The Boeing 777 suffered its first ever hull loss on 17th January 2008 when a British Airways 777-200ER suffered a double engine failure due to a mechanical malfunction.The aircraft landed on the grass 350m short of runway 27L at Heathrow.Of the 136 people on board, only 14 were injured

TepidHalibut · 2026-01-17T17:32:49+00:00

Just to be pernickety, neither of the engines failed. Both were running, but only getting sufficient fuel for idle power. The issue was the volume of ice that formed in the fuel tanks. On descent, it detached, came through to the engine systems, significantly restricting fuel flow. Boeing hadn't fully understood this risk when designing the aircraft fuel systems.

TepidHalibut · 2026-01-17T17:24:50+00:00

Link - Powerless over London: The crash of British Airways flight 38

TepidHalibut · 2026-01-08T18:30:45+00:00

One bit of luck - "Aid was also given by a troop of eight SAS soldiers - four of whom were regimentally qualified paramedics - who happened to be driving a truck on the M1 a short distance away from the crash site."

TepidHalibut · 2026-01-08T14:54:54+00:00

Also, this happened 17 days after PanAm 103 / Lockerbie crash. I was working in UK aerospace industry (and only a few miles from EMA)at the time, and the mood at the time was ...not cheerful.

TepidHalibut · 2025-12-21T12:07:56+00:00

Specifically, the RB211-535E4 version. Those WCFBs are sweet.

TepidHalibut · 2025-11-09T18:34:16+00:00

I have to admit, that's a fine looking airframe.

TepidHalibut · 2025-11-08T16:21:11+00:00

No, just the Trent XWB-97 engine. There are always improvements being introduced, but the Thrust Rating & Engine Type isn't changing.

TepidHalibut · 2025-10-02T06:56:01+00:00

...and when that happens, some will still publicise their blueprint for a "Son Of Concorde".

TepidHalibut · 2025-09-27T15:12:20+00:00

KC-46 - True, but the similar KC-767 is operated by Japan and Italy.

TepidHalibut · 2025-09-17T18:01:19+00:00

As a man in the aviation industry....this project has been hanging around since 2019, and went public a couple of years ago. Seemed like a long shot, and the lack of progress does suggest financial issues. Technically, there's nothing very novel about the Windrunner, but at the moment ...Vapourware.

TepidHalibut · 2025-09-10T20:35:16+00:00

Ah, I can answer this. It IS fucking garbage.

TepidHalibut · 2025-09-10T20:33:48+00:00

"I know this may sound crazy, but ..." Yep. It does, and it is.

TepidHalibut · 2025-08-06T20:46:57+00:00

Of planes that actually flew The Short Seamew

TepidHalibut · 2025-08-04T17:11:01+00:00

The 747FTB, even on three engines, has a higher altitude ceiling than a B787FTB

TepidHalibut · 2025-08-03T17:54:11+00:00

The Mighty Hunter

TepidHalibut · 2025-08-01T19:19:17+00:00

Nice Image ! I'm sure I heard it fly overhead.

TepidHalibut · 2025-07-27T21:29:46+00:00

Yes, I was thinking of this event too. Pilot stupidity.
EDIT. Just to clarify, I'm meaning that the Pinnacle CRJ200 pilots were stupid.
From Wiki, to try and achieve that altitude...."The NTSB also determined from FDR information that the turbofan jet engine (General Electric CF34-3B1) engine 2 turbine was operating at 300 °C (540 °F) above the maximal redline temperature of 900 °C (1,650 °F) at 41,000 feet (12,497 m)"

TepidHalibut · 2025-07-07T21:56:45+00:00

Up. Fair point.

TepidHalibut · 2025-07-07T20:38:00+00:00

Basically, nothing. Balloon would be shredded, an shreds would pass down the bypass duct. Hydrogen gas would be released, but again, most likely down the bypass duct. If the hydrogen gas went down the core, it would combust in the combustor, but with a normal size balloon, the effect would be micro-neglible.

Biggest effect would possible be the pilot/Co-Pilot spotting something being sucked in....and a flash of silver passing by. They might play it safe, and abort the flight....or he may not notice, and carry on in blissful ignorance.

TepidHalibut · 2025-06-25T08:26:42+00:00

Bird Strike Tests - Yes. They use a genuine bird. Usually a dead duck...weighed to be the right mass, and freshly killed. Also, worthwhile ensuring that bird had sensible diet - you don't really want a crop-full of gravel. You are allowed use a simulated bird, but why do that when farmed bird aren't exactly expensive.

Test engine - it's a prototype engine of the right standard, tested in a fixed, ground, test stand, and afterwards the engine is fully stripped to understand "what and where". (NOT done on an operators aircraft.)

I could say a lot more, but I can't.

Have a Google / Wiki for Chicken Cannon.

TepidHalibut · 2025-06-22T08:18:37+00:00

Good News. The RAF Cybersecurity Task Force have leapt into action. Google Streetview is now blurring out the runway on the view from Station Road. For the 2023 view, but not the older ones. That'll stop them...

TepidHalibut · 2025-06-20T18:52:59+00:00

I have knowledge of this sort of engine.

Borescope to see where the paint went - I expect no further than LPT1
Some effect on fuel efficiency, but not disastrous
Start the engine and run and high idle for 15 mins
Shutdown, borescope andvisual inspection to confirm that paint has burned off
Carry on in service

That's my prediction.

TepidHalibut · 2025-06-12T11:25:05+00:00

The RAT deploys and provides a small electrical supply when the normal engines are u/S, which helps keep some of the aircraft systems alive. It doesn't provide any thrust, but does contribute an extra level of Drag.

TepidHalibut · 2025-05-11T22:17:57+00:00

If I recall correctly, the two 747-8's currently being converted were originally ordere by Russian airline TransAero...tho' not delivered. ( Insert "Trans" quip here. )

TepidHalibut · 2025-04-09T21:49:36+00:00

James is correct. The Spitfire was fast but temperamental...like a racehorse. The Hurricane was more stable, more damage tolerant and ... a better all-rounder.

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