Quick trip to "Mizz Hippy"- pt 1 of 2

[beaky]

They're fun, and yet not fun... these short-notice, short-duration work trips... got asked to join the project mgr and sales rep for a walk-thru of a resort complex in Choctaw, MS the other day, and as Peg is still down at Lyell's place "down the shore" because my car is still in the shop, I said "sure, why not?"

Quite nice flying weather both days, and although I only had a window seat for one leg  (737 KEWR-KCLT; CRJ KCLT-KJAN and the reverse going home), I took some interesting snaps...


Departing Charlotte:


     



Seen at Jackson: this very nice BAe HS-125 (yeah, I had to look that up).


     



Our main concern this trip was trying to sell a proposal to upgrade the godawful sound system at the resort's water park, although we may also end up doing a lot of work in the two casinos and two hotels (!!).

Here's a view from atop the "Back Splash"... looks like fun? Not really- look where the speakers are. Note to self: bring harness...  :o

     




Needless to say, a water park is a somewhat damp environment. These cheap speakers have just about had it after almost 10 years...not even sure if this one still works at all.

     




We hit the road again the next day: here we see our chariot arriving at Jackson for the return leg to Charlotte. Who can tell me why so many of these I saw this trip had frost atop the fuselage in the entry/galley area?   :-?






There is a flock of Guard C-17s based at Jackson; here's a bad picture of some of them.

     

     

[Brett_Henderson]

Neat photos  :)   Looked like a nice day to travel.

This is only a guess (re: the frost), knowing that aircraft paint is binary epoxy (literally colored glue that hardens, more than it dries).. I'd bet that a close examination would show a very fine, "spider-webbing" of stress cracks in the paint (most likely in the clear coat), where the skin/fuselage is most likely to flex (around the cabin door). Again, just a guess.

And hey.. that looks like a vintage, Radio Shack 'Minus' series speaker.. was it ?

[beaky]

Neat photos  :)   Looked like a nice day to travel.

This is only a guess (re: the frost), knowing that aircraft paint is binary epoxy (literally colored glue that hardens, more than it dries).. I'd bet that a close examination would show a very fine, "spider-webbing" of stress cracks in the paint (most likely in the clear coat), where the skin/fuselage is most likely to flex (around the cabin door). Again, just a guess.

And hey.. that looks like a vintage, Radio Shack 'Minus' series speaker.. was it ?

What's the connection between cracked paint and frost? And why only that area? Less insulation, maybe? BTW, it was not very humid at all, nor very warm... pretty much standard conditions.

As for the speaker: it's a Speco... unknown to me, but prob'ly about the same as a "Minus".   The paging horns (used for music as well as announcements) are real garbage- probably sounded like poo even when they were brand new.

[Brett_Henderson]

What's the connection between cracked paint and frost? And why only that area? Less insulation, maybe?

Was it frost, literally; as in frozen water ?  It looks like  frost, as in "fogging" clear-coat. Like if you take a long, thin strip of plexiglass and start bending it vigorously, it will start to turn opaque at the stressed part.

[beaky]

What's the connection between cracked paint and frost? And why only that area? Less insulation, maybe?

Was it frost, literally; as in frozen water ?  

I'm not sure now...  :-?

[Dr.bob7]

my god has their maintnince ever looked at the speakers in the last 20 years?

[beaky]

my god has their maintnince ever looked at the speakers in the last 20 years?

It's been less than ten, and they have a capable but very small A/V staff that takes care of  the water park, two casinos with multiple show rooms, and two hotels.  :o
Gotta cut them some slack. Believe me, their techs know what needs fixing; they just don't have time.

I'd say the management is a bit late, perhaps, but at least they want to do something. It won't be cheap, though, even the water park.

But the guy highest on the totem pole besides the council (the tribe owns the whole kaboodle) is in our corner... he wants the whole place to get an A/V makeover, so he will try to get us a contract with them.

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning all...

Hi Sean I was looking at your picture of the "US Airways Express" and by blowing up the whole front of the aircraft I do not think it is frost or a paint problem.

I have seen this many times and in the blown up picture it looks like reflections of equipment from beside the aircraft and the tarmac.

Great shots...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[Craig.]

great shots.
Charlotte is a pretty decent airport, dont ya think?

[Brett_Henderson]

Now I'm really intrigued. Google searching has come up empty, but I'll keep at it.. Mean-time..  here are a couple of examples..



http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 08702308/0


I was starting to think it might be jet-way scuffing... but the line is too sharp on the backmost part of the frost. It's definately not reflections, or frozen-water frost...

[beaky]

Now I'm really intrigued. Google searching has come up empty, but I'll keep at it.. Mean-time..  here are a couple of examples..



http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 08702308/0


I was starting to think it might be jet-way scuffing... but the line is too sharp on the backmost part of the frost. It's definately not reflections, or frozen-water frost...

It could still be frost- that line is where the forward passenger cabin bulkhead is.  My (fairly unsubstantiated) theory is that it has something to do with the air conditioning... although it seems very odd that it would be that cold on the outer surface.

Your idea about the finish going translucent because of stress makes sense, but why does it stop where it does?

I couldn't really get a closer look when boarding, the angle was too low.
I think next time I'm on one of those I'll just ask the crew (duh).

[Brett_Henderson]

Actual frost, along a line that defined, on a dark-blue surface, on a sunny day, ...  seen right after take-off..  on final approach, AND at the gate ? (did you look at those photos ?)  I suppose it's possible, but would mean that the bulkhead is pretty much in contact with the coldest part of the AC system, heat-sinking away incredible amounts of wasted energy. I'm sticking with paint problems (which could also be AC related if it's functioning THAT inneficienlty.. and would explain why it's seen on so many of these planes, under so many circumstances).

I'm going back to www.airliners.net to see if I can find any shots of these CRJs that are obviously shut down...

[Willit Run]

Great shots, Sean!!  That looks like that could be a fun job if you get it!!

As for the frost I have a few shots of U.S. Airways of different CRJ's with that.  One of the members of the PHL Spotters Group I belong to works at the U S Airway's maintenance center and I'll ask him.

[Willit Run]

O.K. what you are seeing is the paint being worn off by the Jetway.  It is visible on their larger aircraft in the old colors also.

[Flying Trucker]

Good morning all...

Makes sense to me "Willit Run".  We blew up the front section of the aircraft and could see lots of reflections and that portion looked faded or worn and almost like a reflection off something else.

I am having an on going battle with the birds in our hanger right now.  This year is the worst it has ever been for them wanting to nest in the hangar and their droppings really play hell on the paint jobs.  It is funny how they stay out of the garage or barn, guess they feel close to our featherless birds.   LOL

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug