Generating life
Maria Montessori all powered up for the final fling, as the crowds passed by, that distinctive engine tail arrangement always made the DC 10 & MD 11 stand out for the general shape of wide bodies.
**
On Tuesday 11th November 2014, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines organised 3 special farewell flights from Amsterdam to say farewell to their long serving McDonnell Douglas MD 11 type aircraft, this ending a lifespan of involvement with Douglas & McDonnell from the DC2, DC 3, DC 4, DC5, DC6, DC7, DC8, DC 9, DC 10 & finally MD11.
These special farewell flights, KL 9895 @ 9.30, KL9897 @ 1200 & finally KL9899 departed from gate C22 at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, 1 hour in duration, each packed with enthusiasts, friends & staff to mark the end of an era.
PH-KCD "Florence Nightingale " did the honours of each flight, while sister PH-KCB "Maria Montessori" remained on the apron alongside photos.
To celebrate the era, Douglas DC 3, which was the first Dutch government airplane since 1946, " Princess Amalia" did a special ground circuit in front of Florence Nightingale after the final landing as both planes paraded around the airport in full airport vehicle convoy, including a water canon salute by the airport fire service.
Sincere thanks to KLM Dutch Airlines for an amazing send off, quite allot of logistics involved for the three special flights, with flights sold out initially within 4 minutes, the special check in desks at Schiphol, the running commentary by the flight crew during the flight, the cabin crew for attempting inflight service in the melee yet smiling all the way to the static display on arrival back just as darkness fell on MD11 passenger operations...in the world.
Generating life
Maria Montessori all powered up for the final fling, as the crowds passed by, that distinctive engine tail arrangement always made the DC 10 & MD 11 stand out for the general shape of wide bodies.
**
On Tuesday 11th November 2014, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines organised 3 special farewell flights from Amsterdam to say farewell to their long serving McDonnell Douglas MD 11 type aircraft, this ending a lifespan of involvement with Douglas & McDonnell from the DC2, DC 3, DC 4, DC5, DC6, DC7, DC8, DC 9, DC 10 & finally MD11.
These special farewell flights, KL 9895 @ 9.30, KL9897 @ 1200 & finally KL9899 departed from gate C22 at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, 1 hour in duration, each packed with enthusiasts, friends & staff to mark the end of an era.
PH-KCD "Florence Nightingale " did the honours of each flight, while sister PH-KCB "Maria Montessori" remained on the apron alongside photos.
To celebrate the era, Douglas DC 3, which was the first Dutch government airplane since 1946, " Princess Amalia" did a special ground circuit in front of Florence Nightingale after the final landing as both planes paraded around the airport in full airport vehicle convoy, including a water canon salute by the airport fire service.
Sincere thanks to KLM Dutch Airlines for an amazing send off, quite allot of logistics involved for the three special flights, with flights sold out initially within 4 minutes, the special check in desks at Schiphol, the running commentary by the flight crew during the flight, the cabin crew for attempting inflight service in the melee yet smiling all the way to the static display on arrival back just as darkness fell on MD11 passenger operations...in the world.