Classic Corner

Pan Am Lockheed L-1011 TriStar-500 N501PA "Clipper Eagle" MSN 1176 F/F 11/16/79 Del 7/2/81

The image above defines an era of upcoming seismic changes within the US airline industry. Pan Am remained the de-facto US flag carrier, and at the time of this picture being taken in 1982, observers would be hard pressed to imagine this iconic airline was in it's last decade of existence, with just 9 years of existence remaining.

Pan Am DC-10-10 N65NA "Clipper Silver Star" MSN 46707 F/F 9/8/72 Delivered 10/13/72 National Airlines "Eileen"

Pan Am, the original and best known operator of Boeing's 747, had by this time, also acquired a handful of L-1011s to serve long range Pacific routes, and lower capacity transatlantic sectors. The airline also had the dubious distinction of operating the TriStar's arch competitor - the McDonnell Douglas' DC-10, having inherited a fleet of the latter in it's January 1980 takeover of National Airlines.

Both types would be gone from Pan Am's fleet by the mid-80s, replaced by more efficient twin engine A310-300s, while the aging 747s soldiered on until the end (12/4/91).

I'm privileged to have flown both tri-jet aircraft types in small numbers, although not with Pan Am (an airline I  never flew on).

July 16th 1994 - London Gatwick

Delta Air Lines, in 1994 was still largely a US domestic airline, but did operate a variety of transatlantic services to Europe, and in the UK, operated to London's secondary airport - Gatwick. Delta had, like most US majors in the early 70s, acquired 747s, but finding them too large for typical coast to coast services (New York to Los Angeles / San Francisco) disposed of it's fleet by 1975. Thereafter, until the arrival of 767s in the early 80s, Delta's only widebody in the late 70s was Lockheed's L-1011 widebody tri-jet. [For the record, a few DC-10s were also leased for a brief period of time].

Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar N765DA MSN 1206 F/F 8/26/81 Delivered Air Canada C-GAGG 9/11/81, Delta Air Lines N765DA 8/91

The aircraft above was my ride from Gatwick that summer's day in 1994 from London to Miami (yes- Delta had a nonstop London - Miami service in those days). Note - the predominant aircraft types at New York's JFK back then was 747 classics - a type also now long gone in the long haul aircraft fleets.

This trip was only my second to the United States, the first being in November 1993 (First visit to the United States)

And this trip was a long one, 12 flights, and over two weeks of travel. My then boss dictated which airline we flew, and for this trip it was entirely on Delta (whereas my first - see blog link above - was by future STAR Alliance partners Air New Zealand and United Airlines).

Checking in at London Gatwick: I was standing in line (economy class of course), when a suited gentleman (agent) approached me and said (I quote): "how would you like to fly business class today?" Well I liked that prospect very much, but had no idea why I was picked out. I had never flown Delta before, alliances and frequent flyer programs didn't exist in the way they do now. I was however dressed very smartly - and I think that was it - there's no other explanation except I had a lengthy Delta itinerary ahead of me. I stupidly said "can I still have a smoking seat?" and almost lost this gift from the gods. I of course took the biz class seat, and ended up anyways in the smoking section. Good deal all round!

We departed a hot and humid Gatwick with a very long take off run, using the entire runway...followed by a languished climb out to cruise. Service: excellent, in an old style clubby way. Big bucket seats (flat beds not dreamed of yet on any carrier), no need to turn off electronic devises - we had none. Good steak lunch / dinner, lashings of free booze...smoking ok. You'd meet a lot of folks in those days, whenever you went to the bathroom...a smoker in the non-smoking section would 'borrow' your seat.

The prospect of arriving in Miami was tantalizing...sunny and perfect beaches, cool clubs and cool people the adverts showed. Miami Vice vibe personified. Not the case: was of course mid summer, incredibly hot and humid, an underlying menace in the air around the various off airport and unsafely located back alley car rental agencies. My first impression of Miami pretty much cemented a long term distaste for the city and state, but I nonetheless have traveled there many times and made some great friends, and had a lot of good times.

