A Pilot’s Blog
A blog about aviation, aviation news, and space.

Here’s a picture of what I think is an under-appreciated aircraft, a blimp! Most people would only associate this guy with baseball games or the Super Bowl, but I think more of them should be used for passenger transportation again. I mean, you can take a train ride across the country, why not a blimp ride? It would take a bit longer, depending on the winds, but I can think of few things more enjoyable than leisurely floating over the countryside a few thousand feet above the ground. You even don’t need to worry about another “Hindenburg” since they’re all filled with helium now. Somebody needs to start up a blimpline. :-)

Picture courtesy of Airliners.net.

Boeing today announced 29 new orders that brought the year-to-date tally to 822 net orders, placing them within striking distance of breaking their current full-year record of 1,028 airframes. Included in that order was VIP 787 and 15 777s which were ordered by GE Commercial Aviation Services. The orders were worth a total of about $5 billion.

A VIP 787…it must be nice to have more money than God. I’d rather have a VIP 747-800 though, of which Boeing has sold a few already this year, probably to foreign governments.

This photo has become my new desktop background. It’s a magnificent shot of the always impressive B-52 bomber. My uncle worked for Boeing for many years as a B-52 technical support specialist, so I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for them. Wonderful machines.

Picture courtesy of Airliners.net.

A wonderful shot of the aircraft earmarked for destruction in the post below.

Picture courtesy of Airliners.net.

A Boeing 777 is heading for the breakers yard for the first time, just 11 years after the twinjet first entered service.

Memphis-based Universal Asset Management says it has acquired a General Electric GE90-90B-powered 777-200 (MSN 27109) – the nineteenth aircraft off the line – for disassembly.

Only 11 years old and she’s headed to the scrapheap. I know that economics plays into decisions like this, such as the cost of refurbishment/leasing versus the value of the scrap metal. It also might be facing an expensive D-check. But it’s still very sad to see any aircraft go, let alone one this “new”. I salute you 27109.

A rare view of the other side of the radio. Should I be worried that they appear to be running Windows?

Picture courtesy of Airliners.net.

A VARIG 737 banks convincingly to the left to line up for approach, what a wild ride (and spectacular view) this must be for the passengers on board. Whee!

Picture courtesy of Airliners.net.

As everybody knows, the 9/11 attacks created many new security procedures at airports around the country and around the world. And more recent events, such as the foiled plot in the United Kingdom to bring liquid explosives on board aircraft, have created even more security restrictions and hassles – especially for carry-on luggage. For this reason, many more people (around 25%) are checking their bags into the cargo hold than ever before. As a result, the number of lost luggage claims has skyrocketed in recent months:

The Transportation Department reported that 107,731 more fliers had their bags go missing in August than they did a year earlier, a 33 percent increase. It got worse in September, with 183,234 more passengers suffering mishandled bags, up 92 percent.

I certainly don’t blame the airlines for this, they are having to learn to deal with a much greater volume of bags than ever before. I’m sure they will get it all figured out eventually. But my advice for now…don’t bring anything that would require you to check your bags unless it’s absolutely vital.

I’m not sure just what exactly happened here, perhaps a failure of the braking system to release properly or an emergency stop following a rejected takeoff. Regardless, it shows you just the kind of velocity the big boys can get up to.

Picture courtesy of Airliners.net.

Apparently there was a fairly major fire at one of Boeing’s suppliers for the new 787 a couple of days ago. The building, owned by Securaplane which is manufacturing wireless/battery operated emergency lighting for the 787, had no fire sprinklers in the building because it was built before such a requirement existed in building codes.

The air is clear tonight after that three alarm fire broke out at the Securaplane Technologies building on North Mavinne Drive.

Securaplane builds electronic components for business aircraft, such as batteries, converters, and security systems.

Fire crews are still investigating, but they know that one of the batteries caught on fire. An employee put it out with a fire extinguisher and then a cell started burning.

Hopefully this won’t put too much of a delay on the 787 program.