IslandHopper From United States of America, joined Feb 2003, 327 posts, RR: 2 Posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 5867 times:
More evidence of the sad state of the airline industry: USAirways 737-400 N407US, N408US, and N413US are being ferried to Nimes, France to be broken up for parts. These are 1988 build aircraft, retired in 2002 after only fourteen years of service. This according to the Mojave newsgroup.
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 58 Reply 1, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 5676 times:
Interesting shot of N413US, in a transitional US/Piedmont livery, I believe thats the old USAir red scheme with Piedmont titles in red (not the usual blue).
Quite amazing that 734s are being broken up, but these 734s, likely among the first off the line, are probably worth more in parts than in one piece....storage costs are high, and since the 734 had a smaller customer base that the 733, off to chop-shop they go. Sad.
The 734, even more than the 733, has been overshadowed by the 737NG aircraft....airlines seem to really appreciate the extra seats and extra range of the 738 over the 734 (which was always just a bit short on range), thus finding new operators for 734s is a bit difficult.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 3191 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 5328 times:
What's really going on with US? They seem to be sending a steady stream of planes to the knackers - is it to keep down their costs by providing themselves a supply of self-generated spare-parts? While the 737 Classics (esp. 400) are shorter on range than NG 737s and Airbus narrow-bodies they still attract used sales - indeed several of Ansett's stored 733s have now found new homes even after one was torn up. Nobody else seems to be breaking up Classic 737s at present.
Sllevin From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 3376 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 5308 times:
All these aircraft, I suspect, are coming up on D checks. With so many aircraft out there, it would be a long time before doing the D check would pay for itself, so the planes are being turned into parts. I expect we'll see a lot of older 737-300/400's go this route in the current market, as well as MD-80's (CO's fleet comes to mind).
Dragon-wings From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 3920 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 5205 times:
Why go all the way to Nimes, France to break the planes up? Why don't they just fly them to Mojave or somewhere in the US to be broken up?
Ouboy79 From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 3993 posts, RR: 23 Reply 7, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 5188 times:
It is up to the leasing company or the company that purchased the planes from US Airways as to where they go to be broken up. Also, I seriously doubt US Airways has much say in what happens with the planes. The used aircraft market is extremely saturated right now, and there was talk a couple months back that Boeing may actually start buying used aircraft to scrap them to improve new aircraft sales.
Any opinion/comment posted is that of my own and not that of Southwest Airlines Co.
SRD737NG From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 136 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 5021 times:
Hey IslandHopper : You're not the only one that misses Piedmont my friend. What a great company that was!! I remember how happy the employees were there...as a 13 year old, I remember going with my father to Mr. Davis' retirement party (the founder and CEO as you probably know) out at Wake Forest University. Everyone at the company gave what money they desired and surprised him with a new Mercedes as a thank you/retirement gift!! I doubt I'll ever see anything like that happen at an airline ever again. Even though your posted picture of 413US has the "burnt toast" red of USAir's colors, it still brings back good memories of the good old days of the Pacemaker.
United_Fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7157 posts, RR: 8 Reply 10, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 4922 times:
I saw N413US in Kingman last month and the paint was flaking off the to of her. Sad to hear . You would think smaller airlines (Ryan and Casino Express) would want to pick these up to replace the old gas guzzling -200's .
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2735 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 4877 times:
Can anyone find out the current hours/cycles on these airframes, and how close they were to a heavy check?
On the Boeing used aircraft site, they have a 747 there fresh out of a D-check with something like 106,000 hours on it. I cannot imagine why anyone would put an over 100,000 hour airframe thru a D-check, let alone if they were going to try to dispose of it immediately afterwards.
Patroni From Luxembourg, joined Aug 1999, 1403 posts, RR: 15 Reply 12, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 4813 times:
Can anyone find out the current hours/cycles on these airframes, and how close they were to a heavy check?
Don't have any information on 407/408/413, but their sister ships 406 and 409 have both approximately 42000h/28000 cycles. (Source : Airclaims database)
Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2735 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (9 years 9 months 2 weeks ago) and read 4786 times:
That is quite suprsing. I wouldn't expect them to be scrapped till at least 60,000 hours. I suppose though the accountants thought this was better than paying $500 a month each to park in California. Hell, I'd let them park it on my lawn for much cheaper!
United_Fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7157 posts, RR: 8 Reply 16, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 4547 times:
Spacepope - they are in Kingman ,Arizona , not Cali.
