Model Airplanes

Art exercises: Switch to an experimental mind-set for CounterCurrent 15. At 2 p.m. Thursday, Maya Zbib and Omar Abi Azar lead their audience across the University of Houston during “In Walking Distance.” At 9 p.m., Janet Biggs performs “If Ever I Would Leave You” at Project Row Houses, 2521 Holman. Events continue through Sunday; countercurrentfestival.org. Some require tickets, but all are free.

Molly Glentzer

American tragedy: “All My Sons,” Arthur Miller’s first success, remains as powerful today as when it premiered in 1947. Miller unfolds the narrative gradually as peeling an onion, getting ever closer to the truth of businessman Joe Keller’s culpability in selling faulty airplane parts during World War II – and the tragic consequences for Joe and his family. The Alley Theatre’s heartfelt, finely detailed production is the dramatic high point of the company’s season. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; Alley Theatre at Wortham Theatre, University of Houston, Entrance 16 off Cullen; $26-$100; 713-220-5700, alleytheatre.org.

Everett Evans

Oddball legend: Some people just hear music in their heads differently. Such is the case with Lee “Scratch” Perry, the Jamaican iconoclast whose effects-laden production style was crucial to the development of the reggae spin-off called dub. He doesn’t tour often. Perry is joined by the Skatalites, the Skatastrophics and DJ Simmer Down. 8 p.m. Thursday at Fitzgerald’s, 2706 White Oak; $25; 713-862-3838, fitzlivemusic.com.

Andrew Dansby

Party With Pride: Get all the fabulous details on the upcoming Pride Houston events. This

Article source: http://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Chronicle-critics-offer-entertainment-suggestions-6201624.php

Seattle/Paris: The jumbo jet, for many years the workhorse of modern air travel, could be close to running out of runway.

Last year, there were zero orders placed by commercial airlines for new Boeing 747s or Airbus A380s, reflecting a fundamental shift in the industry toward smaller, twin-engine planes. Smaller planes cost less to fly than the stately, four-engine jumbos, which can carry as many as 525 passengers.

Representational image: Reuters

The slump in sales of the jets has raised questions over how long manufacturers can sustain production. It has also fueled internal debate in both companies over the future of the planes, sources said.

The outcome of those discussions will affect the value of existing fleets and thousands of production jobs at the plane makers and their many parts suppliers.

Sales forces at Airbus Group NV and Boeing Co are fighting for potential orders plane by plane as they seek to keep production going beyond the end of the decade, said other aviation market sources. The aircraft makers are offering discounts of at least 50 percent from catalog prices of around $400 million for a jumbo jet, those sources said. Airbus has said it is also considering a revamp to make its ‘superjumbo’ more attractive to buyers.

Boeing in September plans to slow the pace of production of its latest 747-8 model to an average of 1.3 planes a month from 1.5 currently. At

Article source: http://www.firstpost.com/business/boeing-airbus-struggle-to-sell-flagship-jumbo-jets-as-demand-slips-2199478.html

(Photo: Shutterstock/hxdyl)

Always know your plane. The type of aircraft on which you’re flying can have a big effect on the quality of your trip.

The most important time to “get to know your plane” is when you’re selecting a flight and buying a ticket. Most airlines, OTAs, and search engines show you the plane type during the search phase, although you may have to click on a “details” button for more information. And most airlines and OTAs give you a seat selection option before you make a final commitment to pay.

Although some important factors, like noise or smoothness, are inherent to the plane model itself, others depend on how each airline outfits its planes. Similarly, some choice factors apply to all classes of service; others are specific to each class.
Noise

Takeoffs can be noisy in much of the plane, but once you’re at cruising altitude, the noise in most of the plane results from turbulent airflow around the cabin — not the engines. (But to the extent that engine noise is a problem, newer engines are quieter than older engines.) Jet-noise problems are most severe in planes with rear-mounted engines, where noise in the last few rows can be truly offensive, but rear seats in planes with wing-mounted engines area typically the noisiest. And propeller noise and vibration in turboprops can be really annoying, anywhere in the plane.

• Favor: A380s and 787s,

  Article source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/smartertravel/you-should-always-know-the-kind-of-plane-youre-on_b_7072416.html

(Repeating story to additional subscribers without changes to
text)

By Alwyn Scott and Tim Hepher

Seattle/Paris April 16 (Reuters) – The jumbo jet, for many
years the workhorse of modern air travel, could be close to
running out of runway.

Last year, there were zero orders placed by commercial
airlines for new Boeing 747s or Airbus A380s, reflecting a
fundamental shift in the industry toward smaller, twin-engine
planes. Smaller planes cost less to fly than the stately,
four-engine jumbos, which can carry as many as 525 passengers.

The slump in sales of the jets has raised questions over how
long manufacturers can sustain production. It has also fueled
internal debate in both companies over the future of the planes,
sources said.

The outcome of those discussions will affect the value of
existing fleets and thousands of production jobs at the plane
makers and their many parts suppliers.

Sales forces at Airbus Group NV and Boeing Co
are fighting for potential orders plane by plane as they
seek to keep production going beyond the end of the decade,
said other aviation market sources. The aircraft makers are
offering discounts of at least 50 percent from catalog prices of
around $400 million for a jumbo jet, those sources said. Airbus
has said it is also considering a revamp to make its
‘superjumbo’ more attractive to buyers.

Boeing in September plans to slow

Article source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/16/aerospace-jumbo-idUSL2N0XC30O20150416

Seattle/Paris:  The jumbo jet, for many years the workhorse of modern air travel, could be close to running out of runway.

Last year, there were zero orders placed by commercial airlines for new Boeing 747s or Airbus A380s, reflecting a fundamental shift in the industry toward smaller, twin-engine planes. Smaller planes cost less to fly than the stately, four-engine jumbos, which can carry as many as 525 passengers.

The slump in sales of the jets has raised questions over how long manufacturers can sustain production. It has also fueled internal debate in both companies over the future of the planes, sources said.

The outcome of those discussions will affect the value of existing fleets and thousands of production jobs at the plane makers and their many parts suppliers.

Sales forces at Airbus Group NV and Boeing Co are fighting for potential orders plane by plane as they seek to keep production going beyond the end of the decade, said other aviation market sources. The aircraft makers are offering discounts of at least 50 per cent from catalog prices of around $400 million for a jumbo jet, those sources said. Airbus has said it is also considering a revamp to make its ‘superjumbo’ more attractive to buyers.

Boeing in September plans to slow the pace of production of its latest 747-8 model to an average of 1.3 planes a month from 1.5 currently. At that rate

Article source: http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/the-jumbo-jet-faces-a-make-or-break-year-at-boeing-airbus-755392