DanTravels

Good point, I guess mechanically, maintenance would be pretty similar for the 742 and 742F! But then, they've got a bunch of 744s as well, and those are presumably newer... but I don't know whether their operating cost is any lower.

dme

Count me in.
I call 86-A

Radiocycle

I was on Ship 1161 (DC10-40) on its last scheduled service the day the DC10-40's were pulled out of scheduled service. At the time we didn't have a retirement DO because it was a subtype of the DC10's. The SC10-30's were still flying. We also didn't have one for ther DC9-10's when they were retired because the DC9-30/40/50's are still flying.

Think we should wait until the 744's are retired?

RC

Alpha Golf

Naah, we'll be flying 747-8s then.

remedy

I think the 200 is "more different" than the 400 compared to other models - particularly the upper deck, which those who have posted - including me - found to be a very special place. I don't think there are any more aircraft with the cozy feel of the upper deck of a 747-200. My first, first class experience was a bump from a cancelled Eastern airlines flight from Seattle, where I was astonishingly given a seat in the upper deck on a UA flight to ORD. I had my choice of trout or a steak, and was served an enormous glass of scotch as a pre-departure drink (in a glass). I had a hangover by the time I got home! My first taste of Starbucks coffee was on this flight too. I will miss this aircraft. I miss the service level of the old days too...

DanTravels

At this rate, by the time the last variant of the 747 stops flying, most of us will have stopped flying.

ORDguy

When we have a 747 retirement DO my first segment from ORD will likely be on a DC-9.

redtailshark

Ships 637 and 638, along with 636, are the overpowered recent frame -251s that are capable of, and did, serve NRT-JFK. MTOW 815,000 lbs.

RTS

DanTravels

Nary a seat to be found. Maybe I will have to try to survive for the 744 Retirement DO after all.

thezipper

Think we can fill it with lots of WP awards if they flew it thru SEA back to MSP? Should I make a few phone calls... smile

MikeMpls

Please! We would probably go for that.

It would need to be as close to 9/1 (Sat.) as possible to avoid forcing us to buy PerkPass/RuleBuster fares unnecessarily, at least on the outbounds.

DanTravels

You missed a stop, sir! The obvious routing is NRT-HNL-wherever-MSP!

Because, well, a retirement is just that much more fun when it includes Hawaii.

(I'll be damned if I know how they're gonna get the last DC-9 out here and back, though!)

SchmutzigMSP

I think it could go out through Canada and down the western/far eastern Pacific rim, then up the island chains a la the CO Mike island hopper. Then back to the mainland....i dunno. The same way?

SchmutzigMSP

Ok, assuming the DC-9-50 retirement needs to hit HNL, it is possible.

1) According to the specifications on the DC-9 Wikipedia page, the range for the DC-9-50 is 1,635nm.

2) Given the above specification, it would be possible to get it out to HNL for a final retirement using a combination of old cargo/passenger routes to Asia as well as the famous routing for the Continental Micronesia island hopper. Check it out here. It all works.

http://tinyurl.com/2q8xc2

Of course, for a couple of those legs, we should probably remove a few rows of seats and plug in a spare fuel tank, just to be safe. But it IS possible to do per manufacturer specifications without anything additional! (Yes, I'm a geek)

DanTravels