G-VBIG

Some of you traveling on a B747 in the next few weeks would be glad to know G-VBIG went to China yesterday.

Do you know for what purpose?

[mitchja]

I presume it's just a standard D-check as most of the B744's have been heading there about 1 a month since since late last year.

G-VGAL came back from XMN on Friday.

Do you know for what purpose?

Probably just to tinker with her bell.

Dick D

Sorry for my ignorance but what happened during these times - someone mentioned D-Check. Not sure what that is?

Sorry for my ignorance but what happened during these times - someone mentioned D-Check. Not sure what that is?

Aircraft have 4 levels of check A-B-C-D they have to undergo on a regular basis. These are in addition to day-to-day maintenance.

The D (or heavy) check is the most thorough and can take several weeks. They basically strip the plane back and check everything and everywhere for defects

This wiki article gives a basic over view.

There is a BBC documentary that follows a BA plane during it's D check. It may be available on iPlayer or you tube. I recall it was part of their 'Engineering Giants' series.

As above, a D-check is serious heavy maintenance where the aircraft is stripped pretty much bare - takes place about every 5+yrs (depending on flying hours / cycles). As aircraft age it is not uncommon for them to be conveniently retired from the fleet before a D-check becomes due, as it ain't cheap.

The YouTube video of the BA 747-400 in a D-Check is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_yHtfGH0nI

The BA 747 that unexpectedly had it's wing sliced through an airside building in Johannesburg in Dec 2013 had not long returned from a D-check in Cardiff and was expected for fly for a good few years longer... it was scrapped in Jo'burg following the incident. Very expensive mistake there by the flight deck crew.

As to what VS are doing to Tinkerbelle - most likely a D-check... but feel free to fit that bar they in theory have knocking round from V-TOP to the UC cabin too!