Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cadnetix.COM!cadnetix!eriks
From: eriks@cadnetix.COM (Eriks Ziemelis)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: shuttle landing sites
Summary: More 747 noise
Message-ID: <5269@cadnetix.COM>
Date: 16 Nov 88 18:34:36 GMT
References: <1988Oct10.224026.12802@utzoo.uucp> <3330011@hpindda.HP.COM> <7985@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU>
Sender: news@cadnetix.COM
Reply-To: eriks@cadnetix.COM (Eriks Ziemelis)
Organization: Cadnetix Corp.,  Boulder, CO
Lines: 43

In article <7985@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> mplubrat@athena.mit.edu (Mark P. Lubratt) writes:
>I believe I read an article that stated the 747-400 recently set
>a new gross weight record for takeoff somewhere in Montana.  The weight
>was on the order of 850,000 lbs.
>
>Mark P. Lubratt


Flame at me! Go ahead! Rec.aviation is talking about tie downs vs. hangers.
Not quite as interesting to me as Stealth [bomber|fighter], [Boeing|MacDoug]
airplanes, and space shuttles. Got to read sci.space to get other jet
fixes.

Back to the follow-up. Could be the new Airforce-1. Don't remember the
specifics but the AF1 had to get bigger engines than standard 747 configs.
Boeing almost lost the contract because GE (I think) almost didn't get
the engine into production in time. The AF1 had many weight and range
requirements impossed: the bird has to haul a complete secure communications
system plus backup for starters. The plane had to be reinforced to carry
all the added weight (AF1 will be rated at a greater gross weight than
commercial 747, I think). Touches include a complete Yamaha sound system
(I know, rec.audio: you figure they would put in something a little
bit nicer.) When I left, they were behind schedule. They are/were hoping
to have it finished to Inauguration Day so Reagan can fly home in it. The
plane was still primer green and some the electronics that had to be designed
for it were behind schedule. Airframe was built in Seattle (plain Jane 747
I believe), re-inforcements and enhancements done at the military division
in Wichita, KS.

AF2 should be started by now too. Now that I have droned on, I think the
747 in question took off from Edwards or Boeing Field as part of FAA 
certification.


Eriks A. Ziemelis


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