Stressfree,

Yes, it is Lavdumper under a new name - pretty original, huh.

Anyways, do you have any idea how long before the BBJs would be transferred out? Has there been any talk about potential replacement aircraft? Maybe a return of the MD87?

. .Cheers

Streesfree is a bit stressed at the moment. The rest of us hope its not the minibus!

By the way, real aeroplanes do have the nosewheel at the back.

Fullyfine,. .Me stressed? I think not.......... .Nosewheel at the back - oh dear...... . .Lets get this straight once and for all - 1.those that can - get on with it.. .2.those that can't - fly tailwheels and call it real flying.......... <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> . .Bring on the minibus, I hav'nt done a new type rating for a year now.

Kerosene Kraut. .You're way off the mark....... Facts first, suggestions next. OK?

Next please.

<img src="cool.gif" border="0">

Sorry me again........ .Lavdumper - theres no time scale at the moment but I doubt that anything will happen soon. I also very much doubt that a return to MD-87's (or similar) will be considered. . .That is unless a tailwheel airliner could be found, honestly some people are unbelievable. Can you imagine anyone actually wanting to fly light stuff (real flying.....yawn) instead of quality kit???????? <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="cool.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

Stressfree.....

If I were you I'd be pleased to see the back of an aircraft capable of 4500nm. The company may, one day, want to use it for Bl..dy awful long sectors! A nice 733 would work a treat. One without the Long Range Tank option of course.

All the Best

fullyfine - I don't comment very often, but maybe you should look at the Techlog Forum regarding minibuses...... <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

Tailwheel V high perf' jets ?

stress free has a valid point I think,. .tailwheel is fun flying,a bit harder than. .trike gear to handle, but not exactly rocket science, just handling skill.. .(I've done tailwheel into Nayland, serious fun,. .challenging too :-)

Now high perf' jets are a LOT harder all round,. .more tech' kit to handle, higher speeds,. .all critical stuff to get dead right

so I say tailwheel is fun.. .high perf' jets are VERY challenging.

Hey, except say Sally B, prob' fun & . .challenging too, still not a high perf' jet. .though,

Blended winglet exits stage right awaiting a hail of abuse / praise depending on view points !!

have fun anyway, whatever.

<img src="cool.gif" border="0">

The bbj is a damn good aircraft but was never suited for the Ford air operation.. .I also agree high tech, high performance is the way to go, standard b737-700 hopefully for the fordair crews.. .stressfree, time to fly the bbj how it should be flown, eh ????

How long have the BBJ's been on the market and where have they been advertised.

About 6 weeks. Try <a href="http://www.freestream.com" target="_blank">www.freestream.com</a>

Looking through Freestream's website, it seems that all the aircraft they "specialize" in, have one source in common <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> , with the exception of the Challengers.. .. .Does anyone on the east side of the Atlantic read Business and Commercial Aviation? In the March issue of Greenhouse Patter, Torch Lewis writes: "Perhaps Ford Motor Co. might chance a recall in shutting down its flight department, which, except for WWII, has been in existence since Henry built the Ford Trimotor out of corrugated aluminum and bailing wire. But I guess when you lay off 35,000 workers it may appear unseemly to continue operating corporate jets. I would hazard a guess that the charter business around Dearborn will prosper as Ford's top management will still seek the certainty and security of private air charter." <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> . .. .Maybe Torch should check his facts before he writes this garbage <img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 10 March 2002, 15:16: Message edited by: fokkerjet ]</small>

I see we have a new contributor to this topic - 'supertanker' - I wonder who that could be?????. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

Stressfree,. .. .Are the BBJs still being operated on a daily basis? If so, how many flights a week do you operate them? How often are YOU flying them per week?. .. .I looked at the Freestream online ads for the BBJs - they look to be in very good condition. At least you can claim that you flew BBJs - among other great aircraft!. .. .Cheers

Hello Lav,. .The BBJ's are each flying at least 5 days a week. I'm flying 3 to 4 days a week, never very far but its still great fun to fly................... .Hows it going yourself? Are you still keeping busy? . .All the best,. .SF. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />

Stressfree,. .. .Glad to hear you are enjoying the BBJs - what a great opportunity that has been for you... I am sure your next airplane will be great as well.. .. .I am not getting the amount of flying in that I would like - I only fly a few times a month. Still working on the consulting side as well - that keeps me busy. . .. .I'd love to see some pictures of the BBJ or of you flying it. Perhaps you could either post some of them here or email me some copies - that would be great.. .. .Take care and keep us posted with how things are going..... .. .Cheers

stress free. .. .just wondered what exactly is the problem with the bbj's - and why the need to replace them with the b737-700 or -800 series ?. .. .seems to me the bbj is a more-than-adequate type of aircraft for your operations into europe. i watch your guys load the aircraft every morning/evening and i have done a performance course, and i can not understand why the need to change..... .. .you never know what the future may hold for fordair...!?!?!?. .. .best regards

Carina,. .. .Just to add my two cents. The BBJ is designed to fly long legs - New York to Tokyo, for instance. Short hops around Europe do not best utilize the aircraft which was designed to do something different. Plus, the BBJ is expensive, and used (albeit relatively new in terms of technology) are available on the market at cheaper prices. Operating a 737-300/400/500 or a 717 would make more sense in a corporate shuttle configuration. If Ford's BBJs were flying more Transatlantic flights or flights down to Southern Africa, then their existence would be more defendable from a corporate perspective. Do you agree Stressfree?. .. .By the way, Stressfree, interesting flight-from-the-cockpit airliner video/DVD being sold on Worldairroutes.com related to an island-based airline (not a commercial). Check it out! Like to hear your thoughts about that - you can email me.. .. .Cheers

Lavdump,. .Well said, you've summed it right up.. .Thanks for the link to Worldairroutes, I've mailed you about that............. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />