Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[Zelandeth]

Well, made it as far as Paris, now waiting for the connecting flight to Heathrow (which annoyingly we just flew over!).

I had almost forgotten how much I hate this airport. It seems to contain the single greatest concentration of angry and impatient people on the planet. Just got bodily shoved into the hard barrier around the security checkpoint while trying to fish all my belongings back out from being scanned. Now nursing at least a couple of bruised ribs. Then got shouted at in French for flailing into a secure area while trying not to fall over backwards.

Been the same every time I've flown to or through here...much shoving, impatience and people shouting at me in French. Next time we go to the US we're just flying direct... don't care in the slightest if it costs a couple of hundred quid more. It's worth it to avoid CDG.

[Hell Razor5543]

Well, Charles de Gaulle was (supposedly) somewhat arrogant and short tempered. Perhaps the French feel that (within the confines of the airport) they have to honour him by behaving in a similar fashion!

[Zelandeth]

Apparently!

Have only ventured out into Paris itself once - and the level of overcrowding on the tram I was on was actually honestly frightening. That's coming from someone who's used enough to dealing with the Tube in London in rush hour without really even thinking twice about it.

[Zelandeth]

Aaaaaaand home.

Got on the coach to Detroit at 13:30 Eastern Time...arrived home here 13:35 the following day local time here. I have no idea how long I've been awake now!

[CitroJim]

Welcome home Zel!

You, in these last few posts, have elegantly described and enumerated all the reasons I don't travel far these days

[Zelandeth]

I don't actually mind the transatlantic trip. It's worth it to see family there and the truly lovely people over there. The East Lansing or Bear Creek areas are places we could quite happily have ended up had life dealt us slightly different cards.

The proviso though is flying direct. That way you only have to deal with the security faff once each way. Once you're on the plane to be honest it's not too bad - flying with Delta anyway. Especially with a decent set of noise cancelling headphones and if you're flying with a friend so there's a physical barrier between you and the rest of the cabin.

The headphones make an unbelievable difference - all of the cabin din is drowned out to a distant background thrum (think traffic outside a decent double glazed house), and you can just sink away into your own little world. I have always found it a very claustrophobic experience before, but the headphones really did transform it.

Just not going to do the faffing about with connections again...that generates more stress than the entire rest of the trip combined.

[Michel]

In my extensive experience of Delta they're sh1te. I avoid them and AA at all costs!

I have noise cancelling earphones but I find a couple of valium washed down with a glass of red far more effective in a long haul flight.

[Zelandeth]

Interesting. We've been using Delta for years (as a group, way longer than I've been travelling the route) simply because they ran the convenient route and they've always done us proud to be honest. By far the most unpleasant long haul experience I've ever had was the one time we flew with United. Simple reason then being because a family friend worked for them, so could get us a stupidly large discount and free upgrade to "Premium Economy.". It was without exception the most uncomfortable flight I have ever been on. To the extent that when offered the following year an even better deal, we declined. We're not adverse to trying other carriers, but Delta have just always been handy. Detroit being one of their big hubs, and that being an hour's drive from our usual destination tends to work heavily in their favour.

I'd really like to try Virgin Atlantic one day as their domestic services that I used a lot between Aberdeen and Birmingham over the years left a massively positive impression. I still vividly remember stepping off the plane first time I used it and having that moment of "Now that's what air travel is *supposed* to be like!" - to be honest simply because at every single step of the way they made me actually feel like a valued customer rather than simply a name on a boarding list. They were in the running this time, but it would have had to involve a transfer and it was a worryingly tight one.

Flying into the US and transferring there is a total no-no as thanks to the border laws you can't have your luggage checked all the way through - you have to essentially go through the whole entry to the US proceedings at the first point you land - pick up all your bags, then check in afresh for the connecting flight. Yes, we made that mistake once.

Did make a bit of a sad realisation today though, watching people in the terminal at Detroit. There were aircraft parked all around us. A380 right next to our A330 actually - but the *only* one that probably a couple of dozen people took photos of through the windows, and countless wandered over for a good look - a 747. I realised today that given how numbered the days seem to be for the Queen of the Skies nowadays that I probably never will have a chance to fly on one.

