Last DC-10 passenger flight

[ORD Don]

                      Another one bites the dust....


                      http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/05/travel/dc-10-last-flight/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

[joeyb747]

 

Growing up  around the Detroit area, I saw these Queens Of The Sky all the time. The DC-10 was a staple at KDTW.

Northwest Airlines was a major player in Detroit, and operated the -30 and -40 variants You were guaranteed to see a couple every time you went to KDTW. This was all Pre-9/11, when you could walk through security and plane watch up-close from the boarding areas.

Occasionally, you could catch an American Airlines DC-10 on a stop-over flight.

Charter carrier Sun Country made appearances on a regular basis.  Once in a while, United would bring one to town.

Somewhere, I have pictures of DC-10's at KDTW in old school NWA, UAL, and AAL colors. I will see if I can find them, if I do, I will post them here. Of course, FedEx runs them in and out of Detroit, but a freighter just ins't as glamorous as a passenger bird. 

On a side note, I remember when Delta retired the L-1011...still got the tee-shirt...

[joeyb747]

I found some of them...forgive the quality, as my scanner refused to cooperate...these are photos of photos, and old ones at that, but never the less, enjoy!

#1 is a UAL DC-10-30 about to touch down at KTW in 1989 wearing the white colors.
#2 is a NWA DC-10-40 in the old school colors passing behind a Pan Am B727-200 at KDTW in 1989.
#3 is a UAL DC-10-30 in the white colors passing behind USAir DC-9-51 N929VJ wearing Vista-Jet color scheme in 1993.

[joeyb747]

A few more... wanted them all in one post, but couldn't for some reason...

#1 is NWA DC-10-40 N153US nosed in tight at at the gate at KDTW in 1998. Sadley, she was retired and parted out in 2002.
#2 is a winter scene at KDTW in 1999. Several different aircraft are visible here, including six NWA DC-10's. Also, note the BAW 747-200 at left in the Landor Livery.
#3 is Sun Country DC-10-15 N152SY resting at KDTW in 1999.
#4 is DC-10-30 N240NW in the NWA "Bowling Shoe" colors at KDTW in 2003.

[ORD Don]

                Good stuff, Joey.  Thanks for sharing.  I don't know if this is the place ( maybe...? ), but I love seeing

                pictures of those beautiful old birds.  It was nice, pre - 9/11, when you could hang out at the airport

                without people wondering what you're up to.  Good times.....

                Here's a couple of shots that I took at ORD around the late 90's.

[joeyb747]

Love the pics Don! Thanks for sharing!

I wish the quality on mine were better, as I said, my scanner didn't fee like cooperating...

Love the MD-11's in the Swiss and Alitalia colors!!

...and there is just something about the L-1011 in Delta colors that takes me way back...miss those old gals...