Southwest Airlines tail at Oshkosh 2010
Southwest Airlines is at it again, doing some innovative things. This time they are announcing a new and improved rewards program for frequent fliers. Their Rapid Rewards plan was already a bit different. Most airlines you collect miles. The longer the route you fly, the more miles you get. The old Southwest Rapid Rewards program was based on flights. You fly eight round trip flights, no matter the amount of miles and you get a free trip. Now, the new Rapid Rewards program will be dependent on the amount of money you spend on your ticket. Hmm, interesting.
If you decide to buy a Business Select ticket, you get more rewards. If the cheapest tickets are all sold out and you have to pay more, at least you can feel a bit better knowing you will get more rewards. This is not a bad idea at all.
’œThis year we enter our fifth decade of giving Americans the Freedom to fly, and what better way to kick off the year than to introduce a new frequent flyer program that our Customers are going to LUV,’ said Southwest’s Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly.
If you already have an account and awards, do not worry, you will not lose them when the new program goes live on March 1, 2011. There are no black out dates and every seat can be a rewards seat. So if you have earned a free ticket and there is a seat left on the flight — it is yours.
To learn more, check out Southwest’s site that is dedicated to the changes: NewRapidRewards.com.
Airplane Geeks just posted their 129th podcast and the first for the 2011. I felt honored to be invited on to the show to talk about some pretty interesting topics:
* Continental says no to add 70-passenger regional jets by United
* Is China’s fifth generation fighter, the J-20, real or a fake?
* Looking at the recent death of deregulation king Alfred E. Kahn
* We talk about our favorite stories of 2010 and what to look forward to in 2011
These are a great group of guys who talk aviation every week. Be sure to add them to your favorites!
The 5 on the steps refers to aircraft line number 5, which was N93101. At the time, it was still in the test flight program, and did not have a fully furnished interior; note the bare passenger door.
N93101 was first delivered to Trans World Airlines (TWA) in August 1970 after her first flight on July 13, 1969. She was the fifth Boeing 747 to be produced and the first to be delivered to TWA. The airline celebrated that this was their first Jumbo Jet with painting a “5” on the front of the aircraft.
The 747-100 didn’t stay in service with TWA for long. It was sold to the Iran Air Force in March 1975 (reg#: 5-280) and has been in service with the Iran Air Force (reg changed to 5-8101)and Iran Air (reg#: EP-NHV) until 1985. After that, she has flown only for the Iranian Air Force.
This aircraft is special, since not only was it the first of 30 Boeing 747’s operated by TWA, it is also the oldest flying Boeing 747 flying today. This amazing aircraft has been flying for about 41.5 years.
The Iran Air Force has quite the Boeing 747-100 collection. They also have aircraft numbers 8 and 9 (both with similar histories to aircraft #5) with a total of seven actively flying Boeing 747-100’s.
Now, I am not a big history buff, but the idea that Iran was able to get quite a few almost-new Boeing 747-100’s only five years after they were delivered seems like there might be more to the story. Anyone have some thoughts?
Click the registration numbers above for additional photographs. This is the newest photo of the 747 I can find, taken in December 2010. Thanks to MK for pointing this airplane out to me.
Image: DCS Almuni of TWA
Beechcraft Starship NC-51 (N514RS) at SNA
The time has come. In April 2010, after watching movies of the Beechcraft Starship online, I set myself on a quest to try and get a ride in one. I figured the chances of a flight happening were pretty small, but why not go for it? I was very happy to hear from Robert Scherer, who not only owns one of the five flying Starships, but also all the left over parts to keep those five flying for a long time.
Scherer and I had the opportunity to meet at Oshkosh 2010 and he was kind enough to give me a tour of his Starship. Even though I often see the one hanging up in the Future of Flight, Scherer’s had an energy about her, almost a life about her, that the static display just doesn’t possess.
The beginning of next week, I will be flying down to Aspen (via Denver on Frontier) and meeting Scherer. We will be taking a VFR flight low, over the mountains to Meeker (EEO) for fuel, then a high altitude flight to John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange, CA. To say I am excited would be a total understatement.
As we celebrate Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier building airplanes made out of composites, Burt Rutan started the trend long ago with the Starship. To think that the Starship was developed in the early 1980’s and first flew in 1986 just blows me away. Seeing the aircraft in person and getting inside was one thing, but taking a flight on her will be totally different. What a way to start out 2011!
My Quest to Ride on a Beechcraft Starship:
IDEA | CONNECT | TOUR | FLIGHT-PLAN | FAIL | FLIGHT | PHOTOS | VIDEO
Image: RPS3.com
Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER at Paine Field.
I hope everyone had a great holiday. I know many of you have enjoyed some much needed. In case you weren’t able to read the blog for the last week, I wanted to quickly catch you up on what you might have missed:
* Checking out Air New Zealand’s New Interior on Their First Boeing 777-300ER
* Airline Delays: They Bite, but Happen Don’t Be a Hater
* OPINION: Washington Times Gets it Wrong ’“ Airlines Do Not Suck
* Delta and American Pull Information from Travel Sites
* Open Letter to Private, VIP Boeing 787 Buyers
* Touring Allegiant Air’s Headquarters in Las Vegas
* Happy New Year! A Look Back at 2010 with Top 5’²s
* Airline Livery of the Week: China Airlines 747-400 with Boeing Livery
Cheers to 2011 and fun new adventures!
