Forever Friends #2

In early October 2017, United Airlines revealed that in honor of the pending retirement of their 747s, they had taken two of them into the paint shop... more

by Alex Esguerra

Title

Forever Friends #2

Artist

Alex Esguerra

Medium

Photograph - Color

Description

In early October 2017, United Airlines revealed that in honor of the pending retirement of their 747s, they had taken two of them into the paint shop and applied elements of the early 1970’s ‘Stars and Bars’ livery to them. Since then, these two livery-sisters known as ‘Friendships’ have been very popular with enthusiasts and passengers alike, but they have never been seen operating on revenue service together. One has been flying while the other has been at United’s SFO Maintenance Base or they have been operating on entirely different timetables to different destinations. Only on a couple of occasions are they seen together, sitting unused at United’s SFO Maintenance Base.

That changed today!

For the first time since the 1970s, and unfortunately for what is likely the last time ever, twi Friendship 747s operated together at SFO. N121UA is seen here lifting off for its scheduled passenger flight (UA893) to Inchon. It flies over N118UA, which has landed after its own scheduled passenger flight (UA892) FROM Inchon! The odds of such an occurrence were practically nil; only because the former was held up for 30 minutes by the noon rush at the airport did this happen.

Uploaded

October 28th, 2017