Count Dracula

The Shed was a great bird to fly and land, except for no AP, YD, Pressurization, Altitude Alerter, Air Conditioning, TCAS, 200 kt cruise speed & 10 legs a day in the northeast below 10,000 ft.

SpecialTracking

Back to the OP. Bid the 400. It's all about the experiences and the type rating. Sparky will be here for decades to come. The 400 won't.

LGApilot

Totally agree..The 400 will be gone soon and that will be the last time UAL ever flies a 747 unless they get the newer version which I highly doubt they will ever get..I wish I get to fly the whale but I don't think I will get the chance to..They will retire it long before I can ever hold it..Guess it's Fifi or the Guppy for me..

intrepidcv11

Red line to the marker was always my favorite trick. Fat and ugly, but treated me right.

SUX4U

Unless you are brand new as of a week ago, I wouldn't dismiss any chance of flying that damn thing until the last one is parked. I have noticed the most junior number on the -400 go from low to mid 9000's to upper 9's then to low 10's and as of last snap shot it is now showing high 10,000 numbers. All of that within a year!

With the 777-300ER's coming, a few more 787's that keep getting the best routes, A350's in 2 years and more narrow body captain spots becoming available the odds of long term -400 FO's bouncing to a new seat that better fits their desires is quite possible. Don't forget a good amount of the guys/gals in the high 10's to low 11's are locking themselves up on the 777 and 787 for the next 2 years as well. Finally, if fuel remains dirt cheap and United continues to pack the -400's with bodies and cargo to Asia, they very well could hold onto a few more frames longer than they expected.

That is my perspective on the odds of getting a chance to fly the Whale. The next 2 years will be very interesting for those that are junior but still want the experience.

Monkeyfly

Please note: Unless your seniority is in the low 3000s or better, you will not be actually "flying" the 747. You will be having a front row seat to watch other people "fly" the 747.

SpecialTracking

Until the company stops building bunky lines in favor of all fo lines. What a mess that will be.

ugleeual

Sims aren't like real flying?

oldmako

You'll know you've reached the zenith of your career when you're paid WB wages to sleep and are given a bunk, pillows and a blanket as well.

You still have the urge to yank & bank? Rent a taildragger.

Monkeyfly

Done and done.