How can the company responsible for something as beautiful as the 330 produce something so b****y ugly as that?

I still can’t wait to see it get off the ground though!

1L.

G-EUXF had to have a new nose cone after it took out a goose on the way into LHR a couple of weeks ago. Apparently it made a bit of a mess of the cone, but the bird came off worst. RIP.

The rudders are a problem because all of the tail logos are slightly different, so if you swap them between aircraft they don’t match. You often see the same thing on the nose cone where the top of the blue paint doesn’t match.

The number of swaps, rather than changes for new White ones, has increased due to the ongoing problems with the new engineering system. Although the cone on XF and the rudder on one of the 767s suggest things are improving there.

Either way, swaps or new White, they dont get re-done to match until they are in the hangar for other work, down time can’t be justified purely for a paint or transfer job. This was one of the reasons the aircraft allocated for the Blue Peter designs was changed at the last minute.

1L.

The 319 at LGW is a short term solution to lack of aircraft in the same way as the 737 came back to LHR at the end of last year.

Although the intention is to one day have an all Airbus shorthaul fleet at both London bases, this isn’t yet the beginning of the end for the 737.

1L.

Well said Grey.

1L.

That’s not absolutely true about LGW. For a long time their has been a plan for a potential southern runway to be built on top of the A23 south of the hangars, with the A23 diverted through a gap already left in the industrial estate South of that. Most of the hangars would stay between the runways, and only a few buildings in the industrial estate would have to go. Also there are very few buildings directly off the end of the runway in either direction so noise isn’t quite the issue it could be.

As for NIMBYs a southern runway would bring traffic closer to my house a few miles South-East of the airport, but I have no problem with that. Anything good for the industry, the airport or the area I have settled in is good by me. Don’t think many would agree with me though.

1L.

I fly BA nearly every day, but I don’t think my opinion counts!!!!

1L.

Welcome to the forum Touchstone. Can’t see the photos yet, but look forward to seeing them.

1L.

Well done Martin, what a great achievement. Excellent website too. I might have to take trip with you soon. Any discount for airline staff? lol.

1L.