Delta Retires N661US

Delta Air Lines is retiring N661US (c/n 23719, l/n 696, f/n 6301), Boeing's first 747-400. It made its final revenue flight from HNL to ATL, as DAL836 this evening. The airline will preserve this airliner at its museum in Atlanta.

This 747-451 was originally registered as N401PW, as the prototype model for the -400, and first flew in April 1988. It was delivered to Northwest Airlines in December 1989 as N661US, under lease from AT&T Capital Services. When Delta and Northwest merged, Delta purchased N661US outright as it was transferred into the fleet.

The above photo was taken in May 2007 at HNL, as N661US taxied to Runway 8R for departure to NRT as NWA15.