From: kls@argus.SLAC.Stanford.EDU (Karl L. Swartz)
Subject: Re: UAL #918 from IAD to LHR Question
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 03:38:24 GMT

In article <1992Dec14.175416.9629@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> Keith Barr <barrk@rintintin.Colorado.EDU> writes:
>     I am traveling on UAL fl. 918 from IAD to LHR in February, and I was
>wondering what type of equipment is used on that flight.  OAG says 747,
>and UAL says the same.  Has anyone been on that flight, and noticed if it
>was a -200, or a -400?  The same question applies to flight 919 from LHR
>to IAD.  I assume that since no specific type is mentionoed for either it
>means that I could have a 747-200 or -400...is this a correct assumption?

OAG lists a 747-400 as a 744; 747 generally means a -100 or -200.  In
their schedules United does not distinguish variants, though if you
call and pester them they'll look up for you just what it will be.

If this is listed as a 747 (and not a 767), I would expect it to be
scheduled with a -100 or a -200.  United picked up 7 ex-QANTAS -238Bs
specifically for the London routes, though they do wander onto some of
the -100 routes (and vice versa) on occasion.  Note, too, that United
often substitutes for a particular 747 type -- I've seen flights
scheduled with a -100 operated with a -200, an SP, and even in one
case a DC-10!  I've yet to see -400 operate a flight schedule with an
older type of 747, however.

In article <92349.163624IO11076@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> Naushad Hussain <IO11076@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> writes:
>As far as I know that UAL flies a -200 on this route.

This may be seasonal -- they went from a 747 off-season to a pair of
767-300s for the summer season on one of the US East Coast to London
routes this year.

>I remember a piece of news in Good Morning America a while back where
>the the United -200 that blew a window after taking off from Honolulu
>was being used in this route.

First, it was a -100 (a -122, actually, N4724U) and not a -200, and
it blew a cargo door, not a window, though the cargo door took out a
section of windows with it.  As for where it's used, I've seen it
operating SFO-HNL and I've seen SPs (which aren't scheduled to Europe)
at Heathrow.  They wander quite a bit.

> I also talked to a United agent last spring and she told
> me that most of their European routes are served by 767's

Many are, but a fair number use 747s.  Most US West Coast to London
flights are 747s, as was IAD-MAD last summer (during the Olympics).
As a rule, United's 747 types seem to be scheduled as follows:

    -122 (13) and -123 (5)
	West Coast to Honolulu and Japan, some intra-Asian, some South
	American

    -222B (2)
	New York to Tokyo

    -238B (7)
	US (primarily West Coast?) to London and some other European
	routes

    SP-21 (10)
	SFO-JFK and US to South America primarily these days, plus
	backup on other routes (they are considering retiring them
	in the near future)

    -422 (17 and counting)
	Long trans-Pacific, such as LAX-SYD, SFO-HKG, and ORD-NRT; I
	don't think they fly them to Europe on any regular basis

Again, except for the -400s, there seems to be a lot of substitution
between the types for a variety of reasons.

-- 
Karl Swartz		|INet	kls@unixhub.slac.stanford.edu
SLAC Computing Services	|	   or kls@ditka.chicago.com
1-415/926-3630		|UUCP	uunet!lll-winken!unixhub!kls  -or-  ditka!kls
(SLAC and the US Dept. of Energy don't necessarily agree with my opinions.)