It's a silly thing, but they were a big part of my parent's happy memories of their trips to Canada back in the 70s, and are so fondly remembered by quite a few retired pilots I've known that they've sort of become important to me - and I'd always hoped that one day I'd get to fly on one. Sadly I don't think it's likely to happen now.

A380 to my eyes ain't half an ugly mug of a thing...for all it shouldn't work with the whale jump on the front and all that, the 747 somehow manages to seem far more elegant and move with far more grace than its bulk should ever allow.

[Michel]

I was lucky enough as a kid to have a dad who worked around the world. We lived in Hong Kong for some years in the early 80s. My first flight was on a BAC1-11 from Manchester to Gatwick, to fly on a DC-10 to Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi in Sept 1982. Lucky enough to fly many times on DC10s (or lucky enough to fly on a "Death Carriage-10" and survive), 747s, 727s and even a couple of Tristars. Flew non-stop on a 747SP from HK to San-Fran in 1983, but had to make an emergency landing in Okinawa on the return leg as the headwind didn't make for good fuel economy. Also flew on a rickety old 707 from Beijing to HK in 1984 which dropped oxygen masks down too often for an 11 year old boy's liking! When I moved to Greece I used to fly back to UK as cheap as possible to see my girlfriend. This involves Malev TU-134 And 154 Russian planes. Interesting and very noisy!

Try Singapore Airlines or Emirates if you ever get the chance. *That's * how air travel should be done.

I try to avoid the US at all costs. I had to transit through twice on my way to Colombia and back a couple of years ago... JFK. Rudeness. Being unable to check my bags all the way through. More rudeness. Having to check in again. You know how it is. Fortunately the family I have over there aren't worth visiting...

[Hell Razor5543]

I remember watching a program about the development of the Boeing 747. IIRC Pan Am and Boeing got together to develop an aeroplane that could carry a large number of passengers. Boeing put a man in charge of the project who was highly competent, but did not suffer fools (gladly or otherwise). Pan Am wanted a double deck aeroplane, but this would have challenging new problems to overcome. The Boeing team wanted to go for the wide bodied option, but if the team leader were to present it to Boeing he probably would have put their hackles up so far they would have rejected it without giving it due consideration. As it was a man one level below the team leader was asked to present the idea. When he arrived at the meeting the first thing he did was to stretch a 20' length of rope along a wall. Then, when he presented the wide body concept, it was clear as to how much space the passengers would actually have, and thus the wide bodied jets came into being.

One of the problems Boeing had was with the engines. They found that, under easily reproducible conditions, the engines could be made to fail. General Electric (if my memory is correct) was the engine manufacturer, but they did not seem to grasp how serious the problem was. Eventually the chief test pilot got mad, and arranged for a senior director from GE to accompany him on a test flight. When they got to a safe cruising altitude the pilot explained that there was an issue with the engines. The director made a comment that they were aware of it and that they were working on a solution, but the pilot felt he (the director) did not understand the seriousness of the issue, so he made an engine fail (and now that engine was no longer functional). When the director did not seem overly concerned the pilot then failed a second engine. He then turned to the director, and said something along the lines of "Now do you see how serious it is, or should I do the same to another engine?" Suffice to say General Electric got the problem fixed (which was, IIRC, because the jet pipes were made of too thin a material, so when there was a major increase in power the cold air pipe would contract, and the turbine blades would smash into them).

[Zelandeth]

I've heard a few folks singing the praises of Emerates in terms of air travel. However given the prices...unlikely to be one we'll be able to consider in the near future. Don't think they operate on any of the routes we usually use either.

The US is our usual destination simply because that's where a lot of our friends and family are, not surprising as we've got two Americans in the household. Travel once you're there isn't usually a problem once you're past the TSA/Border Agents - who have always been among the most impatient and stubborn people I've ever come across. At least when they bark instructions at me I've some hope of understanding them...one of the things that gets old during transit through Paris CDG is having people shouting at me in French. I hadn't quite expected language to be such an issue just transiting through a major international airport.

[Zelandeth]

Well arriving back in the UK I found the battery in the 107 to be flat again. Right before I left for holiday I swapped batteries over between the Skoda and the 107 (as they're virtually the same size) - sure enough the battery in the Skoda was just fine...so the car is definitely draining it. Will investigate further shortly. First theory is the OBD2 based heads up display...maybe time for a hardware power switch...

Lada unsurprisingly started up as though it was last used yesterday.

While digging around in the garage, I managed to destabilise one of the piles of junk, and got thwacked on the head by the Haynes manual for the Skoda - so after clearing up the debris from my digging around I took that over and dropped it off with the soon to be new owner so they can start to familiarise themselves with how it's put together.

I think they will find that it's pretty much a textbook "normal car" in terms of the bits involved - just assembled in a somewhat odd layout.

...okay, the alloy block with a cast iron head is still a bit odd...

Having *finally* managed to source a clutch slave cylinder, I'll hopefully be able to get it in for an MOT shortly. I'll definitely make sure the old cylinder stays with the car in case it's rebuildable given how hard they seem to be to find. Still surprises me as there must still be a fair few Estelles going (Hungary and Turkey used to be major areas for them), and the same cylinder is used on all of them...

Of course now I've found one ten will turn up.

Sadly likely to be busy this weekend prepping for next week, so not sure if I'll get anything done on the cars this weekend, next weekend I'm away...after that though I should be able to get some time in on it. Looking forward to getting the car ready for its new owner.

Funny what a change in circumstances can do - first time in a year I'm actually looking forward to working on it.

[CitroJim]

Lada unsurprisingly started up as though it was last used yesterday.

That is one cracking car Zel I thoroughly enjoyed the ride out in it

I strongly recommend anyone who has never ridden in a Lada to do so as you may well be amazed

I think they will find that it's pretty much a textbook "normal car" in terms of the bits involved - just assembled in a somewhat odd layout.

Having started reading it, yes and I love how the entire wiring diagram fits on one page unlike needing a whole book as the Xantia does

Reading the BoL is like a journey back in time!

...okay, the alloy block with a cast iron head is still a bit odd...

Yes, most odd... I guess there will be a good, practical and logical reason for it...

Funny what a change in circumstances can do - first time in a year I'm actually looking forward to working on it.

I can fully understand that... Ditto with me and the Activa as I prepare her for her new owner

Sadly, yesterday ran away with me and I didn't get around to getting any further work done Sunday is now ear-marked for the next session

[Zelandeth]

My theory is that when they developed the new block that they ran out of development resources, so had to reuse the head off the old engine.

Later an alloy headed version (model numbers suffixed with a 5 or 6 - i.e. 130 becomes 136) did turn up. To be honest I prefer the old version as the alloy headed ones always sound tappety like a Ford with the old Valencia engine...aside from their tendency to warp if they get anywhere close to overheating they seem to do the job well enough anyway. One thing you'll see in due course is the fact these are one of the smoothest and most willing to rev old school pushrod OHV engines I've ever come across.

[CitroJim]

That makes a lot of sense Zel, a cast iron head is robust and resists overheating much better than alloy and thise front to rear coolant pipes must be prone to airlocks if one is not careful.

It's shades of BL when they could not afford to develop a replacement for the A-series so they did a bit of work on the old one and made the the A+

One thing you'll see in due course is the fact these are one of the smoothest and most willing to rev old school pushrod OHV engines I've ever come across.

Excellent I see it's a pretty much a 'square' engine and that always suggests one happy to rev... I love revvy little engines through my utter adoration of the TU - they just thrive on revs The ET3 in my 207 - Basically a TU with a 16v VVT head - also loves to rev...

It was the reason I always preferred the 1.6 205 GTi over the 1.9 - the 1.6 was a revvy little thing whereas the 1.9 wasn't... As a consequence the 1.6 was always much more fun to buzz about.. The 1.9 may have been marginally faster but it was too sedate to truly have the true 'fun and smile factor'...

That's only my view; others may beg to differ...