G-VIIL is under ten years old.......the oldest of the G-ZZZs is a 1995 build machine. Considering that BA flew the classics B747-100s from 1970 almost through to the Millenium, so what I wonder has changed? Were theold Jumbos really quite bad at the end or have the Triples not been getting enough TLC from the Hangar Jockeys? Also, the LGW ( second hand LHR ) based B737-400 fleet dates from 1992 ( AD not BC )which ain't that old in my book.
Mind you I am trying to arrange a flight on an A320-100 on the Shuttle quite soon and I understand that one of them has already gone to the great airport in the sky.
Er.... ground surely.
..........Lasham for "parting out", which sounds uncomfortably close to "putting down" somehow......

Paddy

So, where in posts #62 and #64 are the tongue-in-cheek emoticons?:confused:

I was simply wondering whether you might be more likely to get answers in Questions or Spectators Balcony - which is where I see it's now landed.

G-VIIL
 

Understand the problem with G-VIIL is corrosion in the tracks that support the slats, a problem that neither BA or Boeing has encountered before and therefore neither has a fix.

Will probably need to be worked by hand as there are no capable machine programmes to rectify the problem.

Could be the parking space will be occupied for some time.

Cheers

Southender

Latest Air India Express 737-800
 

Just arrived on stand 21 @ BHX 2245z 15/02 with a rather fetching design - VT-AXP

New B747 and BA
 

Rumour at EGLL that BA are looking into this aircraft since it can fly from London to Sydney non-stop :ooh:

"apparently" (professional pilots RUMOUR network), because it can cruise much higher than the current -400, and in a sense, glide down, thus saving fuel.

Bit far fetched to me, but if anyone has some banter about this, it would be appreciated.

Regards

Just buy the A340-500, A350 or A380... Problemo solved - I think... :E

(Make sure you get cheap leases, range guarentees, as well as crew training, fuel subsidies and a second-to-none spares deal first though) :ok:

May be EK might do that on the A380 with 2 pilots ,4 cabin crew, 1 crew meal, 650 pax and min rest. Sounds about right to me

9200 nm is the great circle distance.

Does anyone know what the air distance is? Downwind on London-Sydney. And eastward across Americas Sydney-London, still downwind...

BA Aircraft order
 

Just seen on Teletext that BA have confirmed an order for 4 more 777s, "after a contest between Boeing and Airbus" in which 30-40 aircraft were being considered. Reason given was standardisation.

Is this new news?:confused:

As I understand it these aircraft that were ordered today that consist of 4 orders and 4 options are 'bridging' aircraft to enable some limited network expansion whilst the main bulk order is sorted. Management said to us a few months ago when this aircraft competition was announced that the main fleet replacement would eventually be an order totalling 40ish aircraft made up of either a mix of 777/787/747-800 or A330/A350/A380. As part of this process it was also announced that an initial small order of up to 10 aircraft would be completed to enable immediate expansion on the move to T5. As part of the announcment this morning it was also announced that the main order would be announced later in the year. Signs are good for BA, this means an expansion of the longhaul timetable and with 14 airbus confirmed orders for A320's yet to be filled it will require a number of new pilots over the next 18 months. Soin summary this order today is minor in the grand scheme of things but clearly shows the initial timetable to be on track and a much bigger order should be expected in around 6 months.

BA Airbus A320 Order
Also seems that they have another 4 A320 on the way as well.

The four new 777s are for delivery from 2009; what is the position with the 8 777s they apparently had on option, for delivery in/from 2008?

BA aircraft order
 

I vote for G-NAPS as the reg for the first aircraft :eek:

Or, G WILY, G WLSH :ugh:

G-MONB - Monarch 757
 

Bit of a spotter's question here: I worked on G-MONB the day it arrived in the UK and then at various times over the next 14 years. I remember a Boeing working team commenting on the hours/cycles the aircraft had accrued when they came over to work on it a year or so after its entry into service.
What hours/cycles has G-MONB accrued to date?

Last figures I heard of, back in January were 29667 cycles and 80496 hours!!

Thanks, Fuel Crossfeed.

There are 10-15 year A320s and B737s gone to the scrappers - it's how hard they are used rather than anno domini is the criterion, especially if the parts are worth more than the net value of the airframe coming up to heavy check.

As for the ZZZs - as nonER they are an orphan fleet and being BA aircraft they are probably customer modded up the wazoo. I think the Varig ex BA ZZZ is up for scrapping as no-one wanted it?

SAP= Sod All Parts..:eek: