BAW = Callsign Speedbird - Literally.
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Paynesville, Vic
Programs: BA Gold AVIS Presidents Club
Posts: 356
BAW = Callsign Speedbird - Literally.
Delayed flight BA15 out of Singapore yesterday in part to avoid holding at Sydney due to a projected arrival time earlier than the 5 am curfew. Subsequent flight time of 7 hrs was due to a strong tailwind. Noticed our ground speed and wondered if anyone had been much faster (not counting Concorde of course) >
#2
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
I remember a flight JFK >> LHR on a 777 a few years back that was insanely quick (tail end of hurricane season iirc).
I think there was talk of some sort of subsonic record but can't remember the exact details. Remember the pilot mentioning it almost apologetically as we neared home.
I think there was talk of some sort of subsonic record but can't remember the exact details. Remember the pilot mentioning it almost apologetically as we neared home.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Delayed flight BA15 out of Singapore yesterday in part to avoid holding at Sydney due to a projected arrival time earlier than the 5 am curfew. Subsequent flight time of 7 hrs was due to a strong tailwind. Noticed our ground speed and wondered if anyone had been much faster (not counting Concorde of course) >
I remember a flight JFK >> LHR on a 777 a few years back that was insanely quick (tail end of hurricane season iirc).
I think there was talk of some sort of subsonic record but can't remember the exact details. Remember the pilot mentioning it almost apologetically as we neared home.
I think there was talk of some sort of subsonic record but can't remember the exact details. Remember the pilot mentioning it almost apologetically as we neared home.
Doing some Googling, it seems the record is this one:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...cord-time.html
So 745 MPH, not 720 = ) And 5 hours 15 mins JFK-LHR!
#5
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Edi
Posts: 2,203
#6
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,801
#8
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,175
To discuss the issue - I remember a EWR - LHR one night when we were an hour late leaving the gate because the gate mechanism froze - we then went out to the runway and as we are hurtling down it we had an emergency stop. A light indicating something or other stopped the take off roll. We returned to the gate - it was only something minor as matters transpired but it meant a further delay and the snow was starting to fall again. Some people had had enough terror for one night and they got off - so their bags had to be located. We were serving drinks to one and all.
We then went to deice and finally got airborne for a most rocky ride. People were traumatised. Finally we got above the storm and we shot to London like a rocket - my recollection is that it was less than 5 hours. People said that we were going at over 700mph. It was a flight to remember.
We then went to deice and finally got airborne for a most rocky ride. People were traumatised. Finally we got above the storm and we shot to London like a rocket - my recollection is that it was less than 5 hours. People said that we were going at over 700mph. It was a flight to remember.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Blue, BAEC Gold, Blockbuster Video card
Posts: 1,378
I remember departing JFK on another flight and the taxiing to the runway was ridiculously fast. Almost like a yellow cabbie. At one point I wouldn't have been surprised if we'd been up on two wheels as we cornered.
Wondered what the hell was going on until we got airborne and it turned out we seemed to be attempting to outrun a gigantic storm. It was on both side of us as we climbed and headed out over Long Island, full of lightning. Probably the most spectacular weather views I have ever seen from a plan.
Flight was actually surprisingly smooth however (frequent twists and turns notwithstanding) so the pilot was clearly doing an exceptional job that day.
Wondered what the hell was going on until we got airborne and it turned out we seemed to be attempting to outrun a gigantic storm. It was on both side of us as we climbed and headed out over Long Island, full of lightning. Probably the most spectacular weather views I have ever seen from a plan.
Flight was actually surprisingly smooth however (frequent twists and turns notwithstanding) so the pilot was clearly doing an exceptional job that day.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Delayed flight BA15 out of Singapore yesterday in part to avoid holding at Sydney due to a projected arrival time earlier than the 5 am curfew. Subsequent flight time of 7 hrs was due to a strong tailwind. Noticed our ground speed and wondered if anyone had been much faster (not counting Concorde of course) >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...st-speeds.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...hr-flight.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-concorde.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/articles/tr...r-6-hours.html
#11
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Manchester but from Yorkshire better known as Gods country
Programs: BA Gold, , Sandals plat
Posts: 839
I remember a flight JFK >> LHR on a 777 a few years back that was insanely quick (tail end of hurricane season iirc).
I think there was talk of some sort of subsonic record but can't remember the exact details. Remember the pilot mentioning it almost apologetically as we neared home.
I think there was talk of some sort of subsonic record but can't remember the exact details. Remember the pilot mentioning it almost apologetically as we neared home.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
So it is physically impossible for any commercial jet in the air right now to come anywhere near the speed of sound in level flight no matter how strong the tail wind is, they would have to do a crazy dive.
#13
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I'm pretty sure I had something like nearly down to 6.5 hours flight time from SIN to SYD. We had to sit on the ground at SIN for quite some time thanks to SYD curfew.
(Can you tell I do not like SYD? Not because of the curfew though. It's a very customer-unfriendly airport although BA station managers are really lovely and QF lounge staff are great.)
(Can you tell I do not like SYD? Not because of the curfew though. It's a very customer-unfriendly airport although BA station managers are really lovely and QF lounge staff are great.)
#14
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
I have trouble seeing what is particularly unfriendly about Sydney
There are quite a few countries that can use the self service immigration whereas in UK , smeone arriving on an AU passport would have to queue under any passports and not have to queue
With departures, just about all can use self service immigration desks
Domestic departures have very short queues for security (ime) and there is no issue with liquids
What is unfriendly about it?
The curfew is a good thing given how close the airport is to residential properties
There are quite a few countries that can use the self service immigration whereas in UK , smeone arriving on an AU passport would have to queue under any passports and not have to queue
With departures, just about all can use self service immigration desks
Domestic departures have very short queues for security (ime) and there is no issue with liquids
What is unfriendly about it?
The curfew is a good thing given how close the airport is to residential properties
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 15,128
Had a very quick crossing from BOS one year in I think a 747-400 with a tailwind from a storm. We arrived so early that the flight deck let us know that we were getting into LHR well ahead of schedule. Also said they'd have to check the fastest crossing for a 744 to see if we'd beat it. They also said that as there were no BA staff on the ground we'd be doing a tour of the lesser seen parts of the Heathrow whilst we waited for ground staff to arrive/start work. I used the "tour" to get some more sleep (with my seat upright and belt securely fastened before anyone queries it).