For the aircraft enthusiasts !!

Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 16:44

ThreadID: 111156 Views:2866 Replies:5 FollowUps:14

This Thread has been Archived

wombat100

As you know when approaching Longreach one of the first features is the tail of a boeing 747 sticking up in the sky.
Well, Albion Park (just south of Wollongong) will also be getting a Qantas 747-400 (City of Canberra) sometime next month.
All the approvals have been granted. The pilots have been practicing in a simulator. And the plane is being prepared for this historic landing.
It will have to land from the North as there are too many obstructions to the South. Wind will have to be ideal as I think the strip is only about 1700m long.
The Princes Highway and surrounding roads will be closed (just in case!!)
If anyone is interested I will find out more info as times & dates are confirmed.
Should be a spectacular sight.

Back Expand Un-Read 3 Moderator Share

Reply By: Frank P (NSW) - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 17:18

Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 17:18

I believe they also just took delivery of a Mirage from the RAAF. That was trucked in with some disruption to road traffic due to the wide load. Wonder if they are going to make it flyable again, though I suspect that at 1700m the strip is too short for a Mirage.

Cheers

FrankP

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message
Moderator

AnswerID: 546130

Follow Up By: TomH - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 18:57

Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 18:57

You may find it lacks engines as well.

FollowupID: 833860

Follow Up By: Frank P (NSW) - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 10:24

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 10:24

That would certainly affect its take-off performance, Tom :-)

FrankP

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message
Moderator

FollowupID: 833896

Follow Up By: TomH - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:51

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:51

Nothing a few cans of baked beans wouldnt fix ROFL

FollowupID: 833952

Reply By: rodnirene - Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 18:40

Wednesday, Feb 18, 2015 at 18:40

I heard on ABC that the 747 arrives about 8.30am on 8.3.2015, about a 30 minute flight from Kingsford Smith.

Rod

AnswerID: 546133

Follow Up By: wombat100 - Friday, Mar 06, 2015 at 16:30

Friday, Mar 06, 2015 at 16:30

Hi Rod
Now due to land at 7.47 !!!

FollowupID: 834915

Reply By: Roughasguts - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 07:24

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 07:24

So this record breaking breaking Aircraft that flew the worlds longest flight.

Wil now probably fly the worlds shortest flight, of only around 10 minutes.

AnswerID: 546158

Follow Up By: TomH - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:50

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:50

Here you go Worlds shortest commercial flights

The shortest flight belongs to Scottish airline, Loganair. Its service from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands spans a total of 1.7 miles and spends about 2 minutes in the air.

If you're looking for second best on this, look no further than Maya Island Air in Belize. Their 2.4-mile island-hopper flight from Caye Chapel to Caye Caulker ferries paradise seekers from blue water to even bluer water in the Caribbean.

FollowupID: 833951

Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:00

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:00

Thanks for that Wombat.

Wasn't able to get to see the 747 land in Longreach, but a friend sent some good photos of the event. Because of the narrow (25M) runway, the pilots shut down the outer engines so they didn't pick up any debris on landing. Stand corrected, but I believe these aircraft can land on only one engine, if the need arises.

Took a bit of finding details of Albion Park airstrip. It is not listed as Albion Park, or Illawarra, but Wollongong!!!

It seems that the main runway is a bit shorter @ 1586M than Longreach @ 1684M, but weather conditions, if the wind is right, should be quite a bit more favourable for landing, than the hot, dry conditions in Longreach.

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

AnswerID: 546167

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:11

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:11

Probably the pick of them?

Touchdown @ Longreach Qld

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 833900

Follow Up By: Zippo - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:35

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:35

On one engine, they MUST land. (They can sustain flight on two in certain cases).

FollowupID: 833903

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:46

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:46

MUST land, eh Zippo?

That sounds like a controlled crash!

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 833949

Follow Up By: TomH - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:48

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 20:48

More like an uncontrolled crash on one engine

FollowupID: 833950

Follow Up By: madfisher - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 21:23

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 21:23

I recently seen one of those aircraft investigation shows where the pilot landed a plane in the US with all engines out, plus the one that landed in the river.
Cheers Pete

FollowupID: 833954

Follow Up By: TomH - Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 21:30

Thursday, Feb 19, 2015 at 21:30

I SAW that as well

FollowupID: 833956

Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Friday, Mar 06, 2015 at 22:27

Friday, Mar 06, 2015 at 22:27

I have made about 1,000 landings with no engine (in gliders) and all were successful.
The 747 actually has quite good glide performance with all engines out. About 20:1 from memory. So it can go quite a long way to find an airfield from cruising altitude.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

FollowupID: 834932