B777 Structure

The Power in the Airframe... 

The B777 is built with composite materials to improve resistance to damage, prevent corrosion and reduce aircraft weight. 

But what are composite materials? 

Composite materials are nothing other than layers or piles of high strength fibers in a mixture of a plastic resin. The high strength fibers are comprised of carbon and fiberglass. Basically, there are structures on the aircraft that are carbon fiber reinforced plastic. A plastic airplane is definitely lighter weight and more fuel efficient than its predecessor. 

So what is made of plastic on the B777? 

• Elevators
• Aileronns
• Rudder
• Flaperons 
• Spoilers
• Flaps
• Engine cowlings
• Strut fairings
• Nose gear doors 

Want to win a beer question. Ask your B777 expert if they know what is made of plastic, and then can ask if they know what is made of fiberglass.  Here you go on the fiberglass components: 

• Leading and trailing edge panels
• Wing-to-body fairing
• Wing and main landing gear doors
• floor panels 
• Radome 

The B777 is also more corrosion resistant because of improved draining features, corrosion resistant materials with better aluminum alloys, toughened carbon fibers, fiberglass floor panels, and improved finishes, with more primer and corrosion inhibiting compounds. 

Boeing has come a long way from the Aluminum B727. More to come on this adventure... 

Enjoy the Journey!

XOX Karlene 

It's All about the Boeing B777

"He that can have patience 

can have what he will."

Benjamin Franklin 

Well over a year ago I received the bid on the B777. This month I am finally scheduled to start training. I've got my training materials, and then some, and my head is in the books. On a side note, the last time I flew a Boeing, was a B747-400 in the Spring of 2008. This is also the first time I've flown a Fly-by-Wire Boeing Aircraft.

Good things come to those who wait, 

so never give up on your dreams.

While studying comes in many forms, learning comes through understanding. Learning is also enhanced when we connect what we're learning to something we know. Thank goodness I have had a life of Boeing Aircraft. I have been reading a variety of B777 sources in order to fully understand the plane.

I also study at they gym on the elliptical trainer. Motion does help the memory. As does visualization. Also, when you understand something well enough to explain it, you have a better chance of recall. Thus, I will be dedicating my blog for the next few weeks, maybe a month, to the B777, sharing lessons learned. 

Standby for everything you wanted to know about the B777, and maybe a little bit more.

Enjoy the Journey!

XOX Karlene 

Mary Ellis Flying Strong!

Fridays Fabulous Flyer

Female Spitfire pilot Mary Ellis

Mary Ellis was in a select group of female pilots who flew during World War II, called the spitfires. She just celebrated her 100th birthday by flying a plane over West Sussex. She flew with the Spitfires for more than 70 years. My mom sent me this, but the original article was written by by Sarah Oliver For The Mail On Sunday February 5, 2017.

Happy Birthday Mary Ellis!

100 Years Strong! 

Mary Ellis 

Air Transport Auxiliary pilot 

in WW2  

"Tearing through the skies above the South Coast, two Spitfires evoke powerful memories of Britain's wartime resilience. But this stirring image holds a further poignancy  for in the cockpit of the lead aircraft  sits Mary Ellis, celebrating her 100th birthday by recreating her time as one of the 'Ata-girls', the select gang of female pilots who flew Britain's fighters during the war. And over her shoulder is one of the actual Spitfires she flew during her 1,000 flights as a First Officer with the Air Transport Auxiliary.

'Wizard, this is wizard!' yelled the delighted centenarian through her intercom. Mary was handed the controls of the 275 mph twin-seater as it swooped over West Sussex. After about 15 minutes, she turned for home, and told her co-pilot Matt Jones: 'Goodwood on the nose, you have control ...' Then she settled back to enjoy the ride back to base. Earlier, Mary watched in delight as Spitfire MV154 took its place beside her in an extraordinary airborne tribute. It was a plane she had delivered to RAF Brize Norton from Southampton on September 15, 1944, and it hides a sentimental secret. For at the end of the 25-minute wartime flight, she signed the cockpit, scrawling her maiden name Wilkins and the initials ATA."

