I Flew on the World's OLDEST Boeing 737. Here's What Happened...
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- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
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I took a flight on the world's oldest Boeing 737, over 45 years old. Here's what happened.
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The crazy thing is, the workers who put the rivets into that machine, watched it leave the factory in the 1970s are probably all retired or have passed on. The work of their hands however, is alive and well in a part of the world they could have never imagined
Most would probably be 70-80 now
this is very scare, my cat sad
Probably put it together much better than 2010s Boeing
@@grahamcracker659 same white my cat
@@APDM_OSINT Definitely better than today's DEI 737 Maxs
The 737-200 was a great plane. Remember, Boeing was run by engineers and built by employees that loved planes. Now, only profits for shareholders counts
where are profits ???? EPS -3.54 USD, share price is in the same range as 2017 = 182 USD
and one of the most versatile airliners in the world when fitted with the gravel kit.
Boeing always build planes for profit lol. And the older 737s had their fair share of design flaws as well. I agree that Boeings corporate culture nowadays sucks but let’s not pretend like it’s been all sunshine and roses in the „good old days“.
FYI… a 737, newest to oldest, take off somewhere in the world every 3.5 seconds… let that sink in. Every single one of them are designed and built by some of the best engineers and workers in aerospace
@@x689thanatos I just flew on a Max 8 for 4 1/2 hours and it was like a Cadillac compared to the 737-700 for the connecting flight.
„Worst case, we finish this journey by boat“ 😂
That line was so funny😂
Worst case scenario we finish this journey by hearse
Loved that.
Hey that’s content nobody else would have 😂
An optimistic take
At 3:38 minute you see a United Boeing 737-200 N9025U, which was built in 1968. I flew that very airplane for United dozens of times when I was on that fleet from 1990 to 2000. I loved the 737-200 and flying it was like I was still flying in General Aviation as it had the same analog guages as the Cessna I flew on my days off. As I type this in my office, the entire forward instrument panel for United's N9019U/9619 and its log book are on my book shelf not 5 feet away. I was the last United captain to fly it before it went to the boneyard in 1998 and a friend retrieved it for me. The fun ended when I upgraded to the B-757/767 fleet and their all glass cockpits.
what an incredible career and life you've had! I'm jealous. wow. what did u do after UA? do u still fly privately? so u preferred flying the 732 to the 75/76?
Wow
The old steam gauge 737-200's are cool and all, but how could you have not had fun flying a 757? I call them muscle jets. Those to me are the most fun to fly.
I won't lie, I would be nervous, especially seeing the wear and tear, it would make me wonder about the wear and tear I couldn't see, but I understand the nostalgia, and I love your enthusiasm. My grandfather worked for Boeing in the 1960s.
Why you never hear about existents in this country but all the time in US where Boeing airplanes falling apart? 😂
As a nervous wreck in general, I was like nooooooooooooo, keep our Noel safe. ✈✈🙏🙏😁
Erm 4 days ago ok?
@@FarmSimGuy23that’s not true I live in Venezuela and all the grocery stores are full of food, don’t trust the social media
I would rather fly the 737-200 than the 737-800 Max. Boeing´s first Max´s had 1 pitot/static system per design and production! That are insanity! Makes NO sense that a once proud plane manufacturer can approve such a design considering their insights and over 7 decades of accident reports. That FAA approved it as well on a production aircraft are even more insane. And that´s just mentioning 1 grave issue....they have been standing in line!
As an ex BA engineer who worked on these back in the day, this video was very nostalgic. They were tough little planes and a pig to work on in some ways, but I agree that people should fly on these whilst they can. Such a shame you couldn’t get a flight deck video.
My first flight ever, at 10 years old, was SFO to Disneyland in 1969 on an Air California 737-200. I retired last year as a 737-800/900 Capt at Delta Air Lines. I must say my friend, you have a lot of guts to get on that thing. I do love your enthusiasm though!!
My first flight was on a Pan Am prop to Ft Lauderdale FL. I was 6 yrs old. I asked the "stewardess" where the angels were as I looked out at the clouds!
Thank you for your service!
@@phyllislowry6265 That's great, those things are indelibly marked in your memory. I saved my cup from my OJ and a soap from the lav.
