A sight I would have loved to see close up…. a Boeing 787 landed recently at Washington DC National Airport (known as Reagan National since 1998). This airport (Code = DCA) is the nearest to the capitol. On May 7, as part of its world dream tour, the third Boeing 787 ever manufactured (Serial number ZA003) made a very short flight from Washington’s other main airport: Dulles International to DCA. The 787 uses composite materials and its main features include larger windows than on any other plane, a four-panel windshield, better air circulation, improved lighting and humidity and much larger…
Aeroplane News (Saturday)
Category Archives for Aeroplane News (Saturday).
73 A380s in service
There are now 73 A380s in service worldwide with 7 airlines: Air France has six. Here is my January 3, 20112 review of their A380 Premium Economy Product which I scored at 78% China Southern has three. I have not flown their plame yet Emirates has 22. Review AKL-SYD September 30th, 2010 -Economy – My score: 92% Korean is up to five. My December 27., 2011 review of Economy scored them 86% Lufthansa is flying eight. See my October 11, 2011 review of Lufthansa‘s A380 Economy 80% Qantas has 12 of the planes. My rating of their A380 Premium Economy gave them 87%. No review yet. Singapore…
Air India 787 kicks off SC plant
This week, the first Boeing plane made outside the state of Washington since World War II* rolled off Boeing’s new assembly line in Charleston, South Carolina for delivery to Air India. Another three 787s will be built at the plant this year – all for delivery to Air India. Boeing, are aiming to build 10 787s per month by the end of 2013, with three produced each month in South Carolina. The current 787 production rate is 3.5 per month so they have a little way to go. Everett also will be focussing on the rollout of the 737NEO.…
Qantas gets back Nancy
April 21 saw the formal handing back to Qantas of their Airbus 380 named Nancy Bird Walton. This is the plane that dramatically “lost an engine” in a mid-air blast off Singapore in November 2010. I have previously blogged about how dangerous the incident was.. The incident dented both the reputation of Qantas as one of the world’s safest airlines (despite the fact the crew managed to nurse the plane into a safe landing) and the reputation of the giant plane. (The concerns some have about the 380 have been further heightened by hysteria over the wing cracks that have been found recently. Qantas is denying they are considering suing Airbus over the cracks but they are in…
JAL airline #2 for the 787
Japan Airlines (JAL) received its first two 787s last month out of its total order of 45 Dreamliners. They plan to use the planes to increase international services by 25 percent by 2017. On Sunday 22nd April, JAL flew the first scheduled 787 Dreamliner passenger service into the USA, with its new Tokyo to Boston service, the first time ever these two cities have been linked by direct AIR service. JAL will fly the 14 hour hop four times a week: From Boston: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This shows the potential of then plane combining its capacity…
Air India and the 787 revisited
On July 18, 2011, I declared that it was unlikely we would see a promised Air India 787 flying non stop between Melbourne and Delhi by October of that year. I was right. More recently, the Premier (Leader) of the state of Victoria, Australia (capital Melbourne) led a delegation to India where discussion about this proposed service occurred with India’s civil aviation minister. It is now believed a direct Melbourne- New Delhi service will start in 2013. The airline expects to get their first 787 in May 2012 with seven delivered by March, 2013. It is believed Boeing has agreed to compensate the airline about…
787 drawn across USA
I love this. Randy Tinseth, vice president, marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle shared in his blog that a 787-8 with GE engines, on an 18 hour 9,000 nautical miles Maximum ETOPS (Extended Operations) Duration flight test managed with its flight path to effectively draw the numbers 787 and then the Boeing Logo! Here is what it looked like. Related Posts See 787 handed over to ANA – LIVE
China Southern’s Third 380 and Airbus CEO Reassures
China Southern has been flying their first A380s on domestic routes within China. This means they have had the world’s largest number of passengers on a single domestic flight surely? I have been advised they will start flying their A380 in March from Beijing to Hong Kong. The timetable says: Flight: CZ310 will leave Beijing (PEK) at 0850 and arrive at 1220 into Hong Kong (HKG). It then returns as CZ 309 departing at 1440 and arriving 1750 back to Beijing. I can’t wait to fly it – I have been on the other six airline’s flying 380s;…
A380 Cracking Up?
Qantas Airways has temporarily grounded one of its A380 superjumbos after discovering dozens of hairline cracks in its wings. They have said tehy: 1. do not pose a threat to safety 2. they are different from the types of cracks that manufacturer Airbus found in the wings of two jets last month Should we be worried about my beloved A380?
Qantas A380 Turbulence
Qantas A380 VH-OQF called Charles Kingsford Smith en route to Singapore as QF 32, encountered severe turbulence over India as a result of storms in the region. A minute after the seatbelt sign came on, the plane began a series of drops and pitches. Some passengers has not made it back to their seats and were tossed up in the air, along with anything else not secured. Passengers screamed as the turbulence hit the plane. There were seven injuries- none serious. Passengers have praised the crew and the captain for the way they handled the situation. Plane, crew and…
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