The Airplane Fanatic Thread

[52-80 19274]

In rare happenstance, we have almost limitless options on our next trip in with Star Alliance.  The total trip time, layover time, arrival time, price, all are equally suitable.

From Swiss, Austrian, Lufthansa, Brussels, and LOT, we have A330, A340, A350, B767, B747, B787.  

Never tried B787 but its LOT which isn't said to be the best.

LH has B747 for nose+upperdeck seating, but Lufthansa said to not be the best J class.  Curious about A350 but it's also LH.

Fallbacks are the the Swiss or Austrian options which we already know well... 

Preferences?

[Homercles 10206]

Last time I flew Lufthansa was in J back in 2006, think it was ORD-FRA on my way to India...was an A340 and perfectly serviceable. However I’m sure their hard product has drastically changed.

All my experience since then in a premium cabin has been OneWorld in BA, AA, JAL, or CX so I’m no help...however this being the airplane fanatic thread, flying upper deck in a 747 from HKG-LAX on CX was an aviation highlight I’ll never forget even if it was their old coffin herringbone seat.

Going up the stairs, the feeling of your own private cabin, how being so far from the center of roll leads to more dramatic banking movements, very quiet, etc. I’ve also sat in regional J in the nose of JAL between NRT and MNL..was weird with that closet at the front, but you can almost see forward from the first row so that’s cool...

Honestly I’d go 747 upper deck if feasible, as they won’t be around forever plus I’m assuming it’s the new 748 so should be fresh. If I couldn’t get upper deck then I’d explore my other options and make a choice based on hard product, lounge access, schedule and bird...in that order.

[52-80 19274]

Yeah I'm thinking the same thing.  My last upper deck was also CX, and the opportunities are dwindling.  

Nose is out - the woman said NO in case there will be a crash... (i couldnt even make this up.)

LH wont accrue any miles for me to Turkish, but i already secured re-qual so its no big deal.  Only other difference is getting into EWR or JFK which seems a coin-flip.

[Homercles 10206]

Speaking of AA...remember to check those award booking status, kids! Had to call AAdvantage several times to get our Phuket trip in J changed from ‘on request’ to ‘ticketed’.

Initial booking agent made some goof on the return where my cc wasn’t charged right, it woulda stayed in ‘on request’ forever, leaving a nasty surprise trying to get home, if I hadn’t stayed on top of it...our transpac leg on the return is via CX, which often takes a day or two to ticket, so I’d been watching closely.

Can’t wait to see if there are any differences in the seats on the 77W between AA and CX.

[Ghost of LL 15565]

The upper deck on the 747 is just magical.  It's so small and intimate up there--it really can't be beat.

By the way--that Gate 2 at AUS (pictured on the last page with the BA 744 at it) has the longest jetway known to man.  It's insane.

[Armybrat 40942]

Hope that East Terminal expansion is finished by late July.

[markstanco 12640]

Guy in club just got his commercial. I was updating his credentials and asked about his new medical, said he is still 3rd class.

Without diving into 61 or 62 (I think?) Is that even possible to fly commercial with a 3? Seems like no fucking way to me. 2 minimum.

In his defense he just wanted to grab the 182 and go to OKC tomorrow.

[markstanco 12640]

Never mind figured it out, grabbed The Bible and now know.

Our insurance doesn't allow outside members to hire planes and crew. All good.

[Homercles 10206]

The upper deck on the 747 is just magical.  It's so small and intimate up there--it really can't be beat.
By the way--that Gate 2 at AUS (pictured on the last page with the BA 744 at it) has the longest jetway known to man.  It's insane.

My wife and I are flying our LAX-HKG leg on AAs 77W in business, in their mini-cabin between F and the rest of J. It’s only two rows and we are in the first with a bulkhead in front of us. I’m hoping for an experience somewhat like the upper deck on a 744...will see, at least we turn left from the L2 door.

My guy says this will be our last trip to Asia so trying to make it count. I’ve flown to the Philippines twice, India twice, Bali and Malaysia all in J so I’m spoiled rotten.

