Re: China Aviation - 2023

Passed through PEK today China airlines B-7877 (IIRC) looks pretty sad, it’s Parked up by terminal 2, engineless and cockpit covered up. Looks like it’s not flown since around 25th March when it’s flight got cancelled! Sadly only got a crappy picture on the phone


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Re: Boeing B-52 Re-engine News and Discussion Thread

My guess is those nacelles are very close if not the final design. Why design a different one just for testing when you have to test the flight article nacelle anyway? Yes, CFD has come a long way, interestingly the RE guys are talking about cross wind conditions, which may be more difficult to mod...

Re: New defence pact AUUKUS

UK telegraph stating similar, up to 5 Virginia supplied tonAustralia, in a deal similar to the Trident missiles where the boats are rotated from the US, then an Astute based boat from 2040, with US tech (we know the reactor is a U.S. design, and Aus use US mission software already) https://www.teleg...

Re: Boeing B-52 Re-engine News and Discussion Thread

Further on the range question. the USAF looked at new engines and in 2004 reported a 35% improvement in fuel efficiency would increase range 46% https://dsb.cto.mil/reports/2000s/ADA428790.pdf But reading up elsewhere, they are looking for 'up to 40%' increase in range. This should come from a numbe...

Re: Boeing B-52 Re-engine News and Discussion Thread

Operating both engine versions side by side for awhile also allows the USAF to harvest as much engine time as possible on the old engines prior to scrapping. I know, economics isn't even a consideration, but using as much of the remaining engine life as possible makes economic sense. Has anyone see...

Re: Boeing B-52 Re-engine News and Discussion Thread

So Rolls has started testing the f130! Not sure on the status of the nacelles vs the finished article, it exciting to see it all the same


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New defence pact AUUKUS

Looks like there are strong hints that AUKUS may become a three way design. This may not make sense for the US on the surface, but understand they have budgetary restraints at the moment which would make this advantageous, as it would keep the design timeline shorter. My personal take is that they c...

Re: British Airways News and Discussion - 2023

Not seen it mentioned, but BA are back to PVG from April 24th with a 787.
Previously this was a 777


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PhotoShoot in San Diego?

Hey all, maybe not quite the right part of the forum, but thought it would be worth asking, my company is looking at doing some product usage photo shoots, they have engaged a photographer based in San Diego, and one of the requests is airliner cabin shoots (Mostly people sitting down). I know there...

Re: Tempest Fighter Jet Programme News and Discussion Thread

Making me laugh that people assume that UK/ Japan would be unable to produce anything 6G or input to one. People tend to forget that BAe systems helped the US with production of their 5G fighters as LM could not meet their own manufacturing tolerances, they took a visit to Bae where Typhoon manufact...

Re: Area 51 gives us a glimpse

Just looks like they have painted it on top of the tent lol


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Re: A330MRTT News, Orders, Production And Testing

Any news on the Possible Brazilian purchase of RAF tankers?


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Re: Update: Jet2 orders 36 Airbus A321neo

Good to see, as someone who used Jet2 back in 2002 when they were just starting out. They came out of covid with flying colours very well from a customer perspective with their no quibble quick refunds. If their customers are not totally fickleh


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Re: New advertisement: B-52 re-engine back in the mix?

A couple of bits: It looks like the sfc on the 725 is roughly 20% better than the tf-33. I'm pretty sure its quite a bit more than that... more like 40%. At least that's what I've been hearing, and it makes sense as the TF-33 is ~60 years old. TIT alone is probably less than half of what the BR725'...

Re: Updated: RR Will Provide Jet Engines For The B-52 Re-engine

RobertoMugabe wrote:

Thank you for the info, I still wish the PW or GE options had won based on previous use. I meant the recent troubles RR has been in, are they going to have issues meeting production commitments?

Re: Does having status motivate you to fly more?

Only if you get the associated air miles!

Re: New advertisement: B-52 re-engine back in the mix?

747classic wrote:

Is it possible to use a B-52G (how many are left?) as an attrition aircraft for the re-engining program, because the major difference between the -H and - G are the engines.

Re: New advertisement: B-52 re-engine back in the mix?

