Thank you & Bye-bye Bobby! Official Lufthansa 737 Farewell Tour, FRA-HAM-FRA on 31/10
Nov 7, 2016, 11:14 pm
#1
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Somewhere between HOQ, NUE & MUC
Posts: 87
Thank you & Bye-bye Bobby! Official Lufthansa 737 Farewell Tour, FRA-HAM-FRA on 31/10
On 31 October, I had the pleasure to take part in the airline's official 737 farewell event for journalists and employees. It took place two days after the last scheduled flights on 29 October and included a Frankfurt-Hamburg-Frankfurt round trip - that destination was chosen to pay tribute to Lufthansa Technik for taking care of the 737 for more than 48 years.
Lufthansa selected 25 year old Boeing 737-330 D-ABEC "Karlsruhe" for the special event because the very first 737 delivered in December 1967, a -130 model, had also been registered D-ABEC. If you want to learn more about Lufthansa's 737 and the nickname "Bobby", just click here:
http://newsroom.lufthansagroup.com/e...737-fleet.html
There were two dedicated check-in counters where all invited passengers had to pick up their boarding passes:
Meeting point gate A15:
After a special boarding announcement, a bus brought the group to the aircraft. One of the flight attendants was wearing a historic uniform:
Numerous journalists and ground staff members were already waiting on the apron. Several crew members, including Captain and 737 Fleet Commander Ulrich Pade, as well as Lufthansa managers Klaus Froese (CEO Hub Frankfurt) and Harry Hohmeister (Executive Board Member and Head of Hub Management) presented a nice banner:
The entire flight crew for LH9922 and LH9923:
All passengers were welcomed with a handshake by Harry Hohmeister who also made a short speech once boarding had been completed. Other speeches followed (by Klaus Froese, Captain Ulrich Pade and the purser) - and all of them contained emotional parts. For example, the purser kept using the cute term "our small Bobby".
And I particularly liked this statement by Klaus Froese: "An aircraft is more than just the sum of its parts - it has a soul. And that's the reason why we name our aircraft."After being towed around by a so-called "TaxiBot" for demonstration reasons (without engine power), D-ABEC took off into clear skies:
Heading north to the 737's "spiritual home", as mentioned in one of the speeches:
Bobby's reliable power plant:
Bad weather with low clouds at HAM:
Bobby received a water cannon salute...
...and was awaited by dozens of LH Technik employees and journalists. Honour to whom honour is due!
Banner in different positions:
Posing with Bobby:
Nice little hangar celebration which started after an opening speech by Dr. Johannes Bussmann, CEO Lufthansa Technik:
By the way, the other Boeing 737 in the hangar is D-ABIA, a -530 model retired in December 2014 and now being used by Lufthansa Technik as a maintenance trainer.
We say thank you, Bobby!
Tasty cup cakes with small Bobby flags:
After roughly 1.5 hrs, all passengers had to undergo a security check for the return leg. Then it was time to board the last ever (more or less) public Lufthansa 737 passenger flight:
Cute sticker placed at the cabin door lining:
Numerous LH Technik employees kept watching the plane again while it was taxiing to the runway. Go, Bobby, go!
The cabin looked immaculate as usual:
Just like on the outbound flight, the charming flight attendants passed through the cabin with hot and cold drinks. However, this time they also distributed cheese and salmon wraps. I chose the latter:
Additionally, champagne and chocolates were offered. Cheers, Bobby!
Approach to FRA in beautiful late afternoon light:
After D-ABEC had touched down, all of us started clapping to pay tribute to Captain Pade and his crew - and to Bobby, of course. And for a second time on that day, Bobby received a water cannon salute. Very emotional moments!
Quick cockpit shot during disembarking:
Flight crew and Klaus Froese lining up one last time:
Now it was time to leave Bobby alone finally...well, quite a sad moment.
On the next day, D-ABEC and D-ABEK took off again and flew to Sármellék (Balaton Airport) as part of a non-public farewell event exclusively for Lufthansa employees. After an overnight stay, both planes returned to FRA, most likely performing the last ever Lufthansa 737 landings in continental Europe. Within the next two months, all remaining frames will be transferred to the new owner in Florida. Hopefully, these nice birds will keep flying for some more years!Bye-bye, Bobby! You'll always be remembered! ^
Best Regards,
PlaneHunter
Last edited by PlaneHunter; Nov 7, 2016 at 11:53 pm
Nov 9, 2016, 11:25 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Somewhere between HOQ, NUE & MUC
Posts: 87
Thanks for all your comments!
All the remaining frames will be transferred to Orlando (SFB) at first, new owner is Automatic LLC. The planes are in great condition, but so far only few of the retired 733s have started a new career. They have accumulated massive amounts of cycles.
All the remaining frames will be transferred to Orlando (SFB) at first, new owner is Automatic LLC. The planes are in great condition, but so far only few of the retired 733s have started a new career. They have accumulated massive amounts of cycles.
