Aviation Topic

September 15, 2011 at 08:13 AM

Brussels Airlines long haul fleet, currently used solely on Africa operations:

OO-SFM (A330-301), first flight June 1993:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/6/6/6/1960666.jpg

OO-SFN (A330-301), first flight October 1993:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/4/2/0/1928024.jpg

OO-SFO (A330-301), first flight January 1994:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/7/9/4/1969497.jpg

OO-SFV (A330-322), first flight November 1994:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/8/9/4/1969498.jpg

OO-SFW (A330-322), first flight April 1995:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/6/5/5/1940556.jpg

The planes above will go into "heavy maintenance" (C-Check) starting in November (1 by 1, substituted by one of the "new" A330-200's) and will receive a brand new interior with new seats in business and economy, including a state of the art AVOD IFE system with 15" screens (in business) and 9" screens (in economy).

Edited September 15, 2011 at 08:19 AM by Bralo20

September 24, 2011 at 10:01 PM

Back from a conference and always love the approach from the north when arriving to DCA - the river approach is so much fun not being able to fly in DC airspace and then making the quick bank to the right just before touching down!

September 25, 2011 at 10:08 AM

Back from a conference and always love the approach from the north when arriving to DCA - the river approach is so much fun not being able to fly in DC airspace and then making the quick bank to the right just before touching down!

Yep I suppose its almost like a kai tak approach very cool approaches

DCA famous river approach

I bet at dca can be rather challenging and fun for those professional pilots on wind days

CELINE RULES :flowers:

October 2, 2011 at 04:49 AM

Flying in a Boeing 717 to KMCO from KDCA and didn't know that even existed! Anyone been in one before? Airtran...ugh.

October 3, 2011 at 08:01 AM

Flying in a Boeing 717 to KMCO from KDCA and didn't know that even existed! Anyone been in one before? Airtran...ugh.

The Boeing 717 is in fact nothing more then a McDonnel Douglas MD-95 but it was renamed after Boeing took over McDonnel Douglas, before that it was know as the Douglas DC-9 followed as the McDonnel Douglas DC-9. The history of the plane goes way back to the 60's. Douglas started with studies in the 50's with early designs dating back in '62. In '63 Douglas gave approval to build the DC-9 and a first plane flew in '65.

When the MD-80 variant was launched the plane became known by his nickname "Mad Dog"

The history of the plane goes as follow:

McDonnel Douglas DC-9-10 (launched as the Douglas DC-9)

McDonnel Douglas DC-9-20

McDonnel Douglas DC-9-30

McDonnel Douglas DC-9-40

McDonnel Douglas DC-9-50

McDonnel Douglas MD-81 (McDonnel Douglas DC-9-81)

McDonnel Douglas MD-82 (McDonnel Douglas DC-9-82)

McDonnel Douglas MD-83 (McDonnel Douglas DC-9-83)

McDonnel Douglas MD-87 (McDonnel Douglas DC-9-87)

McDonnel Douglas MD-88

McDonnel Douglas MD-90-30 (ER)

Boeing 717-200 (HGW) (launched as McDonnel Douglas MD-95)

Boeing stopped the "717" line in 2008 when the last 717's where delivered. In total 156 Boeing 717 planes where build, 116 McDonnel Douglas MD-90's and 976 McDonnel Douglas DC-9's... So in total 1.248 "Mad Dogs" where made by either Douglas, McDonnel Douglas or Boeing.

The oldest ones in scheduled services could be found with Delta Airlines in the USA. Last year it retired the DC-9-30 series which was over 40 years old and until that day in scheduled service, later the -40 retired and now Delta is still flying the -50 series of the DC-9.

One of the last DC-9-31's in service a bit before retirement (NorthWest / Delta Airlines):

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/7/5/0/1867057.jpg

McDonnel Douglas DC-9-51:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/9/1/0/1925019.jpg

And to compare:

A Blue1 (SAS Airlines) Boeing 717-200:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/2/9/1/1983192.jpg

IMHO McDonnel Douglas was one of the best manufacturers of airplanes. They build planes to last forever... Proof of this is the rather high number of DC-9's, MD-90's, DC-10's, MD-11's and even DC-8's still in service today... There are even today DC-3's in scheduled service... Planes of 60 years old...

:wub:

October 3, 2011 at 04:01 PM

Well that makes much more sense then! And yes, there are SO many of their planes constantly flying over me into DCA. Some of that probably has to do with size restrictions into that airport (I don't think flights coming from more than a certain distance are allowed to fly into DC for fuel levels, etc.) but I think I probably see more of these than any others flying into DCA. However! They're not my favorite to fly in. :yes:

I think I heard them mentioning the new Boeing DreamLiner (787 ?) on the news the other day. What do you think about this guy??

