SWA Winglets Tomorrow

[Juan Tugo]

Rumor has it that N444WN will roll out of PHX MX tomorrow (Saturday, 10/11/03) with a new set of winglets. It will go into service on the 13th. Could be just a rumor though.

 

[RJones]

Hummm, makes you re-think the first question on the test.

RJ

 

[J3CubCapt]

The Winglets Are Coming!


The first 737-700 aircraft with blended winglets will make its debut on Monday, October 13, at an event in Austin, Texas. The aircraft is being dedicated to longtime Southwest Airlines friend and partner, Mike Levy.


Mike is the publisher of Texas Monthly magazine, and in honor of the magazine’s 30th Anniversary, Mike’s likeness will appear on the first winglets on our aircraft for one month. Not only has Mike Levy been a strong supporter of Southwest Airlines for years, he also has “badgered” Herb for years about adding winglets to our planes as well as trying to jokingly convince him to add Mike’s face to a Southwest jet. Today, Mike Levy is granted his two wishes, and together he and Southwest Airlines make aviation history. Again.


This is truly a “departure” from our usual advertising venue. While Southwest Airlines is well known for doing things a bit on the “quirky” side, we have no plans to advertise on our winglets in the future. Actually, we are not viewing this as advertisement, but rather as a tribute to a great partner.


Here’s a schedule for viewing our first 737-700 aircraft with blended winglets:


1:30 – 1:45 p.m. AUS: Taxi at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport


2:15 – 2:30 p.m. DAL: Low pass at Dallas Love Field


3:00 – 5:00 p.m. DAL Maintenance Hangar: Static display for exterior viewing


To cover the retrofit of our current fleet of 133 –700s as well as the 36 planned deliveries (including today’s delivery) through September 30, 2004, Aviation Partners Boeing will provide 169 sets of blended winglets. The installations should be completed within two years. We are scheduled to begin receiving

–700s from Boeing with winglets already installed in the fall of 2004.

 

[Juan Tugo]

Wow...those winglets make that airplane...I can tell you, though that the low pass did not take 15 minutes

 

[Dieterly]

wow, winglets!!!

 

[CoopDog]

SWA-iiinnng!

Garth, those things are Wing-a-licious. Party on Wayne! Or should I say.....WING!

SWA-iiinnng!

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/441134/M/

 

[Snoopy58]

Coop -- many thanks for the link to airliners.net! They have a few other good pictures of the wingleted jet, here:
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?distinct_entry=true&regsearch=N444WN

 

[Goose17]

oh, but guess what we got?

Here at FedEx, we got NEW Stainless Steel coffee jugs for our beloved 727s!

Now who's thou father?

Goose17

 

[LJDRVR]

I was taking off on 13R Monday night at DAL when the FO pointed out the winglets over at the MX hangar. Good-looking jet! Although Goose17 DOES have a point about the stainless cofee jugs.

 

[USNFDX]

Here at FedEx, we got NEW Stainless Steel coffee jugs for our beloved 727s!

I 've got to say there much lighter, and they seem to keep the coffee just as hot.

This is BIG news for DC10 FEs, when your only job in life is to "get coffee and ATIS".