AirTran Airways has received its 50th 717-200, a reliable short-range, high-frequency twinjet built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Long Beach, Calif. AirTran is the launch customer and largest operator of the 717. By the end of 2003, the low-cost carrier will have one of the youngest fleets in the world.
From its hub at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, AirTran provides daily flights to 40 cities throughout the eastern United States in 717s configured to carry 117 passengers in big jet comfort. The fuel-efficient 717 is the best-selling airplane in its class, with the most orders of any new airplane in the 100-seat market.
By: wysiwyg - 21st December 2002 at 18:33
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
Couples and threesomes catered for!!!
By: mongu - 21st December 2002 at 17:37
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
The 717 is however, a nice aircraft to fly on. When you’re flying as a couple, the 3-2 seating configuration is nice.
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By: wysiwyg - 21st December 2002 at 16:55
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-12-02 AT 04:55 PM (GMT)]Delighted to help old bean!
By: KabirT - 21st December 2002 at 16:40
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
thanx for that wys.
By: wysiwyg - 21st December 2002 at 16:31
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-12-02 AT 04:32 PM (GMT)]I think Mongu has summed it up pretty well.
The 717 has a relatively high wing loading (weight divided by area) without particularly effective low speed lift producing devices (flaps and slats). Therefore in order to get its small wing to produce enough lift to commit aviation it has to charge itself down a nice long runway, lifting off at a higher speed than other types.
By: KabirT - 21st December 2002 at 16:09
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
why does it require a longer runway?
By: mongu - 21st December 2002 at 14:17
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
Because it is not an aircraft that is easy to mix with the rest of the fleet.
Go for a 737NG and you have a range of sizes from the -600 to the -900 all sharing much commonality. The Airbus A320 family commonality is also famous.
But the 717 is an oddball – one size only. It also requires longer runways, which rules it out of marginal airports like IOM, JER and GCI and I’m sure hundreds of others.
By: EGNM - 21st December 2002 at 14:04
RE: Air Trans recieves its 50th Boeing 717
i’ve never understood how such a once popular design never suceeded in winning order from airlines such as SAS – seemed a logical step from some of the bigger DC-9/MD-80/MD90 operators
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December 20, 2002 at 8:48 pm