What's new

Pilots Last Flight

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike and Kathy
Subject: Might have to forgo the retirement
last-flight-fire-truck-washdown

(got a couple spare 777 engines?)

Hi Dad, and Gus,

Mike here.

On the weekend there was a pilot retirement / last revenue flight with a
777. And as normal, the fire trucks met the airplane and blew an archway
of water to taxi through.

But for some reason they used the "foam" instead of the water.

The engines were at idle when they taxied through. The foam has a number
of chemicals, among which are chlorine.

Chlorine is poisonous to titanium, causes corrosion (almost instantly)
and embrittles the metal.

Not the kind of thing you want to happen to your compressor section.

So acft 2372 is at IAD, waiting for a couple engines to be
trucked / trained over from SFO. We don't keep any spare
engines on the shelf, least of all Triple 7 engines.

My SAMC engine buddy Neil described what they hope to do next.
The mechanics at IAD borescoped both engines, yes, the foam made
it all the way back past the 14th stage.

But the engine was at idle... not much heat. So the engines can be
disassembled, cleaned, and most of the blades are likely to be
re-useable.

If we did a ferry flight with the airplane to SFO or ORD or
DEN... anywhere to get some engines, then the heat plus chlorine
residue will mean that the blades are not salvagable.

In the computer, it'll be a week before they get engines over
to the airplane.

Maybe fly by Christmas Eve?

After that.... I imagine the lawyers will troll for money.
sigh.

g'day,

(Mike)
 

Latest posts

Back
Top