Southwest Airlines Grounds Planes

[Red Arrow]

Nope the stewardes's get sucked out.....

Unfortunately a few persons were lost on the Hawaii flight.  It's amazing anyone survived that sunroof.

[Red Arrow]

Nothing inherently wrong with an old plane if the design is good.  See how many B-52s still around.  And L1011. 
There are fewer reinforcing straps of some sort on the older ones.  If those could be retrofitted, the life might be extended a lot.

How about DC-3s?  Still a few of them around too.  Most of those older designs were way overdesigned, fortunately.

[Conan71]

How about DC-3s?  Still a few of them around too.  Most of those older designs were way overdesigned, fortunately.

A little Googling brings us this gem:

"Such limits are usually reserved for pressurised aircraft and some unpressurised British aircraft. Phoebus Apollo's Douglas DC-3 ZS-PAA has in excess of 100 000 hrs on the airframe (I don't know the exact amount (+- 109 000(?), but it is the highest time Dak around, and that at 135kts!). I believe the world record is Douglas DC-10 N221NW with 128 679 hours in the logbooks!"

http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=53987

And who knows?  There might be some undocumented DC-3's flying in Africa, South America, or Mexico which could have far more than 100,000 hours on the a/f

[Red Arrow]

A little Googling brings us this gem:

"Such limits are usually reserved for pressurised aircraft and some unpressurised British aircraft. Phoebus Apollo's Douglas DC-3 ZS-PAA has in excess of 100 000 hrs on the airframe (I don't know the exact amount (+- 109 000(?), but it is the highest time Dak around, and that at 135kts!). I believe the world record is Douglas DC-10 N221NW with 128 679 hours in the logbooks!"

Trying to inflate a fuselage like a balloon obviously puts additional stress on it.  Aluminum does fatigue and lots of hours of vibration will add to the fatigue.  Keep the stresses low enough and they will last a long, long time.

[Hoss]

The 100 and 200s were decommissioned by most domestic carriers because they were INCREDIBLY loud.  Like the DC-8.  I could always tell the difference of which planes Southwest was flying in here because of the loudness.  That and the 200s had the really long engine nacelles on them.  Those JT8Ds were just loud as hell (unless they put the hush kits on them, which Southwest opted to just decommission IIRC).

[dbacks fan]

The 100 and 200s were decommissioned by most domestic carriers because they were INCREDIBLY loud.  Like the DC-8.  I could always tell the difference of which planes Southwest was flying in here because of the loudness.  That and the 200s had the really long engine nacelles on them.  Those JT8Ds were just loud as hell (unless they put the hush kits on them, which Southwest opted to just decommission IIRC).

IIRC Southwest did install a number of the hush kits that were built by Nordam. I think a lot of airlines purchased those kits as a stop gap until those model 737 were retired.

[Conan71]

Hearing the stall horn is way cool if you're on the flare.  Means you've got your timing and speed down properly if you're about to grease the landing.  Always loved hearing that weak horn sound just as I got my little jolt when the mains touched.

Some poor kid dropped a plane from about 10-15 ft. at Sundance in OKC this afternoon.  Flared a little early I guess that or got a shear.  I hate prop strikes almost as much as I hate Illinois Nazis.

[heironymouspasparagus]

I love DC-3.  If I were to ever join Guido in Richville, that is one thing I would definitely buy.

B-17 is another favorite.  Have a couple of friends who were B-17 pilots in WWII.  Super guys.  Incredible, actually.  They have very strong emotions about the plane.  Not sure it is exactly love, but sure ain't hate!

[Conan71]

I love DC-3.  If I were to ever join Guido in Richville, that is one thing I would definitely buy.

B-17 is another favorite.  Have a couple of friends who were B-17 pilots in WWII.  Super guys.  Incredible, actually.  They have very strong emotions about the plane.  Not sure it is exactly love, but sure ain't hate!

You don't have to be rich.  Just fly to Columbia, cap a minor drug lord, and take his plane.  Paying for the fuel is entirely another issue though.

[Red Arrow]

You don't have to be rich.  Just fly to Columbia, cap a minor drug lord, and take his plane.  Paying for the fuel is entirely another issue though.

Being able to buy a plane doesn't mean you will be able to keep it.  Sometimes you can't afford to keep it even if it is given to you.  Same for boat, car, etc.

[Hoss]

Being able to buy a plane doesn't mean you will be able to keep it.  Sometimes you can't afford to keep it even if it is given to you.  Same for boat, car, etc.

Especially keeping up with the annual maintenance and airworthy checks.  Not quite the same as owning a car....

[Red Arrow]

Especially keeping up with the annual maintenance and airworthy checks.  Not quite the same as owning a car....

I was thinking about a boat big enough to need a slip at a marina and a car like Porsche, Vette, M3 BMW etc.  I will give you that even the most humble airplane will be better maintained than most automobiles.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Two happiest days of a persons life - when they buy a boat.  And when they sell it.

I'm guessing it is not quite the same for an airplane.

[Conan71]

Two happiest days of a persons life - when they buy a boat.  And when they sell it.

I'm guessing it is not quite the same for an airplane.

Yeah that applies to planes and Harley-Davidson Servicars too.

[Red Arrow]

Two happiest days of a persons life - when they buy a boat.  And when they sell it.
I'm guessing it is not quite the same for an airplane.

I don't know about the selling day, yet.  Fun to buy if you can just say the money is just numbers on a piece of paper.