Farewell MD-11
Oct 24, 2014, 3:14 pm
#61
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,340
Oct 24, 2014, 4:19 pm
#62
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Plat, DL, AS, UA, IHG Plat
Posts: 2,406
I was boarding my CityHopper flight (E190 from the tarmac hardstand) at Schiphol a last Friday (17-Oct-2014) and I saw a MD11 commencing takeoff from the corner of my eye. I jumped out of the queue to the stairs and ran in the opposite direction and snapped this photo right before another E190 blocked the view of the rotation. The ground security staff was suitably alarmed by me running towards the open tarmac but I explained to him that I wanted one last photo of the MD11 and he nodded his head in agreement and said "yes, we will miss them too, now please get back on your plane" 
Oct 24, 2014, 5:13 pm
#63
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Glaschu
Programs: FB Platinum for Life; BAEC Gold Guest List; Accor Gold.
Posts: 2,549
Any idea which aircraft is flying the last flight? Maria Montessori ("B" I believe) has always been my favourite....I would love it to be her.
Wish I could be at Schiphol on Sunday morning
Hope anyone who is flying has a great time (and shares lots of pics with the rest of us!)
Wish I could be at Schiphol on Sunday morning
Hope anyone who is flying has a great time (and shares lots of pics with the rest of us!)
-- Henry
Oct 24, 2014, 11:04 pm
#65
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: Delta 2M DM, Southwest A List and CP
Posts: 1,102
The PH-KCE has the 95-year logo on it (left side of the aircraft, behind the entry door). There is a nice video of the plane from Montreal landing in Amsterdam on October 12 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ1cF0FLFZw. The plane was four hours late that day, so it arrived when it was almost the middle of the day.
Oct 25, 2014, 4:06 pm
#68
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PUF
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 192
Wow, I had never expected this farewell to be so big. As usa18dca accurately pointed out, it is a true avgeek get-together.
Now I have high hopes for the flight itself, hehehe... let's see what happens.
Now I have high hopes for the flight itself, hehehe... let's see what happens.
Oct 26, 2014, 12:18 am
#70
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Glaschu
Programs: FB Platinum for Life; BAEC Gold Guest List; Accor Gold.
Posts: 2,549
Well - that's it!
Petits fours and soft drinks to all and sundry at the gate in YUL. Champagne and more petits fours on board.
And, along with the usual Housje, J-pax were given a scale model KLM aeroplane (though I've not checked what type it is, yet
) and a certificate signed by the captain (I'll post a scan of this when I get back home).
We landed way ahead of schedule (high tail winds, making a 6-hour flight) on the Polderbaan; half way to the gate, we were intercepted by an escort of ten airport cars/trucks, with loads of flashing lights.
Just before arrival at the gate, a 'guard of honour' of many more cars and a fire-pump giving the traditional water-fountain salute. Many folks (including lots of Schiphol and KLM staff) all over steps and windows, taking photos of the Old Lady (with and without the Captain protruding through the cockpit window). I'm sure some of these folks will post their photos here.
All in all, a comfortable, pleasant and very memorable flight.
-- Henry
Petits fours and soft drinks to all and sundry at the gate in YUL. Champagne and more petits fours on board.
And, along with the usual Housje, J-pax were given a scale model KLM aeroplane (though I've not checked what type it is, yet
) and a certificate signed by the captain (I'll post a scan of this when I get back home).We landed way ahead of schedule (high tail winds, making a 6-hour flight) on the Polderbaan; half way to the gate, we were intercepted by an escort of ten airport cars/trucks, with loads of flashing lights.
Just before arrival at the gate, a 'guard of honour' of many more cars and a fire-pump giving the traditional water-fountain salute. Many folks (including lots of Schiphol and KLM staff) all over steps and windows, taking photos of the Old Lady (with and without the Captain protruding through the cockpit window). I'm sure some of these folks will post their photos here.
All in all, a comfortable, pleasant and very memorable flight.