Didn’t realise the massive IR blisters under the nose would be removed at the same time, that will probably be the most noticeable change visually (and imagine they would have a not insignificant effect on performance with drag).
Is there any chance we will see a name change to B52I?

Re: New defence pact AUUKUS

Sorry for any confusion, in the original competition, Japan offered the Soryu submarine. Unlike many of the competitors they were only offering assemble and fit out of the submarines, less than offered by competitors, think they moved a little to offer some build too https://www.afr.com/policy/forei...

Re: New defence pact AUUKUS

If by similar you mean that Australia doesn't have the capability to build it despite insisting on it, then yes it seems that way. I'm sure the price and delays could have come down if the plan was changed to production in France instead. Is that a reason to go instead for UK made or US made ? As f...

Re: New defence pact AUUKUS

A lot of talk about the ‘stab in the back’, but this project has been on a downward spiral for some time. And that’s not even including issues over the French insistence on taking their full 1hr lunch break. The price has rocketed from $40b to $50b, then $90b and is expected to be more. The entry da...

Re: New defence pact AUKUS

Astute makes a lot os sense, if they can use the PWR3 (developed for the dreadnaught class) , its supposed to be based on a US design using UK reactor technology. However suspect they will use the US fire control System (BYG-1) selected for the Attack Class. This has apparently been under discussion...

Re: New defence pact AUUKUS

Think Astute type design has some key advantages, cost being a major one. Naval-technology.com stated the the Astute came in around $1.83b, and the Virginia upgrades at $3.2b. Other key is the nuclear power plant, with the RR Core H requiring fewer refits (a big bonus if you want to avoid getting in...

Re: New defence pact AUUKUS

Interesting they are also talking about sharing bases, technology etc. So wondering if Aus will bring in any F35b, with the Royal Navy stretching its legs, it could be an interesting development to have them allocated to the Royal Navy carriers, at least when they visit the region, along with an esc...

Re: New Russian Fighter Jet

Interesting they consider Argentina a viable customer, not sure how able they would be afford a couple of squadrons of 5th gen fighters


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New British aircraft carriers - News and Discussion Thread

Very cool video. It looks like a Bush prop taking off at such short distance. Does it mean the regular thrust versions of the F35 are a no no on this carrier type? I haven't been tracking the details but I'm not seeing any cable-type rubber bands. This raised an interesting question, ‘theoretically...

Re: British Airways Boeing 767 - Club Europe Trip Report (Video TR available as well)

I had a 767 on LHR-AMS about the same time (2018?). I used to fly them fairly regularly LHR-RUH in the late 90s/00s, so strange being go back on board. Down the back it was a bit of a shock to see how dated it all seemed, with the overhead bins unable to take wheelie bins straight on, they got ramme...

Re: Boeing CEO's Comments On Their Next Airplane

Because the 737-8 costs more than the A320. Boeing has a huge profit margin on the 737. Boeing is content with being in second place when they are easily making twice the profit margin of the competitor. Now after the Max crisis they have enough margin to offer discounts to easily keep the Max prod...

Re: Boeing CEO's Comments On Their Next Airplane

I find it interesting that Calhoun is talking about a NMA, 270 seats first. Entry 2030-2035 at least. Which will significantly overlap their own 787. Airbus is planning a new wing for an A322 (presumably being the centre of the range with A320 at the bottom, possible a323?). Is Boeing just ceding th...

Re: A322 may have new engine, wings and 12 extra seats

If that's all true, then that wing can be built by Boeing on a new small aircraft for Southwest, with a capacity of 200 and 3,000 nm range. 3-3 seating or twin aisle 2-2-2. They can, but we are starting with the assumption they can’t just fit a new wing to the 737, it’s clear it needs to be a new s...

Re: Boeing CEO's Comments On Their Next Airplane

How can it be a 737 replacement, Boeing needs to recoup as much as it can from the existing MAX product line. The weak spot in their line up is the MAX9, 10, 200 so an NMA that sits between the MAX9 and the 787-8 seems to me to be their only option for a new build project starting in the next few y...

