It’s especially perplexing because Boeing ran such a model program on the 777. It was on time, reliable, and safe (in the face of vociferious objections over extending ETOPS at the time). It made and continues to make money for Boeing and the customers seem to like it. In short, its a REAL commercial airplane program that is successful on multiple levels.

I wonder what happened at Boeing between the early 90’s and now to make them such an underperforming organization, or if you don’t accept that, at least an organization that is unable to meet their original goals?

Could be that the last couple of lines are a little harsh on Boeing. As with the A380, and I think even more so with the787, the major manufacturers are moving into very new territory in certain aspects of building and flying the new generation jet airliners. I am an unrepentant AI fan and I don’t have anything but good wishes for Boeing in their endeavours to deliver this exciting aircraft. I sincerely hope that AI are monitoring and learning some lessons for the A350XWB project.

have a look on youtube – ‘A pittance of time’ – Terry Kelly

Thank you very much for pointing the way to that very poignant piece…all of us should see it whatever our views.

It brings back the moment last year when at 11am I was in heavy traffic in Hills Rd Cambridge, approaching the memorial there when it was time for the Armistice ceremony. At just before 11am engines in the vicinity were turned off and most motorists and lorry drivers got out and stood by their vehicles as did I. The pavements and adjacent cafes fell silent as did their staff except for one ‘man’ rabbeting endlessly on his mobile at one of the outside tables. An elderly lady, 80 is she was a day, walked up to him and politely asked this ‘man’ to show some respect, to which the reply was “do one love, eh”. The connection with ‘A pittance of time’ would be obvious to all who listen to it.

Sky High, I sincerely hope you get to Italy.

I buy and wear one each year and put a vinyl poppy on the car windscreen. I think that wether or not you agree with the current use of our forces in the middle east, and personally I don’t and that’s my business, people have payed and continue to pay the ultimate price and should be remembered by all of us for that. A couple of years ago on a visit to Egypt the four of us hired a guide and minibus to visit the cemeteries at El Alamein and I emphasise the plural. We were all profoundly moved by each of them. I have always felt strongly that it is right and proper to remember that lives were, and still are, cruelly cut short on both sides. A visit to the beautifully kept cemeteries at El Alamein is a truly memorable experience that left an indelible mark on all of us that day, both for their sombre beauty and the extraordinary care and hard work by the Egyptians in keeping these places as they should be. God bless them all.

I got to see it first hand on a 757 last week when I was in Orlando (got some shots of it), but I can’t say I like it. The CO design is sleek and well known, true… but very dull. The UA livery is so much better. So its a shame that something creative couldn’t be done with that instead. I do realise though, that it was probably down to cost at the end of the day, and the what they have done was obviously the cheaper option.

Leaves me cold I’m afraid. Maybe there’s something nice in store further down the line.

civilspotter What a great idea ! and you start it with a supurb collection of photos !
That certain Gulfstream fan may need counselling after seeing your photos ? :rolleyes: I have found he needs his Gulfstream Fix metered very slowly or he may go into overload :diablo:

So I include a small shot of a small part of a Gulfstream !! Thank you. Keith.

Too late!………..Its ward A9, 3rd bed on the left;)

cs…..what can I say? and on my birthday too! Absolutely cracking shots sir.:D
That Saudi looks very nice as do they all. I still have a soft spot for the basic G2 but I am sure the design as a whole will be around for some time to come…….Keith, you can imagine the state I’m in and you’re both responsible:D……………Nurse! my medication pleeeeze

Interesting. Just based on my own experience in an ‘Ops.’ based career, not recently concerning flight planning I hasten to add, the only Flight No: suffix I’ve known has been of 2 or 3 letters broadcast phonetically, with 2/3 letters connected with the a/c registration sometimes used by exec/private traffic. Occasionaly I have come across airlines using the suffixes Alpha, Papa or Tango denoting an amended flight plan, a positioning flight or a training movement respectively. Private pilots often use their their full regn. when using ATC as do many display pilots. I did file a full regn plan as and when required for a certain 1-11 operator and a Catalina too! I was once told a very long time ago that “If you stay in aviation long enough you’ll get to see and hear everything”. Maybe this guy was just chuffed to little mintballs with his new paint job! Deano, over to you.

A little good news this morning in that Singapore Airlines is resuming A380 operations with immediate effect.:) IMO its still to early to regard the A380 programme as a commercial failure. As the type becomes the benchmark for this category of airliner, I am convinced more customers will come. Even companies with the huge commercial and technological history of both AI and Boeing can have major problems as illustrated by the 787 situation.

Wasn’t it a compressor disc failure due to a fault in the casting that brought down the United DC10 at Sioux City?