Ben's Air Blog

Flying on the Delta's Last 777-200LR Flights Over Labor Day weekend Saturday, I flew on Delta’s final scheduled Boeing 777 domestic flights (as of September).  In early 2020, Delta had just completed its 777 fleet cabin refurbishment .  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in May, Delta made a dramatic decision to retire its entire 777 fleet by the end of October 2020 in order to preserve capital and have fleet commonality. 

Super80Sendoff – My Final Flights on the American MD-80 September 4th, 2019 saw the final flights of American Airlines once ubiquitous MD-80.  Launched in 1981 by McDonnell Douglas in Long Beach as the DC-9-80 series, the company marketed it as the “Super 80 – the plane for the 1980s”.  When American Airlines picked up its initial 25 aircraft, they proudly utilized that “Super 80” moniker. 

Flying on Virgin America’s Farewell Flight April 25, 2018 marked an important milestone for Virgin America (VX) and Alaska Airlines.  On that day, the airlines conducted Passenger Service System (PSS) Cutover , an important milestone of the airlines' merger.  Ticket counters, reservations, VX flight numbers, website, apps, call centers – all elements that a passenger would face – became one under Alaska Airlines.  The hip, playful, and edgy brand with the red motif was officially no more.

In the last weekend of September 2017, Southwest Airlines retired its “classic” 737, the 300 series, and introduced the latest generation 737, the MAX.

Saying Goodbye to the Queen of the Skies On November 7, 2017, United Airlines flew its last passenger 747 flight after 47 years of service.  As an aviation enthusiast in San Francisco (SFO), it was a sad day.  The iconic Jumbo had been a staple at SFO ever since I started plane spotting there.

  I am happy to report that my article about Air North’s Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is the cover subject in the April 2017 issue of Airways magazine – complete with a cover photo taken by yours truly!   Air North is the last airline worldwide flying the HS 748 in scheduled passenger operations.   Two ATR-42 Combi’s are to replace HS 748 flights in the first quarter of this year.   Although Air North is keeping the HS 748 for charter and cargo flights, sunset has definitely come for this venerable British propliner. This is a pretty special issue for me.  Long time aviation cohort Bill Hough has an article about the Ford Trimotor, featuring gorgeous air-to-air photos from yet another aviation buddy, Sagar Pathak . Find Airways at your local newsstands.   Or if they don’t exist anymore (like around where I live), you may purchase on-line directly from Airways or download the app ( iTunes or Google Play ) and purchase the electr...

Flying on the Last US Airways Flight from PHX to SFO October 17th, 2015 was a significant day for the merger between American Airlines (AA) and US Airways (US).  Known as “Cutover”, the two airlines switched to a single Passenger Service System and became a single airline that day.  The two airlines now have a common reservation system, a single airline policy, and single airport operations.  For the customer, there is just one airline – American.  (The two airlines were already flying under a single operating certificate, received in April of this year).

Farewell to the Brasilia On May 5, 2015, SkyWest Airlines retired its last Embraer 120 Brasilia, known lovingly by those that work on them as the “Bro”.  According to airfleets.net, the Brazilian Air Force is now the largest Brasilia operator with 19 aircraft, followed by Swiftair in Spain with 10 aircraft.  The end has most certainly come for the this once-mainstay aircraft that served small towns and communities throughout the United States as an important link to hubs to the rest of the world.

On November 11, I flew on KLM's MD-11 Farewell Flight.  It was the last time where you can buy a ticket to fly on the distinctive trijet built by McDonnell Douglas in the 1990s.  KLM is the last airline to operate the passenger version of the MD-11 and they gave this old lady a grand send off fit for a queen.

Cranky Flier’s Trip Report Cranky Flier’s Videos Trip report from “ORDnHKG” at flyertalk Two excellent YouTube videos from “United737522”: Landing at SFO Final water cannon salute Collection of water cannon salute photos by Kevin Marshall

On October 28, 2009, I joined scores of enthusiasts and airline employees and flew on United Airlines’ last Boeing 737 flight (appropriately with flight number UA 737) from Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO).  UA 737 farewell flight flew on an east to west routing stopping at United hubs along the way.  The flight started the day in Washington Dulles (IAD) with stops in Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), before final destination of San Francisco (SFO).

Collection of memorabilia from flight UA 737, United’s last 737 flight.