Continental Airlines   Boeing 737-130     N409PE            (c/n 19026)

                              

                                  Continental began operating 737s when they received a large jolt of them by default.  i.e. they came
                                   from the folded People Express and Frontier Airlines acquisitions of Frank Loranzo. They later went
                                  ahead and ordered new later model 737s themselves.   This short-bodied example is seen wearing
                                  People Express cheat lines under Continental titles, although the golden tail gives it some Continental
                                  authenticity. This shot was taken by Bob Garrard at Washington - Dulles International Airport in May
                                  of 1987, just after the take-over of PE.   This aircraft was a very early 737 and had originally been
                                  delivered to Lufthansa as D-ABEP in June of 1968.    The early 737s were retained long enough by
                                  Continental, to be re-registered into their series, this one becoming  N14209.