, RR: 56 Reply 9, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 5457 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 7): So, are FL birds going to retain their AirTran registrations and fleet numbers?
I don't have the answer to that but when WN took over Morris Air, they re-registrered all of the Morris Air planes to WN style numbers.
Two 73Gs originally destined for FL this spring went to WN with WN type registrations. Looking at how the aircraft are registrered now and what's available (see reply 4), WN could use 500WN numbers for the FL aircraft going higher from 550 (which they are doing now) and add a few more lower numbers (540-550).
WN could also re-use the 100 and 200 series registrations for future 73Gs.
Question is what they will do when WN gets 737MAX or 797s in the future ?
The777Man
[Edited 2011-09-20 15:05:28]
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5929 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 5431 times:
Quoting The777Man (Reply 9): Two 73Gs originally destined for FL this spring went to WN with WN type registrations. Looking at how the aircraft are registrered now and what's available (see reply 4), WN could use 500WN numbers for the FL aircraft going higher from 550 (which they are doing now) and add a few more lower numbers (540-550).
Wonder if the FAA considers them -7H4's or if they have the FL Boeing customer code instead
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
PI767 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 5411 times:
Quoting usair330 (Reply 5): Could be for the ramp to easily identify an -800 from the rest of the fleet.
I've heard (and correct me if I am wrong) that the flap track fairings on the -700 aircraft were painted red so that the ramp could easily identify the aircraft and that, possibly, the flap track fairings on the -800s may be painted blue.
This way, the ramp can identify aircraft types very easily without having to see the registration.
Again....this is just what someone told me. If anyone knows for sure, please correct me.
The777Man From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 6080 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5396 times:
Quoting KELPkid (Reply 10): Wonder if the FAA considers them -7H4's or if they have the FL Boeing customer code instead
I'm pretty sure they are 7BDs (FL's Boeing code). These are N555WN and N556WN.
The777Man
Need a Boeing 777 Firing Order....Further to fly....GA, T5, CI and LX 777s
QANTAS747-438 From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1800 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 5360 times:
Quoting PI767 (Reply 11): I've heard (and correct me if I am wrong) that the flap track fairings on the -700 aircraft were painted red so that the ramp could easily identify the aircraft and that,
Yeah, that's what's always been said. I don't know, seems a little insulting to the ramp guys if that actually were the reason.
Quoting PI767 (Reply 11): the flap track fairings on the -800s may be painted blue.
Heard that too. There wouldn't be any fleet commonality if that were the case. Unless...... new livery!
My posts/replies are strictly my opinion and not that of any company, organization, or Southwest Airlines.
ScottB From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 6358 posts, RR: 34 Reply 14, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 4143 times:
Quoting QANTAS747-438 (Reply 13): Yeah, that's what's always been said. I don't know, seems a little insulting to the ramp guys if that actually were the reason.
Why? It's good human factors engineering to make the difference unambiguous at a glance.
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21215 posts, RR: 19 Reply 15, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 4103 times:
Quoting QANTAS747-438 (Reply 13): Heard that too. There wouldn't be any fleet commonality if that were the case. Unless...... new livery!
Isn't it easier - and more obvious - to look at the number of overwing window exits?
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21215 posts, RR: 19 Reply 17, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 4055 times:
Quoting cbphoto (Reply 16): Unless it's a head-on view, in which the overwing exits might not be visible!
Unless the flaps are extended, it's pretty tough to make out the fairings from the front as well.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
Silver1SWA From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 4536 posts, RR: 26 Reply 18, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3949 times:
Quoting QANTAS747-438 (Reply 13): Quoting PI767 (Reply 11):
I've heard (and correct me if I am wrong) that the flap track fairings on the -700 aircraft were painted red so that the ramp could easily identify the aircraft and that,
Yeah, that's what's always been said. I don't know, seems a little insulting to the ramp guys if that actually were the reason.