Apart from a few sales and training visits, my four days in Miami were mostly spent getting to know our Miami based sales team. Home was a roach motel just off airport, but great for plane spotting, and enjoying the company of some 'alternative' characters.

Delta MD-88 N919DE MSN 53422 L/N 2058 Delivered Delta 11/3/93 - Current

July 19th 1994: The MD-80 above was my next ride from Miami to New York (JFK). The air vents were 'smoking' as the A/C attempted to cool the aircraft. This was an early morning 7AM-ish flight, and it was already very hot in Miami. New York was equally hot when we arrived at Delta's worldport (ex-Pan Am) terminal. There followed my first mad taxi ride from JFK into Manhattan, marveling at the incredible sight of the city - an awesome and surreal experience when it's for your very first time. I kind of landed my very first american girlfriend this night...a steamy night in the city in all respects!

July 22nd 1994: After two days in the city, it was time for a day trip to Washington, DC, courtesy of the Delta Shuttle, operated from the marine air terminal at La Guardia airport. Both flights were operated by classic 727-200s, N417DA (delivered 12/8/76, broken up Opa-Locka, FL 1/01) in the morning, and back on N471DA that evening.

Delta 727-232 N471DA MSN 21259 L/N 1224 Delivered 11/15/73 Retired Victorville, CA 10/12/99

July 24th 1994: After a couple more days in New York City, and in excellent female company, it was time to move westwards, initially with a 767-300 (Non ER) flight between La Guardia and Cincinnati (at the time a major Delta hub). Departing LGA on a wide body was an interesting experience. At the time, L-1011s, DC-10s and 767s all operated out of La Guardia on US domestic routes, typically to major hubs.

Delta Boeing 767-322 N136DL MSN 25146 L/N 374 Delivered 6/15/91 Stored Marana, AZ 10/3/16

In the background no less than three Delta liveries can be seen on the tails of aircraft parked at DL's Atlanta maintenance base: Original, as in the 767 above, interim colors on the 737, and new colors on the 757. None of which of course survive today

The stop at Cincinnati was simply to change planes, with the next sector being on a 10 year old and immaculate 737-200 to Chicago O'Hare

Delta Boeing 737-232 N320DL MSN 23092 L/N 1023 Delivered 6/1/84, Sold 9/25/05

Currently in service with Northern Air Cargo, and still registered N320DL. The aircraft was converted to a freighter 11/06

July 27th 1994: after an enjoyable first visit to the windy (and very warm) city of Chicago, I headed to the west coast, observing for the first time in daylight, the incredible expanse and unbelievable enormity of the United States. A 727-200 flew us from Chicago to Salt Lake City, and an L-1011 TriStar-1 from Salt Lake City to Portland, OR

Delta Boeing 727-232 N469DA MSN 20746 L/N 981 Delivered 10/18/73 Retired Victorville, CA 10/12/99

Delta Lockheed L-1011 TriStar-1 N733DS MSN 1224 Delivered 12/11/81 Retired Victorville, CA 5/01

July 29th 1994: After a brief visit to Portland, my next destination was to San Francisco, a city I've loved ever since, and happily just a two hour drive from my current home in Sacramento, CA. Another 727-200 flight on a sparkling clear summer morning. I recall the flight was almost entirely full of Japanese tourists, all of whom clapped in appreciation upon landing at SFO. Or perhaps relief...that first landing is spectacular and slightly heart stopping, when you are so low over the water, and then suddenly the tarmac appears...and you've arrived.

August 2nd 1994: after a few magical days in San Francisco, good business and leisure time, it was time to head to Los Angeles for a few days, this time being transported by a 757-200

Delta Boeing 757-232 N637DL MSN 23760 L/N 171 Delivered 4/13/88, Retired Kansas City, MO 5/17/13

August 6th 1994: a few days in LA and Orange County passed quickly (and no, at this time it was a couple of years before I would actually live here...an unimaginable concept for me in 1994)...and it was now time to return to England, via a 757-200 Los Angeles to Cincinnati, connecting to an L-1011-500 flight to London Gatwick. No such repeat experience with an upgrade to business class...this last flight was a truly awful uncomfortable middle seat coach experience, that I was truly glad to disembark from the following morning. But, great to have enjoyed flying these classic aircraft types.

