Aircraft

Category Archives for Aircraft.

Huge Win For Boeing, European Regulators Sign Off On 737 MAX Even Before The U.S. Does!

by Gary Leff on October 16, 2020

Oct 16 2020

While the FAA hasn’t signed off on the plane yet, Europe’s safety regulator has gone ahead and publicly stated it is approving it first. That’s huge.

Given the embarrassment of the FAA over the past year and a half over how the MAX was initially approved, and their resulting decline in international prestige, it’s important for world acceptance that the FAA isn’t the only one approving the plane. It’s an even bigger deal that they aren’t even first to say they’ll do so.

Get Free Star Alliance Gold Status For Buying Airline Stock

by Gary Leff on October 14, 2020

Oct 14 2020

Star Alliance member Scandinavian Airlines has a shareholder program open to anyone who owns at least 4000 shares in the carrier. What’s most interesting is the benefit for those who own 100,000 shares, that those shares cost just 27 cents apiece, and that they’ve already received a government bailout which may protect downside.

Iran Air Auctions Off Part Of Its Fleet

by Gary Leff on September 11, 2020

Sep 11 2020

Coronavirus hit Iran early and hard, and the virus has continued to rage there. Two months ago Iran estimated they’d had 25 million Covid-19 cases, despite still having fewer than half a million cases lab-confirmed.

Unsurprisingly there’s been little demand for air travel. The nation’s flag carrier Iran Air is auctioning off 12 of its planes, a veritable grab bag of aviation history.

Boeing 737 MAX Likely Ungrounded In October, Flying Passengers In December

by Gary Leff on August 31, 2020

Aug 31 2020

At the end of last week American Airlines told its pilots that based on conversations with the FAA and Administrator Stephen Dickson that they “see the finish line, it’s making good progress” bringing the Boeing 737 MAX into service. Their “targeted timeframe… [is] end of October-ish for the ungrounding to occur” for the aircraft. American intends to fly passengers in commercial service with the MAX starting in the second half of December.

The Crazy Way Canada And Europe Have To Re-Certify The Boeing 737 MAX In The Covid Era

by Gary Leff on August 28, 2020

Aug 28 2020

Canada and Europe are doing their own test flights to re-certify the Boeing 737 MAX, which Boeing now refuses to call the MAX, instead of just relying on the FAA.

But the U.S. wouldn’t let Canadian and European inspectors into the U.S. to test the plane with Boeing – because coronavirus (the regulators might bring the virus into the U.S.). So regulators get picked up in Vancouver by Boeing, flown to Beoing field and back.

Boeing Rebrands The 737 MAX

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2020

Aug 19 2020

Boeing announced the sale today of two 737 MAX aircraft. That’s a big deal because the MAX, in service only since fall 2018, has been grounded since March 2019 – and because airlines generally are conserving cash rather than spending money to buy planes.

The announcement, though, is most notable for the verbal jujitsu Boeing uses as they give the plane a new name: 737-8, which is either not meant to be confused – or meant to be confused – with the older 737-800.

What The Interior Of Jeffrey Epstein’s Boeing 727 “Lolita Express” Is Like

by Gary Leff on August 19, 2020

Aug 19 2020

The plane, with registration N908JE, is owned by JEGE, Inc. It flew to Georgia in July 11, 2017 from West Palm Beach and has sat there ever since. It’s got Pratt & Whitney JT8D engines and is an ex-TWA bird originally delivered July 7, 1969.

According to an aviation consultant who toured the plane in March on behalf of a potential buyer, here’s what the interior is like.

Here’s Why A Used Airbus A380 Is Worth Zero (And The Value Of The Airframe May Even Be Negative)

by Gary Leff on August 17, 2020

Aug 17 2020

The Airbus A380 was on the the way out even before the pandemic. Now it’s original purpose no longer exists.

In fact an A380 is now worth so little that the value of the plane may be literally less than the sum of its parts.

Joe Biden’s Campaign Will Go Without A Plane (Since The Candidate Won’t Leave His Basement)

by Gary Leff on August 17, 2020

Aug 17 2020

Presidential campaigns traditionally have planes. But this year Joe Biden is going without one since he ~~won’t leave his basement~~ won’t be traveling much for in-person events during the pandemic.

Biden will be saying Trump events are “gambling with American lives for his own political gain.” Yet he hasn’t actually ruled out getting a plane and doing events later “if individual states change their guidelines.”

Air Force One is Far More Amazing Than You Realize

by Gary Leff on June 21, 2020

Jun 21 2020

There are two Boeing 747s that serve as Air Force One. The windows are armored. Its body can stand up to the force of a nuclear blast on the ground. When airborne it is always followed by the Doomsday Plane.