I was let out of gaol yesterday

[Hugh Jars]

We've been locked down for the best part of a month now. I've been stood down for about the same time, and with that, worried about my future and that of my company.

Well, with the government underwriting the airlines to run recovery flights for a few weeks, I got the call for a days work yesterday. I was pretty happy to get the call. I went Sydney-Melbourne-Canberra-Melbourne-Sydney.

Here's a few snaps I took with my phone of a few things I tend to take for granted. They aren't the best quality, but you'll get my drift...


159965
Really sad how all the businesses have had to close...
159966
A total of 6 flights through Sydney. 2 of them were mine...
159967
QF Dash-8's parked across the road. I've flown all of them at some stage...
159968
Gate 32. Pre-flight...
159969
Is it a MAX?
159970
Waiting for the refueller...

We had a great day out and only one problem. Happy days.
Hoping I will get to do this again sometime [smilebigeye]

[Slunnie]

I think a lot of people have been thinking about you all. Its great you were back in the sky again and I think everybody is wishing VA and its staff all the best through all of this.

[Geedublya]

The first time I've seen the scimitar winglets.
Are there many passengers on the flights? I may have to travel Sydney - Melbourne return or Sydney - Brisbane return in the near future and I'm tossing up whether to drive or fly.

Good Luck! I hope you get more flights.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Hey Hugh---

can you feel any difference or is it all a bean counter thing?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/flight/159969d1587471507-i-let-out-gaol-yesterday-img_8760.jpg

[Hugh Jars]

The first time I've seen the scimitar winglets.
Are there many passengers on the flights? I may have to travel Sydney - Melbourne return or Sydney - Brisbane return in the near future and I'm tossing up whether to drive or fly.

Good Luck! I hope you get more flights.
Hi Geedublya,
We check loads during the flight planning stage. During normal times the numbers only vary a little bit between planned and actual (unless there is a cancellation). On the SYD-MEL I had 164 planned - 80 actual. CBR numbers were quite low and stayed the same. MEL-SYD had 218(!) planned and 60 actual.
So I would say if you wish to travel by air at the moment - go for it. It's extremely unlikely you'll get bumped, or the flight cancelled. Plus the airlines need the travelling public to have faith in them right now (no matter which airline you choose)...

John R.

[Hugh Jars]

Hey Hugh---

can you feel any difference or is it all a bean counter thing?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/flight/159969d1587471507-i-let-out-gaol-yesterday-img_8760.jpg
Hi Pedro,
I think it's mostly a bean counter thing (I believe). I didn't notice any handling differences (with my rough as guts manual flying skills) [biggrin]

I did notice a slight improvement in fuel burn over a 1:18 sector.

John R.

[Saitch]

Hi Pedro,
I think it's mostly a bean counter thing (I believe). I didn't notice any handling differences (with my rough as guts manual flying skills) [biggrin]

I did notice a slight improvement in fuel burn over a 1:18 sector.

John R.

Pedro, will we see some on the Swiftmobile in the near future?

[rick130]

Pedro, will we see some on the Swiftmobile in the near future?That thing needs all the help it can get in the fuel economy stakes so I'd reckon so!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

You know me,, I'm all in with this fuel burn thing[bigwhistle][bigrolf]

[Hoges]

check out Boeing 737 Winglets (http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm#ProductionWinglets)
It's all in the "margins" as they say, in terms of net gains... when you can achieve say a net 1-2% fuel savings improvement over a large fleet, the annual savings are very "respectable" [wink11]

The early versions of the single wing extensions / winglets were at one stage being manufactured at the Boeing facility at Fishermens Bend in Melbourne...

[Fourgearsticks]

With the cost of purchase and the required 362 pages of CASA documentation to bolt on those tips, how long would it take for a 1% reduction of fuel burn take to pay for some snazzy tips?

[4bee]

required 362 pages of CASA documentation to bolt on those tips,


You are kidding, right?


So not just an Araldite jobbie then?[smilebigeye]

[Homestar]

At least a rivet gun and a cordless drill mate.

[scarry]

At least a rivet gun and a cordless drill mate.

And some blue tack[thumbsupbig]

[4bee]

Are you sure Bluetack is good for 580mph cruising speed?



I have my doubts about that 'cos I used some to stick a Calendar on a wall, & it fell down before I'd left the room.[bigrolf]

[Bigbjorn]

Are you sure Bluetack is good for 580mph cruising speed?



I have my doubts about that 'cos I used some to stick a Calendar on a wall, & it fell down before I'd left the room.[bigrolf]

Do a proper job. Zip ties and gaffer tape.

[4bee]

Do a proper job. Zip ties and gaffer tape.


Don't kid yourself Brian there are plenty of half finished jobs like that around. [bigrolf]


But cruising at 580 through various temperature changes I reckon the Gaffer would give up first.[biggrin]

[scarry]

Are you sure Bluetack is good for 580mph cruising speed?



I have my doubts about that 'cos I used some to stick a Calendar on a wall, & it fell down before I'd left the room.[bigrolf]

Yep,been proven,the FIL used to fly Spitfires,he said it was way better than chewing gum.
But then again i dunno if they got up to 580MPH,maybe 575mph, at a guess[biggrin]

[4bee]

Hoges
check out Boeing 737 Winglets (http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm#ProductionWinglets)
It's all in the "margins" as they say, in terms of net gains... when you can achieve say a net 1-2% fuel savings improvement over a large fleet, the annual savings are very "respectable" [wink11]

The early versions of the single wing extensions / winglets were at one stage being manufactured at the Boeing facility at Fishermens Bend in Melbourne...



Thanks Hoges an interesting read.

[Hugh Jars]

100mph tape works every time [biggrin]

[Fourgearsticks]

Have a friend who used to fly for Qantas, he started off as a sheety. He repaired a skin on the tail of United freighter with 600mph tape, 2 years later the aircraft passed back through Australia and it still had the tape repair.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

wow,, 600!!

did Elon think that up? [bighmmm][tonguewink]

[4bee]

But what about 580 mph blue tack John? [bigrolf]

[Fourgearsticks]

600mph special airline tape, not available to general public. You'd never know what they would do with it [biggrin]
It's the same as 100mph tape but packaged differently and being airline it's a 1000% markup.

[scarry]

This reminds me of a pic around somewhere of a plane that was trashed by a bear,as someone left some bait in it then went off fishing.

The plane was all taped up as a sort of temporary repair to get it back for proper repairs.

Anyone got the pics,its amazing?

Edit,found the link,

Attention Required! | Cloudflare (https://boredomtherapy.com/bear-destroys-plane/)

[Tins]

This reminds me of a pic around somewhere of a plane that was trashed by a bear,as someone left some bait in it then went off fishing.

The plane was all taped up as a sort of temporary repair to get it back for proper repairs.

Anyone got the pics,its amazing?

Edit,found the link,

Attention Required! | Cloudflare (https://boredomtherapy.com/bear-destroys-plane/)

Bears are everywhere. Darn things keep cropping up in my YT recommendations, even though the closest I have been, or ever want to be, to a bear is the zoo.

[350RRC]

600mph special airline tape, not available to general public. You'd never know what they would do with it [biggrin]
It's the same as 100mph tape but packaged differently and being airline it's a 1000% markup.

They could have used it to fix this:

2004 Disaster:On A Wing And A Prayer (http://www.cargolaw.com/2004nightmare_on.target.html)

[4bee]

They could have used it to fix this:

2004 Disaster:On A Wing And A Prayer (http://www.cargolaw.com/2004nightmare_on.target.html)

Fantastic! In my former life I must have used 50 million rolls of the stuff (certainly felt like it)

It's use was quite comprehensive. For strength, a few layers over each other could be used to raise the Titanic.

Today, I suffer with my right thumb not being right (painful) as it was used to lever the tape over before tearing it off the roll. Probably the bone is worn because of it. Too messy & unreliable to use a knife when working on AC Ductwork above an insulated ceiling.