-- Henry
Oct 26, 2014, 1:47 am
#71
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: mostly not far from AMS, otherwise NUE
Programs: FB Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,381
Oct 26, 2014, 7:09 am
#72
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 7,541
Well - that's it!
Petits fours and soft drinks to all and sundry at the gate in YUL. Champagne and more petits fours on board.
And, along with the usual Housje, J-pax were given a scale model KLM aeroplane (though I've not checked what type it is, yet) and a certificate signed by the captain (I'll post a scan of this when I get back home).
We landed way ahead of schedule (high tail winds, making a 6-hour flight) on the Polderbaan; half way to the gate, we were intercepted by an escort of ten airport cars/trucks, with loads of flashing lights.
Just before arrival at the gate, a 'guard of honour' of many more cars and a fire-pump giving the traditional water-fountain salute. Many folks (including lots of Schiphol and KLM staff) all over steps and windows, taking photos of the Old Lady (with and without the Captain protruding through the cockpit window). I'm sure some of these folks will post their photos here.
All in all, a comfortable, pleasant and very memorable flight.
-- Henry
Petits fours and soft drinks to all and sundry at the gate in YUL. Champagne and more petits fours on board.
And, along with the usual Housje, J-pax were given a scale model KLM aeroplane (though I've not checked what type it is, yet
) and a certificate signed by the captain (I'll post a scan of this when I get back home).We landed way ahead of schedule (high tail winds, making a 6-hour flight) on the Polderbaan; half way to the gate, we were intercepted by an escort of ten airport cars/trucks, with loads of flashing lights.
Just before arrival at the gate, a 'guard of honour' of many more cars and a fire-pump giving the traditional water-fountain salute. Many folks (including lots of Schiphol and KLM staff) all over steps and windows, taking photos of the Old Lady (with and without the Captain protruding through the cockpit window). I'm sure some of these folks will post their photos here.
All in all, a comfortable, pleasant and very memorable flight.
-- Henry
I'm glad everyone had fun and got their own AvGeekiness satisfied.
The Crew was also fabulous and you could tell they were JUST as excited as the passengers to be making history.
Oct 27, 2014, 3:40 am
#73
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
Programs: DL DM, 5.7 MM, UA 3.1 MM, MARRIOTT PLATINUM, AVIS FIRST, Amex Black Card
Posts: 4,479
AMSTERDAM -- The last three-engined widebody airplane in commercial passenger service made its last revenue flight Sunday, consigning to history yet another symbol of the jet age. The last flight operated by a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines service from Montreal, landed early Sunday in Amsterdam. The exit from service of the MD-11 marks the demise of the last intercontinental, double-aisle jet made by a Western planemaker other than Boeing or Airbus.
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The event attracted hundreds of aviation enthusiasts from all over the world, who booked a seat on flight KL672 to witness firsthand the retirement of an airplane that made its name as the last American competitor to Boeing jumbos. To many of them -- a flight attendant estimated enthusiasts occupied nearly half of the 285 seats -- it was an occasion to relive an era they said had ended.
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The event attracted hundreds of aviation enthusiasts from all over the world, who booked a seat on flight KL672 to witness firsthand the retirement of an airplane that made its name as the last American competitor to Boeing jumbos. To many of them -- a flight attendant estimated enthusiasts occupied nearly half of the 285 seats -- it was an occasion to relive an era they said had ended.
Good bye, my friend, MD-11. The most unappreciated airplane. May cargo fly forever on a MD-11! Keep your chin up, I mean nose up! Say what you want, this was a great airplane.
Last edited by kettle1; Oct 27, 2014 at 3:46 am
Oct 27, 2014, 4:25 am
#74
Used to be 'Mark Fetters'
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 90
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uJjf1KxFhQ
Video from the flight I put together. Amazing flight and had a lot of fun on it.
Video from the flight I put together. Amazing flight and had a lot of fun on it.