I'd recently posted bits about TWA and United. The United post was about an upcoming (domestic) flight of mine where I am, as of now, scheduled to travel, to my pleasant surprise, on the (old gold) 757-300 (I didn't know United still operates the 757). I'd also noted on my post that though that would be my first 757 flight with United, I do recall having flown domestically on Delta's 757s on a few occasions. I looked up just now the 757 fleet of United and Delta. United has 61 757s in its current fleet (plus 99 historic), while Delta has 125 in its current fleet (plus 80 historic), both massive operators of the type, in the world. 

Anyway, United has been my major international carrier (exclusively flown on their 777s), but I've flown with Delta only domestically. Though, Delta has an extensive international network too, because of my allegiance to Star Alliance (vs. Delta's SkyTeam), I never got to fly internationally with Delta. One 757 flight of Delta, however, I especially recall, from Chicago to Atlanta (or maybe Miami) because of a curious coincidence. At the Gate, I got upgraded, in the last minute, to the Business Class. As I settled down on my comfortable seat, in the front section of a/c, being served refreshments while still on the ground, and feeling a bit guilty as I watched the economy pax (myself been a veteran of that status...🙂...) squeezing through with luggage and children in tow, a gentleman showed up and took the seat right next to mine. After we took off, we exchanged a bit of pleasant chitchat, and he was curious that I was reading an aviation magazine (it would have been likely either "Airliner" or "Airways"). We did touch on the subjects of aviation and aircraft. After we landed in our destination, just as I was saying goodbye, and "nice to meet you", he said with a smile, "Now, I need to pilot this plane from here to San Juan in a couple of hours..."...🙂...then shook my hands and walked out. So, I was talking with a Pilot of the same 757, I was on...! At least he was polite enough throughout our conversation...not pointing out any mistaken observations I might have made...🙂...

Delta is the oldest operating airline in the U.S. I also recall when I flew once on one of their DC9s, and within weeks afterwards, read in the news that they would be retiring all their DC9s (Delta's last DC9 flight was on January 6, 2014; Delta was the first (and also the last) U.S. airline to fly the venerable DC9), so, I was probably on one of the last DC9s in U.S....in fact, coming to think of it, that DC9's engine noise was a bit abnormal compared to what I am used to as pax...🙂...(it sounded tired like the a/c surely looked forward to retirement...🙂...).

Though Delta (Air Lines; two words) originated in Georgia, and is currently headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, (its main hub), it is named after the so-called "Mississippi Delta" region of the U.S. Of course, around there is also the massive Mississippi River "Delta", which I've visited in RW (and virtually here). The airline was born serving as a crop-dusting company (first such in U.S.) to become one of the 3 largest airlines in U.S. Having visited so many rivers in the MSFS lately...🙂..., and having seen many "Deltas", the so-called triangular landform near the mouth of a River, the "Delta" name has always greatly appealed to me. Delta's first ever flight, back on June 17, 1929, was from Dallas, Texas, Delta's hub till 2004, to Jackson, Mississippi. The Travel Air S-6000 took five hours to make the historic 427-miles flight, while making two 2 intermediate stops, including one for lunch (no food service on board). That was also the first ever air service between Dallas (KDFW) and Jackson (KJAN). In contrast, on the FlightAware, today, for just Thu/Fri of this week, I spotted 11+ flights between these 2 cities.

Please find below this Delta ATR 72 (Delta's ATRs stopped flying in 2008) in Delta's "colors-in-motion" livery (prior to the current "3d-widget" livery), flying here between the same 2 cities. On this route, there are no snow-capped mountains...🙂...to show. So, these are basically the flatlands of Texas and the lowlands of Mississippi Bayou, the most significant landmark is the mighty Mississippi River that I've overflown on my way (the river looking "shapelessly flat" and "docile" in my shot #s 8-10). I've (RW) visited this River and the Bayou country on several occasions... (not counting my favorite Hallmark Bayou country romantics that I've also seen more than once...🙂...) ...

This ATR was a delight to fly from take-off to touch-down (no blemishes found) ...certainly one of the best (MS/Asobo/Hans Hartmann) turboprop commercial planes for us virtual flyers. And, of course, many of us might also remember Hans Hartmann's "trendsetting" F1 ATR from the glory days of (FSX) SIM...🙂...I found, still around here, the Avsim post from "November 2004". The Title says, "Flight1 ATR RELEASED !!!..." (note capitalization)"...followed by "30"...Yes, thirty..."!" Exclamation marks, if I counted right...🙂...Oh well...only 20 years have passed since...for the better in our SIMs...

Thanks for viewing my set of ATR pictures. Hope you enjoy.  Happy flying...!

Beautiful shots...both inside and out. Really love the ATR!

Appreciated the comment, John...!

Fully agree, this ATR is great fun to fly in our SIM...navigation, ILS...everything worked out so beautifully...was one of my best flight experiences ever...

Still have fond (bygone) memories of that F1 ATR (from the same developer). It was on a DVD I recall...🙂...

Very nice shots! 😉 

I have it but haven't learned to fly it yet. Great pics.

Nice shots, thanks for showing !

cheers 😉

Well done, my friend. When I look at your screenshots, I always have the impression, you don't take them, you compose them! 🙂

Folks:

Many thanks for the comments and feedback...!!