Airline Post » Dave

5 Seriously Weird Aircrafts

Dave — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:09:11 +0000

The history of aircraft design has taken some strange turns over the years, with some of these turns resulting in spectacular successes — others, in catastrophe. However, with failure sometimes comes success, just at a later date and with better technology. As you peruse the following aircraft, though some might at first seem comical in design, be sure to consider the time at which they were constructed and how extraordinarily innovative and creative the theories behind their designs must have seemed to their colleagues. In a few of these aircraft, you may even notice traits similar to modern day aircraft.

1. VZ-9AV Avrocar

Initially a Canadian project, when funding ran short, this oddity became a US military project during the 1950′s. Due to severe instability (the aircraft looked like a hubcap and unfortunately wobbled as one might as well) when flying higher than three feet above the ground, the project was cancelled in 1961.

2. H-4 Hercules (aka. The Spruce Goose)

Ah yes, you’ve probably heard of this one. Howard Hughes’s great plans for a massive transport plane to support the war effort during WWII resulted in the creation of the H-4 Hercules. With wings longer than a football field, this mammoth aircraft did manage to take flight with Hughes himself at the controls. But longevity was not in the Goose’s future, and the behemoth was promptly stashed away in a holding hanger to be kept in flight-ready status for years. After being passed along to several homes since then, she is still on display today at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

3. Martin-Marietta X-24

So we go from mega-plane to mini-aircraft. This funky little wingless aircraft was developed as a joint effort between the US Air Force and NASA during the 60′s and 70′s to test unpowered reentry from space. The aircraft utilized vertical fins for control during its flight. While it might not look like much, this little sucker managed to reach 1036 miles per hour, and had a maximum altitude of 71,400 feet. Just goes to show you that size doesn’t always mean much when it comes to aircraft.

4. AV- 8B Harrier II

With its vertical take off and landing capabilities, the Harrier is probably the best-known and recognizable aircraft on this list. Maybe not so weird looking and interesting in concept or design, the Harrier combines the vertical abilities that its predecessors in the Tailsitter family once sought, with the technological advancements to make their dreams a reality.

A combined effort between Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and British Aerospace, the Harrier AV-8B’s first flight was in November of 1981. As the ‘Most forward deployed tactical strike aircraft in combat,’ and with the capabilities to launch AGM-84 Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and AIM-7 Sparrow AAMs, this weird aircraft has the experience and firepower to back up it’s uncommon design.

5. Vought V-173 (aka. Flying Pancake)

Its nickname says it all. This propeller driven contraption with a wood and fabric frame, developed by Charles Zimmerman, was first flown on November 23, 1942. It never had much success though in the 131 hours of flight time it accumulated, and it now sits in the Smithsonian Institution’s Air Museum.

Elisa is a freelance travel writer for FrequentFlyerCreditCards.com.au where you can get airline loyalty reviews, read Australian airport guides and compare credit cards for frequent flyers.

Before flying, throw away your pet

Dave — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:10:06 +0000

When traveling by air, everyone of us probably knows what you should bring with you in your carry-on – no liquids, no food, no lighters and so on. But there probably are some rules that aren’t quite as straightforward as you might think. A girl traveling with her 2-inch pet was taken off the flight because she wanted to fly with her tiny pet.

On an AirTran Airways flight from Milwaukee to Atlanta last week, Carley Helm and her two sisters were instructed by the airline personnel to get rid of the turtle before being allowed back on board. The sisters threw their animal in the trash and returned to their seats crying.

While the girls said they were told to throw away the turtle, AirTran employees said they offered the girls to fly later at no extra charge. “I asked, ‘What do you mean get rid of it?’ and they said throw it away,” Carley said.

Luckily the story had a happy ending and the girls took their pet back after two days.

Uzbekistan Airways Fail

Dave — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 07:12:33 +0000

Uzbekistan Airways, a company we haven’t covered here (for obvious reasons) has a slogan that makes you think twice before boarding. Is this how it was meant to be?

(source)

Updated – Air France files complaint against Ryanair

Dave — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:48:05 +0000

According to an article published today in the French newspaper Le Figaro, Air France is file a complaint against Ryanair at the European Commission for receiving hundreds of millions of euros in illegal subsidies.

According to Air France, Ryanair received 660 million euros in 2008 in the form of reduced landing fees and airport taxes. While Air France avoided to make any comments regarding their action, Ryanair said the accusations are false, a spokesman adding: “It’s Air France that is getting illegal aid in terms of reduced airport taxes on its domestic routes in France.”

The European Commission opened an investigation to see if Ryanair, the Irish low-cost airline, is getting preferential treatment at European airports.

Previously, in 2008, Ryanair won an appeal when a European anti-trust court overturned a decision from Brussels, that made the company reimburse aid received from a regional airport in Belgium.

The news will be updated as soon as we receive more info.

