Boeing 737-800 (N500WR)

The first time this special paint came to Reno, it came as last-minute replacement equipment for another SW fleetbird that developed an MX issue while at Denver. "Freedom One" was pressed into service to make the KDEN-KRNO trip and that flight arrived at RNO at 2:35 AM; several hours late. It was not here very long. About four hours later, it departed enroute back to Denver. It was here for such a short time during the dark hours of early morning that only the workers who serviced it at RNO had a chance to see it. I was away on an aviation photo road trip with a couple other photogs and as a result I missed my chance to snap it. But this time when it finally came back here for only the second time, I positioned myself adjacent to Charlie Taxiway and caught N500WR as it raced down 16R as seen here.

Congrats Gary on capturing Freedom One- Great shot as always! All 5!

That's really nice, Gary!

perfect!!

Fantástico!
Congrats Mr. Gary Schnauer.

Gary.......

Now that is a patriotic plane

Nice Capture

Freedom is a word I rarely use when I'm thinking but when I'm looking at the Starred and Spangled Banner, that's a different matter. G B A

A salute to Southwest and Gary - great shot!

Beautiful !!!! 5 stars

I counted 19 stars.

Darryl, Greg, Uwe, Luiz, Ken, Jim, Adelma, and Robert >>> Howdy to all and thanks to each of you for your comments about the photo. I very much appreciate your kind words.
Darryl, Ken, & Greg ... I am finally home for the rest of the year and I will now be able to get caught up with everything you guys have been posting. And a bit of great news -- I now have authorization to be almost everywhere on the RNO grounds AND I have escort authority so I can take others with me. If any of you are ever coming here, PLEASE let me know. I'll arrange photo spotting for us at RNO, RTS, and NFL.
Uwe .... Hey, how are you? It's been a looooong time since we've emailed. I'll catch up on your pics and send an email so keep an eye open in your em box.
Jim ... I second your comment. G B A always!!
Robert, Luiz, and Adelma .... I truly appreciate your compliments. In truth, I was very lucky. If it had departed about 25 minutes earlier it would have been a bit too dark to get a shot like this. When I arrived at RNO, it was still nighttime. I went on to the grounds and positioned next to Charlie Taxiway and from there I snapped a few pics of it at the gate on the other side of the airport. Those were taken in darkness. Then I hung around until it pushed back and by then it was dawn light. It kept getting lighter and I got lucky that it was light enough for me to get it when it took off.
Adelma ... Will send a pic of it at the gate in the darkness. (Wave)
Edward ... Reading your comment reminded me that I totally forgot to try to count them to see if there are 50. I'm figuring that if there are 19 on the other side and six along the top and 6 more along the bottom, then that would make 50. Congrats on thinking of counting them ... if I see it again I sure will do so. (Wave)
Rich, Jeff, and all others on my em list .... I'm home now for the rest of the year. Will contact each of you.

Beautiful livery.

Gorgeous livery, as an Italian I must say that the Star Spangled Banner for me is synonymous with freedom !!

Great photo!! I would pay extra to fly on “Freedom One”!! Southwest Airlines has to be the most patriotic company this century!

I’d like to see ALL of the Southwest fleet that are uniquely painted.

A stellar snap, Gary!

(play on words is intentional)

:)

Sal and David >>> Hi. TYVVM for your kind complis, guys. And David ... "Stellar' is very applicable in that Stellar Aviation is one of the agencies that made this shot possible. (Atlantic Aviation is the other.)
Pamela, Andrea, and Sal >>> I fully agree with all of you. Of all the many varied Southwest special liveries I have ever photographed, I think this one is the finest.

oooo! so cool

Thanx, JJ. (Wave)

Beautiful! Love it! 🇺🇸

Beautiful! Love it! 🇺🇸