HOOB747 From United States, joined Nov 2006, 367 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (1 month 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5122 times:
Wow, what an emotional read! Thanks for the description and images from an historic day! I always get choked up when Captains retire, and this was a double-whammy with the retirement of an aircraft type as well. You are fortunate to be a part of history, and you let us share you experience. Wonderfully done!
B737100 From United States, joined Jul 2004, 82 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 month 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 5089 times:
Thanks so much for this great report! I really wanted to take this flight and bought my ZED the day before and made a NRSA listing for the flight. The nice lady from UA res said there were about 10 more stbys listed than seats were available. I was taking AE from SAN to LAX and would have tried anyhow just to be at the gate for the arrival and festivities, however stby on the rtn flts from LAX/SAN looked bad and since stby on the special flt also looked bad, with great sadness, I decided to abort. I have a special place in my heart for the B737, hence my user name. So, farewell B737 from the UA fleet, you will be missed! Thanks for the memories!
SkyGirl From United States, joined Nov 2007, 426 posts, RR: 28 Reply 10, posted (1 month 2 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3160 times:
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 7): Btw - I'm wondering which aircraft FO Fletcher will be switching to.
I asked him and silly me honestly doesn't remember. It's either the airbus or the 57.
BTW, Thanks for the great cameo shot of me being one of the people mingling about in the aisle Great report, enjoyed reading and seeing all the pictures. It was such a truly bittersweet day, ne?
...Now they face an even greater danger...Tyrannousaurs in F-14's!!
FlyFitch From United States, joined Nov 2009, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 month 2 weeks 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 2841 times:
Thank you for sharing! Quite the interesting read, and great photos. As others have stated, although they were really starting to show their age, the 737s will be missed.
Triple7man From Thailand, joined May 2005, 476 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (1 month 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2579 times:
It's not very often I read a TR on the retirement of an airplane and a pilot so I really enjoyed this one. Captain Russo must have really liked the 737 because most pilots with seniority would be retiring on the 747-400 or 777-200.
I remember when UA first put the 737 into service...and I have flown on them a few times. One feature I like on UA is Channel 9 where you can listen to cockpit ground communications. Sadly other airlines don't have this.
Thx again for an excellent TR
N1120A From United States, joined Dec 2003, 23671 posts, RR: 89 Reply 18, posted (1 month 1 week 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1189 times:
Quoting RJpieces (Reply 4):
That Gate 70B looks very dated. Any plans to refurbish that Concourse?
T7 was refurbished not all that long ago. Its United's call, since they are the lessee, but they decided to do kind of a halfway remodel, which certainly served its purpose, as opposed to a costlier, more disruptive rebuild like AA did. Also, the top end gates (including 70B) tend to not look as nice as the ones toward the runway end of the concourse.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
ORDnHKG From United States, joined Jul 2009, 35 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (1 month 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1165 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 18): T7 was refurbished not all that long ago. Its United's call, since they are the lessee, but they decided to do kind of a halfway remodel, which certainly served its purpose, as opposed to a costlier, more disruptive rebuild like AA did. Also, the top end gates (including 70B) tend to not look as nice as the ones toward the runway end of the concourse.
You are kidding me right ? I can swire T7 look exactly the same 10 years ago or even longer. Even gates toward the runway end of the concouse like 74, 76, and 77. I still remember the days I was seating around the gates waiting for my redeye UA 120 to ORD which was a 744, watching UA 815 to SYD and UA 841 to AKL, really not much difference than now UA 839 to SYD.
You can guess how old were the days redeye to ORD was a 744, and still flying to AKL.
The777Man From United States, joined Jul 1999, 3748 posts, RR: 55 Reply 21, posted (1 month 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 1130 times:
Quoting ORDnHKG (Reply 19): You are kidding me right ? I can swire T7 look exactly the same 10 years ago or even longer.
I think T7 was remodeled in 1997 or so. So your ar correct; it has looked like that for about 12 years actually. I don';t expect any major remolling for a while. New carpet has just been put in in all the gate areas since about a month ago.
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From United States, joined Jan 2005, 30 posts, 
From Canada, joined Aug 2009, 9 posts, 
Always an aircraft I wish I could have flew on more, I was trying to get on the AC 737s just before their retirement. 
From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 3176 posts, 
From Australia, joined Mar 2000, 2786 posts, 
Great report, enjoyed reading and seeing all the pictures. It was such a truly bittersweet day, ne?
From Thailand, joined May 2005, 476 posts, 
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