HAY Mel! Can you do this?

[Glassman]

@txav8r , I saw this video and immediately thought of you and all the other pilots on board here:

Amazing what they can do with an aircraft that size!

But will they do a barrel roll at the show? That's the question!

 

[Big Shasta]

If you were Vietnam airlines, would you be ok with them taxing your new airframe like that before delivery? Would you let someone take your new car/boat and hammer on it before they delivered it to you?

Maybe it's simply part of a normal test plan before delivery anyway but dang, I wouldn't be cool with it.

 

[jawsf16]

Pretty good video. That flight is nothing more than a partial acceptance, partial media flight. None of the maneuvers are that amazing, although the takeoff is impressive. Remember that bird is nearly empty with no fuel weight. Several several thousands of pounds below its max allowable takeoff weight.

@Big Shasta I wouldn't buy the airplane if it could not sustain that maneuvering! You should see the FCF (Functional Check Flight) that they put fighters through prior to delivery. Definitely a coveted job, civilian F-16/F-22/F-35 type test and acceptance pilot. Its fun to get after it just to make sure she's bolted together nice and tight! We do a WAY more aggressive flight for our 50 year old T-38s after major maintenance as FCF pilots.

Good post @Glassman - I love airplanes of all shapes and sizes!

Now check this out too...

 

[txav8r]

How cool, thanks @Glassman ! I need, make that WANT, a 787 type rating! I have a 777, 737, 757, and 767, as well as F100, and DA10 type rating.. I have already jumpseater on the 787. Those maneuvers were nothing special for a demo flight or an acceptance flight. But a transport category aircraft is a monster compared to a fighter, with much less power to weight ratios. I used to fly the 727 too, and the fuel load of a 777 weighs more than my 737-800 at max take off weight, fully loaded with people, bags and gas! They 787 is a long range replacement of the 767-300 and -400.

As cool as they are @jawsf16 , those fighters won't pay your way into retirement, gotta go to work sometime! But I drool at the idea of putting one through the paces!

 

[Big Shasta]

Pretty good video. That flight is nothing more than a partial acceptance, partial media flight. None of the maneuvers are that amazing, although the takeoff is impressive. Remember that bird is nearly empty with no fuel weight. Several several thousands of pounds below its max allowable takeoff weight.

@Big Shasta I wouldn't buy the airplane if it could not sustain that maneuvering! You should see the FCF (Functional Check Flight) that they put fighters through prior to delivery. Definitely a coveted job, civilian F-16/F-22/F-35 type test and acceptance pilot. Its fun to get after it just to make sure she's bolted together nice and tight! We do a WAY more aggressive flight for our 50 year old T-38s after major maintenance as FCF pilots.

Good post @Glassman - I love airplanes of all shapes and sizes!

Now check this out too...

That's kind of what I was thinking. The near vertical takeoff is impressive but they didn't hold it long and I'm sure went way over normal takeoff ground speed. I wonder if Vietnam airlines bought off on it. They probably did for the free press.

I definitely covet your career choices, If I could only go back and do it all over again. I almost went air national guard from the Army. I wish I would have, I might have decided to change to a flight career path. I will get my pilots license one day, and my wife has even given the "maybe" to a powered parachute one day.