Are you a pilot, btw?

Edited October 3, 2011 at 04:03 PM by riobeard11

October 3, 2011 at 04:41 PM

Well that makes much more sense then! And yes, there are SO many of their planes constantly flying over me into DCA. Some of that probably has to do with size restrictions into that airport (I don't think flights coming from more than a certain distance are allowed to fly into DC for fuel levels, etc.) but I think I probably see more of these than any others flying into DCA. However! They're not my favorite to fly in.

I think I heard them mentioning the new Boeing DreamLiner (787 ?) on the news the other day. What do you think about this guy??

Are you a pilot, btw?

DCA has indeed a restriction in place. Only flights with a maximum of 1.250nm can operate in and out of DCA. The reason behind this is noise reduction. A heavy plane makes a lot of noise so by limiting the distance they also limit the size and weight of the planes.

Boeing has delivered to first Dreamliner(s) to ANA which will put them in service somewhere this moth. Now, about the 787... I do like the plane, it's lovely, it has quite some inovations but... Unless I fly premium (=premium economy/business or first) I'll probably do anything I can to avoid flying the dreamliner... My favourite airline, United Airlines, has chosen a 9-abreast layout in economy... This is a "normal" configuration for a wider 777. 9 in a 777 is comfortable, 9 in a 787 is hell, just like 10 in a 777 is... The seats are way to narrow to be comfortable. Fortunately for me it seems that United isn't eager to put the 787 in service on the EU routes (TATL) since they lack a dedicated "first class" section so afaik, specific markets in the EU (LHR, FRA, BRU, ZRH) are likely to continue to have "premium" planes on the routes. Since the 787 is configurated in a regular (high density?) layout I doubt they'll fly them into premium markets which can sustain premium cabins (LHR as a financial market, BRU as a governmental market, FRA as a business market, ZRH as a financial/governmental market).

I'll probably fly them one day or another, but afaik not in "cattle class" unless "cattle" is configurated in a normal, confortable layout and not in a cattle layout (8 vs 9 abreast).

But besides that: it's a great plane (even though it's way to late)

And no, I'm not a pilot nor do I work in the aviation industry

October 3, 2011 at 04:58 PM

Haha "cattle class" is a great way of putting that...

So it seems like they're really using the 787 to cram as many people as possible on the plane? Not always a good idea!

And you're just quite an aviation encyclopedia for not being a pilot/working for at all! Is that a dream of yours to be a pilot? Or do you just love the industry?

October 3, 2011 at 09:25 PM

Haha "cattle class" is a great way of putting that...

So it seems like they're really using the 787 to cram as many people as possible on the plane? Not always a good idea!

And you're just quite an aviation encyclopedia for not being a pilot/working for at all! Is that a dream of yours to be a pilot? Or do you just love the industry?

Economy is called "cattle class" as a figure of joke. It's because the lack of space in economy and thus making the passengers feel like cattle

Some operators are configuring their 787's in a decent way, but the problem is that the 787 is only a bit smaller then the 777 and thus the airlines are thinking "an inch more or less, nobody will notice". But people are noticing, I've heard loads of complaints for example about Air France, KLM, Emirates, ... Boeings 777 with a high density layout where there are 10 abreast in economy. Yet people will still fly them even though they're not comfortable as long as the price is cheap enough... What we are now seeing is the introduction of so called premium economy classes, afaik it started all with British Airways more then 5 years ago. Now that "premium economy" as many airlines like to call it, is nothing more then the re-introduction of the original "economy class" from back in the 60's, 70's and even the 80's, when flying in economy wasn't something horrible, when food actually tasted good, when one would be served by friendly flight attendants instead of the not so friendly ones we see today... When drinks (even spirits) were free, when a -decent- meal was complimentary even in economy and short flights... With "premium economy" we just see how flying in "economy" used to be in the good old days. Airlines are always finding something to make more money... Charging for every bag, every kilo overweight, even meals... I admit, a ticket "can" be cheap today, much cheapr compared to back in the days, but still... If one offers a decent product a passenger is probably willing to pay the price, even if this means that a ticket is a bit more expensive...

Oh well, I can't wait to fly the 787, it just has to be in business class or first :icon_mrgreen:

And nope, being a pilot was never a dream for me... It's actually fire fighting that runs in my blood... I come out of a family of fire fighters and though I'm not a firefighter I'm still involved in the services as a fire photographer for several departments I actually don't know what brought my attention to planes, I'll guess it had to be the technical part of it... Oh well, since about a decade I'm following the industry, new planes, new rules, old planes, old rules, inovations, airlines, manufacturers, etc... You name it and I'll probably read about it or follow it. Just because it does interest me quite a bit :icon_mrgreen: However, there is a slight change I end up in the aviation industry someday, I have quite some contacts in the industry and maybe one day I'll jump ship and go to work there... Buying and selling planes is probably something I would love to do Oh well, not in this lifetime I guess

October 3, 2011 at 11:41 PM

It's very funny how flying has become more of a nuisance for some now-a-days compared to (like you mentioned compared to premium economy) where it used to be fun! This new show Pan Am is showing the old fun of flying with real service!

