Random Stuff!

[Ianbutty]

IanButty Was that when Concorde flew round with the Red Arrows must have been 1969 as that was the year we moved from Harrow up to Stockport so from under approach to Northolt to under Manchester Approach

It was. All my focus was on the big triangular thing and not the gnats. Glad you recall it as well.

 

[blotbuc1]

I remember going on the old blue Walsall Corporation Trolley Buses when I was very young. I would go with my Mom and my Sister from Bloxwich to Walsall. While waiting, it always fascinated me to watch the bus conductor unhook the electricity pick ups (pantographs?) from the overhead wires using a long pole, so that another bus could pass I believe Walsall was the last place to retire Trolley Buses and I would have been 6 in 1970.

Walsall Trolley Buses at Bloxwich, 1969.

Credit: Claire at Flickr

The Bradford trolley buses were also blue. I first encountered them when my brother moved to Bradford in the late 1960’s. What I remember was their phenomenal rate of acceleration, able to out accelerate cars never mind the labouring diesel buses! Did the Walsall trolley buses have similar performance?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

The Bradford trolley buses were also blue. I first encountered them when my brother moved to Bradford in the late 1960’s. What I remember was their phenomenal rate of acceleration, able to out accelerate cars never mind the labouring diesel buses! Did the Walsall trolley buses have similar performance?

I don't recall the acceleration (I was only 5 or 6), but most electric vehicles do accelerate well. I do remember being fascinated by the overhead cables, along with the pantograph that connected the bus to the wires. I also remember the 'hum' sound that the bus made. Funny how it's come full circle and we have electric trams/trolleybuses with overhead cables again.

Looking at the photo of the trolley buses that I linked to, it appears to have been taken from a zebra crossing (you can just make out the double metal squares laid in the tarmac). Exactly to the left of that zebra crossing, was a newsagents (we called it 'Mr Baker's' as that was the name of the manager - a very nice gentleman, but not the official name of the shop). At the back of the shop, a large part of one wall was filled with Airfix kits and that's where I would go on a Saturday morning, with my pocket money. We lived about 3/4 of a mile north of where the photo was taken (the photo is looking north along the A34 Bloxwich High Street/Stafford Road).

 

[mullion]

Could be a lot worse than Keith, I used to work with an American guy called Fred Scheit but every body called him Chuck, can`t think why lol!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Um, it's 'Kevin', not 'Keith' (actually, you wouldn't believe the number of people who have called me 'Keith' over the years), but nothing to worry about. Yes, fog can be quite localised.

Could be a lot worse than Keith, I used to work with an American guy called Fred Scheit but every body called him Chuck, can`t think why lol!

I was at college with a guy named Richard Holder. A friend told me that when she was at primary school, there was a girl named Theresa Green. My Mom (a Nursery Teacher) taught a lad named Terence Bull and when I was at University, there was a guy named Duncan Dickie.

 

[DarloPlaneBoy]

Regarding the trolley buses NXWM have painted some buses in the Restrospective Corporation Colours Wolverhampton Dennis Trident 2 Alexander 400 4535 BL53EDF is painted in Wolverhampton Corporation Green, West Bromwich have 4679 BX54XPM Volvo B7TL Wright Gemini in West Bromwich Corporation colours. I'll edit to find out Yardley Wood Acocks Green and Coventry I do know Walsall's and Pensnett aka Dudley aka the old Harts Hill Garage that until Walsall was the only single Decker painted in a Corporation livery

Other heritage Livery buses are 4722 an ADL Trident 2 Envrio 400 in Black and Cream based at Yardley Wood, 4651 BX54XRM a Volvo B7TL Wright Gemini that is in similar colours, then in the Dark Blue/Navy and Cream is Perry Barr 4780 a Scania Omnicity in Coventry Maroon and Cream is another Dennis Trident 2 Alexander 400 4453. Then the single Decker is 2102 BX12DDO a Volvo B7RLE Wright Explise Urban 2 in the Cream and Black/Navy Stripe Livery found on Leyland Nationals. The other one replacing a double decker at Walsall is 1834 BV57XHB a Scania Omnilink it replaces 4601 BX54DDJ a Dennis Trident 2 Alexander 400 that was written off after it self combusted at Walsall last year at the Garage. The other heritage Livery is 4125 Y716TOH the first ever TWM/NXWM Dennis Trident 2 Alexander 400 ordered painted in the TWM Red white and Blue Low floor Livery that I remember as a Kid and it has a Blue Moquette. The Livery is applied on the bus for those you who know me as DarloBusSpotter on YouTube the bus in that photo is 4604 on the 79 to Birmingham at Darlaston taken over 10 years ago. That Livery was replaced with the NX Red and white

 

[Nethercote2019]

I realise this is not the right place to put this but thought it may be of interest the Ragley Hall Midland air festival is this weekend

Midlands Air Festival | 29-31 May 2026

This spectacular aviation event will once again consist of Nightfire, Weekend Air Displays and Hot Air Balloon Launches!

www.midlandsairfestival.com

 

[HPsauce]

I realise this is not the right place to put this but thought it may be of interest the Ragley Hall Midland air festival is this weekend

Midlands Air Festival | 29-31 May 2026

This spectacular aviation event will once again consist of Nightfire, Weekend Air Displays and Hot Air Balloon Launches!

www.midlandsairfestival.com

It looked great fun on local TV news with the Red Arrows and a Typhoon displaying along with other aircraft and a balloon launch.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Hi peeps and guys.