Re: Boeing CEO's Comments On Their Next Airplane

Interesting chat in another thread with AB proposing an A322 (+12 seats over the a321)with carbon fibre wings for launch in 2025. This maybe mentioned with a view to spoiling Boeing’s parade and taking the bottom off the NMA market


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Re: A322 may have new engine, wings and 12 extra seats

Interesting on many points The extra couple of seats closes the gap to the a330, and really make a more direct 757 replacement. With Boeing still dragging its feet, this could be some very easy wins for Airbus (Deltas 100+ 757 fleet being one), and further damages the business case for the NMA (or f...

Re: UK looking to update Chinook fleet

Hopefully that will mean ZA718 heads to a good museum!


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Re: Virgin Atlantic 840P LHR-LAS

How does their condition/age/ hrs etc compare to the BA birds being offloaded?! Or is engine commonality better with the virgin birds?


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Re: Concorde 4590 : Could It Have Been Landed ?

It’s one of those events that theoretically could have landed... but with a great deal of hindsight. Knowing exactly what is happening at the time (and without the issues mentioned above?), increases the chances considerably.


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Re: India: New Carrier Aircraft, STOBAR...inc Rafale/ Hornet

Interesting, they can probably make it work but I have to wonder how limited their weapons load will be using a ski jump I don’t think it comes close to what is possible with a catapult launch Agree, though I understand the Indians are really not happy with the performance of the Russian jets, so I...

India: New Carrier Aircraft, STOBAR...inc Rafale/ Hornet

I've seen recently that India is widening its search for new carrier based aircraft. WHat is perhaps more interesting is that they are also including the Rafale and Hornet in this mix, interesting as India operates STOBAR carriers (Short Take Off But Arrested Landing) with a ski jump instead of a ca...

Re: RAF's VIP A330 MRTT getting 'Austin Powers' Repaint

Personally I think the Daily Mail article was a little tongue in cheek! Someone posted an image on twitter claiming to show what it 'will' look like, personally this just looks like a rip off from the French presidential aircraft. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EaysvfCXYAAXIci?format=jpg&name=small

Re: RAF's VIP A330 MRTT getting 'Austin Powers' Repaint

This is the old transport command scheme, they could get away with a more colourful tail though.

Re: RAF's VIP A330 MRTT getting 'Austin Powers' Repaint

The old vc10 transport command scheme (grey bottom, white top with blue lightning stripe down the middle) was pretty good (a nod to history and vaguely similar to the current scheme) combine that with a more colourful tail, might be fitting, though it’s in danger of just looking like British airway...

RAF's VIP A330 MRTT getting 'Austin Powers' Repaint

The old vc10 transport command scheme (grey bottom, shite top with blue lightning stripe down the middle) was pretty good (a nod to history and vaguely similar to the current scheme) combine that with a more colourful tail, might be fitting, though it’s in danger of just looking like British airways...

Re: How will coronavirus impact the shift from air to rail travel?

Yes, apparently the deal between Air France and the Government has (as I understand it), banned the airlines competing with High Speed rail where there is a high speed rail route under 2.5hrs (ie Paris: Rennes, Nantes, Bordeaux and Lyon), although this would still allow transfer traffic (not sure ho...

Re: New advertisement: B-52 re-engine back in the mix?

Seems that RR got going with this project back in 2017, hence they are quite advance in their product offering having already submitted a lot of detail. They are currently stating a 34% improvement in fuel burn. They stated back in 2017 the existing engine would cost an additional $10b over the life...

New advertisement: B-52 re-engine back in the mix?

There was a video online where sales guys from the 3 different manufacturers gave some spiel about each of their offering. If it was solely based on those guys, RR would win it (the P&W just kept saying it was a great time to upgrade lol). Offering a fairly technical talk through. RR had a model...

Re: BA may not reopen at Gatwick

Sad news, but interesting at the same, time, clearly they will be a much smaller operation for a few years from now, but do they see a number of slots opening up also? Assume they are not worried about that for at least a couple of years.

Re: LH to Belgian government: we want money and control of Brussels Airlines

If Lufthansa can get a loan from someone else without equity (or endeed the exceptionally low interest rates, then they should try!)