AvTalk - Aviation Podcast

In episode 13, we look at the effects of Hurricane Harvey on aviation and see how airlines are helping with relief efforts. GE Aviation retires the oldest active 747. Southwest Airlines takes delivery of its first 737 MAX and American Airlines isn’t too far behind. We get surprised by the possible new home for the first production A380s. And we again welcome Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren to the podcast to hear about another 747 retirement and how we can improve our avgeek photography.
Hurricane Harvey Devastates Houston

Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston earlier this week and brought flooding to much of the Houston area. Both major Houston airports, George Bush Intercontinental-IAH and William P. Hobby Airport-HOU were closed for days to commercial traffic. Airlines worked hard to help get stranded passengers out of the airports and to bring relief supplies in. Traffic is slowly returning to normal as the airports reopen.
GE Aviation Retires the Oldest Active 747
Listen at 10:28
GE Aviation officially retired its 747-100 Flying Test Bed, the oldest active 747. GE had used the flying test bed registered N747GE since 1992 to develop engines like the GE90 (777), GEnx (747-8 & 787), Engine Alliance GP7200 (A380), CFM-56 (various), and the LEAP (737 MAX, A320neo, C919).
Interview—EVA Air Retires their Passenger 747s and How to Improve Your AvGeek Photography
Listen at 16:44
We talk again with Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, who just flew on EVA Air’s final passenger 747 flight from Hong Kong to Taipei. We also get Jeremy to tell us how we can improve our avgeek photography.
EVA Air 747’s unusual upper deck seating arrangement.
Southwest Takes Delivery of its First 737 MAX
Listen at 33:07
Southwest Airlines took delivery of their first 737 MAX this week and American Airlines is getting ready for theirs as well. We talk about how the MAX fits in to Southwest’s fleet and why Jason may soon need new knees.
A Surprising New Home for Used A380s
Listen at 36:27
The first production A380s have been parked by Singapore Airlines ahead of lease return and a surprising airline may be putting them back into service. We try to understand what HiFly is up to.
Air Berlin Cuts Long-haul Routes
Listen at 39:21
As we discussed in episode 12, Air Berlin has entered insolvency, but they are now cutting long-haul routes as other airlines begin to figure out how to acquire pieces of Air Berlin’s operations.
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