@@FarmSimGuy23 Actually I spent 8 years in the US Air Force before Delta
@@FarmSimGuy23 Yes of course. From a kid's perspective, we were landing in Disneyland. It wasn't named John Wayne until 1979.
What I really enjoy and appreciate is the fact most people climbing aboard that plane would A) be disgusted and B) be terrified. You the legend is delighted and not at all put off! One of the reasons why I and most watching love you and your videos so much. Thanks Noel.
Glad you enjoyed it!
When I flew to Buenos Aires earlier this year I was really considering Lufthansa as they were flying Boeing 747 on that route, but decided against it as it was way more expensive than Air France. Later on the trip I met some Germans who were on that plane and all were complaining what an outdated piece of shit that plane was and how Lufthansa has fallen. It must have been a 747-400. Yeah most people will see the outdated cabin and complain, even if they were flying some of the last remaining Boeing 747 still in service.
Hi Noel, I am pleased to see that this aircraft has had the Lap Joint (Butt strap) Repair done (Visible@4:52,) This was done as a service bulletin on all of these 737's after the Aloha flight 243 Incident in 1990 when the Crown skin peeled away due to corrosion between the fuselage skin joints.. back in the 90's when i was an airframe fitter i was involved in a couple of these repairs so it was kinda nice to see this one still operating..
All the best..
Gary.
I was wondering if that was a preventive repair because of the aloha flight. Thanks for the answer. I thought only the 100 series were vulnerable.
I noticed that additional modification but wasn't sure what it was about. Thank you!
It still wasn’t the oldest 737 passenger
that repair must've added a bunch of weight to the aircraft
The oldest plane I flew on commercially was a WWII Grumman sea plane between St Thomas to St Croix, US VI. I was 15 years old and got to fly in the co-pilots seat. Immediately after takeoff, the captain got to cruise altitude and set his alarm on his wristwatch. He then closed his eyes and went to sleep. 10 minutes later, the alarm on his wrist watch sounded, the pilot woke up and landed. I LOVED it!!!
thanks God you didn't try mess up with buttons , switches and lever as he was sleeping
As I stepped on this piece of "history" 😂😂 Noel definitely had me thinking he was gonna say sh**
ehehe I had the same thought.
same
There was a suspicious pause in that statement 😂
I think that was Noel playing with us a bit there
As of February 2024, the oldest Boeing 737-200 passenger plane still in service is registered as C-GNLK and operated by Nolinor Aviation, a Canadian charter airline. The plane has the serial number 20836 and was first delivered on May 9, 1974, making it 49.7 years old. It's based in Mirabel, a suburb of Montreal.
So this ones gone?
@@southaussiegarbo2054no, as Noel said in the video, there are older ones than the one in the video, in charter service. The one in the video is the oldest you can book a flight on.
@@southaussiegarbo2054just checked on flight radar. It’s most current flight was today, and has been in constant use with flights every day.
The venerable old DC3 equivalent of the jet age!
C-GNLK is cargo.
You mean C-GNLE
This must testament to design and engineering that it's still flying. Great video.
Glad it didn't turn into a convertible...
Mostly all mechanical and analog. Simple and repairable. You won’t be able to do this with fly-by-wire planes thanks to the electronics.
A lot of duct-tape will get you far :D
Back when Boeing cared more about innovation and quality rather than just profits.
@@OverEast34 🎯
Such a beauty! The 737-200 is truly a testament of resilience, a well designed aircraft that has proven its reliability over the years. Great video Noel and thanks for visiting my country! 🤘😎
I thought he said "and we pushed back to what could be my very last flight..."
At least that's what I thought, according to the looks of this plane 😂🙈
@@Zweistein92 🤣
I flew Southwest back in 1977. Boy did this bring back a lot of cherished memories. I was 13 years old at the time and I was flying with my friend. We flew back and forth from San Antonio to Dallas every summer. No parents with us! We were kids, and nobody could stop us. Our moms drove us to the airport. Boy, we were grand!
I've been binge watching your channel for the last two weeks, and I've realised, I still don't care about the planes, but you're such a pleasure to watch! Keep up the great work
Glad you like them!
Yes, love his presentation. A great channel.