Delta Boeing 757-232 N642DL MSN 23996 L/N 205 Delivered 12/22/88 Retired Blytheville, AR 9/30/13

Seen above still in delivery colors at Atlanta in May 2001

Delta Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500 N756DR MSN 1185 Delivered 1/85 Retired in 2001

On this trip, most aircraft I flew on were delivered new to Delta, except this L-1011 above, my last flight, along with the L-1011 that I started the trip on (ex-Air Canada). This TriStar was originally delivered to Pan Am 6/6/80 as N507PA named "Clipper Northern Eagle" before being sold to Delta five years later, as Pan Am attempted to streamline and rationalize it's diverse fleet.

This was an overall great trip with multiple Delta segments, and no problems I recall at all. Also a fascinating first visit to some amazing US cities, with New York, Chicago and San Francisco the stand outs, and a regular part of my itineraries and visits for years to come. Five weeks later, I would again be in the United States on a lengthy seven segment trip, but with a more diverse selection of airlines and aircraft types...that's for another classic corner story, on another bank holiday weekend sometime.

Classic Corner

Landshut returns home...

A former Lufthansa Boeing 737-200 (D-ABCE) is off loaded from an Antonov AN-124 at Friedrichshafen, Germany September 23rd. The aircraft has been in storage for almost a decade at Fortaleza, Brazil, having last flown for now bankrupt TAF Linhas Aereas.

The reason for this, and many media reports, is the aircraft was one of a number of Lufthansa flights hi-jacked in 1977, a time known as the 'German Autumn'. D-ABCE was hi-jacked en route from Palma de Mallorca to Frankfurt by four terrorists from the 'Popular Front for the liberation of Palestine'. The crew diverted to Rome, and then on to Larnaca (Cypress), Bahrain, Dubai and Aden, where the Captain was killed. The aircraft then continued to Mogadishu (presumably in the hands of the co-pilot), where the ordeal, measured in days, eventually ended. German forces stormed the aircraft, killing three terrorists and freeing all hostages.

But what happened to Landshut (the name of the aircraft) thereafter?

Lufthansa D-ABCE "Landshut"

Delivered January 12th 1970 the aircraft served with Lufthansa until September 1985, being sold thereafter to CG Air Leasing Inc. The aircraft was immediately leased to Presidential Airways as N302XV.

Presidential Airways N302XV

Following lease return in May 1987, the aircraft had a short lease to TAN Airlines (Honduras) December 1987 to February 1988, retaining it's US registration.

Air Charter F-GFVJ

Back to Europe...as F-GFVJ with Air Charter, a subsidiary of Air France, sub-leased from ICS Cargo Service.

ICS...in basic Air Inter colors...the aircraft later transferred to L'Aeropostale, operating night freight service, and daytime scheduled and charter passenger operations.

Transmile 9M-PMQ

Seen here in Garuda colors, Transmile operated 9M-PMQ as a freighter between February 1995 and February 1999.

Transmile 9M-PMQ

TAF Linhas Aereas PT-MTB

Landshut's final operator was Brazil's TAF Linhas Aereas, joining the airline's fleet in August 2002. It was operated for six years to 2008, thereafter stored at Fortaleza from January 2008. The airline ceased operations in June 2010, and the aircraft continued to languish there until it's recent rescue.

Landshut will now be reassembled and displayed at the Dornier Museum. [We'll add a picture of the aircraft when it's reconstruction is complete].

Classic Corner

First visit to the United States - November 8th 1993

An unexpected, but welcome invitation to join our sales team on a visit to the USA to provide technical back up for sales presentations led to this trip. This was my first ever visit to the 'new world', and to say it was an exciting prospect would be an understatement!

Lots of aviation firsts, life firsts, new experiences, new airplanes to fly and view, and plenty of nostalgia for me now in recalling this brief trip. At the time, I had never imagined I would ever visit the United States, let alone one day live there...

