Aussie Aircraft Thread

Apparently Embraer is the only manufacturer who does that.

 

Yeah I understand their system is that the fuel cutoffs won’t work unless the associated power lever is in the idle position, which seems a good idea.

The positioning of the cutoffs in some airliners is also bizarre to my way of thinking.
Directly behind the power levers is, frankly, a stupid place to put them.

 

I hear what you are saying, but in there needs to be pilot intervention over the aircraft systems, look what happened with the 737 Max. Software was overriding the pilot causing the aircraft to nose dived into the ground and there are lots more examples of aircraft not doing what they are supposed to do.

Both pilots that were operating this fight had thousands of hours experience, it’s unlikely that they confused the fuel switches for something else. If this was a deliberate act by one of the crew there is very little that could be done, if it wasn’t the fuel cutoff switches he could just fired the fire extinguishers that are directly next to the cutoff switches and achieved the same result.

 

Preliminary Report…..

https://i2.res.24o.it/pdf2010/Editrice/ILSOLE24ORE/ILSOLE24ORE/Online/_Oggetti_Embedded/Documenti/2025/07/12/Preliminary%20Report%20VT.pdf

 

TLDR.

What is the abridged version?

 

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The plane crashed.

 

That is the abridged abridged version.

 

Pilot error

 

All applicable Airworthiness Directives and Alert Service Bulletins were complied on the aircraft as well as engines. The FAA issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) No. NM-18-33 on December 17, 2018, regarding the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature. This SAIB was issued based on reports from operators of Model 737 airplanes that the fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. The airworthiness concern was not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) by the FAA. The fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models including part number 4TL837-3D which is fitted in B787-8 aircraft VT-ANB. As per the information from Air India, the suggested inspections were not carried out as the SAIB was advisory and not mandatory. The scrutiny of maintenance records revealed that the throttle control module was replaced on VT-ANB in 2019 and 2023. However, the reason for the replacement was not linked to the fuel control switch. There has been no defect reported pertaining to the fuel control switch since 2023 on VT-ANB.

 

fixed

 

Well, yesterday I finally did it!
Words can’t adequately describe how amazing it was.
I was hands on doing all the flying for more than 45 minutes.
Only when Tim (my awesome pilot) was flying in formation on Chloe and her dad in the chase plane - as well as takeoff and landing of course - did he take over.
Oh, and for the last five minutes he did his air show routine (loops, victory rolls, barrel rolls, wing overs), which was incredible.
We flew along Beachy Head at 1000ft and did a beautiful wing over at the end to reverse direction which I’m sure the hundreds of people up there watching loved.

What a thing! The power and grace are extraordinary.

Pics taken by Chloe from the chase plane (I’ve got dozens but this will do for now).



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Wow!

 

Fabulous Steve, that must have been a peak experience. I'm sooo jealous

 

Fantastic! And the weather looks good, too! Was it twitchy on the stick?

 

Yeah going to be very hard to top that.
Just trying to work out a way I can do the type rating now!

Very twitchy in pitch.
Tiny movements made a big change.
Surprisingly heavy in roll but very precise.

The way it gathers speed even in a shallow dive or with the addition of power is incredible.
It’s very slippery indeed.

And the noise! At anything other than low cruise settings it’s utterly deafening.
Had a bit of a headache by the end, but a tiny price to pay of course.

 

Fantastic!

 

Brilliant, I’m envious

 

What Horse said!!

 

WOW a once in a lifetime experience -memory
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Told Ya!!!!!

I'm going back again for more next year!!!!

 

Glad you had a fabulous time Steve, but can't help feeling sad Moretti never got to do it (trip was planned...)
On a side note - Gleggy are any of the "spitfires" at Caboolture airfield genuine?

 

Thanks Karen. Agreed re Moretti.

Can’t say for sure but I very much doubt any of the “Spitfires” at Caboolture are real.
Almost certainly modern kit-built aircraft, either 2/3 or 3/4 scale replicas.
There was a company in QLD a while back called Supermarine whom sold those kits.
I visited the factory maybe 15 years ago.
Was a good operation and I did sort of consider getting one.
They are quite impressive in the air, but not a patch on the real thing of course.

 

Edit: I think those kits were actually 80% or 90% size scale replicas.

Someone whom knows more than me about them can confirm.

 

PS Just spent a lovely afternoon with Neralee reminiscing Moretti's finest hours (left luggage, left insulin, lost torches, 11 psi) - laughed till we cried...
I trust the guys raised a glass to him during GG.