Question for the pilots

fsstnotch · #1 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 02:27 AM

So, one of the guys I work with is somewhat afraid to fly, well, not fly but crash. He is looking to buy his ticket to go home on vacation through Delta. The itinerary says it is 6,574mi from Kuwait to IAD. It says he would be flying on a 777-222, then it gives a link to 777-222 info which says the range is 5,600 mi. So his question... where did the last 1,000 miles come from? Do they just coast into washington?! haha

vector1 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 06:17 AM

on the weekends mostly we see the 777's coming over the top landing dfw. from over the top i mean they take off from japan, somewhere in england, germany, some resort in the middle east, and they'll fly up close to the pole and south over the midwest. you can tell him they're coasting downhill once they hit the united states, and they're coasting fast

fsstnotch · #3 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 02:05 PM

COASTING!!! LOL He won't like that answer much! haha

767Jockey · #4 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 03:08 PM

Range is always a dicey issue since headwinds or tailwinds are always playing with that figure. Of more importance in long range flights are historical times of flights both eastbound and westbound, and the endurance of the airplane, or how long in hours and minutes it can stay in the air. Historically, KWI -IAD is about a 12 hour flight. The 777 can stay aloft significantly longer than that. I haven't got the time necessary to check further into that for you, but the bottom line is tell you friend to get on the plane, pop a sleeping pill like most of the Armed Forces personnel that I had the honor of flying into and out of Kuwait for many years did, and enjoy a nice restful snooze. He'll be in Dulles before he knows it.

We would tell ATC as soon as we crossed into US airspace who we had on board, and we were treated like Kings from that point on. We got direct to where ever we wanted to go.

fsstnotch · #5 (**permalink**) 05-09-2008, 03:31 PM

I'm sure by the time he gets to fly home (July) he'll be plenty tired of this place and would board just about anything that could get him back to civilization!

Good info!

427sharpe · #6 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 02:59 PM

Tell him he's always welcome to stay a bit, if he prefers!

He'll make the flight, and godspeed!

trularin · #7 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 07:34 AM

Not that I want to hijack the thread, but how long until you are gone????

Went are you having the party?

Ron61 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 07:36 AM

Went . are you having the party?

Boy, are you fortunate that Kristen has quit monitoring our spelling.

Ron

fsstnotch · #9 (**permalink**) 05-11-2008, 02:59 PM

Party will be June 13th. My realtor owns a beer distributor so there will be beer on tap for sure. He has already donated the keg. Anyone is invited, pm me for directions!