Aviation BS and Photo Thread

Still working the Pegasus?

I'm in 67 systems this month and some of the material supplied by BA has the tanker configuration. Odd.

 

I am. Well, I work on the program. Can't really say I work on the plane. The Boeing slow downs is negatively affecting my promotion.

 

We've got 44ish of the 106 firm on property. It seems the quality of new delivery has dropped. I've been thinking they pulled everyone over to the project your working but, from the sound of it, that may not be the case.

 

I think it is just Boeing right now in general. I know they are losing money, and a lot of the good employees are leaving for other areas. Or, they are being moved to different projects.

Boeing screwed up with the Tanker project on their initial assembly stuff. They let Boeing commercial build the military aircraft instead of Boeing Defense. While this should have worked out because the commercial guys knew the 767, they didn't know everything about military contracts and the need for multiple redundancies that aren't together. They installed incorrect wiring first, then installed the second run of wiring right next to the primary sets, and then.... the story keeps going. The latest troubles were the Boom and the wing refueling pods. But those seem to be smoothing out and getting back to testing again.

 

It's too bad.

The boom...it really jumps out when I'm looking through our (Boeing supplied) stuff. Not really expecting to see it on a freighter.

 

Yeah, it isn't something many people expect to see. And a lot of people wonder what it is that have never been around military aircraft. We tell the new people that its a flame thrower.

 

With a match it might be!

 

Does anyone here have any experience transiting Frankfurt, Paris-CDG, or Amsterdam? From what I've read CDG is a nightmare but I was wondering if anyone here has experienced it.

 

I've connected several times at each of them. Never had an issue with any except a bomb scare once at FRA.

Any of them having labor issues?

 

Everything is either giving me an hour to hour and a half to connect or an overnight stay. I'm assuming this is due to the early morning departure of flights to the US.

 

Curfew issues I'm sure. I always do evening flights east bound.

You'll need to clear at the first EU airport you land but 1.5 hours should be ok unless you have any physical limitations.

I'd be looking to see which airports offer the most service to your final destination after you arrive at your connecting station. That way if you take a mechanical or other delay/cancellation you'll still have a shot getting to Italy. So long as you bought one ticket for your entire route they shouldn't connect you with less time than you need.

 

Sorry, I should have clarified, the connections are on the return leg. Italy-U.S.

I also started a trip thread so I don't clutter this one up too much
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/italy-2017.471518/

 

Even better...no customs clearance at your connecting station on that side of the Atlantic headed this way for you. Tho airlines tend to protect international, your west bound flight options later in the day may be more limited if they take a delay or cancellation.

 

Perfect! I just have to clear passport control then right?

 

I believe EU does only one clearance for all EU member nations so you'll clear in Italy UNLESS its considered a "domestic" flight to your connecting station. But that's usually quick compared to arrival customs clearance.

Don't be afraid to contact Delta and ask them. I'd hate to give you bad info.

 

I'll be sure to call and confirm before I book, just trying to get an idea. This'll be for my 2nd trip since I connect stateside on my first one.

 

Engine driven fuel pump failed today on me at 6k (field is 2.6k) in the Mooney, pretty close to the airport as I was climbing out. Fuel pressure went to .5psi, put the boost pump on and pressure restored, turned back for the airport and coordinated with ATC. Got a little exciting there for a moment.

 

Did you need a change of shorts once you landed?

 

Nope... engine was still running and boost pump was keeping pressure up and I was close to the airport

Only incident where I damn near shit my pants was the alternator failure and smoke in the airplane... I was 10 miles from the airport on an RNAV approach in IMC when it happened. Airport was KSEZ (Sedona, AZ). It's on top of a mesa, so don't land short or long...