Me too! I’ve binge watched all of Noel’s videos during the past month! He’s such a breath of fresh air. He’s always being positive which is something our society lacks today. Noel keep it up man! Love the videos
@@FastGuy1love u sm
@@jusalii ? 🤣
I get your emotional connection to that 737. I have such fond childhood memories of the L10-11. A plane that I’ll never experience again
When I was in the Iraq war in 2004 I flew home for my 15 day R&R in an L1011 all the way across the ocean in a chartered flight. The old bird was a very comfortable ride home.
As a retired pilot I can tell you my favourite jet to fly was the B737-200.
I never flew that one, except on my evaluation ride to get hired. I did fly -300, -500 ,-700, -800, -900, -900ER. Except for the steam gauges, I thought the -300 was the easiest to fly and land plane I have ever flown. Of the newer ones, the -700 was best on short runways. My overall favorite was the -900ER. The -900 was the worst by far.
And they are so easy to fly, at least in my Microsoft FS simulator. 😉
✊
Do you miss flying ?
How cool is that. As an A&P doing heavy C checks mainly in B737-400/700/800, I despise working on 737 classics, especially doing corrosion control on fuel tanks, and -aarrrggg-APU removals/reinstalls. Nevertheless, they don't build them like that, anymore.
The things you do Noel for our entertainment. Please do a flight on any remaining Boeing 727s.
Age doesn’t matter as long as maintenance and repairs are kept up. That being said, some airlines who only fly within one country sometimes cut corners with maintenance
Yeah, it depends which country is maintaining it that would affect my confidence. If it’s a 60 year old plane being maintained by engineers in Canada, US, Europe, or a country like Japan, then I trust it. But if it’s a country in economic turmoil like Venezuela or a country with a poor safety record like Indonesia I’d feel a bit more concerned.
Like the other guy said, a DC-3 flying for a good European or Canadian carrier will still be fine; The newer models flying with Aeroflot and some obscure Zimbabwean airline: not so much
@@charlesc.9012 My dad (US Navy defense attaché) flew Aeroflot many times when we were living in Moscow in the early 90s. He has some hair raising tales.
My concern is not the over 45 year old plane, but the maintenance of broke Venezuela.
But it’s still not the oldest passenger 737 200
The 737-200 must’ve had issues with the overhead air controls (like the one dripping on you in the video). Back in 1989, I travelled aboard an Alaska Scarelines 737-200 from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA to Juneau, Alaska. I didn’t notice it at first, but once we were taking off down the runway, I immediately noticed ice cold air was blowing with great force on my head. Looking up, I realized that the little round control knob that you usually turn to increase or decrease the amount of air, was completely missing. There was only a large hole where it used to be, and the freezing cold air was now blowing out of it in full force directly on me!
I asked the flight attendant if there was another seat I could be switched to, but of course the flight was completely sold out. So, I had no other choice but to sit under that thing and freeze my rear off all the way to Alaska.
To give you an idea of how cold that was - When we finally got to Juneau, as I was unbuckling my seat belt to deplane, I took one last look at that overhead vent and realized a 4-inch icicle had formed under it! 🥶
Alaska is good you just had a weird experience.
12:35 to borrow from classic vehicle ownership: “IT wasn’t leaking, SHE was marking her territory!”
4:04 little correction for the scheduled routes. Air Inuit in Quebec has 5 of them between 42 and 46 years of age.
C-GAIG
C-GMAI
C-GNDU
C-GOPW
C-GSPW
as always continue the good work noel!
Just to add to that, SPW and MAI haven't been retired, just getting a heavy check done on them. Should be back in service soon
He did show that he rode Air Inuit last 2021 in the video.
@@YLWSpotterLiam I am working on MAI, SPW flew back to Quebec yesterday if I'm not wrong.
Nolinor flies some within Quebec and their oldest one is 50 years ago. Nolinor recently upgraded its nine frames with glass cockpits.
Now if this is not called addicted to aviation i dont know what is , love it Noel !!!!!
noel i admire you on some of these older aircraft because without sounding over dramatic you are somewhat potentially risking your life, so thank you for the content.
While living and working in India, from 2001-2005, I flew on the one remaining Air India B737-200 several times. It often seemed to be assigned to the last flight of the day between Mumbai and Delhi. The best thing was that the interior still had the original seats, in an all economy configuration. The old tubular frame seats, recovered a few times no doubt, but never replaced with newer seats. It used to rattle down the runway on takeoff and was very loud. Great fun to fly on!
