LUFC From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 80 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1564 times:
Hi, Many Thanks in advance for any information on this.
I was at Manchester this morning and watched Lady bird take off (presumably to Orlando), then she was closely followed by Hot Lips.
Have Virgin now begun the promised two flights to Orlando or was this yet another 747-400 replacement flown in from Gatwick to stand in for the much maligned leased 747-200's that have seriously seen better days and are really not fit to wear the Virgin colours. Looking at the clinb Hot Lips looked like she was empty taking off on her way back to Gatwick maybe?
I've heard that the two leases are being replaced in May 2005 with 747-400's. For me it can't come soon enough. I've had two very unpleasent experiences on these old birds - so to speak.
Virgincrew From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2004, 411 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1383 times:
It's true the Air Atlanta lease is up for the 747-200's and Virgin are not renewing the lease.
When the contract runs out the Manchester Orlando's will be on Gatwick 747-400's which will also be fitted with the new Upper Class Suite.
The Suite will only be in A Zone and will be fitted with an onboard bar which the Gatwick & Manchester fleet has never had before. Although Gatwick and Manchester will not have an onboard Beauty Therapist like the Heathrow fleet.
B Zone will now be Premium Economy aswell as upstairs.
Capacity will be as follows:- J Class 14 W Class 58 & Y Class 379
MYT332 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 9112 posts, RR: 74 Reply 4, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1368 times:
I saw G-VLIP on Friday taking off. She turned left so I assume she was off to MCO. Interesting to watch and even more interesting to see that we will be getting LGW based B744'S at MAN from next year.
FLYtoEGCC From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 947 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1362 times:
"When the contract runs out the Manchester Orlando's will be on Gatwick 747-400's..."
So how exactly will it work? Will the 747 ferry in from Gatwick, operate the return trip and ferry out again, with a different one coming in to operate the following day? Or will Manchester actually have a 747-400 based, to replace the current 747-200s?
Jetset7E7 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 1082 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1363 times:
I love the -200's at MAN, look very smart in Virgin colours, and they are fit to wear the Virgin Livery!
It will be nice when we do get a full-time 747-400 up here, at the moment its nice to have a different -400 every week, except we had Hot Lips last week!
Virgin start an extra Saturday service at the end of October/Start November using 747-400's, as well as the extar Friday service they are running now.
Mark
Retrofitted Blended Winglets - The Future Is On The Wing
Jetset7E7 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 1082 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1341 times:
Manchester will have one based 747-400 when the lease expires from Air Atlanta Europe with the two 747-200's. The extra services that are running at the moment are done by, an aircraft postioning up empty, operating the flight, and postioning back to LGW.
Mark
Retrofitted Blended Winglets - The Future Is On The Wing
FLYtoEGCC From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2004, 947 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1335 times:
I see... so in that case we can refer to it as a "Manchester" 747 than at Gatwick one then - it would make it less confusing! The reference to a "Gatwick 747" was the reason I asked.
I hope the one they base is reliable, if it breaks down and they haven't got an extra one (like they have with G-VBEE and G-VSSS) there could be some awful delays, even if they could ferry in a replacement.
LUFC From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 80 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1284 times:
“I love the -200's at MAN, look very smart in Virgin colours, and they are fit to wear the Virgin Livery!”
Sorry but these planes are a disgrace. I've had two occasions where I've had to wait over 8 hours for replacement aircraft due to breakdowns, and the interiors are dropping to bits - PTV's not working, seats broken, and a poor sirvice by Virgin standards as well. I've also had a long wait in MCO for a door and the air conditioning to be fixed. They are not fit for a scheduled service that doesn't have imminent backup and I'm surprised that Virgin has not suffered more as a result of this.
They may look pretty painted in Virgin colours, but that's as far as it goes.
JRowson From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 345 posts, RR: 13 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1285 times:
Does anyone know why the Virgin 742 got a water canon salute this morning on departure? This may have not been visible from the viewing park, but we saw it where we were down on the 6R touchdown point.
James Rowson. Canonite and lover of all things L. JAR Photography.
Jetset7E7 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 1082 posts, RR: 17 Reply 14, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1267 times:
Does anyone know why the Virgin 742 got a water canon salute this morning on departure?
May of been for a retiring pilot or something.
LUFC - Some people just have all the bad luck, Air Atlanta are responsible for the aircraft, so that is why Virgin don't suffer.
Where did you wait 8 hours for a replacement aircraft? Usually at MAN they just use the other VS 742, or use of Air Atlanta 747's that are based at MAN.
Mark
Retrofitted Blended Winglets - The Future Is On The Wing
LUFC From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 80 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1250 times:
I can tell you exactly when it was as there's actually a picture of Virginia Plain taking off on that very day on this website.
It was May 11th 2003 and for some reason Virginia Plain had to be flown up fron Gatwick, after they'd had No.2 engine in bits for three hours and then found out they couldn't fix it. We took off at 6:30pm (scheduled 10:25am)
I reckon the replacements would have taken longer to be get ready for flight than it would to fly one up.
Richard28 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2003, 1570 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1200 times:
from the v-flyer website, I understand that 1 x LGW B744 will be based at MAN, which will be rotated on a weekly basis, so that any maintenance issues can be carried out by Virgin at LGW.
Therefore there will not be one "specific" MAN B744, it will be one of the LGW B744's (currently 5 but increasing to 7 as LHR B744's move to LGW as A346 deliveries arrive at LHR).
VSFullThrottle From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 280 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 1157 times:
Hey Guys
G-VFAB will be the aircraft reconfigured (Upper Class Suite) first to operate MAN-MCO-LGW-MCO-MAN-MCO-LGW-MCO-MAN as will all LGW based 744's once retrofitted with UCS.
Jetset7E7 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 1082 posts, RR: 17 Reply 19, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1020 times:
The leased 742's ARE fit to wear the livery as they are Ex-VS birds in the first place!
Glad to see someone agree's with me!! I think they look great in the Virgin Colours, love seeing them everyday! You tell they were ex-VS machine's anyway by their registrations: G-VSSS and G-VBEE, I know one day they have to go but I'll miss those classics in VS colours!
Perhaps that was the last of Ladybird at Manchester?
Why you say that? Manchester have two based 747-200's G-VSSS (Island Lady) and G-VBEE (Honey Pie)
Mark
Retrofitted Blended Winglets - The Future Is On The Wing
LUFC From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 80 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 921 times:
With my romantic spotters hat on I agree with both of you. A 747 in Virgin colours has a majesty about her, no more so than the old 200's based at Manchester, but from a passenger point of view they are total crap and well past their sell by date and that is a fact.
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