More Great Classics From Venezuela - Volume 3

[Herman]

A huge "thank you" to Alejandro for his wonderful work and to Mark for presenting it to us with his great skill of presentation in the form of these beautifull images and historic backgrounds.

Herman

[garryrussell]

That would make an interesting damage module model ;D



Yep...great thing is that everyone walks away.

I pretty sure if anyone asks how many DC 9's are left flying, the answer will be "one less"

Garry

[+mrfaosfx]

Whoa at that last picture! I remember I also saw a video of an MD-80 test they did where they did a hard landing, the entire rear aft section just separated from the aircraft and they had to go back to the drawing board to re-inforce the aft section.

I would of just told the passengers, ahhh...don't worry anyone as your evacuating the aircraft, the engines have been placed in the stow position. ;D

[Alejandro]

Well, believed or not, the passangers were left 10 minutes in the plane until the firemen extighished a fire in the right engine, and then they leaved the plane as any normal landing. Many of them beleved that it was a just hard landing, and don't noticed until they saw the notices.

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

I remember I also saw a video of an MD-80 test they did where they did a hard landing, the entire rear aft section just separated from the aircraft

And .... "HERE IT IS" .... that video showing the MD80 breaking it's back as the result of a very hard landing ....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pk1N6GzeOo

I believe this incident happened during flight testing. Of course all new aircraft do have to be treated "quite roughly" as part of their development/testing and certification programs .... in order to be able to properly ascertain their limitations.

Of course AEROLINEAS AEROPOSTAL DE VENEZUELA land "a lot more gently" than this particular MD80 did .... as the evidence tends to support ;D

A similar thing also happened to DC8 "SHIP TWO" N8108D at Edwards AFB on May 14th 1959. During testing to determine the "maximum allowable sink rate" the aircraft "hit the ground hard" .... resulting in the fuselage buckling aft of the wing trailing edge and being dragged along the ground behind the aircraft as it decelerated. The #1 engine also separated from the aircraft .... as they were designed to do .... BUT .... all 3 landing gear remained intact with the aircraft still "standing on its feet" by the time it came to a halt. Douglas design engineers had calculated that a 1500 FPM maximum sink rate on landing was possible. The test crew (comprising of Heimie HEIMERDINGER, Joe TYMCZYSZYN, and Bill BRYDE) began this testing at 1000 FPM .... increasing this in increments .... and had progressed to 1100 FPM when the aircraft was damaged. DC8 "SHIP TWO" was repaired (and all future DC8's further reinforced) and eventually delivered to UNITED AIR LINES during November 1960 .... as N8001U. It remained with UNITED until 1978 when it was withdrawn from service and eventually scrapped.

The AEROPOSTAL DC9-51 is possibly repairable too .... but .... given the age of the aircraft and it's current value/worth versus the actual cost of repairs .... "it's probably hardly worth it".

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Just added what will likely be the very last file possible for the next intended HJG website update .... this time featuring DC9-32 YV-167T in the attractive and recent "green/yellow/white" variation of LASER AIRLINES livery.

Mil gracias Alejandro .... muy bonita/Thanks a million Alejandro .... very nice !

Since LASER AIRLINES is one of the more recent arrivals on the Venezuelan civil aviation scene .... and possibly lesser known outside the Republic .... here's a little information about this relatively new operator ....

LASER AIRLINES (Línea Aérea De Servicio Ejecutivo Regional) is a Caracus based airline which was established during 1993 by a syndicate of pilots and private investors .... and commenced operations during 1994.

The airline operates DC9-30 and MD81 aircraft on both scheduled domestic and charter services within Venezuela .... serving Caracus, El Vigia, Porlamar, and Valencia.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[Dan K. Hansen]

some very fine looking species there!