Maybe we'll all have to start flying private like Celine to get the royal treatment. How fun it must be to just completely skip security and lines

I play around with a flight simulator called Flight Gear (since I wasn't looking to buy XPlane at the moment) and I have gotten pretty good at performing an ILS landing with a 777! Not so good at disabling autopilot too early and following the glide slope to the runway without coming in too high or too low.

October 4, 2011 at 06:09 AM

It's very funny how flying has become more of a nuisance for some now-a-days compared to (like you mentioned compared to premium economy) where it used to be fun! This new show Pan Am is showing the old fun of flying with real service!

Maybe we'll all have to start flying private like Celine to get the royal treatment. How fun it must be to just completely skip security and lines

Well, for me, flying should be fun because I really love flying a lot. Nowadays however, well let's say that it's like picking a bus... Tight space, loads of people packed and if you're lucky they'll follow the timetable. One of the reasons I'll never fly Ryanair or Easyjet in Europe and always fly with British Airways to reach a European destination, even though I need to backtrack for every flight (Brussels-London and back to continental Europe). BA has quite a decent European business class (even though not as good as first in the USA) and the service is quite good.

Regarding Pan Am: I've seen the first episode, I'll think I'll download the second one today. The show is "decent" though the CGI's could be much better... Just a small example: they future the Boeing 707-121 however while taking off there isn't any smoke visible. The -121 was equiped with the Pratt & Whitney JT3C which was a turbojet and not a turbofan and featured water injection in the engines. Due this water injection the engines gained power for take off but this gave thick black smoke from the engines and so they got nicknamed "coal burners". Even though the 707 in Pan Am are indeed "coal burners" they lack of smoke while taking off. Quite a remarkable mistake for aviation geeks to notice :icon_mrgreen:

Regarding flying private... I've enjoyed the pleasure to fly a private jet in the past when one of my suppliers invited me to visit their factory. Even though flying a private jet, you'll still need to pass customs and security but this takes way less time ofcourse. The most fun part of flying private jets is that one can easily take off and land when you want, slots are rather easy to get for private flights compared to commercial flights. So it's perfect possible to say "let's stay another day or hour and do some shopping". And yes, a decent private jet is quite enjoyable, I had the pleasure to fly in a Gulfstream V and a Falcon and they are both very nice planes. One of the fun parts is to arrive at your destination, have a big Mercedes S-type pick you up and drive to customs & security, clear formalities and head off in less than 15 minutes after arriving.

If I only had the money... Hmm, nah, no private jet for me, it's fun for once or twice but I like "real" planes to much. The queen of the skies, the 747 is still my favourite and the 777 is quite enjoyable to fly with. Hundred(s) of tons of steel flying through the skies... Heaven on earth :wub:

I play around with a flight simulator called Flight Gear (since I wasn't looking to buy XPlane at the moment) and I have gotten pretty good at performing an ILS landing with a 777! Not so good at disabling autopilot too early and following the glide slope to the runway without coming in too high or too low.

I used to play Microsoft Flightsimulator quite often in the past but since I changed to Mac I let it drift, I bought XPlane for Mac but never installed it on my iMac. XPlane should be decent from what I've heared but I'm really looking forward to Microsoft Flight, a new version of Microsoft Flightsimulator probably scheduled for next year I guess: http://www.microsoft.com/games/flight/

October 4, 2011 at 06:13 AM

A "coal burner" during take off, notice the black smoke at the end? That's the water injection in the JT3C engines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-8p8RfYO2U

October 4, 2011 at 06:14 AM

Another one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtPRYm7YTzs&NR=1

October 4, 2011 at 07:57 PM

Ah ha! The smoke is indeed something only a big aviation geek would notice! Maybe you should write the producers and let them know that's a detail they've missed.

Flight looks good from the screencaps I saw! They have really focused on the terrain and buildings this time it looks like, which is definitely something that is lacking in most simulators I think. I only use Mac so it's too bad I don't have any PCs anymore to play it!

Edited October 4, 2011 at 07:58 PM by riobeard11

October 4, 2011 at 09:35 PM

How many here watched the show PAN AM, whoa! those were the days when flying meant something!

October 5, 2011 at 05:23 AM

How many here watched the show PAN AM, whoa! those were the days when flying meant something!

It isn't been broadcasted here in Belgium but I've downloaded and watched the first episode, I've downloaded the second one to but that one I still need to watch.

