Hello, aircraft fans!
In this edition of the Plane Splash (pun intended), we will look at today’s most discussed airliner: The Boeing Model 777 (“triple seven”). I’ll share about some Lockheed P-3 Orions that were launched for a possible resolution. And I’ll even share a pretty lousy theory that the media has NOT tapped into, and probably won’t.
First off, there have been three previous crashes since its first flight in 1994, and this could be the fourth. Of course, it was a night flight, and poor vision, hijacking, terrorism, sabotage, foul play, and mental failure are all possible causes as well.
Here are a few aircraft specs about the 777.
Crew: 2 or 3
Power plant: 2 Pratt & Whitney, General Electric, or Rolls-Royce turbofan engines
Performance: Max speed: 588 mph (946 km/h); range: 4840 miles (7785km) with full cabin; service ceiling 38,697 and 43,100 ft. (11,795 and 13,135m)
Dimensions: Wingspan: 199 ft. 11 inches (60.93m); length: 209 ft. 1 in. (63.73m); height: 60 ft. 9 in (18.51m); weight: 515,000 lb. maximum take-off weight (233,604 kg).
The Boeing 777 entered service with United Airlines on June 7, 1995, and the craft has proved valuable ever since. In fact, some airlines have begun to replace their 747s with 777s. Emirates operates the largest 777 fleet, with 127 passenger and freighter aircraft as of June 2013. The airliner is rated as one of the safest aircraft based on its accident safety record and high number of flight hours. The Asiana Airlines Flight 214 accident in July 2013 was the first fatal crash of the aircraft in 18 years of commercial service.
Here is the latest news on the Orions as of March 20, 2014.
PERTH, Australia (AP) – Search planes scoured a remote patch of the Indian Ocean but came back empty-handed Friday after a 10-hour mission looking for any sign of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, another disappointing day in one of the world’s biggest aviation mysteries.
Australian officials pledged to continue the search for two large objects spotted by a satellite earlier this week, which had raised hopes that the two-week hunt for the Boeing 777 that disappeared March 8 with 239 people on board was nearing a breakthrough.
But Australia’s acting prime minister, Warren Truss, tamped down expectations.
“Something that was floating on the sea that long ago may no longer be floating – it may have slipped to the bottom,” he said. “It’s also certain that any debris or other material would have moved a significant distance over that time, potentially hundreds of kilometers.”
On Friday, five planes, including three P-3 Orions, made the trip. While search conditions had improved from Thursday, with much better visibility, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said there were no sightings of plane debris.
And now:
On March 19, 2014, a friend of my family was driving his work route, and passed the Madras City/County airport. For those of you who do not live in the Northwest, Madras is a small town in central Oregon. As he passed, he reported seeing three Boeing/McDonnell Douglas MD-80s sitting on the taxiway. 1: Madras Municipal is much too small for these planes, and 2: The airplanes had Spanair markings (meaning they were from Spain). Possibly, they meant to fly to Madrid, and ended up in Madras instead? Perhaps the 777 made the same mistake? Okay, enough of that lousy theory…
Have a great day!
Isaiah
Hello, aircraft fans!
In this edition of the Plane Crash, we’ll look at the U.S. Navy’s WW2 top three: the Grumman F6f Hellcat, the Vought F-4U Corsair, and the Grumman F4f Wildcat.
Wildcat: Before the greatness of aircraft like the Grumman Hellcat and Vought Corsair, the Grumman F4f Wildcat was a fine aircraft. First built in 1939, this rugged mid-wing 318-mph six machine-gun aircraft held a critical point in the U.S. Navy until better aircraft were supplied. For instance, Lieutenant Butch O’Hare destroyed five Japanese bombers in six minutes. Later, despite being shot down in the Pacific, the Chicago-O’Hare airport was named for him. The Wildcat had a crew of 1, one 895kW (1200hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-66 radial engine, a maximum speed of 512km/h(318mph), a range of 1239km (770 miles), and a service ceiling of 10,638m (34,900ft).
Dimensions are as follows: Wingspan: 11.58m (38ft.). Length: 8.76m (28ft. 9in.). Height: 3.61m (11ft. 10in.).
Armament: Six 12.77mm (0.50in.) machine guns in wings and an external bomb load of 91kg (200lb.). Total loaded weight was 3607 kg (7952lb.).
Hellcat: The Hellcat flew for the first time on June 26, 1942. Many of its war abilities had been learned from its predecessor, the Wildcat. Specifications for this war-changing plane are as follows:
Crew: 1.
Powerplant: one 1492 kW (2000hp) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W radial engine.
Performance: Maximum speed: 612 km/h (380mph). Range: 1521km (945 miles). Service ceiling: 11,369m (37,300ft.).
Dimensions: Wingspan: 13.05m (42ft10in.). Length: 10.24m(33ft.7in.). Height: 3.99m (13ft.1in.).
Armament: six 12.7mm(0.50ibn.) machine guns in wings, or two 20mm(0.79in.) cannon and four 12.7mm(0.50in) machine guns, provision for two 453kg (1000lb) bombs or six 12.7cm (5in) RPs.
Weight: 7025kg (15,487lb).
In all, the Grumman F6f ran up a 19 to 1 kill ratio.
And now: the Chance Vought F4U Corsair. The speed, strength, and firepower of the Corsair enabled it to dominate Japanese opposition, shooting down 2140 against a loss of 189. Its performance and dependability allowed great flight leaders like John Blackburn, John Smith, Marion Carl, Joe Foss, and Pappy Boyington to create legendary fighter squadrons. It was truly a superior aircraft.
Have a great day!
Isaiah
The Beaver Bites the Floatplane Tree
Hello, aircraft fans!
In this edition of the Plane Crash, you’ll find out about the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-3 Single Otter, and the DHC-6 Twin Otter. Also, we’ll take a look at one of Canada’s 50 best managed companies: Harbour Air.
Well, yes, it wasn’t much of a Super Bowl. The best part was when the Superdome had a power failure. And it took THAT to make it any type of game. It almost looks like the referees were taking a nap until they thought that San Francisco needed to be penalized. They were only awake for a call against Baltimore that shouldn’t have been called: When David Akers missed the field goal to end the half- even though he ran into the defender, they still gave it to San Francisco with 00:03 left to play in the 2nd quarter. Well, at least he made it the second time, not that it mattered. Because on the opening kick of the second half, they let the Ravens’ kick returner bring it back for six. At least the 49’ers made it 31-34. Bummer! Of course this is a very early prediction, but I smell a Denver vs. Seattle Super Bowl XLVIII.
Rugged and reliable, the Beaver dominated the float plane market. Let’s take a look at some of the specifications. The Beaver has a crew of one, along with one Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-14B/-16B Wasp Junior radial piston engine rated at 336kW(450hp), and the high-wing configuration. The performance is a maximum speed of 262km/h(163M.P.H.) with a cruise speed of 180km/h(110M.P.H.), a range of 794 miles, and a service ceiling of 3,000m(9,842.52 feet). The dimensions are as follows: a wingspan of 14.63m(48 feet), a length of 9.22m(30ft 3in), and a height of 2.74m(9ft.). It has 6 passenger seats. Twenty-five are used by Harbour Air, which operates out of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and flies to Whistler seasonally, as well as Nanaimo, Vancouver (B.C.), Richmond (B.C.), Maple Bay, Sechelt, Comox, and two of the Gulf Islands. They share Victoria’s Harbour along with Westcoast Air (part of Harbour Air), Kenmore Air, which flies between Victoria and Seattle, and a few other companies.
The DHC-3 has similar characteristics to that of the DHC-2, except for a few modifications. The engine is different, now being a Turbine, the cruise speed is 210km/h(130M.P.H.), and the passenger seats number 14, resulting in a longer, more streamlined aircraft. And yes, I have flown on one before. There are 18 in Harbour Air’s fleet.
Lastly, we shall look at the De Havilland DHC-6 Turbine Twin Otter. It has a crew of three, and two 429kW(575hp) Pratt & Whitney R-1860 Hornet radial piston engines. The cruise speed is 320km/h(226 M.P.H.), a range of 1609km(1,000miles), and a service ceiling of 7,620m(25,000ft.) Only four are in Harbour Air’s fleet; actually Westcoast Air’s fleet, but along with 18 passenger seats, this aircraft provides exactly what Harbour Air needs for some of the longer flights, such as the Comox, Vancouver, Richmond, and Sechelt flights. If I knew more about it, I could also tell you if the Turbine Twin Otter also did some of the Whistler flights. Indeed, the Twin Otter is a vital addition to Harbour Air.
To find out more about Harbour Air, just go to: harbourair.com or westcoastair.com. And no, if you are wondering by now, Harbour Air did not pay me to write this blog post. Also, don’t forget that this is my blog post and not a Harbour Air advertisement. For recommendations about films or other things about Harbour Air, please leave a comment. I will get back to you as soon as I am back in my website.
Have a great day!
Isaiah