GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1988 posts, RR: 9 Posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2262 times:
So today I'm driving between Clarksville TN and Hopkinsville KY and stoped at one of the 33 red lights (No, I'm not kidding, 33 lights in 22 miles) on Ft. Campbell Blvd. I see a FedEx 757 flying overhead at about 2,500 or so feet. Now, this was quite the sight since Clarksville has no airport big enough to handle this, and while Ft. Campbell does, it's a full on military base.
So I quickly turned on the in-dash Radio Shack Pro-194 and tuned to the Ft. Campbell bank and sure enough they were talking to him, clearing him to land. Much to my surprise, when I was coming up on the airport, over the trees the 757 was clearing the tree line on a pretty stout climb and was doing touch and goes. This time when he contacted APP, he was greated by "Fedex "EXPERIMENTAL" 9090, turn right....."
He did more T&Goes and then went off to Huntsville Alabama before going back to Memphis.
My two questions,
what did FedEx do to move this 757-200 into "experimental" catagory, and more importantly, KHOP is a full blown military airport, and the only time you ever see big jets with title's are military charters bringing/taking troups. I thought it was illegal to land at a millitary airport, and this clearly wasn't a delievery flight. What gives??
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RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8748 posts, RR: 52 Reply 1, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2224 times:
A special airworthiness certificate in the experimental category is issued to operate an aircraft that does not have a type certificate or does not conform to its type certificate and is in a condition for safe operation. The airplane may not have conformed to its type certificate for various reasons:
Research or developmental technology: could be some uncertified nav component, different operating technique etc
Crew Training: there could be some type of training going on
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
lowrider From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 3220 posts, RR: 11 Reply 2, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 2177 times:
FedEx has done some work with MANPADs protection technology. Maybe this was more of that.
GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1988 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2151 times:
Quoting lowrider (Reply 2): FedEx has done some work with MANPADs protection technology. Maybe this was more of that.
Well, that could explain KHOP and Huntsville. Both have military/aerospace ties... I wish I had the time to take some pictures as it crossed I-24 on short final, but had to move on.
Just still shocking to see such a big aircraft cruising over a city that never has these flying around. Oh, and I also just noticed I screwed the title up and left the "x" out of "experimental!" Sorry about that to all....
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GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1988 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2132 times:
Quoting mmedford (Reply 4): Well if the Aircraft doesn't have it's official certificate, it could be tested under the experimental tag...
True, but that doesn't explain the touch and goes at a military base....
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It's not technically illegal, you just have to get prior permission first. The military generally won't grant it, but if FedEx worked something out with them, then no problems.
-Mir
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lowrider From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 3220 posts, RR: 11 Reply 7, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 2086 times:
Not necessarily, but almost all require prior permission unless they are a joint use field. Some carriers also have permission to use military fields as alternates.
Quoting GuitrThree (Reply 3): Just still shocking to see such a big aircraft cruising over a city that never has these flying around.
When airlines used to have to bring crews out to do bounces in heavies, it was always impressive to watch
dispatcher From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 247 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1674 times:
FedEx is installing and testing Heads up Displays in the 75's. This was a proving flight.
GuitrThree From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1988 posts, RR: 9 Reply 9, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1588 times:
Quoting dispatcher (Reply 8): FedEx is installing and testing Heads up Displays in the 75's. This was a proving flight.
Thanks!
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lipzoan From Italy, joined Jan 2011, 12 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1483 times:
the whole lot of converted FX DC10F to MD10F had the "experimental" label sticked on fuselage here,guess because there was significative change in type certificate,after complete replacement of avionics bay..
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