Virgin Australia's first 773ER breathes life....photo incl.

[Shameel Kumar]

Eventhough there are delays in the supply of cabin furnishing, is there any reason why Boeing hasn't yet tested -VGA?

You'd think that with the aircraft's current lack of progress, it'd be an ideal time to do test flights on the ever-increasing number of 777s sitting in the parking lot.

Is there some rule or technical reason that final flight tests can only be done once the aircraft is completely ready for delivery, or can test flights be done prior to tasks such as cabin furnishing or being painted?


As for that new mid-November delivery timeframe.... oh man, what a temporary anti-climax. Ba-humm-bug!

[Shameel Kumar]

I just recieved an email from V Australia in regards to a slight time change for my flights.

VA 1: SYD-LAX now departs at 9:30pm instead of 9:45pm.
VA 2: LAX-SYD now departs at 11:00pm instead of 11:30pm. Arrival into SYD is now 5 minutes earlier at 9:15am.

VA 1's arrival time of 4:30pm into LAX remains unchanged.

[Radi K]

Originally Posted by Shameel Kumar

Is there some rule or technical reason that final flight tests can only be done once the aircraft is completely ready for delivery, or can test flights be done prior to tasks such as cabin furnishing or being painted?

The test flying occurs on a delivery ready plane (minus the paint sometimes). All fittings etc are tested prior to delivery on the B1 and C1 flights.

[Andrew M]

So any updates to the new delivery timeframe for this bird ?

I have heard just before Xmas but that was 5th hand info

[Michael Morrison]

It was due to arrive at the end of OCT. The strike went for about 50 days? So my guess would be to add the 50 days to the end fo OCT to get a rought ETA.... so end of DEC/early Jan perhaps?

Would be great news for VA if it did arrive then as they may be able to get OPS going by 16JAN. Currently they have only rebooked pax upto 16 JAN, hpwver new sales are only open from 28FEB.

[lloyd fox]

50 DAYS would actually make it 20 dec so that is prior to Xmas.

[Brian Wilkes]

Word has it, and we will need VB PPL confirm this but once the 77w is on line it will do a training period like the Qantas A380 has done around oz and do some summer domestic flights? As I said to be confirmed, maybe some knows more or if is fact or fiction!!!

[Shameel Kumar]

Originally Posted by Michael Morrison

It was due to arrive at the end of OCT. The strike went for about 50 days? So my guess would be to add the 50 days to the end fo OCT to get a rought ETA.... so end of DEC/early Jan perhaps?

Would be great news for VA if it did arrive then as they may be able to get OPS going by 16JAN. Currently they have only rebooked pax upto 16 JAN, hpwver new sales are only open from 28FEB.

Wow wow wow... hold up... so VA's first flight to LAX will be operated on 16 JAN? (but only for existing customers, and assuming no further delivery delays)...


My chances of flying VA may just have come back to life!

[Alex Lui]

Originally Posted by Shameel Kumar

Wow wow wow... hold up... so VA's first flight to LAX will be operated on 16 JAN? (but only for existing customers, and assuming no further delivery delays)...


My chances of flying VA may just have come back to life!

Not likely... Assuming no further delays, launch date is 17th January as I have been told that V Australia have already booked all pax travelling on December - January 16th on other flights.

I have bee told quietly VA want to launch Jan 17th hence not touching those bookings. I have asked to have my flight transferred, but VA have said they will launch by then.

Alex

[Bernie P]

Originally Posted by Shameel Kumar

Wow wow wow... hold up... so VA's first flight to LAX will be operated on 16 JAN? (but only for existing customers, and assuming no further delivery delays)...


My chances of flying VA may just have come back to life!

So. Who's a happy little camper now???