No more 737-300s

[UPNAWAY]

The last of the west 737-300 have been parked none in service any more. Even though we have only had a few this year I seem to get on them with almost every trip, glad they are gone.

 

[AP Tech]

Real smart....called job security!!! Airplanes parked=lost jobs

 

[PullUp]

Real smart....called job security!!! Airplanes parked=lost jobs

replaced with a320-series new a/c.

 

[AP Tech]

I realize that they are being replaced, but I would rather have increase in aircraft vs status quo. The 737 was a great aircraft for many years!!

 

[cactusboy53]

I drove a couple out to the desert yesterday. I understand these older ones have so many cycles on them that it is less expensive to recycle the aluminum vs. de-skin/inspect/re-skin. Some of the younger ones will have C checks done and re-leased to other carriers.

Here is a video of N156AW being torn to pieces....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imE4hYiIdzs

 

[BoeingBoy]

Since the newest -300 in the fleet will be 23 years old in January, I doubt any of them are worth more than a few million at this point.

Jim

 

[Pi brat]

The 737's are good airplanes. They contributed a lot to the success of Piedmont. The day US retired the 737-200 was a sad day for me as PI's first, 734N, was the first airplane I ever rode on. 19 years later the same aircraft was the one I flew my first revenue trip on in the right seat. But time moves on.

 

[Pi brat]

dupe

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

While it is sad to see the 733s being turned into beer cans, what got me a few years ago was seeing ex-PI 737-400s being scrapped. Some of us are long enough in the tooth to remember the pride felt at Piedmont when it became the lauch customer for the type.

Sadly, the first ship did not see "real" PI colors, but was named the Thomas H Davis Pacemaker".


http://www.airliners.net/photo/Piedmont-Airlines/Boeing-737-401/0603354/&sid=db5ca8978e27ca41ac527c9fd2dc83da

http://www.airliners.net/photo/US-Airways/Boeing-737-4B7/0937663/&sid=c1913da710e760df4ac752469cca76d9

http://www.origen.airliners.net/photo/405702/M/

Anyone remember those cool seats in coach with the adjustable headrests? They actuallly lasted for a little while after the USAir merger.

 

[N965VJ]

Someone posted a trip report with pics of a final flight on FlyerTalk. Linkage.

The day US retired the 737-200 was a sad day for me as PI's first, 734N, was the first airplane I ever rode on. 19 years later the same aircraft was the one I flew my first revenue trip on in the right seat.

Did that have the Rosie Robot airstairs at 2L (with face drawn on it )? One year in recurrent we had to watch the operating video because there was still technically one left in the fleet. The 200s were gawd-awful noisy in the back :huh: and light to moderate chop would knock you on your butt. But in PIT the crews seemed to have a DC-9 vibe going on. Good times. B)

http://www.airliners.net/photo/US-Airways/Boeing-737-4B7/0937663/&sid=c1913da710e760df4ac752469cca76d9

http://www.origen.airliners.net/photo/405702/M/

Dang. 🙁

 

[Pi brat]

Someone posted a trip report with pics of a final flight on FlyerTalk. Linkage.



Did that have the Rosie Robot airstairs at 2L (with face drawn on it )? One year in recurrent we had to watch the operating video because there was still technically one left in the fleet. The 200s were gawd-awful noisy in the back :huh: and light to moderate chop would knock you on your butt. But in PIT the crews seemed to have a DC-9 vibe going on. Good times. B)




Dang. 🙁

I'm pretty sure it did. PI got some -200s used and don't remember which ones had that 2L door. Maybe Jim does. The original layout was 5 abreast, around 98 seats. Can you imagine that now?

 

[autofixer]

I'm pretty sure it did. PI got some -200s used and don't remember which ones had that 2L door. Maybe Jim does. The original layout was 5 abreast, around 98 seats. Can you imagine that now?

Yea, it would be classified as an RJ and flown by Mesa.

 

[Pi brat]

Yea, it would be classified as an RJ and flown by Mesa.

Really. Or the company could graciously allow it at the mainline as long as pilot pay was the same as PI's 1968 rate.

 

[BoeingBoy]

The original layout was 5 abreast, around 98 seats. Can you imagine that now?

Don't remember which -200's had the 2L stairs (didn't they also originally have the stairs up front but under the floor with an external door/flap that opened whey they were extended?). I remember the table with lounge seating for 4 up front too.

Jim

 

[nycbusdriver]

I'm pretty sure it did. PI got some -200s used and don't remember which ones had that 2L door. Maybe Jim does. The original layout was 5 abreast, around 98 seats. Can you imagine that now?

Not only 98 very comfortable seats, the first and second row were club seating with a table! Overhead racks (no bins), though, were strictly for coats and hats.