Hi Chaps,
Am sitting in my office overlooking Gatwick South Terminal Apron, and there is currently a Virgin 747 with it’s winglet stuck against the blast fence, surrounded by a lot of animated staff in dayglo vests, and with a fire engine standing by. No great panic, so I guess damage is relatively minor, but obviosuly it’s going nowhere fast.
Looks like it was being pushed back from one of the stands on the “island pier” and that the push back tug driver may have misjudged things and pushed it back about 8 – 10 feet too far 😮 .
Can’t see the reg form here, and I’m not an expert in commercial subtypes either.
Anyway, will keep you posted but it will have ruined a fair few peoples’ days… a damaged plane, a delayed planeload of passengers, a numner of stands with access and push back now blocked.
Paul F
Unfortunately I didn’t bring my camera in today 😡 .
By: Cking - 6th July 2006 at 08:21
You can fly the -400 with one winglet removed but for some strange reason, not with two!? The removal of a winglet is not a “dockyard” job , a few pannels , bonding leads and some BIG pins. But it’s a big lump and high up so you need a crane and high access equipment to get at it. I suspect that this is the reason that Boeing certified it to fly with one still fitted rather than the logical symetrical approach.
Rgds Cking
By: tomfellows - 5th July 2006 at 17:01
G-VGAL operated the VS33 to Antigua, so I’d guess, as you suggest, G-VLIP has been taken for repairs.
By: Paul F - 5th July 2006 at 16:25
She’s gone….
Looks like the delayed VS033 Antigua flight has finally got away (some six and a half hours late) under the new flight number VS033A sometime in the last 20mins or so.
G-VLIP has also disappeared from the South Terminal gate in the last 20mins too, but I don’t whether she has taken off under the new flight reference, or has been towed away for repair, as she left while I was in a meeting and away from my office window.
Paul F
By: Paul F - 5th July 2006 at 11:38
Delayed Virgin
Looks like it was the VS033 Antigua service, as the Barbados flight is shown as having left, while Antigua flight is still shown as “boarding”.
Not a good start to your holiday in the sun eh 🙂
What, me jealous? ….Never 😉
Paul F
By: Paul F - 5th July 2006 at 11:11
Virgin Caught on Fence
Sorry, couldn’t resist the post title :diablo:
LGW Departure board suggests it was either the VS033 service to Antigua (Due to dep 09:30) or VS029 to Barbados (Due to depart 10:00) as neither are shown with “airborne” times, though another Virgin 747 left the gates (avoiding any fences :D) a few mins ago.
Paul F
By: Paul F - 5th July 2006 at 10:34
Reg now confirmed
747 invloved now confirmed as G-VLIP.
She’s now been re-docked onto one of the South Terminal satellite piers, and I guess a plane load of angry delayed passengers are about to be disembarked while some engineers take a look at the damage.
Ther eis no real sign of damage to the fence, and the winglet looks okay, but angles of view didn’t really allow a good look at the winglet/tip.
Paul F
By: Future Pilot - 5th July 2006 at 10:33
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the aircraft cleared to fly with pax lacking one winglet, or is that wrong and it’s allowed to fly without pax?
By: Paul F - 5th July 2006 at 10:27
Winglet scrape..
She’s now been tugged clear of the fence, and they’re towing her away….
Paul F
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July 5, 2006 at 10:24 am