Looks like the hole in the fuselage pressurized the fuselage/wing fairing and blew it off. The actual hole isn't nearly as big as they report, but that doesn't make it any less concerning! It will be interesting to find out the results of that investigation. I really hope it wasn't as a result of some type of baggage bomb...
Other forums say it looks like its cargo pallets not baggage containers.
Normally cargo pallets are wrapped with plastic and netting. It was coming back from London via Hong Kong so maybe they were carrying back lost baggage as it definatlely looks like baggage from the pictures.
Very strange incident. Some have suggested an O2 bottle or something, it would have tgo be something fairly powerfull to blow off the section. Amazing still that an aircraft 17 years old is still flying, wow. Credit to Boeing.
Also, its not entireley surprising that QANTAS has had no accidents. They fly larger planes and less fewquencies than airlines in Europe and North America.
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Amazing still that an aircraft 17 years old is still flying, wow. Credit to Boeing.
17 years isn't very old for an aircraft. Airframe life depends on the actual airframe hours and total landings. Some 737's flying around Canada today are as old as 30 years.
17 years isn't very old for an aircraft. Airframe life depends on the actual airframe hours and total landings. Some 737's flying around Canada today are as old as 30 years.
I always wondered about old aircraft. Do they completely rehaul the electronic system every few years? Especially if you consider the technological advances over 10 years.
I always wondered about old aircraft. Do they completely rehaul the electronic system every few years? Especially if you consider the technological advances over 10 years.
There is upgrade mods for avionics and navigation equipment that are done on older aircraft to keep up with technology. Some are at the owner/operators option and others are made mandatory by the FAA/Transport Canada. As for complete redo's of an aircraft electrical system, that's a big no! For large transport category aircraft, this would be a near impossible task (miles and miles of wires) and something that just doesn't need to be done. Wires do periodically need to be repaired due to age, but usually because they chafed through the insulation and grounded to the airframe (which should open the circuit breaker or blow the fuse to prevent any further damage!).
They just interviewed Bob Pearson of Gimli Glider fame on Adler. I'd never heard of this story before today. I just read the Wikipedia entry on it and it's a hell of a story. Check it out...
Amazing still that an aircraft 17 years old is still flying, wow. Credit to Boeing.
Before they got their new planes, many of Westjet's 737s were from the late '60s - likewise with Air Canada's old DC-9s. I bet 17 years is pretty average for an airplane.
that's nothing, 2 pilots actually landed this airplane
they had a story on this on the discovery channel show Mayday. it was a plane that was past it's life cycle running thousands of hours over what it should have been, and as a result had stress fractures that separately formed and eventually all connected together and tore the roof of the plane off midflight. the only death was a stewardess that was sucked out with the explosive decompression, but the pilots managed to land it and save all the passengers
that's nothing, 2 pilots actually landed this airplane
they had a story on this on the discovery channel show Mayday. it was a plane that was past it's life cycle running thousands of hours over what it should have been, and as a result had stress fractures that separately formed and eventually all connected together and tore the roof of the plane off midflight. the only death was a stewardess that was sucked out with the explosive decompression, but the pilots managed to land it and save all the passengers
Sweet Jesus, that would be scary. You'd think the seat would be ripped off going that fast with next to no wind resistance, and the passengers faces would all be wind and cold-burned. That would be absolutely terrifying.
Or the british airways pilot who got sucked partially out of the cockpit, when his windscreen blew out. The co-pilot ended up landing the plane, and there about 3 or 4 other people in the cockpit with him, holding onto the pilot.
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Or the british airways pilot who got sucked partially out of the cockpit, when his windscreen blew out. The co-pilot ended up landing the plane, and there about 3 or 4 other people in the cockpit with him, holding onto the pilot.
And his arms stretched like 5 inches or something.
And his arms stretched like 5 inches or something.
I wonder if his new nickname is Inspector Gadget. If he works out he could be a pro boxer. Nobody will ever accuse him of having short arms and deep pockets. Bet he never has to ask his wife to pass the salt. I wonder if he's ever caught a fish thiiiiis big... Ok, I'll stop now.
I wonder if his new nickname is Inspector Gadget. If he works out he could be a pro boxer. Nobody will ever accuse him of having short arms and deep pockets. Bet he never has to ask his wife to pass the salt. I wonder if he's ever caught a fish thiiiiis big... Ok, I'll stop now.
I wonder if he's now a police officer. Long arm of the law and all that...
I'll bet the next time he goes to a fancy restaurant, and they charge him an arm and a leg, he'll get change.
Edit: Good evening folks. I just flew in from Paris, and boy are my arms tired!
Qantas 747 jet lands with gaping hole in fuselage
