Requests this time:
Republic Airlines DC-9s and 727s
Continental DC-9s in ex-TI transition liveries
Delta DC-9-30 with sideways tail logo
The first Republic livery was originally intended to be the new North Central Airlines livery, that would have been introduced in July 1979. Indeed, one DC-9-50, N777NC, did leave the McDonnell-Douglas factory with North Central titles, but was repainted with Republic titles before RC's first flight in July 1st, 1979. Here is N777NC on its first visit to Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in August 1979, with some National Airlines' 727s in the background. (Andrew Abshier)
This ex-Southern Airways DC-9-10 leads a lineup of Republic DC-9s at the gates of Memphis Int'l Airport (MEM) in November 1981. (Andrew Abshier)
DC-9-30s were the only type flown by all three carriers before joining Republic. This ex-Hughes Airwest example was photographed at San Diego-Lindbergh Field (SAN) in October 1985. (Andrew Abshier)
A rare type in Republic's fleet was the DC-9-33RC, one of only two to fly for RC, I believe. This one was photographed at Houston-Hobby in April 1981. (Andrew Abshier)
Also photographed at HOU, this DC-9-30 on approach showed a non-standard metal underside. (Andrew Abshier)
Boeing 727-200s were originally ordered by North Central for routes to the West Coast. One of their first routes was Minneapolis-St. Paul-SAN, and I photographed this nearly brand-new 727-200 on approach to SAN in December 1980. (Andrew Abshier)
Almost five years later, this ex-Hughes Airwest 727-200's paint scheme is showing some wear, as it taxies into position at SAN. (Andrew Abshier)
The ever-patient Mike Sellinger requested some images of the transition livery used by Texas International DC-9s after the merger with Continental.
For a very short time the DC-9s flew with Continental titles on an otherwise unmodified Texas Int'l livery, as seen on this DC-9-10. (collection).
Here is a DC-9-10
showing the definitive transition livery, with the gold tail, at Colorado
Springs in 1983.
(Andrew Abshier)
Mike also requested an image of one of Delta's DC-9s with the "sideways" tail logo. Contrary to many published reports this was apparently a planned variation on the Delta livery, but in any case it did not last long. This DC-9-30 was photographed at the old Atlanta-Hartsfield terminal; note the Convair 880 tail sticking up in the background. (collection)
That's all for this week!
To request an image or images, send me
an email at aravm98@hotmail.com.