Old 747 Becomes Jumbo Hostel

If you plan on traveling through Sweden this winter, and you're too poor like me to afford a stay at Stockholm's finest hotels, then maybe a low-cost hostel is up your alley. And what better place to stay for poor aviation buffs, than a 747 converted into a hotel? Thank goodness for guys like Oscar Diös who purchased this old Transjet 747 classic with the intention of making a place to stay for people passing through. But don't get any ideas about the mile high club here, because this old bird will be planted firmly on the ground for now on near the Arlanda airport. The aircraft is being outfitted for 25 rooms with the upper deck becoming a cafeteria. The whole 747 is being sanitized, rewired, insulated, and having a climate control system installed as the windows don't exactly slide open for a cool night's breeze. It's taken Diös two years since the time he purchased the aircraft, but bookings will finally start in December for its low cost accommodations. Here you have another case of aviation making the world a better place.



[Jumbo Hostel via Gizmodo]

Home to PointNiner

'Big Hole' prompts emergency landing, passenger vomit

A Qantas flight from Australia to London had to divert to Manila in the Philippines this morning after a huge hole was punched in the side of the Boeing 747-400 after a loud bang was heard. Manila International Airport Authority deputy manager for operations Octavio Lina told the AP, "There were no injuries, but some of the 350 passengers vomited after disembarking." Lina said that part of the aircraft's ceiling collapsed and the floor gave way exposing the cargo hold. “There is a big hole on the right side near the wing,” Lina added. The hole, 2.5 to 3 yards in diameter, was more than large enough for the aircraft lose partial cabin pressure as passengers commented, “There was wind swirling around the plane and some condensation.” The incident and subsequent emergency descent occurred about one hour into flight over the South China Sea. I would assume the Manila airport is large enough to have an adequate supply of saw dust for that level of puke extraction.




UPDATED 11:50Z 7/25/08 WITH 2 NEW PICS

Photo Credits:
Edwin Llobrera MIAA via EPA
Unknown
La Republicca (Italy) via AFP

(MSNBC)

Home to PointNiner)

Kalitta 747 crashes...again

A Kalitta Air 747 crashed this morning on takeoff from the Bogota, Columbia airport this morning killing two individuals on the ground. Somehow all eight crewmembers and individuals on board the 747 survived the crash with varying injuries. The US based Kalitta aircraft was operating for another carrier hauling a load of flowers to Miami. This is the second fatal airline crash in two days involving US based air carriers. The other was a USA Jet DC-9 that crashed yesterday in Mexico. This is also the second Kalitta 747 to crash on takeoff this year. The other taking place on May 25 in Belgium.

(via MSNBC and Flight International)

Home to PointNiner

Drunk Passenger Duct Taped to Seat

Lesson to be learned...don't attack a flight attendant, especially when drunk. This man did not get the message though. He attacked a flight attendant and was then wrassled back into his seat by a group of passengers and crew during a United flight (#862) flight last week from Hong Kong to Los Angeles.

The unruly man was then duct-taped to his seat by several passengers aboard. Yes, he was duct taped and I think that adds another use to the already existing 1001 known uses. Needless to say, he was arrested when the plane landed in LA.

To add to his criminal charges, he injured a number of the passengers who were trying to restrain him after his outburst. There were 329 passengers, 15 flight attendants, and 4 pilots on board the United B747 flight. The name of the passenger was not released, but I've learned that he was from the Orange County, California area.

Update 3:27pm: For those of you who are concerned, this is not the picture of the dude who was strapped to the aircraft seat...it was used for illustrative purposes only. If you are so concerned, where was your concern for this post, do you think this is actually the pilot?

Home to PointNiner

Even more sweet new Delta logos (hopefully)

If you liked the post on Tuesday of what the new Delta could look like after the proposed merger with Northwest, check these babies out. Again, the Delta widget and Northwest compass are blended together just nicely to preserve each airline's heritage. Delta would have to be crazy not to go with these very high quality conceptions by artist J.R. Heilig.



The first one shows a NWA 747-400 repainted in a beautiful new Delta livery.



This second one is what a Delta 777 would look like repainted in the new colors.

I happen to love them both, which means Delta will go a completely opposite direction with a new livery.

Home to PointNiner

787 engine test-bed aircraft strikes taxiway sign at Boeing Field

The Boeing 747-200 that Rolls Royce is using as an engine test-bed was involved in a little accident today at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA. The aircraft, N787RR, is currently testing the Trent 1000 engine which is one of two options that will power the Boeing 787. According to the preliminary FAA report, the 747 struck a taxiway directional sign with an egine cowling while taxiing and damaged the cowling. No report if it was the Trent 1000 engine that was damaged, but judging by the picture, it's obviously the closest thing to the ground hanging off the wings (hint, it's the big one). As if the 787 program didn't have enough problems right now.

Home to PointNiner

Bloodbath 2008 - International Edition: Oasis Hong Kong bites it

Oasis Hong Kong called it quits today by suspending all flight operations and liquidating their assets as the result of plaguing financial difficulties and the inability to find new financiers. The low-cost/long-haul carrier based out of, you guessed it, Hong Kong, flew a tiny fleet of gigantic aircraft between its base and London Gatwick and Vancouver. Oasis Hong Kong operated a fleet of five 747-400s in what I thought was one of the coolest liveries out there. They had high hopes of adding additional aircraft and additional destinations to Australia, Europe and the US, but the investors never quite got on board. I guess US carriers aren't the only ones feeling the pinch. Oh well, so long baby.



Home to PointNiner

PIA to ground all of their fuel hungry 747s

Pakistan International Airlines has announced that they intend on grounding their entire fleet of 747s today citing rising fuel costs. A spokesman for the airline was unsure as to whether or not they would be returned to service in the future or stored permanently. He did go on the record to say that the aircraft is too expensive to operate at current fuel prices.