1,500th 747 comes off the production line

• • Aircraft, Aviation News
B747-1500

Wow, you gotta be impressed about this much heavy iron being pumped out of one company. The 747 has been around for a long time now but she still looks as impressive when you see one as the first time you every caught site of a jumbo.

Boeing has delivered the 1,500th 747 to come off the production line to Frankfurt, Germany-based Lufthansa. The milestone airplane is a 747-8 Intercontinental, the 14th one that Lufthansa will incorporate into its long-haul fleet. “Reaching this milestone delivery is a testament to the capabilities of the airplane and our commitment to continuous innovation,” said Eric Lindblad, 747 vice president and general manager, Boeing Commercial Airplanes

As much as I love the aircraft for some reason I just never got around to buying the payware PMDG model, just don’t seem to fly that many long haul legs, which I guess is strange for a Pacific simmer as we have plenty of long haul options :)

Real Tonga leasing Chathams Convairs while MA60s out of action

• • Aircraft, Aviation News
Real_Tonga_MA60

Another real world item via the 3rdLevelNZ blog, this time relating to the dreaded MA60 in Tonga and an interim solution in the form of Chathams aircraft. Might be time to break out Greg Peppers CV580 for some Pacific simming :)

Real Tonga confirmed that the 50-seater Convair arrived in Tongatapu yesterday afternoon from New Zealand, and made its first flight to Vava‘u, where it remained overnight. Real Tonga’s Chief Executive, Tevita Palu said, “we are bringing in the aircraft to provide immediate back-up for our MA60 services between Tongatapu and Vava‘u.

source: http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/whats-air-chathams-convair-doing-in.html

There is a flyable MA60 AI model out there for the Sim but looks a decent payware model is unlikely given how much real world bad press these are getting lately.

New Aircraft for Fiji Airways

• • Aircraft, Aviation News
FijiAirways

As reported on Steves 3rdLevelNZ blog this week Fiji Airways have some new machines on the way. Repaints for the A330 and B738 are already out there in the striking new livery but AFAIK there isnt a skin for the ATR, must be time someone pushed one out for the Flight1 ATR/72?

Fiji Airways plans to expand its fleet size with the purchase of four new aircraft, including one A330-200, two B737-800s and two ATR72-600s by 2017.

source: http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/fleet-increase-for-fiji-airways.html