Delta operated an empty A332 nonstop from SIN to ATL
May 28, 13, 3:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: ATL/LAX
Posts: 4,875
Delta operated an empty A332 nonstop from SIN to ATL
Delta 9971 took off at 12:01pm in Singapore and landed at Atlanta at 6:38pm on Sunday the 26th. The most direct route is 9,963 miles according to GCMap but N851NW flew 10,737 statute miles on its trip from Changi to Hartsfield-Jackson, heading northeast from SIN toward the eastern coast of Japan, before heading across the Pacific toward Northern California and gradually making its way southeast to ATL.
They certainly could have had it run an LAX-ATL or HNL-ATL run for the travel weekend, but SIN-ATL has gotta be one of the longer flights a DL bird has done (even with 0 cargo/pax).
They certainly could have had it run an LAX-ATL or HNL-ATL run for the travel weekend, but SIN-ATL has gotta be one of the longer flights a DL bird has done (even with 0 cargo/pax).
Last edited by amolkold; May 28, 13 at 3:57 am
May 28, 13, 4:11 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 3,105
A cargo-loaded A332 could not have done that distance non-stop.
According to these Airbus specs, the distance for a newer A332 (not the older versions NWA bought and Delta now owns) with pax + cargo is 7,200 nautical miles (or 13,350 KM's).
According to these Airbus specs, the distance for a newer A332 (not the older versions NWA bought and Delta now owns) with pax + cargo is 7,200 nautical miles (or 13,350 KM's).
May 28, 13, 4:12 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,117
Originally Posted by Asiaflyguy
And you know it was empyty/no cargo how?... Just currious
May 28, 13, 4:44 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL GM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing
Posts: 8,633
That's probably a record for the 330. I think the longest flight until now on any 330 was about 10,500 on a delivery flight from TLS to MEL. DL might have routed this recent flight a little indirectly to get the record.
In terms of DL fights, I don't think any 747 has ever gone that far. A 787 will do over 12k miles empty, but DL doesn't have any. A 772-LR however can do over 13k miles and DL has 10 of these so there a possibility of a similar DL ferry flight from SIN>to US East Coast or JNB to SEA that might have gone farther.
Aircraft can go a lot farther on a ferry flight with no load.
In terms of DL fights, I don't think any 747 has ever gone that far. A 787 will do over 12k miles empty, but DL doesn't have any. A 772-LR however can do over 13k miles and DL has 10 of these so there a possibility of a similar DL ferry flight from SIN>to US East Coast or JNB to SEA that might have gone farther.
Aircraft can go a lot farther on a ferry flight with no load.
May 28, 13, 12:33 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SEA - DL DM/2MM, *A Gold, SPG Lifetime Plat, some other car and hotel stuff
Posts: 5,647
Originally Posted by misterbean
I'm on my phone so can't really give you links, but look on the A330 mod thread, in the last two pages. The info is there.
May 28, 13, 12:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DTW
Programs: DL 0.22 MM, AA 0.34 MM, PC Plat Amb, Hertz #1 GC 5*
Posts: 7,511
Seem to remember going eastbound, you can see upwards of 250+ tailwinds, if you choose the right stream and altitude. Heavy on fuel, light on weight, and setting to max-efficiency cruise, don't see why not. Yet I'm on the side that that's really pushing it, they probably landed just at reserves.
May 28, 13, 2:10 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: AA Gold AAdvantage Elite, Rapids Reward
Posts: 35,323
Originally Posted by Asiaflyguy
And you know it was empyty/no cargo how?... Just currious
May 28, 13, 3:37 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, AA Plat Exec., DL Rust, National E.E., UA 1K
Posts: 239
Originally Posted by ChevyCruze
Must have had a hell of a tail wind!
Sure came in hot and fast on approach into ATL looking at the altitude vs speed graph on FA. Kamikaze!!
Sure came in hot and fast on approach into ATL looking at the altitude vs speed graph on FA. Kamikaze!!
