QF to return to SFO?

[Himeno]

Don't both 787s & even 777s have insufficient range for Aust. to U.S. non-stop?

It depends on the model and any changes the airline had made to it.
UA does (or will soon) fly LAX-MEL with a 787.
VA uses 77W's to the US. The same aircraft type that CX uses for their 15 hour HKG-JFK flights. UA and DL use 77L's for LAX/SFO-SYD.
Only the basic 777-200 model can't make the US-AU trip. The 777-200LR, -200ER, -300 and -300ER all can.

 

[madrooster]

It depends on the model and any changes the airline had made to it.
UA does (or will soon) fly LAX-MEL with a 787.
VA uses 77W's to the US. The same aircraft type that CX uses for their 15 hour HKG-JFK flights. UA and DL use 77L's for LAX/SFO-SYD.
Only the basic 777-200 model can't make the US-AU trip. The 777-200LR, -200ER, -300 and -300ER all can.

I don't believe a 777-300 (non ER) can make it with an economical payload...

UA initially ran 788's on the MEL-LAX route but are running 789's now. They are running the 772ER (not the LR) on SYD-SFO and SYD-LAX. Out of all the aircraft on the AU-US runs the 747-400's have the least range.

 

[phill84]

That's surprising about the 747s range, I suppose it's older engines/tech. & weight. But they would surely carry the most customers.

 

[Awesom Andy]

That's surprising about the 747s range, I suppose it's older engines/tech. & weight. But they would surely carry the most customers.

Although you have double the number of engines (and somewhat fuel flow) for a lot less than double the payload.

 

[madrooster]

Although you have double the number of engines (and somewhat fuel flow) for a lot less than double the payload.

Which is why QF is now alone as the only one running 4 engines transpacific. The popularity of big 2-engined jets like the 777 is one of the reasons why the 747-8 (passenger) hasn't gotten many customers.

 

[markis10]

That's surprising about the 747s range, I suppose it's older engines/tech. & weight. But they would surely carry the most customers.

VAs 77w has three less passengers but more freight capability on routes where they are not range/payload limited.

 

[harvyk]

Did anyone watch the 60-minutes story when they flew the (767?) to the aircraft graveyard. They did a segment in one of the 747s and started up the plane. It almost seemed that they could've taken the engine covers off and taxiied it out to take off.... [or am I being too optimistic..?].

I saw it, what they did was the equivalent of putting the key into your car and switching in onto AUX. Yes the dashboard lights up and the radio turns on, but the engine is not started and you have yet to actually put it into gear and get the thing moving. Let alone that additional step with aircraft and actually get the thing in the air. Now had he taken it for a quick trip down to LAX and back I'd believe that it was ready to go.

Didn't someone make the point that oddly they sent a refurbed 744 to the graveyard even though some 4-class birds are still flying actively? In that case we have an obvious candidate to return to the skies.

I suspect the refurb status of the aircraft would be a realitively minor consideration in determining aircraft choice. I'd suspect the big consideration would be number of hours between last service and the next, and the cost of the next service.

On a personal note I would love it if they brought this route back. I liked this route and was a little disappointed when it was retired. Furthermore I'd love it if Red Roo did bring a few 747's out of storage. However I'm not going to be holding my breath for it.

 

[markis10]

I saw it, what they did was the equivalent of putting the key into your car and switching in onto AUX. Yes the dashboard lights up and the radio turns on, but the engine is not started and you have yet to actually put it into gear and get the thing moving. Let alone that additional step with aircraft and actually get the thing in the air. Now had he taken it for a quick trip down to LAX and back I'd believe that it was ready to go.

You would also need to attend to the numerous fault tags hanging from the overhead and in the case of the aircraft concerned, reattach the inboard engines!

 

[harvyk]

You would also need to attend to the numerous fault tags hanging from the overhead and in the case of the aircraft concerned, reattach the inboard engines!

Inboard engines are optional...