Well, my first impression is that some things aren't that accurate compared to the reality. Ok, we do miss the smoke of the "coal burners" but more importantly, the age of the captain in the first episode is way to young to be a 707 captain on an inaugural flight with a new type of plane. Pan Am and many other airliners didn't let newly promoted captains fly the newest planes, hell I'm pretty sure that he couldn't be a captain at that age...

But I like it that they made a series about one of the most famous airlines in the USA...

October 5, 2011 at 03:18 PM

I only use Mac so it's too bad I don't have any PCs anymore to play it!

Why not install Windows on your Mac. It's quite easy.

October 5, 2011 at 05:43 PM

Why not install Windows on your Mac. It's quite easy.

I'm really just not interested in anything Windows anymore for the most part. There are VERY few times that I have anything that I can't get for a Mac that really matter to me. :yes:

October 10, 2011 at 11:24 AM

I bet this brings back memories old classic adverts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Ta3Z0XlknPc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BtQsWamOhQ...feature=related

Those good old days. :kicking:

CELINE HAS AND WILL ALWAYS WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS.CELINE RULES :flowers:

Edited October 10, 2011 at 11:33 AM by robert sadler

October 19, 2011 at 07:25 AM

Those good old days in aviation.

CELINE HAS AND WILL WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS,CELINE RULES. :flowers:

October 19, 2011 at 02:59 PM

I should bring my camera to the Starbucks near my house sometime and film the flights on their approach to DCA. The patio outside is the perfect view of when they lower the landing gear...that's usually when glideslope is captured, right?

October 23, 2011 at 05:02 PM

I should bring my camera to the Starbucks near my house sometime and film the flights on their approach to DCA. The patio outside is the perfect view of when they lower the landing gear...that's usually when glideslope is captured, right?

me being a aviation enthusiast, I have been very lucky to buy my home right next to the airport bit extreme I guess everyone would say but I love it. so I thought you may like to see the views I get from my flat at Birmingham Airport {U.K}

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1406/4603646024_7382d6be74_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1106/4603632178_605b04a07c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4604436597_1a7066631d_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4767105137_93521b5d7c_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5423212960_2e55b9bf95_b.jpg

CELINE HAS AND WILL ALWAYS WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS.CELINE RULES :flowers:

October 24, 2011 at 01:56 AM

Nice shots! The 777 is such a LONG plane!

October 31, 2011 at 07:22 PM

This is a funny situation at JFK :clap: :doh: :whee: Who wants this job

CELINE HAS AND WILL ALWAYS WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS,CELINE RULES

November 16, 2011 at 10:51 PM

Pan am a new series on BBC2 here in the uk I like it. the good old days of pan am and the life of the cabin crew travelling the world.

CELINE HAS AND ALWAYS WILL WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS,CELINE RULES :flowers:

November 25, 2011 at 09:31 AM

Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson could launch his own airline after the collapse of Astraeus Airlines.

This could be an interesting one to watch what happens and what he plans on offering.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/3/9/7/1907793.jpg

CELINE HAS AND WILL ALWAYS WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS.CELINE RULES :flowers:

December 2, 2011 at 06:35 AM

I've heard of RC helicopters but never full scale jets! Check out this person's A380:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxLuShpaKrQ...feature=related

Edited December 2, 2011 at 06:38 AM by riobeard11

December 12, 2011 at 05:13 PM

I've heard of RC helicopters but never full scale jets! Check out this person's A380:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxLuShpaKrQ...feature=related

I like this SR-71, pretty cool :whee: :clap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=SDbQ5xvsrIU

and this F-16

CELINE HAS AND ALWAYS WILL WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS,CELINE RULES :flowers:

December 13, 2011 at 04:11 AM

Every day when I pull into my parking garage under my building, I wish my car had cockpit callouts to let me know that I'm at the end of my spot. :laugh:

December 13, 2011 at 12:36 PM

A interesting little site I came across a airport webcam site covers a lot of airports.

http://www.airportwebcam.net/

some of the cameras I have come across dont seem to work but the ones that do are fairly good.

CELINE HAS AND ALWAYS WILL WIN THE HEARTS OF MILLIONS,CELINE RULES :flowers:

Sign In

Aviation Topic

Recommended Posts

Bralo20

riobeard11

robert sadler

riobeard11

Bralo20

riobeard11

Bralo20

riobeard11

Bralo20

riobeard11

Bralo20

Bralo20

Bralo20

riobeard11

Matias

Bralo20

Bellamy

riobeard11

robert sadler

robert sadler

riobeard11

robert sadler

riobeard11

robert sadler

robert sadler

robert sadler

riobeard11

robert sadler

riobeard11

robert sadler

Join the conversation

Recently Browsing 0 members

Browse

Activity