So-called Desert Air Force numbers nearly 1,500 aircraft.
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So-called Desert Air Force numbers nearly 1,500 aircraft.
More than 200 commercial planes, including more than 50 giant Boeing 747s, are parked in neat rows a half mile west of Interstate 10. A handful do get sent to the crusher each year.
Airlines and aircraft leasing companies will spend $300 to $1,250 a month to park and maintain unused planes in the desert rather than sell them for parts and scrap metal.
The so-called Desert Air Force currently numbers nearly 1,500 aircraft. In reality, only a third, 508 built after 1979, are good candidates to re-enter commercial service.
Airlines plan to increase capacity by about 7% in 2004, to within a hair's breadth of what it was at the peak in 2000. In 2005, capacity might grow even faster.
New American CEO Gerard Arpey says the world's largest airline is "through running from competition with low-cost carriers."
Its capacity will grow at least 7% in 2004. To do that, it is re-installing two rows of seats in its B757s and A300s that were removed in 2001 to give passengers more legroom. It also will fly its planes more hours each day.
But American also is quietly making preparations to bring 28 McDonnell Douglas MD-80s and 14 Boeing 767s back into service earlier than the 2005 and 2006 time frame envisioned when they were parked in the desert. A decision has not been made, but American officials indicate that they are leaning toward an early return of the MD-80s, the first of which could be flying by summer.
United says its fleet plan won't be determined until it nears the end of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process sometime next year. Industry analysts expect United to bring planes back from the desert to help fight encroachments by rival American and to combat low-cost carriers.
Other network airlines, some of which are still trying to get big labor concessions, aren't as far along in the process. But analysts say they all face the same competitive pressures pushing them toward defensive capacity increases. Most can, like American, squeeze more hours each day out of their planes to generate some extra capacity. But defending their market positions is likely to mean recalling planes from the desert.
Bernard Han, Northwest's chief financial officer, did nothing to calm analysts' fears during a conference call in October.
On the one hand, he said, "We do think that we ... need to be prudent about capacity growth in 2004. ... On the other hand, Northwest intends to vigorously defend our market share, as we see more aggressive capacity growth around us." Allen says the big carriers have little choice. "The low-cost carriers are all moving aggressively, and the big carriers will have to respond. They don't want to blink an eye and a year later have a big competitor" in markets they used to dominate.
Airlines and aircraft leasing companies will spend $300 to $1,250 a month to park and maintain unused planes in the desert rather than sell them for parts and scrap metal.
The so-called Desert Air Force currently numbers nearly 1,500 aircraft. In reality, only a third, 508 built after 1979, are good candidates to re-enter commercial service.
Airlines plan to increase capacity by about 7% in 2004, to within a hair's breadth of what it was at the peak in 2000. In 2005, capacity might grow even faster.
New American CEO Gerard Arpey says the world's largest airline is "through running from competition with low-cost carriers."
Its capacity will grow at least 7% in 2004. To do that, it is re-installing two rows of seats in its B757s and A300s that were removed in 2001 to give passengers more legroom. It also will fly its planes more hours each day.
But American also is quietly making preparations to bring 28 McDonnell Douglas MD-80s and 14 Boeing 767s back into service earlier than the 2005 and 2006 time frame envisioned when they were parked in the desert. A decision has not been made, but American officials indicate that they are leaning toward an early return of the MD-80s, the first of which could be flying by summer.
United says its fleet plan won't be determined until it nears the end of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process sometime next year. Industry analysts expect United to bring planes back from the desert to help fight encroachments by rival American and to combat low-cost carriers.
Other network airlines, some of which are still trying to get big labor concessions, aren't as far along in the process. But analysts say they all face the same competitive pressures pushing them toward defensive capacity increases. Most can, like American, squeeze more hours each day out of their planes to generate some extra capacity. But defending their market positions is likely to mean recalling planes from the desert.
Bernard Han, Northwest's chief financial officer, did nothing to calm analysts' fears during a conference call in October.
On the one hand, he said, "We do think that we ... need to be prudent about capacity growth in 2004. ... On the other hand, Northwest intends to vigorously defend our market share, as we see more aggressive capacity growth around us." Allen says the big carriers have little choice. "The low-cost carriers are all moving aggressively, and the big carriers will have to respond. They don't want to blink an eye and a year later have a big competitor" in markets they used to dominate.
At David Monthan AFB their are only former military airplanes? Not? But More North-West of Tuscun you there is a small airfield, called "Pinal", where Civilian airplanes are stored... When I was in Arizona for the SATC-training one of the old Sabena 747 was parked there. Also the 747 modified to transport Space-shuttles was there. You can land with small aircraft on that field or take pictures while you are airborne but on the ground you sometimes get chased away by the CIA ... they have a small base in a corner of that airfield. Thay have Cobra's and blackhawks standing there ...
If in the coming weeks I finally get a scanner I will put some pictures online...
See ya
If in the coming weeks I finally get a scanner I will put some pictures online...
See ya
That's right "Onetimer",
Just at the other side of the road to Davis Monthan AFB you have also the Pima Air Museum, very interesting with a lot of unique aircraft.
For some special photography you also have to drive a little bit around looking for some scrap-yards were you surely will find some "Gone Glory"
Sad that some aircraft has to end their life that way.
Just at the other side of the road to Davis Monthan AFB you have also the Pima Air Museum, very interesting with a lot of unique aircraft.
For some special photography you also have to drive a little bit around looking for some scrap-yards were you surely will find some "Gone Glory"
Sad that some aircraft has to end their life that way.
- Comet
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I've seen the Shuttle modified 747. This was in Iceland, and it had the Space Shuttle "Enterprise" on its back. It did a low fly past over the Reykjavik City Airport (the domestic airport as opposed to Keflavik International). There were crowds gathered on the hill opposite, but as we had a hotel room which overlooked the airfield, we had a superb view of it from our bedroom window. It was quite something.
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise
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I think it had been doing a tour of Europe or something, and I think it was going to the Paris Air Show at the end of its tour. Iceland might have been the first "stop" on the way from the US to Europe. I think that's the reason.sn26567 wrote:What was the Shuttle doing in Iceland? I thought it travelled only between Florida and California.
And outer space, of course!
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise
All those shuttles ... fftopic:
Reviewing the links of all off you ... it might be possible that the one I saw there was an old one ...
Twan01 ...
I didn't mean Pima Air Museum ... For me one of the best museums in the world!!!
But I meant that at "PINAL" airfield a lot of civilian airplanes are stocked or even destroyed (when I was there they were a VASP MD-11) And I am convinced that the first post of this page goes about PINAL and not PIMA ...
If you go to AZ and visit the Tuscon area ... it is really worth to go there!!
Although I start to have doubts ... Marana exists too .. used to be Avra Valley... But in 1999-2000 it wasn't large enough to accommodate 747's
Reviewing the links of all off you ... it might be possible that the one I saw there was an old one ...
Twan01 ...
I didn't mean Pima Air Museum ... For me one of the best museums in the world!!!
But I meant that at "PINAL" airfield a lot of civilian airplanes are stocked or even destroyed (when I was there they were a VASP MD-11) And I am convinced that the first post of this page goes about PINAL and not PIMA ...
If you go to AZ and visit the Tuscon area ... it is really worth to go there!!
Although I start to have doubts ... Marana exists too .. used to be Avra Valley... But in 1999-2000 it wasn't large enough to accommodate 747's
Made a temporary "Group" at MSN.
Duality of files is to low for Airliners.net
Have a look
http://groups.msn.com/Arizonapictures/shoebox.msnw
Duality of files is to low for Airliners.net
Have a look
http://groups.msn.com/Arizonapictures/shoebox.msnw
Onetimer,
I didn't mixed-up Pinal with the Pima museum. I know both.
I see that you know also a lot of these, and although I have some contacts in Arizona to inform me, your inputs on information would be appreciated too.
I'll keep you informed about my plans to visit, as soon as these take some concrete form.
I didn't mixed-up Pinal with the Pima museum. I know both.
I see that you know also a lot of these, and although I have some contacts in Arizona to inform me, your inputs on information would be appreciated too.
I'll keep you informed about my plans to visit, as soon as these take some concrete form.
- Comet
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Well I know for an absolute fact that there was a Space Shuttle called "Enterprise" because I saw it. It was being carried on the back of the modified Boeing 747.Lien wrote:Space Shuttle Enterprise ?
I thought NASA had only 5 shuttles in service:
Columbia (lost recently)
Atlantis
Endeavour
Challenger (lost in 1986)
Discovery
Remain = 3
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise
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For anyone else who thinks I am making this up, follow the link below. This backs up my story about the Shuttle being taken to the Paris Air Show, though it does not mention Iceland, that is when I saw it!!!!!!!
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/res ... prise.html
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/res ... prise.html
Sabena and Sobelair - gone but never forgotten.
Louise
Louise