My first flight was on an Austrian Airlines Caravelle in 1968, going from Vienna to Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia. The service was very good, warm food served on porcelain plates and real glasses. Last two or three rows in the back were smoking seats.
😅
@@mick-berry5331 Yeah, I remember the old days of smoking in the rear few rows of seats!
My first flight was on a B737-200 in 1971 from Luton to Alicante when I was 12 years old!
There is a lot of nostalgia in the exact sounds this plane made in the air and upon landing. 12:24
My 1st 737-200 was a Britannia airways flight from Luton to Heraklion in 1982
Noel you should know that the hotel you stayed in Caracas is really located in a city called Maiquetia , Caracas is about a forty minutes ride from that airport into the mountains
You're feelings about the 737-200 is kinda how I feel about the MD-80 lol I grew up flying on those things with the sick American Airlines bare metal livery, and everything about them brings up so much nostalgia of family vacations and the excitement of visiting somewhere new. I also loved the "maddog" nickname, even though I had no idea where it came from at the time. But I honestly have no idea how I'd ever fly on one again. I know there's a few in service, but I'm a broke and busy student and by the time I have the time and money to chase one down, I don't know if they'll exist outside of a museum. It's crazy how we get attached to these awesome machines. I wish I had known when my last flight on a maddog would be, I would've tried to enjoy it a bit more
In my case, is the DC-10/MD-11. Only seeing them thanks to FedEx dunno for how long, but that engine on the tail is everything ❤
You sure it's not called a SP 80? Like flying on it ha, try fueling them? Heart attacks. Delta would be MD 88 or 90.
Starting fueling AA, this MD is old. Look at the paperwork and I saw SP 80.
Isla Margerita was very popular with Dutch tourists in the 90’s.
Martinait used to fly 767’s, MD11’s and 747’s packed with Dutchies there
I was so heartened by your enthusiasm at the decrepit state of the aeroplane: you still loved it! I'm a steam fan and for me, it's face out the window, smuts in your eye and the smell of smoke in your nostrils: uncomfortable, inconvenient, and loving it.
Oldest and safest 737. No MCAS and door issues.
lol door issue was the airlines problem
I started my aviation history as a child on a Transavia 707 to Spain, somewhere in 1975. Love these old birds from times long ago. I know they are now kept in service because some companies can't afford newer aircraft, but it is a joy to see a 737-200 up in the sky, with all the leaks, holes and scratches included.
I remember when regular economy class (REC) on various flights didn't have thick dividers between seats. A September 2018 flight to London Heathrow from Toronto Pearson featured an REC seat with such a thick divider that for the flight back home I would choose a much wider business-class seat and not regret the choice one bit.
Old 737s remind me of what a marvellous company Boeing was. I hope they win the glory days back
This is the type of video that makes me enjoy your content so much. Quirky flights like this are thoroughly entertaining to watch.
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@noelphilipsShows that a 46 year old pice of machinery can still be going strong if well (?) maintained. I am feeling pretty good at 68,too, after all.😅
Omg I’m Venezuelan and it’s crazy how old these planes are. But I’m glad to see you making videos
Noel Philips: This is awesome.
Josh Cahill: This airline sucks.
Hahaha...TRUTH
Haha true. Josh, AKA Drama Queen of the Skies, is a perfect example of the saying that if everyone around you is an a**hole, maybe you should take a good long look in the mirror.
Butt out Josh!
I actually think Josh would also have a very open mind on such a flight. He appreciates nostalgia as much as Noel.
@@sgam43 To be honest most of the time he calls someone an a**hole this someone actually deserves it
This is cool! I recently started flying the 737 800/900, and it’s crazy to see the similarities and differences. The low bypass engines, lack of winglets, and look how straight that wing is! Crazy to look at the iterations of the same airframe over almost 6 decades. Keep up the great work Noel, hope to have you as a passenger one day
::The low bypass engines...:: My first thought seeing them was that, god, they've had to bring out the spares... 😋 It's just that it's been so long since I last saw them.
13:23 A little Antonov? Noel sees it all!
He failed to mention it sadly.
But yes it is!
Any Ideea what model is was?! AN-124 perhaps?!
