RE: Just wondering

My girlfriend is blonde actually! I remember back in December, I took her to BHX to see the first Emirates departure to Dubai. I took much interest in this for various reasons, but mainly because I love the A330. Witnessing this beast taxying to the runway threshold, she turns and says to me “It looks the same as that plane over there!” It is a pity she was pointing at a 737-500 whilst saying this!

RE: What I think?

I totally agree that the Trident was retired too early. They may have not sold very well outside the UK, but I tell you, these aircraft were more comfortable than the 737 and similar types. The cabin was quieter than the 737-100/200 as the engines were at the rear, and the fueslage was actually a little wider too. I find it strange that aircraft from the same era, such as the superb BAC (or Bae) 1-11 are still in service, whilst most Tridents has the chop in the mid to late eighties. The 3B in particular was a good aircraft, with exceptional performance. Remember the little booster engine it had?

What about the BAC 1-11 475 series?? This has the short fueslage of the 200/300/400 models, but also had the larger span of the -500 variant coupled with uprated RR Spey powerplants. These were designed for hot ‘n’ high conditions and could climb out of gravel airstrips like rockets. Why did it sell so poorly? Strange world if you ask me.

RE: Palmair, what´s that?

They are still operating. They used to fly the Bae 146, but now the 732 is the standard operating aircraft. Thet are still flying as I saw this very 737 earlier this month departing from BHX.

RE: Continental-Newcastle to Newark

This is a great shame for Newcastle. This is one airport which would benefit a lot from a transatlantic link, and why the hell have CO chosen STN?? The latter airport has had transatlantic services axed more than once because of poor loads. AA to Chicago was a classic example.

RE: What I think?

Like you say, it is a matter of personal taste. I was watching a documentary on Discovery Wings last night which was about Russian transport aircraft, the last 15 minutes was all about the AN-124 and AN-225. Although they are not airliners, these huge transports are the most graceful aircraft I have ever witnessed. Shame only one AN-225 was produced, but there are a few 124’s flying about all over the world.

RE: Boeing shelves Super Jumbo 747X

I’m glad Boeing have seen the light and shelved the 747X. I always thought they should concentrate on a totally new design. How any manufacturer can keep updating a thirty year old design whilst the competition is working on a brand new design is beyond me. Now matter how new the systems within the 747X are, it doesn’t disguise the fact that the design is dated beyond belief.

RE: Doing a dissapearing act?

The A300 is still a good aircraft, but the appeal it once had with the airlines is disappearing at an alarming rate. The older models, such as the B2 and B4 date back to the seventies and are approaching thirty years of age, the -600 variants seem to have lost out to the 767-300ER, for whatever reason. I prefer the Airbus machine myself, it is a lot more comfortable to fly in. The A300 has done well though, it penetrated markets such as the US (remember the Eastern A300 fleet?) and it’s smaller sibling, the A310, sold around 200 units also.

The 300 and 310 helped Airbus get on it’s feet and paved the way for the larger A330/340 types. The A330 has since become a healthy sales success for an aircraft of it’s size.

The A300 will still be seen in the air for a good few years yet, most old passenger types are being converted to freighters. The A300F is an excellent cargo hauler and offers greater capacity than the 767-300F. Sadly, a few will find their way to the breakers yard, but they have all given their airlines stirling service.

As a final note, the American Airlines A300-600 fleet make a very tidy profit for the carrier on it’s Carribean routes from Miami.