Final SWA 737-300 flight

It was pretty much a complete airplane. By the time I got there it had been being abused by students for around 30 years but I heard stories of engine runs.

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MikeD said:
You should visit DMA here. They have an F-4 Phantom on display at the front gate park, among a number of other display planes that the base has operated. The F-4 is painted up in Vietnam camo and dedicated to BGen Robin Olds, painted as his old F-4C from Thailand when he commanded the 8th Tac Fighter Wing there.
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THAT is cool and very deserving.

23 September 1967: Colonel Robin Olds’ last flight as Wing Commander, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ubon-Rachitani RTAFB, Thailand.

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trafficinsight said:
The San Jose Sharks used to fly on two jets, a 737-200 and a BAC 1-11, I think they were hangared at Castle, at least I saw them on the ramp there a lot.

I dunno what they're flying on these days.
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Yes! They were operated by Sky King and then retired to Castle AFB/Merced Atwater where I think they still are today. Both those planes have a lot of history. The 737 was one of the original MCO-based AirTran Airways first airplanes before they were bought out by Valujet so the airline could hide from the public eye under the AirTran name, and the Bac 1-11 was used by Bon Jovi to tour the globe.
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Then for several years, the Shark's flew around in this 727 which was always an awesome treat to watch taxi along the now fenced off Airport Boulevard at SJC and feel the power of the departure off of 30L. Now, they just ride on Kaiser Air 737-500. The 737-500 is now a rare bird, but not anywhere near as exciting to see.

Fry's Electronics 727-200 N724YS ready to depart San Jose with the San Jose Sharks on board. by Chasen Richardson, on Flickr
 
ChasenSFO said:
Yes! They were operated by Sky King and then retired to Castle AFB/Merced Atwater where I think they still are today.
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Then for several years, the Shark's flew around in this 727 which was always an awesome treat to watch taxi along the now fenced off Airport Boulevard at SJC and feel the power of the departure off of 30L. Now, they just ride on Kaiser Air 737-500. The 737-500 is now a rare bird, but not anywhere near as exciting to see.

Fry's Electronics 727-200 N724YS ready to depart San Jose with the San Jose Sharks on board. by Chasen Richardson, on Flickr
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I've been all over 724YS ;)

I used to work at ACM.

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trafficinsight said:
I've been all over 724YS ;)

I used to work at ACM.

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Haha I figured you might have, just wanted to share that info since we're airplane nerds and the Sharks like to fly around in cool old jets. Or they used to, now they just fly around in old jets.
 
ChasenSFO said:
Haha I figured you might have, just wanted to share that info since we're airplane nerds and the Sharks like to fly around in cool old jets. Or they used to, now they just fly around in old jets.
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Their flight engineer was a guy named Jack.

The CSRs used to call out over the radio "We need someone to take the van over to the terminal and get Jack off the Boeing!"

;)

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short video of last flight ..



"R.I.P SOUTHWEST AIRLINES 737-300 1984-2017"
 
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Speaking of the Sharks, I've always thought one of the coolest pilot jobs in aviation would be flying around Red Bird III for the Red Wings / Tigers...Not sure what lucky star I'd have to catch to make that happen, but man, that's the dream.
 
Bear said:
in flight as I post this ..
View attachment 40441
http://tinyurl.com/ybzs2myt
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Typical flightaware, Aeromexico/Oman Air have never had 737-200s and Air China hasn't since the 90s, those are probably 737-700s or -800s. So subtract all the CCA, OMA, and AMX coded flights and looks like the Yukon and Alaska plus some pockets of South America are among the few places to see these things flying. The 737-200 has always been my favorite narrow body...close to the 727.
 
I flew the 300 after spending a couple of years on the 800. I much preferred flying the classic over the NG. Far nicer to land, no worries about rotation rate and alot easier to slow down. To me anyway flew and landed just like the 1900.

POS flight deck for both. All hail the 320.
 
I got to laugh , one of my first flash and dash jump seat rides on a NEW SWA B737-300 i was still a trainee at ZAU !!!!!! The best part was all the fancy FMS stuff that the Capt said they couldnt use cause SWA didnt want to pay for the data base !!!!!!!
 
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MikeD said:
Side question: when talking of the 737 classics, the reference seems to be the -300/400/500 models. Are the 737-100/200 models with the JT8 engines not considered as part of the "classic" models?
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That is my understanding. The "Classics " are the 300,400 and 500. I'm not sure if the 200 had any such title.

Thanks for the pics!
 
ChasenSFO said:
Every time I mentioned the retirement to a -300 crew, they seemed like they couldn't wait to never have to fly one again. I'll miss seeing them, though. I always enjoyed looking out at the -300 wing growing up and flying on them often.


In nerd talk, the 737-100/200 is usually the "737", whereas the others would be the "737 classic", "737NG", and "737MAX" are the other families. I don't know what grand wizardry approves such rhetoric.
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I got to fly them for just about two years. I didn't love seeing them on my schedule, but if it didn't have many MEL's they were okay. They did fly well and were generally nice to land. My last "flight" in one was in the SIM for my annual loft/LOEin Dallas. Nothing says goodbye better than a jeopardy training event! :)
 
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