Here is a list of all illegal subsidies of Ryanair’s in France (source AirObserver):

JAL – World’s most on-time airline

Dave — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:12:31 +0000

Japanese are famous for their fast trains that are precisely on-time and, as of recently, their airline services. According to records from FlightStats, Japan’s JAL and ANA were named the world’s most on-time airline companies.

Out of Japan Airlines‘ 216,478 flights, 90.95% of them were less than 15 minutes late or on-time. Another Japanese airline, ANA, comes in second, with 130,852 flights in 2009 where 90.37% were less than 15 minutes late. Here’s the rest of the airlines from the top 10, according to Forbes.com.

3. SAS (Sweden) – 158,572 flights in 2009, 89.11% on-time or less than 15 minutes late
4. Korean Air Lines (Korea) – 133,662 flights, 88.61% on-time or less than 15 minutes late
5. Horizon Air (USA) – 142,094 flights, 85.88% on-time
6. Air Nostrum (Spain) – 119,549 flights, 85.80% on-time
7. Chautauqua Airlines (USA, regional carrier for major American airlines) – 171,026 flights, 84.60% on-time
8. Qantas (Australia) – 153,816 flights, 83.90% on-time
9. Lufthansa (Germany) – 386,205 flights, 83.21% on-time
10. British European, formerly known as Jersey European (U.K.) – 128,360 flights, 82.64% on-time

Lufthansa Airbus wingstrike

Dave — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:26:16 +0000

Here’s something you don’t see very often. An Airbus belonging to Lufthansa suffered a wingstrike while trying to land at the Hamburg airport, on 1 March 2008 during the Emma storm. Luckily, nobody was hurt and the plane landed safely. Here’s footage from the incident:

Ryanair announces new logo

Dave — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:10:39 +0000

The guys over at IHateRyanair.co.uk have suggested a new logo for Ryanair, the low-cost airline, that will better reflect the way they do business. The airline paid a top Dublin based branding consultancy 5 pounds for this artwork.

Stevie Whoseyafather, from Lyingair, commented: “I had to bend over for about an hour and half with Micky on top so the bloody agency could get the angle right, but we think it looks great and really shows off our corporate values”.

How to get free flights without flyer miles

Dave — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:42:59 +0000

It’s hard to gain those frequent flyer miles if you’re not traveling all the time for your company. Luckily, the guys over at MoneyCrashers.com found a great way to get free flight vouchers without using your frequent flyer miles. It’s taking advantage of overbooked flights!

Overbooking can be a dreadful thing for many of us, especially when you have plans that can’t be delayed. Overbooking is a standard practice across many airlines that allows them collect double fares – one from a passengers that made a reservation and another one from those who book late. Sometimes there will be empty seats and that’s when your changes for a free flight will arise.

When you volunteer, they will ask for your airline ticket and offer you another flight either later that day or the next day. If it is a next day flight they will offer you a hotel voucher as well. If they don’t mention this, make sure to check with them. Once you agree to a later flight, they will book you on that flight and return their attention to the boarding passengers. Take a seat near the information desk and wait until they call you. Do not wander off! Sometimes they’ll realize seats are available at the last minute. If that is the case, you are expected to board and may still get some kind of compensation!

For reference, Forbes released an article on America’s most overbooked flights where you’re most likely to get bumped.

Win miles to travel around the world

Dave — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:42:47 +0000

Lufthansa, Europe’s leading airline, is getting ready to launch its A380 with an exciting competition. You, the passengers, are invited to suggest a name for the flaship aircraft and entered in the competition to win 1,000,000 miles. The miles from the Lufthansa Miles & More programme are enough to circle the globe twice, in Business Class.

So head on down to their website section dedicated to A380 and name the jumbo jet. There’s also a neat virtual tour you can check out while there!

Lufthansa is the fifth largest airline in the world, in terms of passengers carried and services 183 international destinations in 78 countries.

Airplane Food that Doesn’t Suck

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:52:29 +0000

We don’t think there’s many people out there that enjoy airplane food. In fact, it’s probably worse than hospital or jail food. But when you get that once in a lifetime opportunity to sample the most challenging cuisine presented by the United fleet of Culinary geniuses you have to take it and make the best of it. Here’s a quick look through some offbeat airplane menus that would probably eave a place on any decent restaurant’s list.

Menu from AirFrance & FinnAir flights

American Airlines & Cathay Pacific (Business Class) menus

EVA Airways (Business Class) menus (a.k.a. the Hello Kitty Airline)

China East Airlines & Cathay Pacific (Economy Class) menus

China Airlines (Economy Class) & DragonAir (Economy Class) menus

Menus from JetAirways (Economy Class) & Nippon Airways (Economy Class)

United Airlines (Ecomomy Class) & Vietnam Airlines (Economy Class)

Japan Airlines & Air Canada menus

AirIndia & AirKoryo menus

Delta Airlines & Garuda menus

KLM & Lufthansa menus

Another Lufthansa menu & Shanghai Airlines

TAP & Virgin Atlantic menus