Something you probably haven't seen before

[Field of 33]

I didn't even know that Delta HAD 747's in their fleet. Apparently, these were just brought on board mid-December 2008 as part of the NWA merger. This particular bird was stumbled upon at McChord AFB in Spanaway, WA. I don't know what it was doing there but I was glad I showed up when I did. It's a nice livery, in my opinion.

As an FYI, the tail number is N661US.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_KQtAdHjusPw/SYuJdKYMB0I/AAAAAAAABvM/sX09_yzCPRo/s800/Delta_747400.JPG

[tfaudree]

Yep, part of the NWA merger. Same with the DC-9s. I think the -9s look great in the new DAL livery. Can't wait until they start showing up at the airport I'm based out of.

[Tiger_993]

That is an odd sight. Delta should have come up with a different paint scheme though - too much white on that massive fuselage. The NWA paint job was better looking IMO.

[A2EVOMR]

You are the first to photograph this particular bird in Delta colors but it is not the first one to be painted. N665US was the first NWA 744 to roll out of the paint booth. It departed Victorville for Detroit on December 13.

None the less it is still a great catch! Now I have a new tail number to track. Yesterday I saw the first Delta Airbus A330-300 in Delta colors but he was on the furthest runway from me. I did manage to get a Delta DC-9 and A320.

Also to add, today it operated as a charter/non-rev flight NWA9998 from McChord to SoCal Logistics.

[Field of 33]

You are the first to photograph this particular bird in Delta colors but it is not the first one to be painted. N665US was the first NWA 744 to roll out of the paint booth. It departed Victorville for Detroit on December 13.

None the less it is still a great catch! Now I have a new tail number to track. Yesterday I saw the first Delta Airbus A330-300 in Delta colors but he was on the furthest runway from me. I did manage to get a Delta DC-9 and A320.

Also to add, today it operated as a charter/non-rev flight NWA9998 from McChord to SoCal Logistics.
I didn't mean to claim that this was the first 744 in Delta colors. Sorry if I implied that.

It's odd how I came about this plane. I was driving around the Tacoma area after returning from Mt. Ranier when I realized that I was right next to McChord. They had a whole flock of C-17's sitting there and this white 744 pointed straight at where I happened to be standing. I couldn't for the LIFE of me figure out what a 744 would be doing sitting on an AFB. After a minute or two, the bird turned and pulled onto the runway and I was absolutely shocked to see the Delta livery. I knew that DAL didn't fly 744's so I was really surprised at the site of this. Then is dawned on me that they probably acquired some of the NWA 744's so I realized that this was not an everyday occurrence. I just happened to be lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

Tiger, I completely agree. They really need, at least, a stripe down the fuselage to break up the white a bit.

[A2EVOMR]

I didn't mean to claim that this was the first 744 in Delta colors. Sorry if I implied that.

Oh no not at all, I was just laying down some facts that would be useful to it's rareness of what you saw.

[Field of 33]

Does anyone know how many of the old NWA 744s have been repainted and are now flying or are to be flying Delta colors?

[A2EVOMR]

Does anyone know how many of the old NWA 744s have been repainted and are now flying or are to be flying Delta colors?
N665US and N661US are the only two 747's so far. They have painted two DC-9-50's, an A320, A330-300 and one 752. Eventually the entire NWA fleet will be painted except for some that will be retired or sold. Delta will not be keeping the DC-9 30 and 40 series for very long. I am not sure of the fate of Northwest's two 747-200's. Northwest will be gone in 12-18 months according to Delta. So to answer your question, it will be all of them one by one finishing within the next two years or less.

[mlav]

Good capture.

"Same with the DC-9s. I think the -9s look great in the new DAL livery. Can't wait until they start showing up at the airport I'm based out of."

I thought NWA phased out most of the -9s due to high operating costs/efficiency...when I was flying to Kansas City, MO (MCI) from Detroit (DTW) for a vehicle launch in 02-05CY, I think I flew on every -9 NWA had in the fleet!

[jdando]

Nice capture. All of us here in MSP are awaiting the first sighting of Delta paint job on the 747. We need something to do here in the great white north :)

[A2EVOMR]

I thought NWA phased out most of the -9s due to high operating costs/efficiency...when I was flying to Kansas City, MO (MCI) from Detroit (DTW) for a vehicle launch in 02-05CY, I think I flew on every -9 NWA had in the fleet!

Just before the merger Northwest started retiring some of their oldest DC-9's but when you have 67 total, it will take a while. They probably are one of the most fuel inefficient aircraft out there but when you own them it equals out the cost of a lease.

[tfaudree]

I thought NWA phased out most of the -9s due to high operating costs/efficiency...when I was flying to Kansas City, MO (MCI) from Detroit (DTW) for a vehicle launch in 02-05CY, I think I flew on every -9 NWA had in the fleet!

Snapped this one (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Northwest-Airlines/McDonnell-Douglas-DC-9-51/1473103/L/) two weeks ago in Tampa. I've seen them at ORF in the year and a half I've been based there. They may be phasing them out, but it'll take a while.