@@FrantikJ1 yip. You are spot on...
@@FrantikJ1 yep 124
Most likely russian Volga-Dnepr or military.
I appreciate that they mostly route it over water, so if it falls out of the sky it won't take out anyone on the ground.
For comparison, the last B-52 was built in 1962, with 72 still flying. Source is Wiki.
I was just watching flightradar24's video about this plane yesterday. And I was low-key wishing it was a video with you instead because I just enjoy the way you talk about things and here we are 😂😅 This made me so happy.
My very first ever flight was on a 737-200. Air Malta from Southend to Valletta via Ostend!
Well, what is the age of the oldest B52 still flying? Generation after Generation after Generation is flying in those "lovely monsters".
@@diedzjeeoudshoorn7726 not quite sure what that has to do with my comment?!
I wouldn't be nervous cuz my Dad was in the Air Force then a commercial pilot for TWA then an Air Traffic Controller at LAX B4 using his Aero space engineering for the Air Force. He always said that technology can break down faster than good old American mechanics. He felt that building & fixing with your bare hands offers more stability than relying on electronics which is harder to fix in a pinch. Idk if that is completely true but I was able as a kid to see my Dad in the cockpit or talk to him on the radio whenever I flew to see my grandma and that was not only super cool but made me not be afraid to fly!
3:51 With the gravel landing kit!
Had 4 flights the past few weeks and have always been a bit nervous. Watched a couple of your videos before boarding and while flying and it really helped. Always nice to see others doing something like flying and being so casual about it.
(Saved this one for after landing haha)
Thank you!
Great to hear!
I first flew the 737-200 in 1986 operated by Brittania Airways - from Newcastle to Ibiza
You are truly brave to take to the skies in such an older Boeing 737. Your courage is needed to face the challenges of an aging aircraft and to dare to pursue your flying dreams. 👍
The plane is ftom 1978! Flying in a country which is under embargo. How do they maintain the aircraft..with prayers and witchcraft? How do they get the spare parts?
I'd imagine their current allies (mainly the Russians/Chinese) supply them with spare parts
They aren’t on the same kind of sanctions like say Iran, they can trade in various ways but it’s highly controlled
Love the BA livery with the-200 from Birmingham ❤
Some boutique airline should buy one of these old 737's from the 70's and refit with a 70's style config and service, and just operate it as a "retro" plane for AV geeks. It could operate one route from like Austin to Denver or something to keep costs down. You'd fly it for fun and nostalgia.
And they should also allow smoking in the cabin , just to make it realistic 😀
@@bardo0007 Totally!
@@bardo0007They would only allow attractive female FA’s.
Doubt there's any low mileage/unused 737 left, airframes have limited fly hours and pressurization cycles after which they start developing microcracks and can fall apart mid flight. Nobody is gonna take such a risk with heavily used old planes in the developed countries.
The vibe of your voice romanticized the importance of a 737-200. I loved it. I was always a fan of that plane because my country Hungary started the western era with these birds in the MALÉV fleet, but now you made it more closer to my heart with your (hopefully not) last trip on this old workhorse. 🇭🇺
I must admit, I’ve never liked 737s, of most any version. And the old ones I particularly dislike. They all make noises that no other aircraft I’ve been in do. And, as you mention, they’re incredibly cramped. I’d much rather fly a 727 or a DC9.
Agreed!. I worked for an airline in the 80s and we had 737-200s, nicknamed Fat Alberts. We also had 727-200s and they were an absolute delight. You truly felt like you were flying in rock-solid equipment. Lets see a video on the 727. They're quite rare these days, too. Many thanks!
Your enthusiasm is great. Some people enjoy Futbol, Art, TV shows, Movies, but you love planes.
This south american adventure is getting better with every upload 😂 that’s such an old plane but I guess is safer than the Max 8 haha ! You look so happy 😅😁😁✌️
Exactly!👍
When I was a child of perhaps 10 years or so, I was given a Lufthansa die cast metal Boeing 737 - 200 model.
OMG, I used to "fly it round the back garden like a mad thing, only to land by the shed on the lawn."
Happy memories and way before I had ever flown on an aircraft. I went on to work for a British Airways subsidiary company, flying regularly from MAN to LGW, yeah, you guessed it, on a BA 737 200. Great video Noel as ever.