Flight: London Gatwick (LGW) -> Los Angeles (LAX)
Airline: Air New Zealand NZ#1 Dep 11/8/93 Arr 11/8/93
Aircraft: 747-419 ZK-NBU MSN 25605 L/N 933 F/F 8/17/92
History: Air New Zealand 9/14/92 - 2/27/12 Retired Goodyear, AZ 5/12 Broken Up

ANZ 747-400 ZK-NBU [1 of 2 flights on this aircraft, also flown LAX-LHR 6/29/01]

This was my first long haul flight, and the first outside of Europe. The 10-11 hour journey was a tedious necessity that I have grown used to over time, tempered by ANZ's excellent service (then, as now). Our aircraft was just 14 months old at the time. The 747-400 is in the twilight of it's career now (see previous "Friday Feature" blog entry.

It was dusk and with patchy fog in places as we landed at Los Angeles, a weather feature I learned was normal and typical for the area at that time of year. Small turboprop commuters - Metroliners and Jetstream 31/32s intermingled with a multitude of 737-200s, 727s, MD-80s and a plethora of wide bodies at this very busy international airport.

Our home for two nights was the airport Marriott, which afforded good views of parts of the south side of the airfield, in glorious winter sunshine throughout the visit.

Flight: Los Angeles (LAX) -> Seattle (SEA)
Airline: United Airlines Depart 11/10/93 Arrive 11/10/93
Aircraft: 737-522 N943UA MSN 26680 L/N 2366 F/F 9/9/92
History: United Airlines 11/2/92 - 9/11/04. Canjet Airlines C-FCGF 12/28/04 - 12/19/06
Air Baltic YL-BBM 5/3/07 - present

United 737-500 N943UA [1 of 2 flights on this aircraft, also flown SEA-SFO 10/30/97]

Flying another less than two year old aircraft, upon arrival I found Seattle could not have been more of a contrast to Los Angeles. Very much like England I had left behind...wet, windy and cold. A beautiful area all the same, and a favorite city of mine ever since. This first visit was for one night (airport Marriott again), a few meetings and straight back to Los Angeles. No opportunities arose to explore Boeing facilities in the area on this occasion. That would be corrected many times over on subsequent visits.

Flight: Seattle (SEA) -> Los Angeles (LAX)
Airline: United Airlines Depart 11/11/93 Arrive 11/11/93
Aircraft: 737-222 N9009U MSN 219047 L/N 24 F/F 4/22/68
History: United Airlines 5/10/68 - 3/5/99. Retired at Carbondale, IL as a ground trainer for Southern Illinois University (and still extant).

737-222 N9009U [My only flight on this aircraft]

While the first two flights were on new aircraft now regarded as classics, this aircraft was already 25 years old at the time of my 1993 flight, and it showed. The interior was well worn and jaded, the ashtrays were the real thing, and well used, and the APU did not work. This necessitated starting one engine with a ground power unit, and then using high (and noisy JT8D) thrust to start the second. Nonetheless this old classic provided a smooth journey back to LAX, and a late evening landing. This was just the 24th 737 built, one of only 50 constructed at Boeing Field, before 737 production moved permanently to Renton.

Another two nights and days in Los Angeles soon passed, and it was time to return to blighty, again courtesy of Air New Zealand. This time aboard ZK-NBT, an over night flight to London. The arrival is one I have never forgotten. The weather was atrocious with vicious cross winds and driving rain in poor visibility. The 747-400 bucked and crabbed, with every element of the wing - flaps, ailerons and slats - all working very hard with constant corrections and adjustments until a firm but very controlled touch down at Gatwick. It was extremely memorable and impressive.

Flight: Los Angeles (LAX) -> London Gatwick (LGW)
Airline: Air New Zealand NZ#2 Depart 11/13/93 Arrive 11/14/93
Aircraft: 747-419 ZK-NBT MSN 24895 L/N 815 F/F 9/28/90
History: Air New Zealand 10/31/90 - 2/12/12. Retired at Goodyear, AZ 5/12 Broken Up

ANZ 747-400 ZK-NBT [1 of 2 flights, my second one being many years later LHR-LAX 12/27/07]

This trip was an eye opener in many ways. First visit to the USA, first long haul flights, first United and Air New Zealand flights, first stays in Marriott hotels. I have remained loyal to all three ever since, with 41 flights on ANZ and 564 on UA. I don't track hotels with this level of detail!

