Das Flugzeug From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 160 posts, RR: 1 Posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1569 times:
Today, around 12:30 or so, I was cruising by EWR on Route 1 & 9, and I noticed that it was an exceptionally windy day, and that planes were landing on 29. Since I had time to spare, I decided to drive by Port Newark and watch a few flights land. As I was making my way there, I saw an Air France 744 take off from 4R, and as it looked to me, turn 180 degrees, heading south over New Jersey. I judged this as a bit odd, as it should have continued North, but I didn't make much of it. About 20 minutes later, I was parked at Port Newark, and I had seen a few awesome landings by some MD-80s and 737s. Then, as I was scoping the approach path, what do I see turning onto the Runway 29 approach, but the AF 744!!!! It was amazing seeing that monster pass over the Turnpike at what looked like 50 ft. I could actually hear the touchdown and the roar of the thrust reversers over the turnpike!
What happened? Does anyone know? I'm fairly sure 747s don't regularly land on 29, being that it's only about 7000ft!
Coboeing777 From United States of America, joined Feb 2001, 693 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1474 times:
that's weird. The Air France 747 usually arrives from paris at around 12:30pm everyday. The scheduled departure time is at around 5pm everyday.Thats unusual that you saw it taking off at that time. Only thing I can think of is that it was on maintenance from yesterday's flight. I'll have to check it out when I go into work today.
Das Flugzeug From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 160 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1445 times:
Yeah, actually I just checked the schedule, and AF005 is supposed to depart a little after 5pm. I guess it must have been a maintenance flight. Still, pretty cool to see that huge plane landing on 29!
DonC From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 10 hours ago) and read 1383 times:
I saw that thing flying over Union County at about 1000 agl. It should be coming in at that time. Maybe it tried landing on 4 but did a late abort due to crosswinds. It then may have re-entered the pattern using a missed approach vector from 4 and re-=attempted using 29 with a headwind not a crosswind. Just a thought.
FA4AF From France, joined Jan 2001, 82 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 9 hours ago) and read 1356 times:
Hi!
I checked on our website airfrance.com and AF004 today did land at 12:58, 23mn behind schedule, which tends to testify to Donc's assumption.
I was on stand-by today at CDG and we didn't hear anything about the incident.
Iainhol From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 9 hours ago) and read 1363 times:
It all started on climb out when the captains wallet fell out of his jacket causing a dramamtic shift in the weight and balance of the 744. With such a shift the FO spilt his orange juice all over the controls, while the flight attendant in the back smugged all his lipstic! The orange juice all over the controls caused a couple shorts, causing the plane return to EWR for some repair, and for the FO's glass of Juice to be refilled!
The flight attendant who's lipstick was smuged was assisted of the aircraft as some of the lipstick went in his eye. Apart from that no other injuries to report.
Iain
Das Flugzeug From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 160 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 1307 times:
I guess it was a missed late missed approached then, followed by a revectoring to 29 as it I remember it landing just around 12:55.
How much of (length) 29 do you think it used up coming to a stop?
CdfMXTech From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 1338 posts, RR: 29 Reply 7, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 1286 times:
They stop in plenty of time. I was amazed the first time I saw the B777 land on 29, but it happens. But rest assured you won't see them taking off on 29
EWRSpotter From United States of America, joined Apr 2011, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (12 years 3 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 1287 times:
Well, you witnessed quite a rarity... A 744 landing on 29. You don't see that every day. I would have guessed that 29 would not allow a bird of that weight to land on it.
In November, I saw a AF 744 in what I thought was its normal ~5:30 take off, over Clifton, NJ (Route 3 corridor). It was unusually low for an EWR departure (normally we see Teterboro biz jets at that altitude), so I stopped to see what it was doing. A ~300 degree turn. ????
DatamanA340 From South Korea, joined Dec 2000, 547 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (12 years 3 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1192 times:
I think with thrust reversers, 744s surely can land on runway of 7000 ft. When I go Kimpo airport for watching and watch 744s landing I see usually it quits to taxiway what's on about half-a-length, about 1700m - 5800ft!
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