Clinton Gets Bigger Jet

The Hillary Clinton campaign recently upgraded its chartered plane from a Boeing 717, to a larger McDonnell-Douglas MD-81.

The longer, yet older aircraft offers seating for 143 passengers, versus a mere 88 seats on the smaller 717-200. The larger aircraft also provides Senator Clinton with her own entrance at the front of the plane, as well as a separate lavatory; on the 717, she had to stoop to using the same facilities as the press, at the back of the plane -- gasp. And she says Obama is the elitist.

Members of the media also now will use the rear entrance to the aircraft rather than the forward entrance on the 717. Like the 717, the new/old aircraft was chartered from Midwest Airlines, which configured the MD-81 to charter sports teams and the seats also offer increased legroom over those on the 717.

I am a bit stunned that Al Gore hasn't blasted the Clinton campaign for selecting the far less efficient MD-81 over the 717. And yes, the picture is of the actual aircraft she flies on: N805ME.

Home to PointNiner

Hard Landing Down Under

A Qantas plane "bounced" on the runway at Darwin (AU) airport causing major damage to the bottom of the aircraft, according to a transport safety report.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's preliminary report into the "hard landing" of the Boeing 717-200 on February 7, 2008 was released March 27, 2008.

It found the that the Boeing 717, carrying 88 passengers and six crew was descending (read FALLING) at a rate of 1000 feet per minute when it hit the runway. They were not even kind enough to call it an attempted landing.

Damage to the aircraft included several creases to the skin on the fuselage above the wing area and underneath the fuselage behind the wing. The left main landing gear and outside left main tire were also damaged.

The plane is being repaired and expected to be airworthy again in late April.

In other fuselage creasing news, return to Contact Ground .9 and see the Algerian 737-800 rough landing pictures and story.