Classic Corner

Britannia Airways - Boeing 737-200s

Background

If you lived in the UK, and were going on holiday (vacation) during the 1970s or 1980s, the odds were high you might be travelling on Britannia Airways, and on a Boeing 737-200, the backbone of this charter airline's fleet at the time.

Britannia's first 737 delivery July 7th 1968 was just the 37th delivered, and only the 23rd 737-200 (30 737-100s were built on the same line). It was also the first delivery of a 737-200 to a European airline (Lufthansa's early 737s were -100s). The first 50 737s built were manufactured at Boeing Field, while all 737s thereafter, and to date, have been manufactured at Renton.

From that first 1968 delivery, Britannia went on to operate 47 737-200s in total (one aircraft leased twice - so 46 unique individual aircraft), with the airline regularly leasing in extra aircraft, or leasing aircraft out on a seasonal basis. Britannia's eighth delivery (G-AXNC) on May 12th 1970 was the last to leave the fleet on March 24th 1994 after 23.9 years of service. The longest serving aircraft was the third delivered (G-AVRN) April 8th 1969, departing October 26th 1993 after 24.6 years of service. That aircraft would go on to serve another three airlines before retirement in December 1998.

The airline suffered no significant accidents or incidents with it's 737 fleet, although one aircraft on lease to COPA Panama (G-BGYL) crashed June 6th 1992 during a thunderstorm near Tocuti, Panama. The aircraft was registered in Panama for the lease, operated by COPA crews.

Two ex-Britannia 737-200s remain in service today, one in Africa and one in Indonesia. Two are stored, while 39 have been permanently retired from service, with most broken up or derelict in storage yards. Two additional aircraft were lost in accidents with other airlines, having since left Britannia service.

Fleet Profile

By summer 1970 Britannia had 9 737-200s in service, and this increased or remained steady annually by 0, 1 or 2 aircraft a year until reaching 17 by 1978. From 1979 to 1982 the fleet increased at a faster rate, peaking at 33 in 1982. The fleet then reduced modestly over the next two years, before a marked reduction to 23 in 1985. That year was economically poor across the industry, but an improved outlook saw the fleet increase again to 28 by 1987. Thereafter the fleet reduced by a few units annually to 20 aircraft in 1992. 5 more were removed by summer 1993 for a total of 15. 1993 was the last year of Britannia's summer 737-200 operations. The fleet was reduced to six by the end of 1993, with all remaining aircraft removed from service by March 1994.

Replacement

Although inheriting a modest fleet of 737-300s from Britannia's take over of Orion Airways in January 1989, these were all disposed of by the end of 1992, and Britannia elected not to order Boeing's latest 737 models. Instead, Britannia turned to the capable 757-200 to replace the 737-200, and by summer 1994 the fleet consisted of 19 757-200s and 10 767-200s. The 757s started being delivered from 1992 (although a couple were leased prior to that).

The successor - Thomson Airways

Britannia's name disappeared into the history books November 1st 2005, when it adopted the name of it's low cost subsidiary Thomsonfly. On November 1st 2008, the airline was re-branded Thomson Airways. As of now Thomson Airways (now the world's largest charter airline - and due to be re-named again late 2017 to TUI Airlines UK) still operates 14 757s, which are expected to be replaced in the next two years or so with 737 MAX 8 and later MAX 10s. TUI Group has 70 such aircraft on order for operation by it's European affiliated airlines. The airline currently operates 35 737-800s, while the long haul fleet now consists of four 767-300ERs, 9 787-8s and 2 787-9s.

Britannia's 737-200 fleet - illustrated

Three major liveries (some varied and non-standard) were seen on Britannia's 737-200s. The original delivery livery, as seen below on G-AVRL, a mid 70s through mid 80s revised livery, which was refined over time, and finally a significantly modernized livery that moved Britannia into the 90s. Temporary hybrid liveries could often be seen on aircraft leased in from other airlines, or those returning off lease.

