Aircraft porn

[Zear0]

2 hours ago, Trumpet said:

 

Think this one might have been in for an inspection after this.

Proper Ryanair landing

[Parafox]

3 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

Proper Ryanair landing

Even though it's Tui. Maybe they share pilots. 

[FoxesDeb]

1 hour ago, Zear0 said:

Proper Ryanair landing

I was going to say I must have flown with Ryanair too much, that looks pretty normal 

[Parafox]

I went on a "virtual flight experience" yesterday at a local establishment. I am sorry to say I was somewhat disappointed.

 

It was a fixed ground simulator so there was no corresponding movement to anything the aircraft was doing. No sensation of acceleration and taking off, climbing, banking, and turning. No feeling of the speed brakes and reverse thrust on landing. No jolt on touchdown

 

Basically, apart from flicking a few switches and inputting the flight plan into the onboard computer, it was an hour of trying to keep a tiny square on the cross point of the vertical and horizontal axis lines on the visual display in order to maintain level and steady flight. The instructor did all the fiddly bits and controlled the throttle levers, rudder and flaps. He spent most of the hour talking about his love of PlayStation and Call Of Duty and his musical tastes whilst I was totally focused on the flightpath screen. There were a few turns and ascents and descents that I had to control but that was about it.

 

All in all, £100 to stare at a screen for an hour whilst moving the yoke to keep that square where it should be.

 

At the end, I was offered the same "experience" for a much discounted cost of £79. No thanks.

 

I wanted a decent airliner flying experience but sadly, this wasn't it.

Edited 22 May 2024 by Parafox

[Trumpet]

12 hours ago, Parafox said:

I went on a "virtual flight experience" yesterday at a local establishment. I am sorry to say I was somewhat disappointed.

 

It was a fixed ground simulator so there was no corresponding movement to anything the aircraft was doing. No sensation of acceleration and taking off, climbing, banking, and turning. No feeling of the speed brakes and reverse thrust on landing. No jolt on touchdown

 

Basically, apart from flicking a few switches and inputting the flight plan into the onboard computer, it was an hour of trying to keep a tiny square on the cross point of the vertical and horizontal axis lines on the visual display in order to maintain level and steady flight. The instructor did all the fiddly bits and controlled the throttle levers, rudder and flaps. He spent most of the hour talking about his love of PlayStation and Call Of Duty and his musical tastes whilst I was totally focused on the flightpath screen. There were a few turns and ascents and descents that I had to control but that was about it.

 

All in all, £100 to stare at a screen for an hour whilst moving the yoke to keep that square where it should be.

 

At the end, I was offered the same "experience" for a much discounted cost of £79. No thanks.

 

I wanted a decent airliner flying experience but sadly, this wasn't it.

Aside from flicking the autopilot on, that’s all there is to it really. The majority of a true airline flight experience would be getting the plane set up for flight whilst on the ground, getting it in the air and following a SID (Standard Instrument Departure) which would see you abide by any restrictions in place (altitude, speed etc) and then it’s pretty much autopilot all the way until 1000ft above on approach, typically. Anyway, I’m waffling! 
 

I agree with what you’re describing as your experience - I don’t think an airline experience is appropriate for someone that wants to have a go and a lot of these places get it wrong by setting up a short flight. If I was to run something similar I’d have the person take off and perform circuits around the airfield as I think you’d get way more from that than flying from a to b.

[Parafox]

10 hours ago, Trumpet said:

Aside from flicking the autopilot on, that’s all there is to it really. The majority of a true airline flight experience would be getting the plane set up for flight whilst on the ground, getting it in the air and following a SID (Standard Instrument Departure) which would see you abide by any restrictions in place (altitude, speed etc) and then it’s pretty much autopilot all the way until 1000ft above on approach, typically. Anyway, I’m waffling! 
 

I agree with what you’re describing as your experience - I don’t think an airline experience is appropriate for someone that wants to have a go and a lot of these places get it wrong by setting up a short flight. If I was to run something similar I’d have the person take off and perform circuits around the airfield as I think you’d get way more from that than flying from a to b.

We didn't engage the autopilot, and I manually controlled the flight from T/O to landing. It involved setting up all the parameters, waypoints, and airport codes for departure and arrival before and during pushback. I had hoped to try throttle control and reverse thrust during take-off and landing, but I was instructed to concentrate on aligning the square with the crosshairs. The weather during the flight was real-time, yet it wasn't particularly challenging, even with some wind shear at the destination. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I might have embarrassed myself had I been allowed to do more on my first attempt.

 

The instructor suggested that I could return to practice circuits and bumps, which might be more enjoyable since it involves an hour of continuous take-offs and landings.

 

If I do it again, that's the option I'll ask for.

 

 

Edited 23 May 2024 by Parafox

[SpacedX]

On 25/01/2024 at 20:43, FoxesDeb said:

I was going to say I must have flown with Ryanair too much, that looks pretty normal 

I flew to Poland last week with them and the APU was unable to start the right hand engine due to a stuck fuel valve. This was diagnosed, sourced and replaced within an hour which was highly impressive, although this was Stanstead which is their largest hub. 

 

Flying back, the female captain looked like she was in her mid twenties. The landing was very smooth.

 

I then got stuck in border control for an hour because my passport wouldn't scan and it had to be inspected manually. 

[Parafox]

22 minutes ago, SpacedX said:

I flew to Poland last week with them and the APU was unable to start the right hand engine due to a stuck fuel valve. This was diagnosed, sourced and replaced within an hour which was highly impressive, although this was Stanstead which is their largest hub. 

 

Flying back, the female captain looked like she was in her mid twenties. The landing was very smooth.