"Mary Ellis (circled) was handed the controls of the 275mph twin-seater as it swooped over West Sussex. She hoped her tag might be spotted by a handsome pilot and lead to a wartime romance. Although the impulsive act, a career one-off, didn't bag her a boyfriend. Mary, originally from Oxfordshire, had her first flying lesson in 1938, and flew for pleasure until 1941 when she heard a BBC radio appeal for women pilots to join the auxiliary service and so release male pilots for combat duty. Speaking at a surprise birthday party on Thursday, Mary said: 'The war was a challenge and one had to do something about it. I went on and on until I flew everything. I love the Spitfire, it's my favourite aircraft, it's everyone's favourite, it's the symbol of freedom.' For four years she ferried warplanes from factories to frontline squadrons. The 166 women of the ATA, about one in eight of the total have been dubbed 'The Female Few,' echoing Winston Churchill's description of the RAF airmen who fought in the Battle of Britain."

"Mrs Ellis looked back over her left shoulder and glanced at the aircraft she once flew.  Mary was usually found at the joystick of a Spitfire or a Hurricane but ultimately flew more than 50 types of aircraft, logging 1,100 hours of flight, much to the astonishment of some colleagues. As she sat on the airfield ready to deliver her first Spitfire, the mechanic standing on the wing asked how many of them she'd flown. When she said it was her first, he was so startled he fell right off. The largest aircraft she flew solo was the Wellington bomber. After landing at an East Anglian airfield, Mary was greeted by the ground crew who asked where the pilot was. 'I'm the pilot,' she said. They insisted on searching the aircraft before they believed her. It was dangerous work. Mary was sometimes ordered to move combat-damaged planes that were not officially fit to fly, but had to be taken for repairs. She crash-landed twice and was shot at once."

"Mrs Ellis toasted a glass of champagne with co-pilot Matt Jones, managing director of Boultbee Flight Academy Fourteen of her fellow ATA female flyers lost their lives, including aviation pioneer Amy Johnson Mary, who to this day needs no spectacles, nor a walking stick, was one of the last six women serving in the ATA when it disbanded after the war. She remained a private pilot and then became managing director of Sandown Airport on the Isle of Wight. She married Don Ellis, a fellow pilot, in 1961, but was widowed in 2009. Matt Jones, who flies Spitfires for Goodwood-based Boultbee Flight Academy, reunited Mary with MV154 after first meeting her in 2015. He conspired with the plane's current owner, pilot Maxi Gainza, to bring it to the UK from its base in Bremgarten, Germany.He said: 'I gave Mary control of our Spitfire. I wasn't sure where we were but Mary was very clear."

Join me in honoring a historic aviator,

compliments of Sarah Oliver!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

AIR FRANCE and GOOSE BAY

NEWS FLASH:

AIR FRANCE PARIS C.D.G. - LOS ANGELES A380 Saturday Morning... 

The aircraft was over Greenland when the number four engine suffered an uncontrolled explosion disintegrating the cowl, part of leading edge and engine pylon.

A380... 4 hour into flight at time, landed safely after divert into 

GOOSE BAY NEW FOUNDLAND

THANK Goodness there were 

Pilots on Board!

Enjoy the Journey!

Ryan Air In the News

Mr. O' Leary's challenge...

"After having to cancel numerous flights due to a lack of pilots, Mr O'Leary said: "I would challenge any pilot to explain how this is a difficult job or how it is they are overworked, or how anybody who by law can’t fly more than 18 hours a week could possibly be suffering from fatigue.” LBC 

And one of the pilots took him on!

Click Here To Listen

EXTRAS to Be PURCHASED

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

How to Get Turned Off

On an Airplane! 

Take a Moment to Laugh!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

Silver Liners

Life After Eastern... 

Episode 335

Monday, October 2, 2017

Proudly Honors

The Silverliners and “Life After Eastern”

The Silverliners International President, Conni Leaf Kerrigan has another Silverliners program planned with us on October 2, 2017. Join us for Episode 335 with one of the Silverliners, Colleen DeFelice as our Guest Host for the evening. Colleen will give a little history on the Silverliners and introduce the other Silverliners for a Round Table discussion.

Each one of the Silverliners joining us comes from a different work environment and will give us their insights on what this wonderful Eastern Airlines “Silverliners” organization has meant to them and more of their “Life After Eastern”.

Please join us to welcome the Silverliners' participation and hear their history since 1954 as they start their 64th Year Anniversary in 2018. Plan to listen in while their Round Table recaptures their history, and “Life After Eastern”

Please call in at 213-816-1611 

at 7:00 P. M. ET

As we depart the gate, 

or listen in by clicking below to take you 

to:www.EALRadioShow.com or 

www.blogtalkradio.com/capteddie.

Enjoy the Journey!

XOX Karlene