Very nice vídeo, but The airport that you landed is not in Caracas, it is in Maiquetia, a city 32 km from the capital Caracas.
Just like everything else… Boeing doesn’t make them like they used to. Thanks for a fabulous video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
On planes like the 7372 you see how much Boeing cared this times about innovation, quality and safety. And this old lady in the video is the living proof for her quality. Lovely! A plane that flies almost 50 years, something that airbus planes never will:)
Amazing Video Noel, great as always
Glad you enjoyed it!
LOVE IT! WE all know why Noel Philips goes there. SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO!!!
I mean it’s safer than the max
EDIT: It’s a joke, ik that the max isn’t that dangerous anymkre
All the bit's that could fall off have rusted up...🤣
@aerofoca "DEI" has nothing to do with the corporate greed inside Boeing that led to the MAX fiasco.
Stop this conservative fear mongering.
I mean it's not but sure.
It’s not at all. This model has many crashes. Aviation used to be very dangerous 35+ years ago so most models were involved in many incidents. It seemed to change in the 90’s where aviation got more safer and they finally learned how to maintain these planes properly.
No its not I have flown on 3 max in the last 6 mths no problem at all
Thank you so much for this amazing video!!! I miss the classics. This makes me want to take a trip to Venezuela.
I'd feel safer on a plane from 1978 than 2024
Your enthusiasm is infectious. Thanks from a fellow Midlander transplanted to the US.
The old British Airways livery was much more beautiful
And the tulip.
Looks like getting home is/was a bit slow. Thanks for taking it on the airelon for your supporters Noel.
What’s really sad is the fact that old Boeing planes were built with such great quality that all these years later they are still flying and you have these Max planes that are only a few years old and are falling apart.
Yes, such a pity, right?!
"Worst case,we finish the journey by boat"
Famous last words
That plane is held together by prayers.
It's probably still safer than a 737-MAX.
😂😂
That’s not true, the airplanes in Venezuela are well maintained
That’s not the 200’s, I think that’s the Max.
A wing and a prayer.
I love your videos Noel! I’m a well-traveled person, but you go to some places where I know I never will go, and you do some things I know I never will do. I live it all vicariously through you. Carry on!
Glad you like them!
I wonder how you survive some of these flights sometimes haha
I first flew in 737 way back in 1980. It was popularly called Guppy then and known as the airplane fly by wire technology.
Nice to see the 737 flying.
So nostalgic. So enchanting.
I feel young again ( now 71 years).
Lively. Lovely.
The time to worry Noel is when you come into land and the pilot tells you to poke your feet through the floor and start running !
Great vid. I flew on an Air Europe B737-200 back in the early 80’s to Grand Canary! It was only a few months old ! Also Lux Air and BA examples. Back then they were considered boring 😂. I’ve also flown on several Dan Air & BEA Airtours Comets 4’s and Dan Air B727-100 and various B707’s ! As a very young Aviation enthusiasts I lapped it up, noisy engines and all . Just wished I had a smart phone to record it all 😂👍🏻
Great video a very old 737 is hard to find
I’m not a plane enthusiast .. but I love your enthusiasm and reviews cheers from NewZealand
Has your other half got you on double life insurance..😂👍
My first flight in 1973 was on a Britannia Boeing 737-200. A great little aeroplane with pretty sharp take offs as I remember. Fond memories! At least the doors didn't fall off!!😉👍
Last time I flew a 737-200 was in the late 90s, from Lyon to London Heathrow. Jam-packed friday afternoon flight, plane was so heavy, thought we'd never be able to take off.. runway during takeoff felt sooooo long, and the sound of the engines, that I will never forget. My favourite plane though, will always be the 757.
Only time I got to fly on a 737-200 was back in 2006 with Aloha Airlines between Maui and Honolulu. It was such a great experience. Sadly, the only photo we got of it was on my dad's old cell phone, and we weren't able to recover it. I loved the old style window shades on it that had "Boeing" written on it.
The 727 was the first jet I ever flew on. I still have a love of those tri- jets. So I understand how you feel about the old 737.