737-204 G-AVRL "Sir Ernest Shackleton" MSN 19709 L/N 38 F/F 6/28/68
Delivered New 7/7/68, Sold 4/1/86 (17.7 years)
Retired Mojave, CA 12/93

737-204 G-AVRM "James Watt" MSN 19710 L/N 54 F/F 8/9/68
Delivered New 8/9/68 Sold 1/30/86 (17.5 years)
Written Off Tucson, AZ America West Airlines N198AW 12/30/89

737-204 G-AVRN "Captain James Cook" MSN 19711 L/N 155 F/F 3/29/69
Delivered New 4/8/69 Returned off lease 10/26/93 (24.6 years)
Retired Taipei, Taiwan 6/00

737-204 G-AVRO "Sir Francis Drake" MSN 19712 L/N 162 F/F 4/23/69
Delivered New 4/28/69 Sold 5/1/86 (17.0 years)
Retired Lima, Peru 7/04

737-204 G-AWSY "General James Woolfe" MSN 20236 L/N 166 F/F 5/8/69
Delivered New 5/12/69 Returned off lease 10/8/93 (24.4 years)
Retired Clark Air Base 12/03

737-204C G-AXNA "Robert Clive of India" MSN 20282 L/N 245 F/F 3/13/70
Delivered New 3/17/70 Sold 9/18/90 (20.5 years)
Retired Campo Grande, Brasil 4/11

737-204C G-AXNB "Charles Darwin" MSN 20389 L/N 251 F/F 4/14/70
Delivered New 4/17/70 Sold 2/1/90 (19.8 years)
Crashed on take off from Buenos Aires, LAPA LV-WRZ 8/31/99

737-204 G-AXNC "Isambard Kingdom Brunel" MSN 20417 L/N 255 F/F 5/5/70
Delivered New 5/12/70 Sold 3/24/94 (23.9 years)
Retired Santiago, Chile 12/09

737-222 G-AZNZ "City of Nottingham" MSN 19074 L/N 95 F/F 11/15/68
Acquired Used (from United) 3/1/72 Sold 3/31/85 (13.1 years)
Retired 5/02

737-204 G-BADP "Sir Arthur Whitten Brown" MSN 20632 L/N 316 F/F 1/4/73
Delivered New 1/10/73 Returned off lease 11/5/92 (19.8 years)
Retired Santiago, Chile 3/07

737-204 G-BADR "Captain Robert Falcon Scott" MSN 20633 L/N 318 F/F 2/16/73
Delivered New 3/12/73 Returned off lease 11/5/92 (19.7 years)
Retired Santiago, Chile 8/06

737-204 G-BAZG "Florence Nightingale" MSN 20806 L/N 338 F/F 1/15/74
Delivered New 1/31/74 Sold 9/28/91 (17.7 years)
Retired Jakarta, Indonesia 3/06

737-204 G-BAZH "Sir Frederick Handley Page" MSN 20807 L/N 341 F/F 2/8/74
Delivered New 2/15/74 Returned off lease 11/12/93 (19.8 years)
Retired Walnut Ridge, AR 2/06

737-204 G-BAZI "Sir Walter Raleigh" MSN 20808 L/N 342 F/F 2/14/74
Delivered New 3/18/74 Sold 3/28/85 (11.0 years)
Retired 7/06

737-204 G-BECG "Amy Johnson" MSN 21335 L/N 487 F/F 3/31/77
Delivered New 4/13/77 Returned off lease 11/18/93 (16.6 years)
Retired 10/03

737-204 G-BECH "Viscount Montgomery of Alamein" MSN 21336 L/N 489 F/F 4/27/77
Delivered New 5/6/77 Returned off lease 11/8/93 (16.5 years)
Retired 12/04

737-204 G-BFVA "Sir John Alcock" MSN 21693 L/N 541 F/F 11/7/78
Delivered New 11/20/78 Sold 8/2/90 (11.7 years)
Retired Jakarta, Indonesia 6/10

