The Piedmont Pacemaker is coming soon to an airport near you

I went down to CLT today and thanks to my good buddy Jay was able to get up close and personal with N744P, Thanks Jay

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5730824

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5730794

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5730784

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5730734

I know what some of you are thinking, great scheme but the Blue's to Light ! Well once again US goofed a little on the retro scheme but US already publically said on Wedensday that the "Blue will be Fixed" ! As of 2300 lcl on Wed night May 17 744's routings for Thursday are PIT-FLL-CUN-FLL-DCA then as I had previously promised 744 is assigned Shuttle lines for Fri-Sat-Sun. I will post Fridays routings from work late on Thursday in case some of you want to try and get a photo or two !

Enjoy,

LGA777

I thought the color was off. I think they have now had to correct all the heritage planes with the exception of America West.

Thanks for the update!!

well, i can't want to see it RON at LGA tonight, definately not forgetting to take my cam to work tommorow!

N744P had a slight change in routings today, will overnight in LGA instead of DCA, then she is on the Shuttle for around 5 days, subject to change of course. For Friday May 19 she is scheduled to depart LGA at 0600,1000, and 1600, arriving at 0910 and 1508. I am working overtime Friday afternoon and I will post Saturdays planned times then. As I predicted on these boards in the past, these retrojets will and have been regulars on the Shuttle. Well for Friday 5-19 all three are on the Shuttle, but based on the schedule I don't forsee anyway all 3 at once photo ops, but it will happen I assure you !

Cheers

LGA777

Not very good quality, but...

http://nycaviation.com/images/US_A31...rr1_051806.jpg

http://nycaviation.com/images/US_A31...rr2_051806.jpg

It can be seen on the updated Top Stories page:

http://nycaviation.com/topstories#usnewscheme

I want to wish Ron a big congrats. I know seeing this plane up close means a lot to him. Right now, at night...with most fo the plane being so dark and only the one light shining on the tail's logo, I'm sure Ron can easily imagine that he's standing near a 737-200 and bringing back many memories.

It certainly very nice to see the old colors flying again. Phil's right . This means a lot to Ron . As a fellow former Piedmont employee . It brings back a lot of great memories for me too

Thanks for the pics Phil.

my first jumpseat ever was a Piedmont 727,DAY-EWR,loved those colors,and that airline. It was my first choice to fly for till USAir,absorbed and obliterated them.

great to see those old school liviries!


A question Ron, can you give a bit of the background for the "Piedmont Pacemaker" moniker? I am completely unfamiliar with it and history, if any.

THanks!

First of all Phil and Darrell are right, as a "Very Proud" former Piedmont employee seeing this scheme fly again is like "A Dream Come True" ! It's hard to describe how GREAT it was to work for Piedmont, the best 4 working years of my life and the memories are Priceless !

I will try my best to answer Mario's Pacemaker question. One of the many cool things about Piedmont was most of the fleet had names. Some where cities, 737-301 N312P was "The City of New York". N603P our very first 767-201ER was approaitily named the "Pride of Piedmont". But most names started with Pacemaker, as one of PI's early slogan's was "The Route of the Pacemaker", Many of the aircraft had Southern regional names like the "Tar Heel Pacemaker, Blue Ridge Pacemaker, etc. But since N734N which later became N200AU was the very first PI 737 it was named the Piedmont Pacemaker. While I am sure I am not the only one I did make several phone calls and e-mails to Tempe about how important it was to put the Piedmont Pacemaker name on N744P. I guess somebody listened !

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0501881/L/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0658500/L/

Cheers

Ron Peel

Okay here is N744P's planned routings for the weekend !

Saturdays planned routing is
LGA-DCA-BOS-LGA-DCA-BOS-LGA-DCA
Depart LGA at 0700, 1300, and 1900
Arrive LGA at 1206 and 1809

Sundays planned routing is
DCA-LGA-DCA-BOS-DCA-LGA-DCA-BOS
Depart LGA at 1000 and 1800
Arrive LGA at 0904 and 1704.

N745VJ willl also be around

Satudays planned routings are
LGA-NAS-LGA
Depart LGA at 0900 and return at 1557

Sundays planned routings are
LGA-DCA-BOS-DCA-LGA-BOS-DCA-LGA
Depart LGA at 0900 and 1700
Arrive LGA at 1607 and 2204.

As always routings are subject to change, I hope some of you can get some shots !

Cheers

Ron Peel

One of my photo's from yesterday that despite it's imperfections you might enjoy !

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5732154

I will try and get a better quality one in better weather when I am not working while I shoot !

Cheers

LGA777

Ron, that is a truly remarkable shot. You must have been SO excited to have seen that opportunity. I'm officially jealous.

:)

i'm planning on going to LGA on wednesday morning when i'm off to whoot the fleet of our heritage planes... too abd we don't get any HP planes here yet. i'll settle for a few new colors though, hoping they all come in...

I got her today!!!! Oh wait... wrong airplane.

http://www.nycaviation.com/hosting/PICT0156.jpg

Steven, the Piedmont DC-3 in your photo now belongs to the Carolina Aviation Museum and is based in CLT. I was at a US event in CLT Wednesday and got to visit with the Dir of Corp Communications who is planning the dedication ceremonies for the AL and PI 319's. I suggested to the Director that since the DC-3 is CLT based and the Piedmont 319 dedication is in CLT could we try and have the DC-3 at the dedication. She loved the idea and I set the wheels in motion I think, hopefully it will happen as it will be a great photo op and just totally COOL !

Cheers

LGA777

N744P is flying Mainline from Monday-Wednesday with no planned LGA visits. Then tentatively go's back in to painting to fix the blue stripe Wednesday night when N750UW emerges from painting in the new colors !

Here is another photo from Friday for ya !

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5733339

Cheers

LGA777

N744P is on her way back to ARA Tuesday night to get converted from Pan Am Blue to Piedmont Blue ! Should be back making money for US on Sunday ! For those of you who have not seen her yet your going to really like this one !

Cheers

LGA777

I'm thinking after the Jones Beach airshow on Sunday I might head over to LGA to catch her... if she comes. I wouldn't mind catching the PSA bird either!

Does anyone know of either of the retro planes are routing PHL on June 4? I am going to MIA and the Keys for the week and am hoping to take some terminal shots of the jets (even though I'm taking AA, which will be tough).

Well the Piedmont Pacemaker visited LGA this morning and I hope you fine folks like her new look. A Big Thank You to Phil D for the edit help, you did a Great Job !

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1053664/L/

No LGA visits planned for the next 5 days, will keep you posted.
Today's routing was ARA-CLT-LGA-PIT-BOS-CLT-PHX !


Enjoy,

LGA777

Hmm that angle looks really familiar :P :P Sweet shot as always Ron!

YOU did a great job Ron! I'm glad it all turned out well.

AA777, very perceptive, our mutual friend was most accommodating as usual, Phil D, thanks again, and here is one view of (to me) a very special Airbus !

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=794162040

Cheers

Ron Peel

In case any of you are wondering N744P will NOT be visiting LGA over the weekend, Saturday she goes down to PLS and Sunday CUN but as of tonight she has Shuttle duty on Monday and Tuesday June 5 and 6th. I'll be back to work on Sunday and will publish an update then. Just a friendly warning, when some of you see her for the first time, you might "Fall in Love" !

Cheers

LGA777