Tagged With "747-8"

Last time I went from Mexico to Philadelphia they had no Coffee. So we received free WiFi for the flight. Was great fun saying Hello to friends. They would all ask where are you ? "I'll look out the window - somewhere above the clouds in the Gulf of Mexico!" Beat that !! And Facetime on the IPad was a hoot!

I've been told that wi-fi over the ocean is a real technological challenge, because it requires constant re-positioning of 2 moving targets (the plane and satellite). In contrast, Wi-Fi over a continent only involves connecting one moving target with a stationary one, a simpler thing to do. Glad to hear this problem seems to be mostly solved. It would be nice to catch up on some wi-fi chores while on a long flight (although I usually manage to fill such flights watching movies or working on...

Not sure I understand that. The plane is moving, but the data aren't, they are launched into geo-synchronous or its so they are always over the same patch of earth. So why should it matter whether the flight is ny to la or ny to London? Anyone know?

Geosynchronous orbit is only close enough to planes flying in that area (ie. around the equator). A plane flying the polar route from North America to Europe won't be able to connect with a geosynchronous satellite. They will be connecting with a series of lower altitude satellites, not unlike global satellite phone system. These satellites are moving quickly, as is the plane.

I believe that's the best summary of modern jet development I've ever read. Interesting and fun, thanks!

I presume the reduced 777 and 747 production at the Everett plant will be taken up with new 787 production.

There are few stories more embarrassing for a pilot than the old "landed at the wrong airport one". Wonder how often this happens? This particular story is news because it couldn't take off easily without special clearance. In this era of modern flight navigation, one has to wonder how it could happen at all.

Years ago, flying with a friend into Montreal in a private plane and later than expected, after dark, we'd have been happy to see ANY airport. After a chat with controllers they flashed the runway lights for us and we made it in, safe & sound. Maybe that's the solution for everyone, there needs to be more light flashing for the confused at the right airport.

If there are confusing runways nearby, PortMoresby's idea of flashing lights is good. Different airports could have different colored lights. Today I land at the green light airport. Tomorrow it is the red light airport (to be distinguished form the red light areas in different cities).

excellent article and collection of pictures, PH. The Manhattan skyline is always fascinating to look at and the history of it is equally interesting

This behemoth locomotive is the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range (DM&IR) 2-8-8-4 "Yellowstone" which is now preserved at Two Harbors, Minnesota. Eighteen of these powerful coal burning locomotives were built between 1941 and 1943. The 2-8-8-4s were retired between 1958 and 1963 as diesel locomotives took over. Sadly, only three of the 2-8-8-4s still survive...Number 229 pictured above, Number 227 at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth, Minnesota, and Number...

The Boeing 747, the first true jumbo jet, has been in service since 1969, so many people are surprised that they are not only still in service, but still in production!   Lufthansa, one of the 747's biggest boosters took delivery of the 1500th...

Lufthansa, which makes more than half its revenue from first- and business-class seats, says the routes between German and North America are its most profitable—and it's taking steps on both fronts by switching flights over to bigger planes with...

Airbus's super-jumbo A380, which has now been flying for 8 years, has finally broken even...but there have been no new orders for several years. That's led to reports that Airbus would close down the line once it finishes the last of the 317 orders,...

For a nearly 50-year design that's been declared dead over and over, fans of the Boeing 747 have been given more proof that reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated. Korean Air has just taken on its first 747-8 Intercontinental, a stretched...

The plane that never was: Boeing's Sonic Cruiser concept helped pave the way for 777/787   Photo: Boeing   Will there be a 797 in our future? Is there a future for the A380 or the 747? And what’s happening with the rest of the ranges...

Manhattan's skyline is constantly, although the changes are not always instantly obvious, at least not so much as the change between the city's days as a port where the ships lined the shore and the growth of huge buildings clustered together in their...

With newer, more efficient planes crowding the market, demand for super-jumbos appears to be ending, and with it production of the A380 and 747.

Virgin Atlantic shifts its mix of planes, going for a somewhat-less-jumbo big plane that will still hold over 400 passengers.

GoGo Internet, the company that supplies the inflight WiFi on most U.S. domestic flights has gotten the OK to begin installin on Boeing 747-400s for international service, and will soon extend to other models as well. Details

In probably the biggest embarrassment a pilot could have, the world's largest cargo plane, a modified 747-400, landed at Wichita's civil airport instead of a nearby Air Force base. The problem? Airport runway is too short for take-off....

In a move to even out production as new models come online, Boeing is adjusting its production rates on current versions.

The engineering skills that produced these mammoths must have been colossal. I can get lost for hours looking at one of these works of art. My wife never gets the sense of history that goes with these living monuments to our past. So I take bundles of photos - "Move along - nothing to see here" "yes my dear"

I've seen that locomotive and it's H-U-G-E! Hard to appreciate how massive from any photos. Thanks for sharing these and reminding me when machines were still built like, well, machines!

Hi Garry and DrFumblefinger DrFumblefinger, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm glad you enjoyed this POD. Garry, your story is so funny yet so true. It sounds like my wife and your wife have very much in common and would probably get along great. These machines are just so amazing, I too could admire them for quite a long time. What can I say...maybe it's a guy thing... boys and their toys, and all that. Hopefully one day you and I will be able to meet, ditch our wives, and go check...

I know just what you mean Ottoman ! How can an intelligent person look at huge model train layout and just say : "Ok - what does it do ?" Like casting pearls before swine ! Like getting your 15 seconds viewing the Mona Lisa and just taking photos. Like watching the Space Station pass across the sky like a huge sparkling jewel. "Yes - I know it's the same every time - but it's an amazing piece of..... doesn't matter.."

11 across is really packing people in like sardines. No way to share those armrests unless your holding hands with your seatmate