 

I then got stuck in border control for an hour because my passport penis wouldn't scan and it had to be inspected manually by  the captain 

 

[SpacedX]

15 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Actually, she was very similar looks wise.

 

As I typed it, because I know Foxes Talk I was speculating how soon this would happen. 

 

Congratulations, you beat Oxlong. 

[damolcfc]

[Parafox]

3 hours ago, damolcfc said:

 

Sadly another historic aircraft lost. A greater loss is that the pilot died. 

[Daggers]

On 24/05/2024 at 18:31, SpacedX said:

 

I then got stuck in border control for an hour because my passport wouldn't scan and it had to be inspected manually. 

Every. Single. Time. 
 

I’m convinced my passport is marked. It never scans and I’m always dicked about with by passport control. 
 

Last time I’d spent four hours drinking wine in a German lounge before being fed copious wines on the flight. I was, ahem, slightly loquacious with the officers - proving my nationality with a clear but slightly slurred grasp of the vernacular. 

[kyleolly]

On 22/05/2024 at 19:50, Parafox said:

I went on a "virtual flight experience" yesterday at a local establishment. I am sorry to say I was somewhat disappointed.

 

It was a fixed ground simulator so there was no corresponding movement to anything the aircraft was doing. No sensation of acceleration and taking off, climbing, banking, and turning. No feeling of the speed brakes and reverse thrust on landing. No jolt on touchdown

 

Basically, apart from flicking a few switches and inputting the flight plan into the onboard computer, it was an hour of trying to keep a tiny square on the cross point of the vertical and horizontal axis lines on the visual display in order to maintain level and steady flight. The instructor did all the fiddly bits and controlled the throttle levers, rudder and flaps. He spent most of the hour talking about his love of PlayStation and Call Of Duty and his musical tastes whilst I was totally focused on the flightpath screen. There were a few turns and ascents and descents that I had to control but that was about it.

 

All in all, £100 to stare at a screen for an hour whilst moving the yoke to keep that square where it should be.

 

At the end, I was offered the same "experience" for a much discounted cost of £79. No thanks.

 

I wanted a decent airliner flying experience but sadly, this wasn't it.

I’ve just paid £179 for my son to have a flying lesson in a plane for an hour for his birthday

[Zear0]

59 minutes ago, kyleolly said:

I’ve just paid £179 for my son to have a flying lesson in a plane for an hour for his birthday

Nice one and hope he enjoys it.

 

Ball and chain got me one of those 1 hour lessons many years ago.  4 years later, and about 10k later, on track for my PPL.  Amazing what a buzz you get from flying.

Edited 25 May 2024 by Zear0

[Trav Le Bleu]

On 23/05/2024 at 08:36, Trumpet said:

Aside from flicking the autopilot on, that’s all there is to it really. The majority of a true airline flight experience would be getting the plane set up for flight whilst on the ground, getting it in the air and following a SID (Standard Instrument Departure) which would see you abide by any restrictions in place (altitude, speed etc) and then it’s pretty much autopilot all the way until 1000ft above on approach, typically. Anyway, I’m waffling! 
 

I agree with what you’re describing as your experience - I don’t think an airline experience is appropriate for someone that wants to have a go and a lot of these places get it wrong by setting up a short flight. If I was to run something similar I’d have the person take off and perform circuits around the airfield as I think you’d get way more from that than flying from a to b.

If I was doing it I would make it a long haul flight that lasts 6 hours.

[Trav Le Bleu]

44 minutes ago, Zear0 said:

Nice one and hope he enjoys it.

 

Ball and chain got me one of those 1 hour lessons many years ago.  4 years later, and about 10k later, on track for my PPL.  Amazing what a buzz you get from flying.

You say nice one, but @kyleolly's son is 3 (ok, 4 when he gets his pressie.)

[Daggers]

20 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

If I was doing it I would make it a long haul flight that lasts 6 hours.

Pick an A380 with a bar

[ithuriel]

The Buc.....

 

[Trumpet]

 

A rare sight a few weekends back - I don’t mean the blue sky…

[blabyboy]

1 hour ago, Trumpet said:

 

A rare sight a few weekends back - I don’t mean the blue sky…

AF1?

[Trumpet]

3 hours ago, blabyboy said:

AF1?

I think it was a Silkway 747. The 747 is mostly a cargo plane now, so to see one on its way into Birmingham airport, or any other airport is a rare occurrence.

[Free Falling Foxes]

8 hours ago, Trumpet said:

I think it was a Silkway 747. The 747 is mostly a cargo plane now, so to see one on its way into Birmingham airport, or any other airport is a rare occurrence.

I was reading an aircraft enthusiasts forum some time ago when it was announced that BA (I think it was) were retiring their 747 fleet.

One poster who said he was a pilot with BA,  said it wasn't before time - claiming many were quite literally held together with gaffer tape.

[Tommy G]

1 hour ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

I was reading an aircraft enthusiasts forum some time ago when it was announced that BA (I think it was) were retiring their 747 fleet.

One poster who said he was a pilot with BA,  said it wasn't before time - claiming many were quite literally held together with gaffer tape.

Highly unlikely and an attention seeking thing to say from the Pilot, a line to bring out at dinner parties. 

[Trumpet]

10 hours ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

I was reading an aircraft enthusiasts forum some time ago when it was announced that BA (I think it was) were retiring their 747 fleet.

One poster who said he was a pilot with BA,  said it wasn't before time - claiming many were quite literally held together with gaffer tape.

What Tommy G said. Maybe they used “speed tape” in places, but the poster was likely being dramatic.

[Parafox]

A rare sight over Hinckley this afternoon. One of these, a Catalina after a commemorative flight over Shetland. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get an actual photo.

 

Edited 20 July 2024 by Parafox