9th 757

According to Maine's website, the airline operates a fleet of 57 jets, 49 Bombardier CRJs, and 8 Boeing 757s. However, the airline actually operates one more 757-200 jet. Unlike its sister ships, N369MJ does not wear the standard Maine “Wild” livery, but rather an almost plain white livery with Maine’s green stripes on its tail. It is also not fitted with winglets, and seems to have extra antennas than other 757s. The jet always seems to have a slightly different livery every time it’s been spotted, sometimes with a company logo on the tail and small Maine titles on the aft fuselage, sometimes with just a small American flag on the tail, and sometimes completely unmarked. Perhaps the most unusual confirmed sighting of the jet occurred in September 2017, when it was spotted departing Bradley International with the NASA logo and the Langley Research Center text. However, only a few photos were ever posted online before the aircraft "disappeared", and when it returned to Bradley a month later, all NASA markings were removed. Some New England avgeeks also claim to have seen the aircraft wearing the U.S. Air Force titles, but those rumors were never confirmed. Few have ever flown on N369MJ, as its charter schedule is somehow always filled up. Those who have, such as members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra who chartered the aircraft for their tour in 2019, commented that the aircraft is just a regular 757 in VIP configuration. The airline rarely ever addresses questions regarding the aircraft, and when they do, they simply respond that N369MJ is a charter aircraft operated by Maine on behalf of “private clients” without elaborating further. The secretive nature of this 757 has sparked many conspiracy theories. Some suggest that the airline is contracted to operate the aircraft on behalf of the US military, others think that the aircraft is an Air Force C-32B in disguise, while some have even gone as far as to suggest that there are multiple jets disguising themselves as a Maine 757 with the N369MJ registration to carry out clandestine operations. We may never know what the real story is, but it sure is fun to think about.

Aircraft Pictured:
N369MJ, Boeing 757-26A. Former Yangtze Airlines B-2813 (1993-2007), delivered to Maine in 2012. Shown in "Boston Symphony Orchestra" livery (circa November 2019), "American Flag" livery (circa May 2022), "NASA Langley Research Center" livery (circa September 2017).