I would think the difference in size would be a dead giveaway to any ramper. I see the need to make -700s easily identifiable since they are roughly the same size as the -300s. But after spending so much time around similarly sized aircraft, I would think the -800s would be obvious at first glance.
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 15): Isn't it easier - and more obvious - to look at the number of overwing window exits?
I don't think the average ramper knows how many exits there are. They aren't looking up there. From a rampers perspective, the color of the fairings is the most obvious. I know 15-year+ ramp agents that still need to see the red under the wings to know it's a -700.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
The WN 700's have red tanks on the underside of the aircraft for easy identification. There has been a rumor that the 800's would be painted BLUE for easy identification.
swa4life From United States of America, joined Jul 2009, 369 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 3522 times:
LOL, as a ramp agent I take exception to the comments listed above. Believe me when I tell you that most of us could spot a -700 or -300 as it flies overhead.. We don't need simpleton indicators.
Silver1SWA From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 4536 posts, RR: 26 Reply 22, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 3371 times:
Quoting swa4life (Reply 21): Believe me when I tell you that most of us could spot a -700 or -300 as it flies overhead.. We don't need simpleton indicators.
Uh, flying overhead is when the red canoes become most obvious so of course everyone can spot the difference!
Trust me, the average ramp agent who doesn't care about airplanes only knows the differences by either tail number or the color of the fairings. Once upon a time most used winglets as the primary indicator but that went out the door when the -300s started getting them.
Funny story...when we first started seeing -300s with winglets, a lot of guys would start handling it like a -700. They would load it accordingly, and the funniest part was watching lav drivers pull up to the lav service location for the -700...OOPS! Their reactions were hilarious when they looked around in confusion wondering why there was no service door!
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
swatpamike From United States of America, joined May 2004, 581 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3182 times:
Quoting PI767 (Reply 11): I've heard (and correct me if I am wrong) that the flap track fairings on the -700 aircraft were painted red so that the ramp could easily identify the aircraft and that, possibly, the flap track fairings on the -800s may be painted blue.
I was told 10 years ago in ramp training that you could tell a 700 by it's red fairings. The 300's were not painted. Have not heard anything about the 800's.
aerorobnz From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6324 posts, RR: 14 Reply 24, posted (1 year 8 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2993 times:
Also keep in mind that many on the NxxxSW register are Skywest Embraers and CRJs so are not available for WN to use.
25 fcogafa: Strangely enough, one of the 6 RYR B738s sitting at BFI carries N7235C. Coincidence?
26 KELPkid: Why not just make the -800's canoes red, too? After all, the -700 and -800 have an identical wingspan. The reason for the red canoes was so that the
27 SXDFC: I am sure that's possible, although most of the N3,5 and 6 numbers end with the SW prefix, once these birds retire I am sure they will make a comebac
28 QANTAS747-438: I don't think so. We were getting used -700s because we needed more of them and the Boeing production line didn't have any slack in it to slip in som
29 7673mech: Negative - this was covered in a previous post. Either the 6 aircraft will be stored for the winter or they were taken through a lessor. I forgot the
30 The777Man: Can you confirm that the FL aircraft will be re-registrered when they are reconfigured for WN ? The777Man
31 QANTAS747-438: No. He was saying that regardless of FL planes, WN would move to the N1xxWN tail numbers once the 900s run out. Things will get tricky though... WN i
32 The777Man: Thank you for the reply. Looks like n471wn just confirmed that in his reply. As I mentioned above, perhaps the FL -700s will continue with 557 and hi
33 71Zulu: N556WN is registered to WN as a 737-7BD. N555WN must be a bad number because it comes up as a Dragonfly registered to a Donald Sessions.
34 ScottB: Ship number 555 is N555LV (also a 737-7BD). Boeing has N965/966/967WN right now. With six -700's planned in 2012, you are likely correct. I expect th
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From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1800 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined May 2008, 633 posts, 
Many of the -200s kept their old N-Number as long as they were registered in the US (although a private owner or two did change the N-numbers).
From Rwanda, joined Feb 2001, 6324 posts, 
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