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Polar One
Hey,
I was wondering if anybody knew which aircraft first operated the Transpolar route to New York for CX?? Tried finding out but haven't found anything! Much appreciated. Alex. |
It was B.747-400 B-HUJ, under the command of Capt M.Lowes.
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I think it was also the first flight into CLK. might be wrong about that though!
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I believe it was the first commercial flight into the current airport. Other aircraft were ferried empty from Kai Tak to CLK before "Polar One" landed.
Bill Clinton visited HKG shortly before CLK opened and Air Force one and the C-5 Galaxy(ies) actually used it before it was officially open. Obviously there's also the GFS and all calibration jets which landed here as well. I believe the very first aircraft was a GFS Jetstream41. |
B-HIB "The spirit of HK" also went in there before the airport opened.
I think the first A/C to operate direct TO New York was probably a A340-600 |
It was actually the 747-400, thanks guys for the help!!
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Actually SMOC, I seem to remember that Continental beat us to it with their 777 to Newark, which I realise is actually in New Jersey, not New York.
Please correct me if I am wrong. |
MFL? I thought it was PH who was PiC
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2 May 1998 At the fourth airport trial, the first commercial airliner landing at the new airport was made by a Cathay Pacific 747. The Automated People Mover system was used for the first time.
6 July 1998 HKIA commenced operation. The first flight landed was Cathay Pacific CX889 from New York, which touched down at 0627. The first departing flight was CX907 for Manila, which left HKIA at 0719. from HKIA website |
20 February A twin-engine Government Flying Service aircraft made the first landing at the new airport at Chek Lap Kok.
Ref HKIA |
Polar One Kodak Memory - Flight Magazine
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I think they landed at 06:00 as the airport opened, their bags dropped at 6:15...5 days later!:E
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TEAM ORDERS
The Rome flight arrived way ahead of Polar 1 but team orders dictated they hold and let Polar 1 take the glory.
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Art Imitating Life Imitating Art !
This is what happens when you don't say "checked" ! :):):):):) |
So what about:
Check Checked "Checkered" (yes I'm serious.... pronounced as quoted) Checky (Yup that one as well....yes I am serious!!) b. |
Polar One
Why doesn't the 744 fly this route for CX now?
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Why doesn't the 744 fly this route for CX now? Using todays Flightplan via POLAR 3 (G491) the planned distance is 7929NM. On average UA manages a ZFW of around 218,000kg. +/-5,000kg depending on the day(winds/route etc.). And this is using inflight redispatch. UA's 744s have PW4056 engines, 396,890kg MTOW and 242,670kg MZFW and a average of 189T OEW. Cathay has a mixed fleet of RB211 powered and (ex. SQ) PW4056 powered aircraft. The RR are a mix of 394T and 396T MTOW's and all the PW aircraft are 396T. IIRC MZFW is 242,670kg for all of them (same as UA's). Considering that KJFK-KORD (using one of todays CX flightplans) is 8191NM the B744 simply wouldnt be able to carry the same payload that the -300ER does. So not only does the 777 carry more payload on both routes, but it also does so burning significantly less fuel! United's KORD-VHHH flight leaves with 20-30 seats blocked out (out of 374 seats) on the regular and almost always at max fuel. Same basic fuel capacity of CX's 744s. However keep in mind that every aircraft has slightly different tank sizes! A few years back UA spent a lot of time and money measuring these out across the fleet and N119UA was determined to have the biggest capacity out of the fleet, which today stands at 23 aircraft. The B744 is a truly remarkable aircraft, however there are plenty of guys who can speak from first hand experience why the -300ER is better suited for these kind of stage lengths. |
Great response B-HKD!
How did you work all this out? doesn't CX also operate 744 with PWs? |
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