[52-80 19274]

We got the 747-800 , so it's a the larger 8-deep upper deck rather than the 5.5-deep 747-400 (which was also an option).  Also a daytime flight so dont care much for seat comfort.

On the way back found availability on the mini cabin on Swiss a330 , will be good for sleeping.

[DaysOff 7988]

Technically just -8 not -800.

[Southland 35]

oops... Asiana A330 wingtip runs into tail of Turkish A321

 

[elfenix 34365]

[AUS-97HORN 11825]

2 hours ago, Southland said:

oops... Asiana A330 wingtip runs into tail of Turkish A321

 

 

that'll buff right out. 

[52-80 19274]

2 hours ago, Southland said:

oops... Asiana A330 wingtip runs into tail of Turkish A321

 

I hope they left a note on the windscreen

[Chad Fuck 17830]

Boop.

[Armybrat 40942]

The 747 isn't dead yet - resurgence in demand for the cargo versions:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/boeing-747s-are-back-from-the-dead/ar-AAxlJMs?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPCDHP

[Bobby_Batronic 1994]

On 5/13/2018 at 5:43 PM, Southland said:

oops... Asiana A330 wingtip runs into tail of Turkish A321

 

Asiana has trouble driving airplanes. Whodathunkit?

[Homercles 10206]

Why was the ass of that A321 sticking into the alley so far? A330 driver obviously responsible for wingtip clearance

 

[woohorn 1131]

So you're sayin' they are BOTH at fault?

[Bobby_Batronic 1994]

On 5/17/2018 at 8:19 AM, Homercles said:

Why was the ass of that A321 sticking into the alley so far? A330 driver obviously responsible for wingtip clearance

 

It looks like they’re missing marshallers unless it’s one of the automated, self parking setups. 

 

Btw, Cubana dumped a 737 in Havana today. 

Edited May 18, 2018 by Bobby_Batronic

[markstanco 12640]

Asiana has trouble driving airplanes. Whodathunkit?

They have a lot of accidents or am I missing a slight here?

[Homercles 10206]

This guys video has some more detailed stills worth seeing:

And yes Asiana...who can forget crashing a perfectly good T7 in severe-clear on a visual to SFO because they weren’t watching their speeds

[Bobby_Batronic 1994]

On 5/18/2018 at 11:33 PM, markstanco said:

On 5/16/2018 at 4:41 PM, Bobby_Batronic said:

Asiana has trouble driving airplanes. Whodathunkit?

They have a lot of accidents or am I missing a slight here?

777 crash at SFO on a perfect weather day by getting too slow and none of the check pilots onboard saying a word to the senior captain ring any bells?

[markstanco 12640]

Serious business.

[Longhornmaniac8 255]

First Class on Lufthansa didn't disappoint at all.

[elfenix 34365]

pretty sure it's not supposed to look like that

 

[Cosimo de' Medici 121]

Love to see how the fans handled that hail

[Pescado_Rojo 19452]

I bet that was a pleasant ride in the back. 

[Armybrat 40942]

Bet they have to clean every seat too.

[Bobby_Batronic 1994]

Musta have used autoland. That or popped the side window and put it down Sopwith Camel style. 

[52-80 19274]

On 6/5/2018 at 4:27 PM, Longhornmaniac8 said:

First Class on Lufthansa didn't disappoint at all.

 

cant believe they let you board with those shoes on

[Longhornmaniac8 255]

6 hours ago, 52-80 said:

 

cant believe they let you board with those shoes on

Hah, I was going to wear my Oxfords, but then I decided not to bring them because of security. Opted for something easier on and off.

[Longhornmaniac8 255]

Also, fuck you.

[markstanco 12640]

 

[Buffsoldier 1895]

Boop.

[RMac5 1551]

Who was at fault on the helicopter vs airplane? Seems like a weird spot to land a helicopter.

[markstanco 12640]

Haven't read the NTSB report (if available yet) but obviously a lack of radio use or misunderstanding of intentions.

Helicopters use runways for some odd reason. Maneuvering I guess.

Heli pilots are always right, fixed wing pilots are always wrong. Dont your forget your place, boy.

