G-VBIG
Posted: 20 Jan 2018, 15:49Some of you traveling on a B747 in the next few weeks would be glad to know G-VBIG went to China yesterday.
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Posted: 20 Jan 2018, 15:49Re: G-VBIG
Posted: 20 Jan 2018, 18:56Do you know for what purpose?
Re: G-VBIG
Posted: 20 Jan 2018, 19:19I 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.
G-VGAL came back from XMN on Friday.
Re: G-VBIG
Posted: 21 Jan 2018, 08:08SlimpyJones wrote:Do you know for what purpose?
Probably just to tinker with her bell.
Dick D
Re: G-VBIG
Posted: 03 Feb 2018, 12:08Sorry for my ignorance but what happened during these times - someone mentioned D-Check. Not sure what that is?
Re: G-VBIG
Posted: 03 Feb 2018, 12:39Spill wrote: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.
Re: G-VBIG
Posted: 03 Feb 2018, 18:13As 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!
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!