Some detailed "optimization" scenarios must have been conducted whose results filtered upwards to management for this decision? Perhaps some details will "leak" for us to understand the numbers with some confidence level.
Will the Iranian government release the data from the recorders so that there is a clear demonstration of the flight path? There are too many lies from the Iranian sides (civil and military) to satisfy even neutral observers. For example, was the flight being tracked at all at the base near the airport?
I flew a few times in an "orange colored" 747 (no prizes for guessing the company!) between Heathrow and Houston around 1978. All that rattling during takeoff was something that we shared with our peers (with smiles, of course) who traveled more regularly than I ever did. Truly fascinating to acquire more knowledge on the 747 engineering.
I believe the AN-225 used to visit KIAH in the past. It may have been the AN-124 if I'm mistaken although it would be difficult to mistake the former by a more experienced person than myself.
There is technology and then there is economics. The real world of commercial aviation is skewed by opaque accounting practices (lasts as long as they can get away with these). I only hope that we sustain the flow of commercial pilots with living wages to maintain the advances in aviation.
Million dollar aircraft and still using membrane keyboards? I had to use a $9 (MSRP) keyboard at work (the Gray Lady of Silicon Valley) and came home to a electro-mechanical keyboard at home. My keyboard is still working. Wonder what happened to the Gray Lady!
May you live a thousand years! May each year be a thousand days! (South Asian birthday refrain).
I enjoy every minute of my use with this incredible service. THANK YOU!
