lasairlinerenth From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 52 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 7507 times:
Hi Everyone,
Although I joined Airliners.net a few weeks ago, I have not yet started a topic thread of my own. But I saw something intriguing this morning that I am unable to answer definitively via searching through the current or old and archived threads.
I work on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), which is just a stone's throw from McCarran International (LAS). When the airport is routing departures off runways 1R or 1L as often happens here, planes are just getting airborne as they are flying over the campus before turning to head off in the direction of their next destination.
At approximately 11:45AM to 11:50AM this morning (5/31/2012), I saw a Southwest (WN) 737 -- apologies, I could not tell whether it was a -300, -500, or -700 -- overflying the campus after departure that was in what I will term the "old school" orange and brown livery. In due course, the jet made a backtrack turn over The Strip and headed south. I had no time to catch the registration or to snap a picture on my I-Phone.
For years now, the parade of WN aircraft into and out of LAS has been predominately in the Canyon Blue livery -- other than the special schemes like Shamu and California One, etc. So I was rather surprised to see a WN plane in the old livery -- unless my eyes were deceiving me, which is entirely possible the older I get!
My questions are: Has WN finished painting all of their aircraft in the Canyon Blue livery? Does WN have aircraft that are in the "old school" livery as a special scheme? If so, how many?
southwest737500 From United States of America, joined Mar 2011, 594 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 7458 times:
WN has 3 aircraft in that livery and I believe there all on the 737-700
Planes I've been on: Dash8,CRJ 200,CRJ 700,CRJ 900,ERJ 175, ERJ 190, 717,732,733,734,735,737,738.A319,A320,A321,762,763
poLot From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 1499 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 7411 times:
Quoting lasairlinerenth (Thread starter): My questions are: Has WN finished painting all of their aircraft in the Canyon Blue livery? Does WN have aircraft that are in the "old school" livery as a special scheme? If so, how many?
Yes, WN has three 73Gs in the old livery, to symbolize their original three starting cities. They are N714CB, N711HK, and N792SW. They actually differ slightly from the old livery, they don't have the white around the windows, they lack the heart and black beneath the cockpit windows, and the paint has a metallic gold color:
AA94 From United States of America, joined Aug 2011, 357 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 7403 times:
Nope, you are correct. You likely saw one of the three planes that WN is keeping in the old "mustard rocket" color scheme. These aircraft are:
N714CB B737-700 Tribute to WN president Colleen Barrett
N792SW B737-700 Last aircraft delivered new in the old color scheme
N711HK B737-700 Tribute to Herb Kelleher, WN cofounder
The trio also represents WN's original three cities of service, DAL, HOU, and SAT.
Hope this helped! Cheers.
Choose a challenge over competence / Eleanor Roosevelt
Silver1SWA From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 4538 posts, RR: 26 Reply 4, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 7303 times:
Quoting poLot (Reply 2): Yes, WN has three 73Gs in the old livery, to symbolize their original three starting cities. They are N714CB, N711HK, and N792SW. They actually differ slightly from the old livery, they don't have the white around the windows, they lack the heart and black beneath the cockpit windows, and the paint has a metallic gold color:
Correct with the exception of one point. N714CB does in fact have the white trim around the windows. It is the sharpest looking of the three aircraft, in my opinion.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
lasairlinerenth From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 52 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 7288 times:
This is all awesome information guys! I can't thank you enough for helping me to fill in the gaps in my knowledge of WN's respective paint schemes. And I think it's terrific that they have the three aircraft identified by AA94 as tributes to their past.
panam330 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 2601 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 7030 times:
I'm probably in the minority thinking this, but I prefer this livery over the canyon blue one. It's full of character, whereas the new one looks kind of cheap, like a Crayola crayon. The old WN brown, not so nice - but this gold is gorgeous, especially in person.
poLot From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 1499 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 6931 times:
Quoting panam330 (Reply 6): I'm probably in the minority thinking this, but I prefer this livery over the canyon blue one. It's full of character, whereas the new one looks kind of cheap, like a Crayola crayon. The old WN brown, not so nice - but this gold is gorgeous, especially in person.
I completely agree, the metallic gold looks amazing, especially at dusk. I'm sure that it is expensive though.
micstatic From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 762 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (11 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 6877 times:
Quoting panam330 (Reply 6): I'm probably in the minority thinking this, but I prefer this livery over the canyon blue one. It's full of character, whereas the new one looks kind of cheap, like a Crayola crayon. The old WN brown, not so nice - but this gold is gorgeous, especially in person.
I FAR prefer the old livery with the white around the windows. Though I like the original over gold. I feel like switching back at some point would be cheaper to paint than the current deep blue livery. Maybe I'm wrong. At the time they went canyon blue I think Southwest was looking to further extend itself as a true nationwide carrier. Now that they have done that in a major way, switching back could add some nostalgia to a big time player. Just my two cents.
rikkus67 From Canada, joined Jun 2000, 1464 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (11 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 4472 times:
I agree with the other posters. The original scheme...even when faded... look much better than the Canyon Blue, ESPECIALLY when faded. US Airways got rid of the dark blue, Northwest & United (pre-merger) got rid of the dark grey...all because of fading issues. Interesting that the Mustard colour did not show anywhere near as bad of fading....
But, Canyon Blue it is, for now.