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
Spacepope From Vatican City, joined Dec 1999, 2735 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 4459 times:
Caught me again. I see N413US was ferried IGM-YYR on Aug. 04. A database search shows 407, 408, 411, 413, 415, and 431 all in storage, but 413 is listed at MHV, not IGM... Guess it really doesn't matter now, as they're on their way to becoming razor blades.
Trintocan From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2000, 3191 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 4383 times:
The irony is, now that I look at my Airliner World 2003 Year Planner, the US 734 shown is indeed 415. It would thus be very ironic if this year is the one in which it dies!
The issue of needing D-checks is plausible but I still think US has a say in the destruction of these planes - if it were the lessors why are no other 737 Classics (3/4/5) being scrapped? (One may omit the 5 since it is relatively new and has been quicker to be resold, especially to East European carriers.)
United_Fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7157 posts, RR: 8 Reply 19, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4246 times:
Here's a pic I took of the 3 of them last month in IGM -
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
IslandHopper From United States of America, joined Feb 2003, 327 posts, RR: 2 Reply 20, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 4118 times:
Yeah, Piedmont was great! Another great airline (ditto PSA) gobbled up by the eternally mis-managed USAir.
IslandHopper From United States of America, joined Feb 2003, 327 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 3943 times:
BTW, this makes a total of six USAirways 737 classics broken up. The other three are being broken up at Greenwood, Mississippi. One -300 (N534AU) and two -400s (N411US, and N412US) are there. All with less than 15 years of service.
Fanofjets From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 1894 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 3890 times:
Yes, Piedmont was a classy operation - loved by pilots and passengers alike.
Here's a nice fantasy: an Airbus A321 in the old Piedmont colors:
Raven111 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 106 posts, RR: 2 Reply 23, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 3869 times:
I spotted N439US departing from IAD yesterday afternoon. I wonder how much longer it has for service?
"The secret to my success is that I always managed to live to fly another day." Chuck Yeager
Aaron747 From Japan, joined Aug 2003, 7619 posts, RR: 28 Reply 24, posted (9 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 3822 times:
If recent events are any indication, her days may be numbered.
If you need someone to blame / throw a rock in the air / you'll hit someone guilty
25 Tan flyr: Why would US spend money on new Airbuses, when they could run these 734's thru a D check for a lot less? More mis management?
26 MD80Nut: Seeing perfectly good 737-400s going to the scrap yard just turns my stomach. Nothing illustrates the sorry state of affairs in commercial aviation th
27 United_Fan: MD80Nut , I saw a TWA 767 getting scrapped in VCV last month
28 MD80Nut: So TWA 767s are getting scrapped too? Man, it's worst than I thought! It's one thing when old 727s and DC-9s get scrapped, after all, they are getting
29 Tan flyr: I bet the 767's were old 200's, delivered in the early 80's to TWA.
30 Ex NWA: This SUCKS. I fondly remember my first ride on a 737-400 from CLT-ILM on Piedmont/UsAir summer of '88. It was a very rough landing at ILM bouncing on
31 ATA L1011: Those TWA 767's that were scrapped had lots of hours and cycles on the clock, those things were worked hard over 60,000 hours. They where really worke
32 727LOVER: Which PI 737-400 made that one-wheeled emergency landing at GSO just 5 days before the US merger?
33 B777: Sad to see some of the workhorses of US's fleet getting broken up.
34 United_Fan: I thought you guys may like to see some more. I have a new host,so they won't get deleted after 2 days. I just love IGM ! Short fences and no pearing
35 RP: Some trivia on N413US, this was the "chock in the gear" emergency landing at GSO aircraft. (circa 1989) http://www.airdisaster.com/photos/n413us/photo
36 767ALLTHEWAY: Thats too bad, was just flying on a US Airways 737-400 today from CLT-BOS.
37 Flynboy747: It's too bad that US Airways is getting rid of a lot their 737s and getting more Airbuses. I would much rather fly on a 737 than an A319, A320, or an
38 Usairmech: It's pretty sad to see those Boeings going to the to be cut up and all that Us Air will have left when the smoke clears is Airbus. I suspect that the
39 IslandHopper: >Why would US spend money on new Airbuses, when they could run these 734's thru a D check for a lot less? More mis management? No, pretty smart actual
40 Tan flyr: I was unaware of the sale/leaseback deal. I still find it ironic that the 2 US airlines that went BK had Wolf at the helm, and made big commitments to
41 IslandHopper: As far as ferrying the planes to France goes...it's supposedly a French company that is going to inventory the parts for European customers. It's easi
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