Correct. The fences come down for the AE after December 31, 2014.

+1. Any big iron is good in my book.

They might be flying with other airlines and be relatively new. I know what you're saying in that 744s should be a lot cheaper but that's really if they're old.

But if you look at the 744 production list and get past the plethora of 400Fs that took up the last few years of production you see some China Airlines, a Skyteam partner. They have 4 mid 2000 744s but no 748s even on order. Could it be we'd take those 4 744s and they order 748s. Take 3 or so from AF from the same time frame. Maybe Virgins?

Add those to maybe a few from the desert? You could scrape up 11 I'm sure.

The question is, who much is a mid to early 2000s 744 worth? $100M? And what if that price tag is for a ready to fly for Delta jet? How much is a retrofit of a 744 cabin to Delta standards cost anyways?

Seems somewhat reasonable if a early model 744 from 1992 or so is in the $20M as is. I could see the price dropping a lot from a 10 year old to 20 year old model that probably is the last 3rd or so of its life.

+1

Good rumors are always fun, but good news is tough to beat.

+717:eek:

Good news is hard to come by.

But, maybe we'll finally get rid of American Idol as it goes from high flying to death spiral? “American Idol” Hits A Wednesday Ratings Low, Down 5% from Last Week | Showbiz411

wow those were some good posts. Good rumors, GREAT post by FTB on pricing etc.!

I am buying, and after that long, detailed post, I expect at least one good pic of Katherine Webb.

Does that thing on her head require flushing?

Sounds like someone's a little defensive about drone pilots being called out for, well, being drone pilots. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

That medal would be the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Those drones don't land themselves do they? Doesn't a drone pilot have to be LOS with the drone to take it off and land it? So if they're flying their drone over Afghanistan then a drone pilot is getting the medal; or perhaps they're no longer awarding that medal and going with the Global War On Terrorism medal instead, where I think you don't even have to be within 1000 miles of a terrorist to get. I'm not sure, and really don't care. It's not like I thought my post was going to be treated like a sworn statement at a senate hearing. So here it is, full disclosure: I may have taken some liberties with the established criteria for the awarding of medals with which you apparently have great knowledge and expertise with in an attempt to poke fun at drone crews. Whatever they give you in your vfile when you're in between deployments is one more you have to worry about adding the next time you have to wear, god forbid, the fancy uniform.

Well, nice Wikipedia reference. Did you post that information yourself? Here's a news release from an ISR Public Affairs office which would seem to indicate that yes, pred drivers can get a combat readiness medal. Maybe I'm interpreting the PA release incorrectly, if so, excuse me. Again, big whup--it's yet another ribbon for doing one's job, IMO. I think the military (AF in my experience) gives out way too many awards, and this new drone one is just another example; so they're the ones that get the brunt of the criticism at the moment. But maybe some don't like being made fun of in the least bit....talk about a Francis syndrome.:eek: Lighten up!

Uhh, no $heet. See above.

Been there, done that. I know exactly what kind of experience many of them have. BTW, I'd rather have the keyboard make me sound smart than irrationally defensive. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt; perhaps it's one of those situations where it reads one way to me and another way to you.

Seriously, you're too easy!

Chill, bud.
GG