Warbird Information Exchange

The other day while searching for an item on A.net, I spotted one of the 'photos of the day' of a Kalitta Air 747 that piled up and broke up. I saw that airline illustrated in some benefit airlift brochures at my church a couple of years ago and was vaguely curious about the airline.

How big is Kalitta Air? Where are they based? Just interested in some general info.

Thanks
Doug Ratchford

Doug,

I'm not sure how many aircraft are in Connie's fleet, but the home base is Willow Run. I think they are taking delivery of a 747-400 freighter in the near future to replace an older 747.

Scott

Connie? As in Connie Kalitta? Wasn't he a top fuel drag racer? I'm way confused now Scott.

Yes, same Kalitta family that is involved in NHRA top fuel.

Sorry to confuse! I think Connie and Doug are (or were) both type-rated on all the equipment they own. I believe they have a fleet that goes from Lears to the 747s, and do quite a lot of work for the auto manufacturers.

Scott

Kalitta just recently took delivery on their first 400.

Thanks, David.

I knew they were in line to start receiving -400s to replace their older 74s--some of the -200s are getting on in years.

Scott

Yeah, I'm not too sure how far down the line they are for the second -400, but it seems they are in need of it now. I'm just really glad no one got seriously hurt after seeing the pictures of that aircraft.

No big deal. They just overran the runway (engine failure?). They had the bad luck that a ditch was in the way (railway track). Otherwise I don't think it would have broken in 3. Too bad for the soldiers who have to wait longer for their mail now

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Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

I believe they were using a little shorter runway than they normally do at BRU.

I know the structural failures were after the decision for a RTO, but man seeing a plane sitting like that is scary for me still. It really makes me have second thoughts about ever wanting to fly on the upper deck of a 747... did you see that angle?

I wonder how far the F'n AA has crawled up their wazoo, what with the in-flight departure of an engine from one of their 747's a few years ago.

I used to fly for a different drag racing team a few years ago, and would see Connie and Doug show up at the airport to head out in their Hawker 700. The time it took from them pulling on the ramp in their cars to taking the runway was only a skosh more than the E.T. of one of their top fuelers.

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Know why FAA inspectors always wear neckties? To keep the foreskin from slipping over their heads...

AVFlash today had a blurb pulled from Flight International saying that the tower saw flames out of one of the starboard engines during departure which prompted the RTO. Could be anything from a full-on failure to a compressor stall. Either way, they must've been close to V1 to go off the end like that.

latest news over here is 2 loud bangs and fire. Presumed birdstrike. Seems the pilot and copilot were arguing about aborting or taking off. Aborting won.

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Magister Aviation
It's all in my book

It's a sad day in drag racing, and for the Killita family. Scott Kalita died today from injuries sustained in a massive funny car accident at the Englishtown NJ NHRA event today. On his qualifying pass his car suffered an engine faiure, followed by the parachutes not deploying properly. He impacted a concrete barrier in the shut down area at 250mph. RIP Scott.