EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9292 posts, RR: 12 Reply 1, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 7244 times:
It's in storage......Sept 11th.....Bankruptcy......
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
Dayflyer From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 3807 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 7220 times:
No money, not enough passengers, fuel costs too high, .....
MD11LuxuryLinr From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 1385 posts, RR: 16 Reply 3, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 7214 times:
It's kind of hard to say, really, that the airplane is in bad shape. Sure the paint is faded, but that's what happens when they sit in a sunny storage spot like VCV.
Why spend money to make it look better if it's just going to sit still?...
Caution wake turbulence, you are following a heavy jet.
Ordpark From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 543 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 7207 times:
Don't know which aircraft this is, I assume that it is one of the ones parked at VCV and the photo was taken recently....If I'm corrent, than this aircraft no longer belongs to United so your question should be directed to the bank that owns the aircraft!
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3295 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 7187 times:
It's in storage......Sept 11th.....Bankruptcy......
Thanks for the in-depth, non-obvious comment.
The fact is, the plane could not have been there for more then 3 years and many other aircraft have been in storage much longer but remaining in better condition.
Ual777contrail From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 7155 times:
It was probably one returned to the lessor. UAL has pulled all of our 747's out of VCV and are in service. The ones we got rid of are still sitting. I go to work tomorrow, I will try to get some info for you.
Ua777222 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, RR: 13 Reply 7, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 7002 times:
Now when it goes back to the lessor isn't it their issue to take care of the a/c despite the fact that it has United colors? That or the recipient of the a/c.....
N867BX From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 339 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 6780 times:
I don't think the plane is in bad shape. Looks like windows and engines are covered. It may not look like much, but I'm sure it is well preserved.
N1120a From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25869 posts, RR: 79 Reply 9, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 6743 times:
The plane just looks like the paint has faded. It is all taped up and covered, which means it will not be B/U anytime soon. A lot of times the planes that will be put back into service look like crap because they are waiting to be put back into service and the old paint is not of consequence, and the tape makes them look cluttered
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
Uadc8contrail From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 1782 posts, RR: 10 Reply 10, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 6738 times:
flight152,
to quote you....thanks for the in depth non obvious comment(non biased) as well.....i was in vcv on 11/15-16 and i can tell you that ual has on site mechs that keep servicing these a/c(the ones that ual still has)the a/c that you have ellequently so pictured does not belong to ual(take alook at the N number)..it has been covered up...the a/c that ual has kept that are--still--there have the reg numbers on the fuselage...even though the windows and wheels have been covered up...now if you want to see a/c in disrepair. take alook at those ex twa,aa 762s laying around like toys in the sand box with out wings,tails and engines on their sides with the starboard side windows looking straight up to the sky not to mention a load of delta metal which were 3 to 1 when it came to a/c parked there amongst all the other carriers there......got to watch a dismantling of a tower air 742 and it was incredible...sad to see it go that way as one can only think of where that a/c has been and now to see it torn to shreds
BIGBlack From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 600 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 5991 times:
Burnsie28 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 7421 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 5867 times:
UAL has pulled all of our 747's out of VCV and are in service.
Again who is OUR, you dont work for UA (so says your profile) and your not a direct family member are you???
Anyway, your right, they are out of VCV, in fact, about 3-5 are to enter service again, but they are with NW now :LOL:
"Some People Just Know How To Fly"- Best slogan ever, RIP NW 1926-2009
Jetblue From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 388 posts, RR: 5 Reply 13, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 5789 times:
Could it be the exposure in the photo? With the dark dirt it's sitting on, the plane ay have not been exposed enough. I know I've taken pictures with slightly off settings and the United planes looked pretty faded, though they weren't in reality. Just a thought.
You guys should see some of our United Express BAe-146s...talk about faded and unattractive. Those planes have zero shine to them. It's like they were painted with household paint or something.
jetBlue
We know for you it's not just a seat on a flight to a place. It's a seat on a flight to your life.
Ual777contrail From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 5507 times:
burnsie,
Stick to school, it seems the aviation world and you stating the obvious isn't your cup of tea.
UALDC8 does work for UAL, and don't be so naive, and don't believe everything you read.
jetblue,
those BAE-146's have been mules for AWAC. They have been to the mountains and sun baked for years. They are faded and old, imagine if they painted one in the new scheme. NICE.
Ultrapig From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 4914 times:
slightly off subject-but when older planes like this one are converted to freighters the windows are usually removed (or are they simply covered?). Why-I know packages don't have to look outside but are windows heavier that 'no windows" -
Spacecadet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3277 posts, RR: 14 Reply 16, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 4712 times:
The fact is, the plane could not have been there for more then 3 years and many other aircraft have been in storage much longer but remaining in better condition.
Well, you can't really tell what condition it's in from a picture like this (don't assume the photographer knows what he's talking about in his comments, either). I don't see anything falling off of it, for example
Windows are taped up, other parts tied off, I mean maybe that's some of what you're seeing. When they tape stuff up it can look pretty sloppy, but that says nothing about the condition of the aircraft. They're not going for aesthetics, just to protect the plane.
The paint's faded, but this is the low desert after all. After three years, that's going to happen out there. You're talking bright, direct sunlight day in, day out, high temperatures, low humidity, lots of dust in the air. I've often wondered if this is really a good place to store aircraft; it seems like they'd age pretty quickly in such an environment.
slightly off subject-but when older planes like this one are converted to freighters the windows are usually removed (or are they simply covered?).
If anything, they're usually just plugged up or painted over, but often not even that:
Speedbirdheavy From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 427 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 4409 times:
I believe that 744 could be put back into service within days. Even though it looks dirty, I'm sure all the essential aircraft systems have been sealed and maintained.
It just probably needs a good cleaning......unless it goes to Air France.
Jeb94 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 588 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (8 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 3089 times:
I believe UPS removes the plexiglass and plugs the holes as needed. Basically when the window is leaking or badly damaged. The whole reason aircraft are stored in the desert is that low humidity factor. They won't rot away nearly as quickly as they would in a more moist environment. Its all about corrosion of the structure. That 747 shown in the picture is still probably a very sound airframe in excellent shape just in need of new paint and probably interior. Of course it'll also need a good bath and the engines will need to be given a thorough run-up. There are certain things done to a plane in storage based on how long its supposed to be there and how quickly it needs to be capable of returning to service. Of course, the more ready a plane is kept, the more it costs to store.
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