737-204 G-BFVB "Sir Thomas Sopwith" MSN 21694 L/N 542 F/F 11/13/78
Delivered New 11/28/78 Returned off lease 10/28/93 (14.9 years)
Retired Walnut Ridge, AR 3/06

737-2P6 G-BGFS MSN 21359 L/N 500 F/F 9/2/77
Leased (used) 12/15/78 Returned off lease 12/31/79 (1.0 years)
Retired Goodyear, AZ 5/06

737-219 G-BGNW "George Stephenson" MSN 21131 L/N 428 F/F 8/1/75
Leased (used) 4/15/79 Returned off lease 6/4/90 (11.1 years)
Retired Santiago 11/07

737-204 G-BGYJ "Sir Barnes Wallis" MSN 22057 L/N 621 F/F 11/21/79
Delivered New 1/7/80 Returned off lease 3/15/94 (14.2 years)
In Service: Express Air PK-TXY

737-204 G-BGYK "Reginald J Mitchell" MSN 22058 L/N 629 F/F 12/20/79
Delivered New 1/14/80 Returned off lease 3/14/94 (14.2 years)

737-204 G-BGYL "Jean Batten" MSN 22059 L/N 631 F/F 1/15/80
Delivered New 2/18/80 Leased Out 4/10/92 (12.2 years)
Crashed 6/6/92 while on lease (from Britannia) to COPA Panama HP-1205CMP

737-2U4 G-BOSL "Sir Frank Whittle" MSN 22161 L/N 652 F/F 3/21/80
Delivered New 4/17/80 Returned off lease 10/31/83 (3.5 years)
Retired Johannesburg 6/09

No photograph available

737-204 G-BHWE "Sir Sidney Camm" MSN 22364 L/N 696 F/F 8/26/80
Delivered New 9/9/80 Returned off lease 12/15/93 (13.3 years)
Retired Surabaya 12/06

737-204 G-BHWF "Lord Brabazon of Tara" MSN 22365 L/N 700 F/F 9/10/80
Delivered New 12/1/80 Returned off lease 12/13/93 (13.0 years)
Retired Lagos 4/07

737-2Q8 TF-VLK MSN 22453 L/N 748 F/F 3/20/81
Leased (used) 4/21/81 Returned off lease 11/8/81 (0.6 years)
Retired 2/16

737-2U4 G-OSLA "Sir Geoffrey de Havilland" MSN 22576 L/N 761 F/F 4/24/81
Delivered New 5/8/81 Sold 11/1/83 (2.5 years)
Retired Surabaya 12/13

737-2K2 PH-TVR MSN 22025 L/N 647 F/F 3/4/80
Leased (used) 6/15/81 Returned off lease 4/15/82 (0.8 years)
Retired Prestwick 11/04

No Photograph

737-248 TF-VLM MSN 21715 L/N 579 F/F 5/30/79
Leased (used) 4/2/82 Returned off lease 10/15/82 (0.5 years)
Retired Nairobi 6/12

737-204 G-BJCT "Hon H C Rolls" MSN 22638 L/N 858 F/F 3/23/82
Delivered New 4/6/82 Returned off lease 11/3/93 (11.6 years)
Retired Lagos 4/07

737-2K2C G-BKBT MSN 20943 L/N 405 F/F 3/19/75
Leased (used) 6/10/82 Returned off lease 10/30/82 (0.4 years)
Stored Pondok Cabe

No Photograph

737-204 G-BJCU "Sir Henry Royce" MSN 22639 L/N 863 F/F 4/7/82
Delivered New 4/20/82 Returned off lease 3/1/94 (11.9 years)
Retired Prestwick 12/04

737-204 G-BJCV "Viscount Trenchard" MSN 22640 L/N 867 F/F 4/16/82
Delivered New 4/30/82 Returned off lease 1/15/94 (11.7 years)
Stored 3/14

737-296 G-BJZW MSN 22516 L/N 759 F/F 4/14/81
Leased (used) 5/1/82 Returned off lease 11/5/82 (0.5 years)
Retired Santiago 2/10

