Condolences to the bereaved

A sad day – an A321 and reports of no survivors but the YouTube video shows terrain in which surviving an air crash would be a miracle.
Condolences to the bereaved and respect for those killed.

Interesting – GB as an island – is it to be a Washington puppet or embrace Europe?

Interesting what comes out in these threads. Washington puppet or cuddle Europe ?
Is the island of GB to relinquish it’s strength as a self protecting island (an island’s greatest strength must be in it’s defence and health of it’s people – my opinion) ?
On the other hand can we leave nuclear weapons decisions (and the actual pressing of the ‘button’) purely to outside nations (USA and Europe) ?
My opinion again – the UK’s stabler hand on the ‘shared nuke button’ is necessary, therefore GB must continue with development and support of nuclear weaponry.
A move towards all European armed forces may be something that has to be considered for the future – this is the tough one for any island race and it’s government to contend with.
It may mean embracing Europe and ignoring the natural geographical divide of the seas between GB and mainland Europe.
The economic equation is stark on this one – unemployment, health, education and managing escalating crime sit heavy on the scales opposite spending in each EU nation on it’s individual armed forces.
No one wishes to see the excellent standards set by the British armed forces diluted but maybe they can uplift the other European forces by their excellent example and discipline.

It is Boeing that hold the key to the survival of the MD-11

When Boeing acquired Mc Donnell Douglas it was predicted that given time the parent Boeing of the acquired company would rationalise on products. This is quite a normal commercial action.
It has happened before in the aircraft industry and happens all the time outside the aircraft industry.
The result is that on models/variants that are for planned eventual culling, the cost of spares, (moreso the availability of spares), and the cost of support services all escalate. These costs continue to usually escalate further following cessation of complete production of the model/variant. Operation of the model/variant becomes increasingly high relative to other in-production equivalent aircraft.
A case in parallel/point is the fate of Concorde after being cleared as airworthy following the disaster at Gonesse – escalating costs lead to one of the two operators deciding to pull out. (this is in threads on this forum).
Before anyone takes my head off, I am one of the saddest to see Concorde no longer flying, but concede to economic realities.
The MD-11 I am sure to enthusiasts and supporters of it is fun, exciting and a never ending story but ask yourselves the question – hasn’t time moved forward and are the pilot’s lives worth risking (even if they enjoy flying the MD-11)? More importantly are the airports the MD-11 approaches worthy of the risk of MD-11 related disasters disrupting other commercial operators which can/could include fatalities on the ground (not simply crew on board if in freighter configuration)?
Boeing has ‘broader shoulders’ than me and will decide the eventual fate of the MD-11 and I certainly will not be sad to see it away from developed country airspace and airports.

Has anyone heard anything recently ?

Has anyone heard anything recently?
The investigation reports are long overdue if the original dates of completion stated in the press were to be believed.
It’s all gone too quiet.

With the Scottish parlimentary elections coming up in May, and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats already minority parties at Holyrood. Would the UK Government dare shut down more than one base and alienate themselves even further in Scotland?

For what it’s worth I feel that the Tonkas then F35s ahould see Lossie pretty safe.

A fortune just been spent “Typhoonizing” Leuchars for the the Northern QRA will see it survive.

I think Kinloss is the one to go with the Nimrods going to Waddington. Perhaps with the outside hope of part (no chance of all) of it being kept under MOD ownership and allowed to overgrow to provide auster airfield simulations close to the home base of the F35.

Will the Scottish parliamentary elections have any real impact on current UK defence spending decisions when the SNP are at loggerheads about anything related to defence spending?
I agree Kinloss may be the current loser and from what I heard at the weekend Leuchars is to get 3 squadrons of Typhoons – see also URL http://www.raf.mod.uk/RAFleuchars/ and quoting ” In 2010 RAF Leuchars will become the new home of No 6 Sqn, the first of 3 Typhoon Sqns that are planned to be based here”

A very dated aircraft? What about the 744, 757, 767 and A320? Are they dated as well? All were in service before the MD-11.

The MD-11 stopped being produced in 2001 as so did the 757 in 2005.
The 767 is classed by Boeing as currently in production.
I flew on a A320 at the weekend – smooth as silk – still in production
I don’t know about a 744 ??

hi hope this is the right place to put this, i am travling with BA and just wondered if someone could tell me if i can use this for hand baggage?

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500002201&langId=-1&searchTerms=0759492

Really need t no,

Thanks

This may be a little later than you need but here is the URL from BA –

http://www.britishairways.com/trade/bagcabin/public/en_gb

•Your main piece of hand baggage is up to the dimensions 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 18in x 10in), including the handle, pockets and wheels.
•Your bag must fit into the bag gauge, available at the check-in area.

Your bag from Argos measures Size (H)51, (W)34, (D)20cm so it seems okay (smaller than BA sizes)

Thanks for the pics

Thanks for the pics.
You saw the Spartan C-27J which was not flying on Sat/Sun 24/25. I thought it was one of the best transport aircraft displays at Farnborough 2008. Brilliant smaller version of a C130J.
Great shots of the Red Arrows pilot.