Parked 747 Rotates 90 deg During Typhoon

[N1 Vibes]

Anyone who can see the airport this morning will notice that the Ocean Airlines 'parked' 747 classic, over on the T bays behind the tower, has rotated 90 degrees during the night as a result of local high winds from Typhoon Hagiput.

This 'abandoned' a/c has a number of bits missing including 3 engines, making it rather light. I wonder who was responsible for it's ongoing maintenance and securing it for the typhoon last night...

Good job nobody elses a/c was parked nearby at the time. Does anybody know the responsible party for this heap?

Regards,

N1 Vibes

[AGNES]

I do believe the Ocean 747 was intentionally "twisted" 90 to face the strong cross wind from the south.

[ACMS]

Be interesting to know what happened. Everytime I taxy past the hulk it looks worse. I was fully expecting it to blow around one day. Wouldn't take much to do it either with no weight in her.

[N1 Vibes]

Interesting point Agnes,

the authorities didn't do this with the ex-Oasis 744's and seems a waste of 3 Typhoon parking bays. Hoping to get some photographs of the rotation later.

Regards,

N1 Vibes

[AGNES]

You gave the answer already. Because of the Ocean 747's light weight, the maintenance people had to do that to avoid the 747 to be blown away. Many planes had been diverted to other airports, the parking bays last night were not that tight, the AA could still afford 3 T bays for the 747.The Oasis 744 was another case, everythings were intact, and to save parking space, they were all parked in the compass swing area.Lets see if the Ocean 747 will be repositioned to the correct direction.

[Busbert]

In understand that the bank that owns the aircraft is baulking at paying the $$$$$ required to make it serviceable enough to fly the aircraft out of Hong Kong, and considering that Classic Freighters are vitually worthless at the moment...

I know that the offer was already made by a certain maintenance provided to scrap the aircraft in Hong Kong for them, but they don't want that either...

[mr Q]

Interesting relic of the past at this url
Ocean Airlines 747 (http://www.worldairroutes.com/OceanAirlines.html)
and a pretty first officer..... anyone know her present whereabouts????
PS Pretty in an Italian way............

[N1 Vibes]

The word from a maintenance manager at the airport is it was not put that way, more rumours to follow...

[Fly747]

Yep, I reckon she'd only be a two pinter, no bag.

[Noddys car]

During the last typhoon a couple of weeks back, CX requested to the AA to make sure no Cathay or Dragon aircraft were parked on the T bays next to the Ocean aircraft for exactly this reason.At the time AA did not understand the consequences.

I guess unless someone either puts some fuel in her or ties her down this will happen. Dont believe anyone would have towed her into that position, as the airframe has no insurance, Big risk to start moving an airframe with no insurance.

[B747-800]

Has stopped flying in October 2007 and stopped operation in April 2008. So nobody will pay for anything. HKAI most propably already ownes the aircraft due to unpaid parking fees and one day the "butcher" will come and will tear her apart and melt her.

[N1 Vibes]

100% confirmed by Haeco engineer this morning. The a/c did actually rotate as a result of high winds. HKIA authorities have towed the a/c somewhere else today. With another Typhoon on the way I hope it's not parked up next to a serviceable a/c...

Regards,

N1 Vibes

[SMOC]

Also destroyed the chocks and almost hit a 777, not sure who's.

[Cafe City]

And almost took out the light stanchion.
Banished to the far end of the T bays now.

[ACMS]

Well I and most of you guys all KNEW this would happen when the wind blew.

WHY didn't the airport authority do something about it?

Lucky a brand new ER wasn't parked next to it.

[N1 Vibes]

There's an odd rumour that actually the HKIA do OWN the a/c. Yet to be confirmed, but bizarre.

Maybe they want to make the worlds largest gate guardian?

Rgd's

N1 Vibes

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/middle/5/7/8/1287875.jpg

[treboryelk]

Lucky a brand new ER wasn't parked next to it

OR a proper aircraft like the 400

[Noddys car]

aircraft now banished to the compass bay

[Lovely_Management]

As when the windsock swing swiftly under the strong wind, the OCEAN Classic is our good reference for wind direction.

[LapSap]

aircraft now banished to the compass bay


Er, no. I believe I can see it parked at the far end 'T' stand from the balcony of the ATCX. :confused:

[Shot Nancy]

Maybe they want to make the worlds largest gate guardian?
I thought the B52 Linebacker Memorial at Anderson in Guam would take some beating but I guess a 747 is bigger!

[N1 Vibes]

Nancy,

747 is still larger, but I guess the B52 gate guardian is currently the largest...

B52

- 185ft wingspan
- 159ft length
- 488,000lbs MTOW

747

- 195ft wingspan
- 231ft length
- 735,000lbs MTOW

http://www.frontiernet.net/~atlasf/Air/A101752A.jpg