# A very cool website with airplane pics **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878 "2002-09-11T00:14:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/21 "2002-09-12T14:29:10Z")
Friggin’ non-bump time out post, grumble grumble. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/22 "2002-09-12T14:37:24Z")
Their website diverts to [Stork Aerospace](http://www.fokker.com/aboutus/organisation01.asp), who seem to have a few divisions bearing the old name. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/23 "2002-09-12T14:51:20Z")
Yes, that’s true, **Crusoe** - Stork bought some of the components from Dasa. What I should have said is that IIRC, Fokker Aerospace is the only still remaining _independant_ part. But wherever the old Fokker entities may reside within Stork, the truth is simple: they do not build airplanes anymore. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/24 "2002-09-12T19:15:51Z")
Very cool website. A few questions popped in my head while looking around. I tried to Google the answers myself to no avail. 1. How often do they change the paint schemes? Many of the jobs seemed promotional to me, so I would imagine often, however wouldn’t painting a 747 be a laborious undertaking? 2. They hand polish AF-1 before every flight? 3. The South African Airways 747 with the 5th engine. They said it was being taken to the destination for repair. Wouldn’t it be easier to throw the engine into a cargo plane? I didn’t even know a 747 was capable of carrying a 5th engine. (it is off I assume) Any thoughts Dopers? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/25 "2002-09-12T19:37:48Z")
Painting a 747 is a hell of a job, so a paint job usually lasts a coupe of years, I imagine. But you don’t have to respray an entire plane to get a new look, as this [custom tail fin](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=272947&WxsIERv=Qm9laW5nIDc0Ny00MzY%3D&WdsYXMg=QnJpdGlzaCBBaXJ3YXlz&QtODMg=TG9uZG9uIC0gSGVhdGhyb3cgKExIUiAvIEVHTEwp&ERDLTkt=VUsgLSBFbmdsYW5k&ktODMp=QXVndXN0IDI5LCAyMDAy&WNEb25u=RmxvcmlhbiBLb25kemllbGE%3D&xsIERvdWdsY=Ry1DSVZC&MgTUQtODMgKE=IkNoZWxzZWEgUm9zZSIgYXMgc2hlIGNsaW1icyBvdXQgZnJvbSBSV1kyN0w%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=MTA4&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwMi0wOS0xMA%3D%3D&static=yes&size=L) on a BA 747 demonstrates. Sometimes, they do go the extra mile, and you wonder how much this must have cost: an Air France [Concorde in Pepsi colour scheme](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=204646&WxsIERv=QWVyb3NwYXRpYWxlLUJBQyBDb25jb3JkZSAxMDE%3D&WdsYXMg=QWlyIEZyYW5jZQ%3D%3D&QtODMg=RHVibGluICgtIENvbGxpbnN0b3duKSAoRFVCIC8gRUlEVyk%3D&ERDLTkt=SXJlbGFuZA%3D%3D&ktODMp=QXByaWwgMywgMTk5Ng%3D%3D&WNEb25u=Q2FybCBGb3Jk&xsIERvdWdsY=Ri1CVFNE&MgTUQtODMgKE=KGNuIDIxMykuIExhbmRpbmcgcnVud2F5IDI4IGF0IER1YmxpbiB3aGlsc3Qgb24gbGVhc2UgdG8gUGVwc2kgQ29sYSBmb3IgNyBkYXlz&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=MTYxMzQ%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwMS0xMi0wNQ%3D%3D&static=yes&size=L)! The AF1 tidbit about the handpolish was new to me too. Could be a BIT of an exaggeration, but I bet it gets a good clean before a diplomatic flight. The SA 747 with the 5th engine is not too uncommon. Yes, the engine is switched off, and is just mounted on a wing. You could send a cargo plane, but if one of your 747’s is stranded in Frankfurt with a busted engine, and you’ve got another one flying there the next day anyway… all it does is increase drag, so it’ll cost some more fuel. Still, cheaper than sending an extra cargo plane! I think it’s kinda cool, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/26 "2002-09-12T19:49:03Z")
Some of these pics are SO cool. A Dutch aviation museum has bought a Lockheed Constellation, which they are restoring in Arizona. It’s nearly ready, and will be flown to the Netherlands under its own power. They’ve been working on it for 5 years, and it will be one of six flying Connies in the world. [Here it is](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=249528&WxsIERv=TG9ja2hlZWQgTDc0OUEgQ29uc3RlbGxhdGlvbg%3D%3D&WdsYXMg=UHJpdmF0ZSBEdXRjaCBBdmlvZG9tZSBNdXNldW0%3D&QtODMg=TWFyYW5hIC0gUGluYWwgQWlycGFyayAoU2lsdmVyIEJlbGwgQUhQKSAoTVpKKQ%3D%3D&ERDLTkt=VVNBIC0gQXJpem9uYQ%3D%3D&ktODMp=TWF5IDMwLCAyMDAy&WNEb25u=UmFscGggTS4gUGV0dGVyc2Vu&xsIERvdWdsY=Tjc0OU5M&MgTUQtODMgKE=SW4gZmxpZ2h0IGluIHZlcnkgc21va2V5IGNvbmRpdGlvbnMgZHVlIHRvIGEgbGFyZ2UgZm9yZXN0IGZpcmUgaW4gdGhlIG1vdW50YWlucyBqdXN0IGVhc3Qgb2YgVHVjc29uLg%3D%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=MzA4MA%3D%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwMi0wNy0wMw%3D%3D&static=yes&size=L), test-flying over the Arizona desert. I can’t wait to see this thing once it arrives here! What a beauty. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/27 "2002-09-12T19:58:39Z")
Thanks **Coldie**. In addition to increased drag, would the performance of the plane be affected any other way? Do they use certain pilots that are trained for handling a plane with an addition deadweight engine? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/28 "2002-09-12T20:35:04Z")
I honestly don’t know, WE. I’d imagine a similar drag is simulated on the other wing by adjusting, uh, those spoiler thingies. 🙂 (No, I’m no expert, just an enthusiast, why do you ask?) In any case, I’m sure there’s a way to artificially balance the plane, to the exent that it handles the same left and right, so the net effect is probably just a rather heavy and somewhat slow 747. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/29 "2002-09-12T21:13:02Z")
Thought ya might know. That Juliana airport in St. Martin is insane, I plan on going there with a coupla six packs and to work on my tan someday. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/30 "2002-09-13T01:02:47Z")
Are you speaking of the paint job on AF1? It’s been largely unchanged since [Raymond Loewy](http://www.rediscoveredpaper.com/af1.html) redid it for JFK back in 1963. Slight changes appeared (IIRC, the presidential seal was moved) in the switch from 707 to 747, but the overall design is now almost 40 years old. It’s a beaut, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Lao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Dr.Lao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Lao)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/31 "2002-09-13T01:16:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\ ***Joey G** , I knew “Air Force One” means “the plane the President is on”. I was just amazed to find out that the Prez actually has _two_ 747’s at his disposal. Seems like an expensive hobby, but hey, one needs a back-up plan, right? \*\* There are more planes than just the two in the presidental fleet. There was a story on them in _Flying_ magazine a few years ago. I don’t recall how many there were, though. But I didn’t realize they had two 747’s. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2002, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878/32 "2002-09-13T11:41:10Z")
[The history of Air Force one.](http://www.howstuffworks.com/air-force-one6.htm) Seems that the predecessor 707 that was used up until 1990 was also a twin couple. Planes before that were “single”. And yeah, the AF1 paint scheme is absolutely stunning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-very-cool-website-with-airplane-pics/127878.md?page=1)