age
 

i have heard that some transport aircraft are quite old. now , when one refers to age , what does one mean? aren't aircraft systems replaced over time .....so don't you end up with a new aircraft . or does age refer to airframe ..which probably is not replaced ?

by the way , how old are the airliners that you 've worked with ?

prasanna

The theory is that items critical to the safety of the aircraft are replaced over time, so that essentially you never get an old aircraft. The components requiring replacement, be they structural or equipment,are defined in the approved maintenance program. So in theory you could have an aircraft with unlimited life, except the cost of the repairs and spares,eventually exceeds the cost of replacement aircraft. All over the world you'll come across venerable examples of "old" aircraft that have still found a usefull niche. There are 50 year old DC3's in service on every continent, just depends on what it costs to keep it flying and what you get paid when you fly it. I was in the US desert last year when United flew in 10 year old 747-400's and said they were done with them. It's all economics..............

P.S.
I've been working on 30 year old 727's and 747's, which with the recession and 9/11, look like they're finally going to be converted into beer cans.

why in the desert ? do they plan to ever fly them again?

Corrosion, the desert is nice and dry plus the land is cheap so parking is cheap.

Ooops. The maintenance people told me that United had no plans to resurrect these particular 747-400's. They'd pulled the motors to seed the remainder of their fleets with lower time units. The fleet plan as explained to me was for UAL to concentrate on the 777 for the economics involved. It was a sad sight and no messin'

UAL should sell those -400s to NWA. Is this the tinyrice of MSPF fame?

Oldest airliners I work on currently are DC9-10s.

Only if you owe him money or beer.....

Aeroplanes are only as old as they feel. With care, regular check ups and attention to detail they will last indefinitely. The problem is that the cost of care rises with the passage of time.

My father has an excellent hammer that he got from his father. Its as good as the day it was bought new from the hardware store and its only had two new heads and six new handles in its seventy years of service. On the other hand, I scrapped an axe last week when I found that a new one-piece all-steel axe costs less than the price of a new wooden handle. As tinyrice said, its all a question of economics. Try buying a new Merlin for your Spitfire and you'll soon see what I mean.. ;)

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Through difficulties to the cinema

It's not just the big stuff - GA too.

Try buying bits from the 50's for a car let alone a Piper.