The sun has set on United's 747 operations

United today ended 747-400 service, with a final revenue passenger flight from San Francisco to Honolulu.

Like most US Majors in the early 1970s, it was a must have to acquire 747-100s as an airline's flagship aircraft, typically used on premium coast to coast domestic service (United, American & Delta), with Pan Am, TWA and Northwest operating the type on key transatlantic and transpacific routes.

Many also went on to acquire new or used 747-200s, as well as 747-SPs, the latter acquired by United when it took over Pan Am's transpacific routes. No 747-300s were ever ordered or operated by US airlines.

The aircraft proved too large though, with most phased out of domestic service by the mid-70s, and replaced by tri-jet DC-10s and L-1011s (which were also too large initially). Braniff alone stuck with narrow bodies for domestic routes, which turned out to be strategically the correct decision at the time.

The second generation, and most important 747 of the last two decades was the 747-400, ordered in significant quantities by United and Northwest.

Boeing 747-422 MSN 24322 L/N 733 F/F 5/25/89
United Airlines N171UA "Spirit of Seattle II" 6/30/89 - 10/26/15

N171UA was the first -400 delivered to United, seen above in original delivery colors, the first of four liveries this aircraft would carry during it's 26 year career.

N171UA in United's new 1990s livery

United took delivery of 44 747-400s, the final delivery being in May 2000. All were model 747-422s, with the exception of two 747-451s, built for Northwest, but sold new to United.

United's 2000s livery

This livery was relatively short lived, as following the 2011 merger with Continental, the latter's color scheme was selected for the 'new' United.

N171UA - final United / Continental livery

The post 9/11 world saw United make adjustments to it's fleet, and the 747-400 did not escape a reduction. By 2015, 31 were in service, 25 by 2010, and 22 by 2015. N171UA was retired in October 2015.

N171UA in permanent retirement at Tupelo, MS. Others have been retired at Victorville, CA while 13 have gone on to serve other airlines.

United has replaced the 747-400 with 777-300ERs and 787-9s

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!

United takes delivery of 1500th 777 built

United Airlines (US) has taken delivery of the 1,500th Boeing 777. The -300ER (MSN 63723/1500 N2243U) is the 13th of this variant of the aircraft delivered new to United. The airline's -300ERs are replacing the remaining (16) 747-400s.

United was a launch customer for the 777, taking delivery of the first 777-200 on May 15th 1995, with service commencing the following month between London Heathrow and Washington Dulles. United received 18 777-200s, followed by 32 777-200ERs commencing March 7th 1997.

Boeing 777-322ER MSN 63723/1500 United Airlines N2243U F/N 2143