Originally Posted by
satchip
Hey FTB, you watching ESPN right now? Will the Auburn spring game be on national tv?
Okay Satch, let me guess, they're showing Alabama's scrimmage on ESPN? So did Alabama win? Did they fake a punt in the first quarter again? Did they luck out and knock out the other teams QB and still almost lose? Let me guess, they played safe mode because they were up by 18 at half and almost blew it against a true freshman QB?
I wouldn't worry about Auburn. They're not out for national attention. Just you.
Originally Posted by
Waves
I’m assuming those MD-11/717 cockpit mods originated from McDonnell Douglas, so the STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) rights would of course now belong to Boeing. As acl has pointed out numerous times, remember unlike the earlier “nice to have” upgrades, these changes have a greater impetus due to NextGen RNP improvements.
Although Boeing would rather have everyone buy new aircraft, it would be in poor form for them to not support viable upgrades to their aircraft already out there. Secondly, these mods would not necessarily have to be performed by Boeing. As an A&P mechanic I can assure you there are dozens of “Mod Squads” just chomping at the bit to get a job like this. There are even similar STC’s being done on even older aircraft. Side note: One of the companies flying out of the airport where I have a hangar just spent $400,000 on a similar cockpit upgrade mod to a King Air.
Having said all that, if past performance is any indication of the future, then you are correct, we will never see these mods. Look how long it took to get the MadDog heater blankets. Also look at the fuel pump mods for the Boeing fleet. When I was on the 757/767, the fuel pump issues changed our procedures so often that it became a joke. Every time we would start a trip, we would say, “Well let’s see, what are we doing with the fuel pumps this week?” You didn’t hear me say this, but we finally just started doing what WE thought was the best method of compliance because we couldn’t keep up with the daily changes.
I heard the same thing on the 717. It wasn’t feasible for Boeing to continue production of the 717 when they were still pumping out the 737. I have not flown the 700 yet, but the 800 is very aerodynamically clean and has tons of power. According to the CAL pilots, they hate the 900 because it is way underpowered. SouthWest influenced the design of the so called “Next Generation” 737 and totally ruined it. It is truly a 1960’s airframe with some nice upgrades. I flew the MD-90 for several years, and it is an OK aircraft. Quiet cockpit, descent brakes, fair power, OK APU, etc. I’m totally on board with getting more of them if the price is right. I will probably never fly it again, but it sure would open up a lot of slots by getting 44 more of them. That would be a great one for one replacement of the DC-9’s as they get shelved.
Yeah, I'm going to say I'm not going to hold my breath. Its like the King Air 200 in a way though, buy a mid 80s B200 for $1M-ish, fix it up, new paint, new interior, new integrated cockpit, extend the engines to 8000 hours and why in the world would you buy a new one at $6M you barely use when you can have a great one at $1.6? And thus the incentive for Boeing and the 90? If that engine Dugan TR/engine mod works out and a new cockpit can be made where is the incentive for either AMR or DAL to quickly replace an airplane thats only reaching its half life?
Originally Posted by
satchip
Used to watch the Braves all the time. Grew up watching the Braves on Ch 17 which became TBS. Now they don't even show braves games on TBS, just reruns of Golden Girls. Oh well, the Braves have sucked ever since Turner sold them to TWC.
The Braves on the upswing in the early early 1990s was a lot more fun then the Braves in the later part of the 1990s and all throughout the 2000s. They've got more buzz now but not having TBS just puts them in the middle of the pack.
I will say this, Andruw Jones seemed like an arrogant lazy individual and he and Chipper were the reasons I cheered against the Braves. But when I was doing corporate I got to fly Andruw Jones somewhere and spent some time with him, nice guy and probably the most overly polite passenger I ever dealt with. I enjoyed flying him. Worst passengers by far are nannies and then wives followed closely by punk spoiled teenagers.
Best story, when Mike Bibby was told by the girl behind an FBO desk we landed at not to touch a $200,000 Ferrari in the lobby, she emphasized the price when she yelled across the room. He hadn't even tried to touch it, but he looked at her and said, "thats how much I'm carrying in my wallet."