Special livery
Independence One livery
A Southwest 737 MAX marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with 1776 markings and thirteen stars.
Since Apr 29, 2026 · Confirmed Sep 28, 2026
Airframe story
N1776R is a Boeing 737-8, serial 42701, delivered new to Southwest Airlines as "Independence One," a special livery marking the United States' 250th anniversary. The aircraft was built at Boeing's Renton plant and delivered from Boeing Paine Field to Phoenix Sky Harbor on February 27, 2026, registered first as N8995Q before taking the commemorative tail N1776R. Southwest unveiled the livery on April 27 and placed the jet into revenue service two days later with a flight from Dallas/Fort Worth to Philadelphia. The design features "1776" in quill script on the forward fuselage, the phrase "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" along the rear fuselage, thirteen stars for the original colonies, and a Betsy Ross-style star pattern on the engine cowlings. The registration N1776R itself is a tribute to an Overseas National Airways DC-8 that wore the same registration during the US bicentennial in 1976. Southwest has held the registration since February 2026, and the aircraft's current long stay parked at Spokane (KGEG) is only a likely inference from flight data, with no public reporting confirming the reason.
Livery guess: Southwest Airlines "Independence One" special livery. Snippets describe this airframe's delivery and unveiling as the Independence One commemorative livery aircraft
Sister ships
- N8987Q · Southwest Airlines1450 flights since Nov, last seen Oct 10
- N8996Q · Southwest Airlines1117 flights since Feb, last seen Oct 10
- N8990Q · Southwest Airlines1272 flights since Jan, last seen Oct 10
- N8988S · Southwest Airlines1494 flights since Dec, last seen Oct 10
- N8984L · Southwest Airlines1568 flights since Nov, last seen Oct 10
- N8982S · Southwest Airlines1596 flights since at least Oct 2025, last seen Oct 10
448 Boeing 737-8 are in the FAA records; 425 still registered; 424 flew in the last year. Most sit with Southwest Airlines Co (207) and Umb Bank Na Trustee (58).
From the FAA registry and observed flights. Inferences are labeled; outside facts are cited.