Cessna 172; King Air 100; Twin Otter; SAAB 340; Dash 7; Dash 8-100,-200,-300,-400; CRJ-200,700,900; ERJ-170; F-28; DC 9-
futureatp From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 211 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (11 months 3 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3778 times:
I flew on 792 a year ago HOU-PHX. Ive been a steady Southwest flier 20+ years now and that is still the only special livery aircraft I have been on with them. Or any airline come to think of it...
I have a question to add, and after working at Sky Harbor as long as I did I thought I would know the answer already but are there subtle differences in the shade of gold in the three aircraft? I vaguely remember reading it somewhere but, does one aircraft have more metallic in its paint? And, I never knew one had the white window lining.
aztrainer From United States of America, joined Oct 2011, 400 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (11 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3164 times:
I have a question about the Canyon Blue color scheme. I thought that WN moved to it because it was going to last longer, but it seems as they dull very quickly. What is the lifespan of a normal Canyon Blue paint job vs the old WN colors?
It even seems as the Shamu's black last longer than the Canyon Blue.
Quoting skycub (Reply 10): The brown, at least, represented the colors of the desert and the American southwest.
We have blue here also, just look at the AZ flag and it is not in the summer when the wind is blowing the dust everywhere.
Silver1SWA From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 4538 posts, RR: 26 Reply 15, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 2584 times:
Quoting futureatp (Reply 11): I have a question to add, and after working at Sky Harbor as long as I did I thought I would know the answer already but are there subtle differences in the shade of gold in the three aircraft? I vaguely remember reading it somewhere but, does one aircraft have more metallic in its paint? And, I never knew one had the white window lining.
Yes, the three aircraft are in a metallic gold color, slightly different than the desert brown used on the old scheme.
Quoting aztrainer (Reply 13): I have a question about the Canyon Blue color scheme. I thought that WN moved to it because it was going to last longer, but it seems as they dull very quickly. What is the lifespan of a normal Canyon Blue paint job vs the old WN colors?
No, actually the blue scheme has a shorter life expectancy than the brown livery. It had a few people here scratching their heads wondering why they would choose paint that wouldn't last as long. If I recall correctly, the old livery got 8-10 years (or maybe even longer) of life and the blue is more like 5-7 years.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
micstatic From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 762 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2534 times:
well the AirTran merger has certainly caused some more stress for Southwest. I think it makes sense to go back to the future with the livery if it is cheaper.
beertrucker From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 400 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2312 times:
They Blue to do me does not mean Southwest. The Brown/Tan is what I remember from when I worked on the ramp at CMH. I do love the one with the Gold flake in it. Time to bring back the brown. I am all for that. I have flown on one of the three years ago MCO-ALB. When it was at the gate I looked down the termanal and thought how much better it looked then the Canyon Blue look.
neutronstar73 From United States of America, joined Mar 2011, 215 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2304 times:
I love the Southwest Airlines old school colors. I like the Canyon Blue scheme, too, but the old school really does it for me. I think they are the best looking 737s out there.
catdaddy63 From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 267 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2300 times:
I, for one, would love to see a 73H painted in the gold. And any guesses when we might see a special livery 73H?
Silver1SWA From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 4538 posts, RR: 26 Reply 20, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2184 times:
Quoting micstatic (Reply 16): well the AirTran merger has certainly caused some more stress for Southwest. I think it makes sense to go back to the future with the livery if it is cheaper.
What does AirTran have to do with this? Southwest isn't going back to its old livery.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
CALTECH From Poland, joined May 2007, 1587 posts, RR: 22 Reply 21, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 2099 times:
All the talk about brown/gold 'old livery.' When I worked on them, their old livery had the pea/puke green soup colors. The change to brown/gold was great.
chrisair From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1772 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2009 times:
There's a Canyon Blue 73G with the yellow/brown winglets floating around. Saw it last week in Vegas. It looked a little strange.
micstatic From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 762 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1970 times:
Quoting Silver1SWA (Reply 20): What does AirTran have to do with this? Southwest isn't going back to its old livery.
Well, the merger is clearly running "over-budget" with all of the issues they have been having. I think this offers atleast 1 way to lower costs for the carrier. (Cheaper paint scheme)
warden145 From United States of America, joined Aug 2010, 427 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (11 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1928 times:
Quoting Silver1SWA (Reply 20): Southwest isn't going back to its old livery.
Thank goodness for that. I must be the only one here who absolutely couldn't stand to look at WN's old livery. The canyon blue may not be the best looking livery out there, but it's exponentially better than the "PukeAir" livery they had before.
Note that I'm speaking only about the livery; not trying to bash WN as a whole...although I didn't like their original cattle-call boarding system, I have to say that the new system works out quite nicely, and I've been quite satisfied with my last few experiences on WN...
ETOPS = Engine Turns Off, Passengers Swim
25 N8911E: The original is my favorite.. And when I say original, I mean THE ORIGINAL ORIGINAL!!!
26 jeffry747: Just my $0.02. The old puke looking colors: NASTY! The brown/gold colors look beautiful when the paint is fresh and/or clean, but ugly when old and di
27 rduguy: Per the picture in Reply 2, N336SW is actually the one with the white around the windows. If I am looking at it correctly.
28 poLot: N336SW is a 733 that was in the old livery. I used it to illustrate the difference in paint color between the old livery and the special livery. It i
29 Silver1SWA: The AirTran issues are relatively short-term compared to how long it would take for switching liveries to have any positive financial impact, if at a
30 DeltaL1011man: FWIW most airlines have dumped dark colors not because of how bad they look after a few year but because it is much easier to keep euro-white cool in
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