As most of our BRAVO 737 Captains and flight sim enthusiasts know, we launched one of the most creative, challenging and rewarding projects in early August. Although the delivery of the first set of #BRAVORETROZIBO liveries were revealed on August 3, the idea had been bouncing around in the team ether for almost a year.
Those of us who fly and enjoy the flight sim community do it for a variety of reasons. Whether it is the thrill of flight, the immersion of building and crafting a cockpit or the nostalgia it brings to many of us "senior simmers" of which I am included that allow us to replay the same sense of wonder and imagination we had a small children.
I can still remember going to the airport with my father on a Saturday as he had to do some catch up work at the airline for which he worked. There were always great adventures to be had from day-old stale donuts, to pulling the knobs of the cigarette machine (don't see that much anymore) to finding the best office chair and spinning to my heart was content.
Although all of that was fantastic, nothing compared to the moment when he would call me to attention and tell me it was time to walk the hangar. OH BOY! The first steps out of the offices and into the corridors lined with posted papers and slick vinyl floors. Then the final beige metal door with a super-skinny window through which I couldn't see out of because I was too short. Then the moment I had been waiting for - he turned the silver metal knob, the door squeaked and I was immediately greeted by an overwhelming smell of jet fuel, oil and metal. The first steps into the caverness hanger on the southwest edge of Stapleton Airport was filled with Boeing 737-200s and CV-580s. As exciting as it was to see these massive aircraft just sitting before me, it was that crack of the main hangar door to which my attention had turned.
The faint doppler-effect of aircraft taxiing by the door was a siren song most six-year-olds can not defeat. I pulled at my father's hand dragging him toward the door. As we got closer, the dark cavern of the hangar began to give way to the small sliver of light which was becoming more focused. As we took the last steps into the crack, which had now grown in size to be more than 10 feet wide, we could see onto the ramp. There were the concourses and planes lined up one-by-one. From the 737s to the 727s to a few DC-9s and Convairs pushing people to Aspen and back. The sound of the engines were deafening, but the bright tails and flashing paint was what locked me in. It was like each livery was a uniform or team color and they all stood at a attention. Not only as advertising, but as a fleet. An "air force" of sorts showing those who choose that company they were going to provide excellent service, the latest in aircraft and the pride everyone on the ground, in the planes and back in the office had for their company.
Those days are over it seems. A combination of airline deregulation, high AV fuel costs and a switch in consumer focus all made an impact on the airline industry. As mergers and acquisitions continued, the personalities of each airline faded. Now, those liveries are only memories or sometimes showcased on legacy livieres by the main U.S. carriers. That is why we decided to craft the #BRAVORETROZIBO collection. It is the high quality liveries, combined with one of the hobby's best aircraft.
Ultimately, we may not all have the same memories of our childhood. But for those of us that have been aviation hounds for our entire lives, we hope the #BRAVORETROZIBO collection provides some sense of joy and nostalgia for those who choose to download and fly!
NOTAM: IMPORTANT DATES FOR #BRAVORETROZIBO DELIVERY
AUGUST 3, 2021: FIRST THREE DELIVERED (WESTERN AIRLINES, PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS, HUGHES AIR)
SEPTEMBER 3, 2021: SECOND THREE TO BE DELIVERED (OZARK AIRLINES, TEXAS INTERNATIONAL & PIEDMONT AIRLINES)
OCTOBER 6, 2021: FINAL DELIVERY (TRANS WORLD AIRLINES, PACIFIC SOUTHERN AIRLINES, REPUBLIC)
NOVEMBER 5, 2021: BONUS DELIVERY (EASTERN AIRLINES, US AIR & CONTINENTAL)