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more about #qantas more comments → Shamoononon: I shave my legs.: "The Herald understands that the two aircraft were separated by only a few thousand metres as weather updates were sent across to the Qantas plane, an... more » GitEmSteveDave_HatesFriday: Well, to be more accurate, he flew "weather blind" across the Pacific. He knew where he was, he just didn't know the weather conditions ahead of him,... more » -: Recall that these planes are flying at 1,000 Kilometers/hour. So they would cover the distance they're flying apart in about 5 seconds. I'd rather not... more » ucbeecs97: 1 thousand meters is a kilometer, 1 mile = 1.609 kilometers so if they were a "few thousand meters" apart, sounds like they were a mile apart. Sounds... more » KinOfCain: "only a few thousand meters" is plenty of space. more » Jrsy Devil's Advocate®: So how exactly did they string the two tin cans between the planes at 35,000 feet?? more » jrronimo: That's pretty rad, actually. I'm glad everyone was safe and that the two planes could work together. more » ripfire: What? You mean the pilot couldn't just use his iPhone to check the weather? more » WilCon: So let's hang the pilot for being resourceful, getting everyone there safely, on time it sounds like, and explaining it all in flight so people unders... more » -
#airplanes
747 Electronics Fail, Pilot Flies Blind Across the Pacific Piggy-Backing to Another Plane
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 284 passengers on board Quantas Flight 12—a Boeing 747-400 flying from Los Angeles to Sydney—couldn't believe their eyes when they looked through their windows to see another Boeing from Air New Zealand flying just a few thousand feet from their aircraft. The explanation, as the commander announced, was simple: He was "flying blind" after their aircraft's weather radar broke three hours after take off. Fortunately, as Qantas explained, the Air New Zealand flight was able to relay the data their 747 needed all the way to the other side of the Pacific: More » -
#airplanes
Qantas Revives In-Flight Internet With Wi-Fi and Ethernet Access
Just when most other airlines and airplane manufacturers are removing in-flight internet access, Qantas goes the exact opposite direction (into our hearts) and adds internet access. The A380 and 747-400 planes that will make up their web-enabled fleet will have both Wi-Fi and a charging slot to plug your laptop into. Not much else here in the way of pricing or availability, but expect a lofty surcharge if you want to get a seat with both outlets, an Ethernet port, USB ports, and a 17-inch built-in LCD. Service starts in February 2008, but you'll be getting sub-dialup speeds as everyone clown-cars into a 432kbps connection. [APC Mag]
