ATA and the DC-10: When

[AvroGuy]

I flew on it several times out of BWI when I was going to the sandbox. Now I see them every day at DFW. All three most of the time.

 

[HalinTexas]

There were only a couple of B767-300's available at the time. We were down to the wire on one of them, but as usually happens, the prices started going up. Since were were in BK at the time we could not then, and cannot now afford the current prices on B767-300's. One thing you have to understand is that in the charter business the airplanes do a lot of sitting. No sense in paying high lease rates when there may be periods when the airplanes sit.

Rumor/Speculation is that once the B787's start coming out in greater numbers these B76's will start appearring on the market at lower prices, making them affordable to us. Any mergers/acquisitions that might occur as a result of the "Open Sky" aggreement could change timelines.

 

[skid]

I think they may be the last L-10 operator period. Anybody know of any foreign L-10 operators remaining?

Is there many out there on the corporate side of things? I know that one of the casinos in Vegas just picked on up to fly to CHina. Only problem is that the range does not meet the needs. I have heard it can go nonstop only if conditions are perfect. Otherwise it requires a stop in ANC.

Any thoughts to the range/performance?

 

[HalinTexas]

The -250's and -500's a the long range birds. 11-30 hours.

The others are in the 7-9 hours range.

 

[CopilotDoug]

The -250's and -500's a the long range birds. 11-30 hours.

11-30 hrs !!! Holy cow! How fu**king far can an airplane fly in 30 hours?!?

 

[Quimby]

pretty freakin' far.

 

[HalinTexas]

Sorry, meant 11-13 hours.

 

[MD11Drvr]

Or fly without autothrottles.

I enjoy turning them off and just flying the airplane. At the very least holding them to steady them out when its gusty. When I flew the DC-10 I would turn them off for all the approaches as I found them to be more trouble than they were worth. In 1800 hours I made 2 landings with them on in the DC-10, but I have to admit the ATS in the MD-11 is a much better system than the DC-10. I still miss the DC-8 though, no ATS and a autopilot that was only good in cruise if you were lucky.............

 

[Citrus531]

Is there many out there on the corporate side of things? I know that one of the casinos in Vegas just picked on up to fly to CHina. Only problem is that the range does not meet the needs. I have heard it can go nonstop only if conditions are perfect. Otherwise it requires a stop in ANC.

Any thoughts to the range/performance?

The Vegas Casino Mogul out west just picked up 2 L1011-500's...ex Saudi birds...saw the pics on airliners.net...sweet paint job.

The last L1011 worldwide fleet list I saw had about 20ish or so still active or at least airworthy...EuroAtlantic, the RAF, ATA, Air Universal(parked in Tehran, Iran currently), Luzair, and a couple of others I think. I did see a pic of the ATA -100 sitting in South Florida awaiting it's fate...retired a couple of months ago.

In production from only 1972-1983 with only 250 frames built...what a shame...I love the Tristar!

 

[pianoman]

Ever notice almost any cheesy USA-network type movie that has an airplane scene uses a Tri-Star? (Just saw Stephen King's "The Langoliers" on TV the other day)