Shuttle America Saab's

[IndyGTP]

I was told by Quality Assurance manager, John Kirby that there were multiple coats of paint on A/C 19. He has been the Shuttle America rep. thats been going to Nashville to overlook the repainting of the fleet *yawn* and make sure things go smoothly.

I'm just saying from what I have heard. But I can confirm to you that 340SZ was in PIT and had a full 30 passengers and they had to all get out and swap into another plane. Apparently Bombardier felt they didnt need to strip the paint and failed to put the "Operated by Shuttle America" in passenger view (If you open the door it covers up the phrase.)

 

[Weasel Keeper]

Stand by just a little longer and you'll most likely see how many coats of paint...since 19 and 360 already have paint peeling.

 

[I.P. Freley]

...and 340, too.

Thankfully they have a 12 month, 12,000mi warranty and we'll get a free touchup.

 

[Weasel Keeper]

Gawd..add 35, 40, and 118...sheesh! Who'd we hire to do the paint, Earl Scheib ($99.95)???

*Note to painters...try primer?!?*

If we're lucky we'll get a good "feel up"...or at least dinner...

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Saab #340

Wasn't #340 one of the first A-models off the assembly line? I have a picture of it somewhere in "Allegheny Commuter" color scheme from when Chautauqua first started flying them.

Incedentally, Allegheny Commuter had one of the most striking liveries around. Rich dark red stripe with gold cheat-lines. It looked great on a Saab.

(sigh) I miss the Saab-o-matic sometimes.

 

[DenverDude2002]

Gawd..add 35, 40, and 118...sheesh! Who'd we hire to do the paint, Earl Scheib ($99.95)???

Must be the same people that painted the Frontier Airbus's. I noticed some major paint chipping on a photo of one thats only been here a month.....

 

[Dr.Hwang]

Please help!

I saw a Saab with the new United paint scheme boarding US Airways passengers in ROC two weeks ago. Is this really possible. It was parked next to Mainline US Air and a Dash8. Is that a Saab that will be shifted to do United flying in the future or concurently?

 

[T-Gates]

Please help!

I saw a Saab with the new United paint scheme boarding US Airways passengers in ROC two weeks ago. Is this really possible. It was parked next to Mainline US Air and a Dash8. Is that a Saab that will be shifted to do United flying in the future or concurently?

Yes, thats a SA Saab, I saw one at the A concourse at PIT with the UAL logo on the tail.

BTW, can any SA guys confirm that 85 of you are getting walking papers soon? I just heard that nasty rumor today. I hope it's not true.

 

[BLUE-ICE-MAN]

Let me just add this. Right now at the bottom 1/4 to 1/3 of the senority list is not a warm and fuzzy place to be.

 

[I.P. Freley]

>>>Wasn't #340 one of the first A-models off the assembly line?<<<

Here's the story I heard about A/C 340, from someone who should know...

It was the first 340 delivered to a customer, but not the "original" airplane. If I remember correctly...

#1 and #2 were development mules, never delivered to a customer. One or both of them is on a post in front of the factory where they were built.

#3 is out there somewhere, but not flying (possibly).

#4 is A/C 340, and it was the first one delivered, even though #3 was obviously built first. I know there's a reason, but the reason eludes me (I think it was because #4 was slated for a launch customer, and #3 was not, and was therefore delivered after #4... It could also be that #3 was the demonstrator and was ultimately delivered to a customer after it had served its' purpose).

So... We have the oldest existing customer-delivered 340 in the world, at least as far as the "time in service" is concerned.

 

[JBcrjca]

Ok, so I'll apologize up front for being an airplane geek... but I'm sitting reserve, the motorcycle is broken, and I have nothing better to do than whip out the turboprop production list.

S/N 001 First flew 1/83, WFU and stored 1/87, preserved Linkoping Sweden.
S/N 002 First flew 5/83, converted to 340B 9/87, WFU and stored Nykoping Sweden 5/96.
S/N 003 First flew 8/83, WFU and used as mock-up for the Saab 2000.
S/N 004 First flew 3/84, delivered to Comair 10/84, leased to CHQ 3/95.
S/N 005 First flew 4/84, delivered to Crossair 6/84, written off at ZRH 2/90 when gear retracted on the ground. (incidentally, the guy that did that was the same capt that crashed the BAe-146 at ZRH a year or two ago)
S/N 006 First flew 5/84, delivered to Comair 7/84, leased to CHQ 3/95.

So CHQ has the honor of having 2 of the oldest Saabs still flying the line. So now only 7 more hrs of reserve to go. Scangada, no comments from the audience please.

 

[rvsm410]

CHQ Saab's????

ChQ does not have the Saab's anymore..they went to Shuttle America....they have the honors!

 

[JBcrjca]

Whoops, yeah I screwed that up. I was just reading from the list, forgot to add the part about being transferred to SA. My apologies.

 

[I.P. Freley]

Okay, so I was close. All I know is that the airplane is older than some of the FA's who "work the room".

 

[Weasel Keeper]

I have heard from a few people that S/N 006 (N360SZ) was once used by the Pope as his plane, although I really have no confirmation.As far as the UEX colored planes flying USAir people...the United in United Express was whited out so other than the tail logo, it was just a generic Express plane. Pretty sneaky eh? We're removing the whited out United covering now for the United operations.