How long do older aircraft have?

KLM MD11’s

now this is an impressive photo. Any one flown with klm on one of these birds

I used to fly these quite regularly from Amsterdam to Sapporo Japan when I was living and working on Sakhalin Island, Russia before KLM withdrew the route. I used to love it as it was such a spacious aircraft as well as having cool overhead opening doors. I have no idea which routes they operate on now, as the Amsterdam – Tokyo/Osaka Routes are operated with 747-400’s.

Think Saudi Arabian still do, though I think its the royal flight.

Yeh it is http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1032055/L/

You also forgot Iran Air http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1024296/L/

James

I forgot about KLM, how could I? 😮 I was referring to World in the military charter aspect.

KLM has recently stated at Air France-KLM’s website for investors that they will replace their MD-11s from 2008 on.
So they will not serve KLM for another decade in a passenger configuration.
They also didn’t say that they are going to convert the MD-11 to cargo….

Apart from the Dc-10’s, tristars and MD-11’s, are there any Boeing 747sp’s around? I flew on one on Air Mauritius, but they are now retired, do Syrian air still operate two of them?

Think Saudi Arabian still do, though I think its the royal flight.

Yeah and that he flys to LHR for meetings.the RAF also fly troops to Afghanistan etc

Did anyone say about DAS Air Cargo McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30(F)

James

This is usually found around the maintenance hangers at LGW – anyone still know if it’s there?

hmmmmm interesting i heard she was owned by an arab skiek from london. And the tristars are been used to take the troops to iraq because the have countermeasure equipment.

Yeah and that he flys to LHR for meetings.the RAF also fly troops to Afghanistan etc

Did anyone say about DAS Air Cargo McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30(F)

James

RAF sometimes use them too transport troops,But I think they and the VC-10 will be replaced when the A330 arrives.

She flew over my Nans house in dorset,My grandad told me the owner only base her at BOH cause its cheap to park there.

James

hmmmmm interesting i heard she was owned by an arab skiek from london. And the tristars are been used to take the troops to iraq because the have countermeasure equipment.

True mate the RAF do use the tristar and to great effect, some of them even have chaff systems fitted, but im talking about it in a passenger role.

RAF sometimes use them too transport troops,But I think they and the VC-10 will be replaced when the A330 arrives.

there is this little beauty operating out of bournemouth im not sure who owns her but she is gourgous

She flew over my Nans house in dorset,My grandad told me the owner only base her at BOH cause its cheap to park there.

James

Apart from the Dc-10’s, tristars and MD-11’s, are there any Boeing 747sp’s around? I flew on one on Air Mauritius, but they are now retired, do Syrian air still operate two of them?

there is this little beauty operating out of bournemouth im not sure who owns her but she is gourgous

Apart from the Dc-10’s, tristars and MD-11’s, are there any Boeing 747sp’s around? I flew on one on Air Mauritius, but they are now retired, do Syrian air still operate two of them?

now this is an impressive photo. Any one flown with klm on one of these birds

what was wrong with the tristar mate?

my uncles flown on the RAF ones several times and he loves them.

The Tristar is a great looking, technically advanced, plane. But the two I flew on (Delta A/L LGW-ATL-LGW) were real old bone shakers & very high cabin noise compared to a DC10.

S.B.

Luz Air, Euro Atlantic come to my mind. And there is rumor about a new company starting in Munich with TriStars. Name is said to be “Air Munich”. But could very well have been an april fools joke.

In the end it’s spares support that keeps a particular type flying. The early Tristars are becoming unique when it comes to spares, whereas the DC10 has less of a problem, the fact that the US Air Force operate them must be a big help. FedEx continue to invest a lot of money in their DC10 fleet, upgrading them to the very latest avionics spec & a two man cockpit, as well as other life enhansing upgrades.
I love the look of the Tristar, it was one of my favourite types, until I actually flew on one! Needless to say I was very dissapointed. I don’t fly often, but the DC10 remains my favourite wide body & the A320 series my favourite narrow body type.

S.B.

what was wrong with the tristar mate?

my uncles flown on the RAF ones several times and he loves them.

In the end it’s spares support that keeps a particular type flying. The early Tristars are becoming unique when it comes to spares, whereas the DC10 has less of a problem, the fact that the US Air Force operate them must be a big help. FedEx continue to invest a lot of money in their DC10 fleet, upgrading them to the very latest avionics spec & a two man cockpit, as well as other life enhansing upgrades.
I love the look of the Tristar, it was one of my favourite types, until I actually flew on one! Needless to say I was very dissapointed. I don’t fly often, but the DC10 remains my favourite wide body & the A320 series my favourite narrow body type.

S.B.

FlyWho are supposed to be leasing an L1011-500, so they could be returning to our skies if the venture finally takes off. Other than that, TriJets has some updated news on TriStars.

I was told this is now a 767 operation. Anyone got an update on this?

How long did BA use the tristar? and were they popular?

I see mate after a bit of research on Airliners.net the only ones operating in the UK have really just been running a charter for other airlines. No Airlines run a regular service with them. The DC-10 on the other hand theres now a DC-10 running into MAN once a week and a few other places.

FlyWho are supposed to be leasing an L1011-500, so they could be returning to our skies if the venture finally takes off. Other than that, TriJets has some updated news on TriStars.

A number of L10s are still in commercial service… A couple of -500s in Portugal, at least on in D.R.Congo, Thai Skies operate a few long-body L10s in Thailand, and there are a number operating under the ownership of various companies in the Middle East although these seem to appear at visited airports very infrequently except during the Hajj. However, ATA still operate four -500s out of the USA, with two having just been put through expensive major overhauls. Just for reference regarding one of the comments above, Air Transat are out of TriStars now.

The L10 has always been known for needing sympathetic maintenance, particular on the automated systems – those who know the aeroplane well can get it performing, but some of that skill was lost as aeroplanes passed out of the hands of the majors. This has resulted in L10s, arguably in some cases unfairly, being regarded as less reliable than competing designs. However, the biggest problem for long-body L1011 operations now is the engines – spare RB.211-22B engines are in very short supply, hardly any good low-hour examples are hanging on aircraft in storage, and OEM spares are not manufactured anymore. This problem does not afflict new versions of the RB.211 on -500s, which means that the RAF and the like should be able to continue to run their TriStars for some time to come.

Andy

The ubiquitous and much maligned DC10 suffered a shortened career with the major carriers because of a series of accidents and incidents that were no fault of the aircraft or it’s design apart from the Turkish Airlines disaster