Classic 737 Ident
 

I was reading this article and in the photo of Lydd Airport there is this 737-200 white with a red cheat line. Who's is this steed ? The only close possibility is one of those 'special' ones based sat KLAS. Any ideas ?


SHJ

That isn't really a lot of help, is it? URL? Or publication/date?

The Janet 737s are -600s, so unlikely to be one of those, and I've not heard of any of them over this side of the Pond.

I was reading the same BBC article so I assume it's this one:

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...tatlydd(2).jpg

It's a pretty old photo, and definitely not Janet because the cheatline is different on the nose.

I'd put money on it being VP-CSA, formerly A6-ESH of the UAE Government.

http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1157621M.jpg

Oh, I forgot to paste the URL in it would seem :O. The photo could well be VP-CSA Photos: Boeing 737-2W8/Adv Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net It would seem to have been an old photo in the article. I'd had the fantasy that Lydd had become the new Manston and open to older, more unusual types with louder engines :( I'd seen a 737-200 flying in and out of Farnborough only 4 years ago, an emergency diversion and the sound of the JT8D's (?) was a blast from the past.



SHJ

That makes sense. It used to be operated by SAMCO, a company in the same group (FAL) that owns Lydd.

AT one time the JANET 737s were 737200. Some from Western Airlines at one time (the only way to fly)>

by the way, JANET may stand for JOINT ARMY NAVY EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION.

And one of the handoff phrases used by Las Vegas ATC was: JANET 123 contact YOU KNOW WHO ON YOU KNOW WHAT, have a good day!

Definitely not a Janet B732 (see above comment about the cheatline).

Very strange window configuration as well - all blanked off forward of the wing on the starboard side, but present on the port side.

Not all that strange on a VIP configured airliner, they can often have passenger changing rooms / bathrooms, extended galleys, offices etc where a window wouldn't be needed or appropriate.

Yes, I guessed it was to stop the world seeing in, rather than the passengers seeing out. :O

As of 2003 it looked like this inside…

Photos: Boeing 737-2W8/Adv Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

I realise now that the older JANET 737's were ex Western and this colour scheme reminded me of that, but as pointed out the UAE govt scheme was almost identical.


SHJ

Link to the article?
 

Hello as has been asked before does anyone have a link to the page/article concerned?

The reason I ask is that the aircraft mentioned as being most likely (VP-CSA) is not registered this any more and has been VP-CBA for a while. VP-CBA B737 was noted as Stored at San Bernardino Airport, CA as long ago as August 2013 with it still being noted there in September 2014, so either the photo is very old or the aircraft is out of storage?

VP-CSA is now a Gulfstream 200 before anyone asks.

Relax, the photo is apparently old and the greater likelihood is that the 737 is still tucked up in San Bernardino, as there can't be too many buyers wanting to take on a non hush-kitted classic 737.

The article….

BBC News - Holiday flights take off from Lydd Airport



SHJ

Probably taken some time between Jan 2004 (when that Tampico was first registered to Lydd Aero Club) and May 2008 (when the 737 was re-registered).