I've flown on Delta's MD 88 and 717. While part of me was wishing I was on that shiny new A350, I thoroughly enjoyed riding on a plane that would soon be almost impossible to find in North America. Sitting in the back row, and hearing those engines, looking around the cabin and seeing all the wear and tear from over the years, you really could feel the history of those old birds.
I like the little 737 history lesson/info on the plane that was cool
Noel sipping that small Pepsi out of a plastic cup on a crowded 3 seat row in nowhere Venezuela was the perfect contrast to the luxurious first class experience videos. Haha.
This was so cool! Thanks for taking us on this amazing journey👍🏽👍🏽
Glad you enjoyed it!
I saw (heard) the 732s flying over my head during years and years until this century. They were the loudest planes in all the country.
And they were superb. They were unbroken. They could be still flying if not due to regulatory restrictions.
My ears were relieved when they were replaced, but my heart misses them. They are forever flying in History.
Brave man Noel! I remember flying these 30yrs ago and they were still then considered old! But they were a beast and could get into 5000 ft runways with ease. All trips on the 37N (the Nasty) were called the see America tours cause they flew them into all the small towns in the US!
Old, but it looks way more solid build than nowadays planes. I bet that's why it still flies around
Nice vlog❤
Wonderful video! When I saw those overhead lights, it reminded me of a 737-200C I flew in from Anchorage to Bethel in 1991. Only about nine passenger rows and a bulkhead (behind which was everything from mail to outboard engines to food). Landing at Bethel ... well, you landed twice. The permafrost built a permanent hump in the runway. Not sure if its better now. Mark air is gone. As surely that 737-200C
Honestly I would trust this old simple 737 design Vs what Boeing are producing with the Max era 737's
Brilliant video Noel. Your content just gets better & better
Glad you enjoyed it
I'm a charter pilot, and A&P/IA...mechanic. I worked on these, mostly newer than the -200. Some DC-9s from the '60s that Northwest had into the early 2000's.
I'm also sort of a risk taker...100mph plus wheelies on motorcycles, off road racing, etc.
I would probably not get on this airplane. I would not be happy if for some reason I had to. Probably very high time, and, more importantly, high cycles. I would question the maintenance, the record keeping, the training of the pilots, and the money available to throw at it. It flies on money, you know?
I'm OK with some risk, but not when due to many factors unknown and beyond my control.
Thanks for the cool video, though. I flew on some 707s in the '70s, sad that I'll never see one fly again.
On a charter trip in 2007, I saw Travoltas old 707 at KSWF...the crew was nice and let me look around in it a bit. That was cool, but it's gone, won't fly again. Due to unavailable parts that reached their time or cycle limit, I hear.
Something like that might be ignored on this old 737..I wonder if they even track such things. It is still a very complex, high performance machine that needs attention. People say dumb stuff, like, "oh, those good old birds were so reliable, just kick the tires and light the fires..."
Don't ever believe that. Some idiots at the Collings foundation treated their B-17 that way. Crashed...burned...killed people, including themselves. Everyone smiling right up until that happened.
Another masterpiece Noel, I always enjoy your videos. Back in the 1980s when I was employed in airline operations/traffic work, I flew many times on the 737-200. On perusing my flight log book for then, I have listed -200s of Aer Lingus, Braathens SAFE, Maersk, Easy Jet, Lufthansa, SABENA (Combi), and BA. I can remember well being on an empty positioning flight on a Maersk one, it was the steepest climb out I ever experienced. Happy days😊
Back in the late 90s, I flew a 737-200 with Canair from Toronto to Punta Cana. I had a window seat just behind the wing and I clearly remember watching the 2 halves of the engine for the reverse thrusters flip back and thinking that the engines were falling off, didn't realize that is how they did the reverse thrust on the 737-200. Also, I got to go see the cockpit while we were flying(back when airlines still allowed this) and I remember the pilot explaining the extra peice of metal around the landing gear lever which meant that this plane had an apron around the front landing gear as it used to land at gravel runways in northern Quebec before it was used by Canair. So cool and such a great memory!!!!
In the summer of 1981, I flew on a 737-200 as my first solo trip at age 10, from Washington National (before it was known as Reagan National) on a Piedmont Airlines flight to Miami. I can still remember everything about that flight to this day. So nostalgic seeing this old bird and those narrow profile engines.
Brings back memories when I used to fly commercial in the US. Now I drive or take charter since 2020