737-296 G-BJZV MSN 22277 L/N 675 F/F 6/10/80
Leased (used) 5/1/82 Returned off lease 11/5/82 (0.5 years)
Retired Roswell, NM 6/08

737-248 TF-VLM MSN 21715 L/N 579 F/F 5/30/79
Leased (used) 12/22/82 Returned off lease 3/31/83 (0.3 years)
Retired Nairobi 6/12

See earlier photograph (leased twice)

737-204 G-BKHE "Sir Francis Chichester" MSN 22966 L/N 946 F/F 2/11/83
Delivered New 2/25/83 Returned off lease 2/15/94 (11.0 years)
Retired Dublin 10/04

737-204 G-BKHF "Sir Alliott Verdon Roe" MSN 22967 L/N 953 F/F 3/15/83
Delivered New 3/21/83 Re-registered G-BTZF 4/91 Returned off lease 3/10/94 (11.0 years)
Retired Prestwick 12/04

737-2D6 G-BMMZ MSN 20544 L/N 290 F/F 11/19/71
Leased (used) 3/27/86 Returned off lease 12/30/91 (5.8 years)
Retired Toulouse 3/04

737-247 OO-PLH MSN 20128 L/N 145 F/F 3/13/69
Leased (used) 5/1/86 Returned off lease 10/23/86 (0.5 years)
Retired Lima, Peru 7/04

No Photograph

737-2E1 EI-BDY MSN 21112 L/N 424 F/F 7/2/75
Leased (used) 4/12/87 Re-registered G-BNYT 11/87 Returned off lease 3/19/88 (0.9 years)
Retired Cordoba, Argentina 12/05

737-2A3 G-BNIA MSN 22737 L/N 830 F/F 1/5/82
Leased (used) 4/13/87 Returned off lease 10/30/87 (0.5 years)
Retired Montevideo 10/13

737-2T5 G-BJBJ MSN 22632 L/N 847 F/F 2/22/82
Leased (used) 4/15/87 Returned off lease 10/31/87 (0.5 years)
In Service: Candian Airways Congo TN-AIX

737-219 G-BJXJ MSN 22657 L/N 846 F/F 2/23/82
Leased (used) 10/29/87 Returned off lease 9/14/92 (4.9 years)
Retired Casablanca 3/02

737-2A3 G-BONM MSN 22738 L/N 834 F/F 1/12/82
Leased (used) 5/3/88 Returned off lease 11/5/88 (0.5 years)
Retired Opa Locka/Miami, FL 12/09

737-2K2 G-BPLA "Sir Stanley Matthews" MSN 22906 L/N 888 F/F 6/15/82
Leased (used) 5/1/89 Returned off lease 4/30/93 (4.0 years)
Retired Prestwick 10/04

My Britannia experiences...

...are limited to three flights in the 80s. The first was a 737-200 (G-BECG) December 9th 1986 from Manchester to Tenerife South, which saw the 737 operating at it's absolute range limit. 2,500 miles on an aircraft with a 2,600 mile range. This was my first (of 29) flights on a 737-200, the last being Washington Dulles to Hartford on United May 2nd 2001. The return from Tenerife was on a then one year old Orion 737-300 (my first of 83 flights on the 737-300, the last being September 19th 2006 Dallas DFW to Denver on United).

Six months later I flew my first wide body, a round trip July 1st / 8th 1987 on a Britannia 767-200 from Manchester to Mahon, both trips operated by G-BKVZ, my first 767-200 flights of 56 now flown. So Britannia afforded me several 'aviation firsts', and I remember them fondly as a friendly and efficient airline, and a major presence at my local airport at the time - Manchester. Note in some pictures above crowded pier terraces at Manchester. Some pictures were taken from those pier terraces. In those days, it was hugely popular to observe the airport and flight operations from the public walkways on top of the two piers. Of course, such facilities have long closed for security reasons, although Manchester has maintained a unique facility in the United Kingdom; having an official aviation viewing park, museum, shop and refreshment facilities, which is well worth a visit.

Manchester Airport Viewing Park (Information & Directions)