HX Models - News & Discussion

[Ciderman]

Wow, KLM had this as well:

 

[bakejobb_23]

I wish United reused old regos cuz now instead of using N###UA they use 5 numbers after N. American isn't much better, for their 737 MAX 8s they seem to be using three numbers after N and then two random letters (an example I flew on in December on ORD-MIA is rego'd N812UP). Delta is the only of the three kind of making an effort, using DA, DL, and DU after three numbers.

That was a Continental thing I believe. All their aircraft had the same reg style of Nxxxxx of all numbers. Mostly anyways, I think older aquired jets didn’t here and there.

 

[vsr]

That was a Continental thing I believe. All their aircraft had the same reg style of Nxxxxx of all numbers. Mostly anyways, I think older aquired jets didn’t here and there.

This may also have to do with the fact that United is using Continental's operating certificate today. NXXXUA regs are all pre-merger aircraft.

 

[Phantom]

Yes, Qantas' early 747s were painted in a standard pattern seen on quite a few operators. Same as D-ABYA for example (IIRC).
This pattern or a real bare belly back in the early 70's.

Just for completeness, here's a few pics showing the two painting patterns commonly seen on early 747s:
The top two are painted just like Qantas' 742 mentioned by Ciderman. Wings, wing-body-fairing and underbelly all medium grey.
Later often repainted for a lighter grey (what the internet knows as "Boeing grey" - see Swissairs 743s for example)
The bottom one is the "as bare as possible" variant, no painted underbelly. This was seen on quite a few very early 747s. Here's Swissair's 742 - later of course also repainted into lighter grey and added underbelly coating.