Quote: Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) operated the last Boeing 737-200 flight with 737-2Q8C N741AS (msn 21959) on March 29, 2007. It passed through Shannon on April 28-29 operated by Bionic Aviation of South Africa. It routed from Victorville to Rockford, Goose Bay, Keflavik, Shannon and Lisbon headed for a new operator in Nigeria.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9292 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2682 times:
On the nose tire is a gravel Kit.........
[Edited 2007-04-30 12:30:34]
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Philb From Ireland, joined May 1999, 2915 posts, RR: 14 Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2639 times:
Quoting EMBQA (Reply 1): operated by Bionic Aviation of South Africa.
According to sources at SNN the aircraft was operated on its ferry flight by CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing Inc with whom it is registered with the FAA. Delivery is to Bionic Aviation.
Flyorski From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 978 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2639 times:
Quoting ENU (Reply 2): Where is a gravel kit used for? Never saw one before.
When landing on a gravel runway, it keeps stones from bouncing up into the engines. Used for remote airstrips in Alaska, and Canada initially, but now is also used in some Africa operations.
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CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2496 times:
Hi!
Just to clear out a bit, TAAG from Angola have been using their 737-200's with gravel kits since at least 32 years ago!!! Take a look to this photo of D2-TAA ready to be delivered to TAAG in 1975!!!
A380Heavy From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2006, 224 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2466 times:
Quoting CV990 (Reply 6): Just to clear out a bit, TAAG from Angola have been using their 737-200's with gravel kits since at least 32 years ago!!! Take a look to this photo of D2-TAA ready to be delivered to TAAG in 1975!!!
Is it just me or can anybody else not see a gravel kit fitted to the nosewheel assembly of the 732 in the photo?
Stirling From Italy, joined Jun 2004, 3943 posts, RR: 27 Reply 8, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2415 times:
Quoting CV990 (Reply 6): Just to clear out a bit, TAAG from Angola have been using their 737-200's with gravel kits since at least 32 years ago!!! Take a look to this photo of D2-TAA ready to be delivered to TAAG in 1975!!!
Well, maybe not that exact airplane, since it only served in the TAAG fleet for 5 years before crashing in November 1980.
At first it was thought the aircraft could be saved after landing short and having the landing gear fail off the runway at BUG - Benguela, Angola.
The major damage was confined to a fire in the right engine and wing.
TAAG fully intended for this aircraft to return to service, but the recovery crew destroyed the aircraft beyond economical repair during the removal process, rendering it a Write-Off.
I'll bet the insurance company made out like bandits though....since it was just a 5 year old frame, virtually everything beyond the right gear/wing/engine could be stripped off and sold, the sum of the parts here being worth more than the whole.
ENU From Netherlands, joined Nov 2006, 1166 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2333 times:
Thanks for the clarifying replies!
Just a two more questions:
- Did Alaska airlines operate this B737 as a freighter or as a combi? You can see a cargo door on the picture.
- What is the function of the upside-down T-formed projection underneath (front side) the engines?
As for supposed Nigerian operator, I first thought of Allied Air, because of the resemblance in the tail logo. But overall scheme is quite different: http://www.alliedaircargo.com/index.html .
It could very well be destined for a new operator or a private owner. Time will tell.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21675 posts, RR: 23 Reply 11, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2075 times:
Quoting Diesel1 (Reply 10): Quoting ENU (Reply 9):
What is the function of the upside-down T-formed projection underneath (front side) the engines?
The gravel kit is more than just the additional kit around the nosewheel.
On the engines, fitted to the lower part of the intake, are vortex dissipators. These can be seen on the TAAG a/c (and the Bionic Aviation 737 too)
They blow engine bleed air down and forward to reduce the chance of gravel and debris being ingested into the engines. The gravel runway equipment for the 732C also included heavy-duty brakes and main landing gear, low pressure tires, special paint on the lower fuselage to resist stone chips/damage, a retractable rotating beacon on the lower fuselage and a few other modifications.
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