[Armybrat 40942]

The NVA types didn't think so in 'Nam, and my cousin found out the hard way in his Huey gunship in 1970:

https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/K10553.HTM

After the Army finally recovered his & the crew's remains weeks later, they couldn't tell if his cause of death was gunshot, shrapnel, burns, or extreme RPG  trauma. Guess it didn't matter which. They ded.

I forgot how many choppers we lost over there.... 1,800? 3,000? Bell did a booming business back then.

Edited June 26, 2018 by Armybrat

[BTW 370]

On 6/24/2018 at 9:56 AM, markstanco said:

Haven't read the NTSB report (if available yet) but obviously a lack of radio use or misunderstanding of intentions.

Helicopters use runways for some odd reason. Maneuvering I guess.

Heli pilots are always right, fixed wing pilots are always wrong. Dont your forget your place, boy.

Every time I've flown in a helicopter we took off and landed from the ramp avoiding the runways like the plague.  We also fly opposite traffic patterns from the fixed wings in order to avoid exactly what happened in the video.  Lastly, we've always yielded to to fixed wing traffic (it's a lot easier to go in reverse in a rotor than a fixed)

[markstanco 12640]

That's an interesting look at it, I dont believe there is anything in FAR 91 on right of way for fixed wing vs helicopter but it's been years since I looked. I know a balloon has FU go around me right of way rules. Converging planes, it's easy, go right.

[Longhornmaniac8 255]

42 minutes ago, markstanco said:

That's an interesting look at it, I dont believe there is anything in FAR 91 on right of way for fixed wing vs helicopter but it's been years since I looked. I know a balloon has FU go around me right of way rules. Converging planes, it's easy, go right.

You are correct. 91.113 doesn't say anything about different categories of powered aircraft (e.g. airplanes and helicopters). 

[Thetexashammer 1062]

Preliminary report says that helicopter was making correct radio calls but airplane calls were not heard by a third party.  My guess is right of way goes to the party who made a radio call. 

Helo was doing flight training with an instructor, so you gotta believe they made their calls. 

[Armybrat 40942]

Not trying to go CR, but is there any truth to this column about the ATC training program?

https://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2018/06/27/diversity-and-inclusion-harm-ii-n2494161

[dcbc 14565]

10 hours ago, Armybrat said:

Not trying to go CR, but is there any truth to this column about the ATC training program?

https://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2018/06/27/diversity-and-inclusion-harm-ii-n2494161

Mr. Williams appears to have been picked up a quite a few conservative web publications' respective opinion columns.

Give this a good read, including the tabbed section at the bottom.  Compare it to the opinion piece you linked.  I can't quote him, but he suggested at some point that the FAA opened up hiring off the street (again, maybe not exact language, but somewhere near the bottom).  I got the feeling reading the FAA's page on the subject that it was interested in diversity reflected across the people employed by the FAA, but it did not say anything that said the FAA was throwing caution to the wind and hiring up all the crackheads either, many of our experience in the TSA lines notwithstanding. Truth is, I honestly don't know, but am wary generally.  The official statement is probably your best bet though.  Happy reading.

https://www.faa.gov/jobs/diversity_inclusion/

Edited June 28, 2018 by dcbc

[Eugene11 379]

Anyone flown boutique air? We might pick a quick hop from Albuquerque to Carlsbad in November. 

[dcbc 14565]

From the looks of it, it's going to be a matter of this and who happens to be flying it.  But the odds are in your favor.

In all seriousness, looks nice.

[Chad Fuck 17830]

So I just booked tix to OSH for this year. I can only squeeze in the second weekend because of limited vacay days. But I’m pretty excited. The Mrs. and Chad Jr. are coming with so I probably won’t make the rounds as much as the posts from the old place.

That said, there have been a couple of remarkable restos this year I’d like to see in addition to poking around all the newest stuff. Watch this space...

[Armybrat 40942]

Saw a blub on the news about Boeing developing a hypersonic airliner for the next decade. I thought the Concorde's financial flop was enough to discourage any more such attempts at faster air travel.

[markstanco 12640]

Here ya go AB....

https://boomsupersonic.com/airliner