Random question time.

Now obviously tui operates there 737-8 Max and Ryanair operates there 737-8 Max 200.
What’s the difference between them?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

The B737-8 Max 200 uses exactly the same length fuselage as the B737-8 Max. But, Ryanair being Ryanair, have added extra rows of seats with 197 seats (compared with 189 on the 737-8 MAX). For safety, this has required the addition of 2 extra emergency doors (one each side, behind the wing), which are the only externally visible difference to the airframe. Ryanair operate both the B737-8 MAX and the B737-8 MAX 200.

 

[rollo]

The 737 Max-8 and 737 8-200 are the same airframe but Ryanair's marketing definition of 8-200 is to avoid the mention the word Max following the bad publicity the Max had after the accidents.

I'm pretty sure all Max 737s have the exra overwing exits (Tui do looking at photos) I have a feeling that Ryanair may have to have an additional cabin crew member due to the extra seating capacity I'm not sure on the latter though others maybe able to confirm.

 

[Coathanger16]

Ryanair operate both the B737-8 MAX and the B737-8 MAX 200.

At the moment, the only MAX they operate is the MAX 200, 8200, or whatever they want to call it (the higher capacity version).

They don't operate the regular MAX8, but do obviously have plenty of the -800NG.

I have a feeling that Ryanair may have to have an additional cabin crew member due to the extra seating capacity I'm not sure on the latter though others maybe able to confirm.

The requirement is 1 cabin crew per every 50 seats, so their MAX200's operate with 4 crew.

Once they get the MAX10s with 237 seats, they'll require a fifth crew member on those aircraft.

 

[Timberwolf]

Hi peeps and guys.

Random question time.

Now obviously tui operates there 737-8 Max and Ryanair operates there 737-8 Max 200.
What’s the difference between them?

The MAX 8 200 has more seats crammed in for Ryan Air.Variant can hold up to 200 against the normal 180ish.

Ryanair B737-8AS. 189 seats

Ryanair B737-8 MAX 200. 197 seats

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I'm pretty sure all Max 737s have the exra overwing exits (Tui do looking at photos)

No, it's not the overwing exits, but an extra door in the rear fuselage about half way back from the wing to the far rear door. It can be seen in the following seat map -

AeroLOPA | Detailed aircraft seat plans

AeroLOPA - Explore detailed aircraft seating plans and configurations.

www.aerolopa.com

It's also visible on many online photos.

 

[rollo]

No, it's not the overwing exits, but an extra door in the rear fuselage about half way back from the wing to the far rear door. It can be seen in the following seat map -


It's also visible on many online photos.

So it is Kevin I must pay more attention and give myself a stiff talking to.

 

[DarloPlaneBoy]

Was checking at FR24 as I had an Emergency Alert for a BA 777 on BA268 from LAX to LHR squawked General Emergency as it entered the UK but then it stopped Squawking. Anyway As I looked down south I saw an Iberia and thought probably from London to Madrid no it was flying from Hamburg to Madrid and had flew over the East Coast near Southend around that region Flew over the South East and skirted Central London to fly out over Hampshire to Spain. I have never seen a flight within Europe do that before I thought It would fly across Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, France Cross The Perines into Spain or Cross Andorra. Unless FR24 is being weird that is a really weird to fly over the South of England from Germany to Spain French Airpspace looked Normal so I don't know if there is any Strikes going on but it would have to Cross France at some point unless it heads the way the flights to Canaries do and sort of turn towards the Atlantic

 

[rollo]

What's that got to do with BHX?

 

[Brum X]

What's that got to do with BHX?

It's the Random thread Rollo ? Doesn't need to be about BHX does it ?

 

[rollo]

Yeah I know, but it mildly amused me as this is the Birmingham part of the forum but Brum never got a mention or was relevant in anyway but just about everywhere else got a shout including France,Germany,Spain,Belgium, Andorra and the Canaries plus L.A., London, Madrid,Hamburg and naturally Southend along with Hampshire and the Pyrenees mountains.

Just the way my mind works sometimes.

 

[A330]

The following link appeared on Google feed and the headline caught my attention.

By the way, I'm not a Sun reader.

The UK city tourists never visit but they should – it’s better than anywhere in Europe