I think the display pilot on Saturday was someone called Scully Levine who, when he is not flying 744’s for SAA in his spare time, is a professional acrobatic pilot flying Pitts Specials and Spitfire Mk 21’s. Now you know.

http://www.icon.co.za/~rbgmrk/pitts/scully.html

Amazing what one can do with a 744 when you put you mind to it. 😀

That SAA 744 display was great. Full throttle RR’s all the time, nothing like it. It beat the Airbus 346 by a long way, that 346 display was really slow in comparison.

That spiral climb to 8000ft at the end was really impressive. It just went straight up like a fighter(almost). To think I’ve caught the same plane on regular passenger service – well why didn’t they fly it like that, I want my money back!

The 777Lr does have a small touch more range than the 345. But it’s got two engines…

So, it can’t fly direct over the N pole. Important if you’re trying to get to NY via Asia
It can’t fly between continents in the southern hemisphere
If certain key airports are closed around the north polar regions in winter for bad weather etc, as often they are, then it’s not going anywhere at all.
When one engine breaks down it’s going to be forced to land at a remote runway and be laid up for at least two weeks and lose money big time. Why, because an engine change on this aircraft is complex as the engine is so big, and secondly because ETOPs regulations require extra procedures.

Believe me, you want 4 engines for ultra long range flying over remote parts of the world.

A shambles to be sure, I bet they’ll have to order the A345 to make JFK direct. No point India ordering the 777LR, because the Pakistani’s are using it (well someone has too) 😉

Bmused,

Good Sir, come forward into the light and show us all this incredible Airbus 346 “8000nm” quote.

Don’t be shy now. You’re making this one up, ha, ha, ha.

Not even John Leahy would bark this one out.

It doesnt exist. :p

Well Wys, I’ve heard what you’re saying as well. I understand its working as promised. There just seems to be so much static on the posts here, people claiming 8000nm range for example. I’ve never heard of that.

A lot of dream flyers here :rolleyes:

People have been making a point that the 346 can’t do US to JNB direct when fully loaded. But this misses the point that SAA is doing a lot of cargo carrying on this route, more than when the 744 was doing it. Just like VS on eastern routes.

When the 744 was flown from ATL direct to JNB/CT, it was cut down to 330 seats, and carried much less cargo than the 346. Hence it was expensive to operate in this config. But this is how they got the 744 to fly 16 hours non-stop. It’s an unfair comparison with the 346 which carries much more cargo and same number of seats, ie 330 odd.

Hi Wys,

Do you know when the 346 is going to start doing the JNB leg? I can’t wait to catch one.

Also sorry to seem slow here, but can someone also explain to me the weight problem with the 346. As I understand the 346 can carry full pax 75000 miles, compared to 73000 for the 744.

But in real life the 346 doesnt do this at all?? – according to people on this site anyway.