don’t see this everyday!!
By: brenmcc1 - 29th April 2004 at 18:22
Spectacular!
By: BY767 - 29th April 2004 at 16:55
That’s an excellent photo!
I saw the report on BBC news too with video footage. The SAA pilots must be very skillfull to fly those birds like that!
By: greekdude1 - 29th April 2004 at 16:43
Even more special as the -300s are soon to be retired, last revenue flight at the end of the week I think??
Speaking of -300’s, is TG going to keep theirs for a while? Seems like they augment 744’s on some pretty decent sectors, for instance, BKK-SYD-AKL and back switch off every day between a 744 and a 743. I was checking the Star Alliance website and for the next month, BKK-ATH, which is thrice weekly, will be a 743, until it is switched to a 744. Most recently, it was an MD11 and has been a 773 in the past. The beauty of TG is that they use a variety of aircraft on certain routes. I would like to get a ride on one of thier 743’s and MD-11’s before they are retired.
By: Bmused55 - 29th April 2004 at 08:48
Wow! I didn’t knew they had -300’s. The flap setting on the 300’s look like 10°, and seeing that they nearly fly horizontally, + the load is probably very low, I estimate the speed at around 180-200 knots. Would the AutoThrottle be used for these operations? Must be, controlling an airspeed manually that has to be exactly correct is impossible. How do you get out of this formation? I guess the 747’s turn left and right and the A340 increase power and pull up.
Of course you can handle the aircraft manually. The Captain will do the flying, while the Co pilot keeps a check on speed. Easy!
And the load will be low, IE non existant as regulations state no pax jet is allowed to fly in close formation with pax aboard.
By: steve rowell - 29th April 2004 at 06:49
Very nice
By: dartie - 29th April 2004 at 03:46
OMG i love the A346:) but yea how far apart from each were they flying they look pretty close to each other?!
By: KabirT - 29th April 2004 at 02:42
Great pic… SAA did this during the finals of the Cricket World Cup 2004.
By: davforr - 28th April 2004 at 22:48
What a picture and fantastic flying
By: Jeanske_SN - 28th April 2004 at 20:53
Wow! I didn’t knew they had -300’s. The flap setting on the 300’s look like 10°, and seeing that they nearly fly horizontally, + the load is probably very low, I estimate the speed at around 180-200 knots. Would the AutoThrottle be used for these operations? Must be, controlling an airspeed manually that has to be exactly correct is impossible. How do you get out of this formation? I guess the 747’s turn left and right and the A340 increase power and pull up.
By: MEA380 - 28th April 2004 at 20:53
very nice formation, definitely a great picture
By: wannabe pilot - 28th April 2004 at 20:42
Even more special as the -300s are soon to be retired, last revenue flight at the end of the week I think??
Does that include Ndizani? 🙁
By: Adam Leach - 28th April 2004 at 19:16
Very nice indeed!!
By: markkipling - 28th April 2004 at 19:12
Even more special as the -300s are soon to be retired, last revenue flight at the end of the week I think??
By: Arabella-Cox - 28th April 2004 at 18:18
I am in love with SAA! what an amazing sight….photo of the year so far for me… well not that far but amazing photograph!
Shaun
By: wannabe pilot - 28th April 2004 at 18:14
Great photo! I think these SAA pilots should get direct entry to fly the Eurofighters, you should have seen their display at Duxford in the Summer!
By: jethro15 - 28th April 2004 at 18:09
This was featured in the BBC News last night (Or was it Channel 5?). The break away was awsome. I’m just waiting for the video clip to hit the Internet
By: LBARULES - 28th April 2004 at 18:01
WOW! Fantastic photo, wish I was there to see that!
By: Bmused55 - 28th April 2004 at 17:54
I’d say 1000ft about the ground. And I think the airport is at 1.500 ft msl. so that makes 2500 🙂
By: greekdude1 - 28th April 2004 at 17:53
No doubt, photo of the month! Very close formation for those big boys. I wonder at what altitude they’re at?
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April 28, 2004 at 5:49 pm