Cranfield gets a '737

[Garry Russell]

Cranfield College of Aeronautics is getting a Boeing 737-436.

G-DOCB has been retired from the British Airways fleet and is at present stood down at Gatwick. It is due to position to Cranfield shortly.

All the BA 737 should be gone by summer 2015 the last being replaced by a fleet of used Airbus A.320.

Remarkable given that at the time the 737's were being delivered BA fought hard to ignore the A.320 and the small fleet of inherited BCAL ordered aircraft were hidden away at Gatwick with barely a mention.

[Kevin Farnell]

All the BA 737 should be gone by summer 2015.

Ben's going to be upset!

Kevin

[Garry Russell]

No worries...he can always visit Cranfield

[Dev One]

Hopefully there will be a new generation of aircraft engineers that were taught how not to design an aircraft....
Keith

[Garry Russell]

Ah yes, a 737 will make a good reverse psychology training unit

[dfarrow]

Good old Doc-Bee , still going strong . Last saw her in Sep ’02 .
Was on 737-300s rented from Maersk when Bcal’s 320’s joined the fold .
Had just come off 737-200’s whose a/c prepared for service wt was 30 tonnes , the 733 APS wt was 33 tonnes , so we reckoned the 734s APS wt would be 35 tonnes …..
CFM motors , 150 seats …. 320 and 734 are sisters .
However looked up 320’s wt .. APS came in at 41 tonnes !
Could never figure how that could make them more efficient even with a slightly better wing and the ‘’ free gifts in the cornflakes packet ‘’ . Not to mention you could load a 737 from a tractor and trailer , [ not containerized baggage ] , decent angle of airstairs ,
No Trident wing ….. cracks , or Yellow , Green and Blue hydraulics . Just A ‘n B hyds and manual back up ! No complex fuel sys … just slap 4 wing pumps on … if over 8600kgs put on 2 centre pumps , turn ‘em off when 2 amber lights come on .

Before I get my hat and coat , it’s just ramblings from an old ‘’ naarfick tractor driver with wings ‘’ who appreciated Boeings simplicity and subscribes to the ‘’ If it’s not Boeing , I’m not going ’’ , tribe .
Might it be that Ben and I are not alone ? Anymore Boeing babes hanging out here ….

Brgds dave f .

[DaveB]

I don't think Ben would be paid to be a member of your club Dave. To say he's not fond of the 737 would be.. how can I put it.. a slight understatement

ATB
DaveB

[dfarrow]

Looking back , I'm beginning to realise that I'm Normal For Norfolk and as usual got 'rong end of the stick .... Might have wound him up a bit 'tho ; hopefully without extra stress ...

rgds
dave f .

[Kevin Farnell]

Looking back , I'm beginning to realise that I'm Normal For Norfolk and as usual got 'rong end of the stick .... Might have wound him up a bit 'tho ; hopefully without extra stress ...

rgds
dave f .

Dave, don't worry, Ben's a really nice guy. It's very unlikely that you will have wound him up - although we try to, all the time .
Knowing his dislike for the 737 (you'll have to ask Ben, why?), we all enjoy giving him a poke on the subject every now and again. His replies will have you holding your sides .
Sorry, if my post led you in the wrong direction.

Regards

Kevin

[Garry Russell]

Just come across the BBC news of the landing published 23rd October

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds ... s-29741443