TIL an A330 can fly with a ripped off winglet.

[FlyingKangaroo]

Just spotted at SYD — an A330 (VH-EBJ) with left winglet seemingly ripped off. Airworthy, clearly, as this frame has just pushed back as QF643 to Perth, but this takes “Qantas’ rickety old A330s” to a new level for me.

Meanwhile, on my first A220 in an extra legroom seat and it’s quite lovely.

 

[justinbrett]

Just spotted at SYD — an A330 (VH-EBJ) with left winglet seemingly ripped off. Airworthy, clearly, as this frame has just pushed back as QF643 to Perth, but this takes “Qantas’ rickety old A330s” to a new level for me.

Meanwhile, on my first A220 in an extra legroom seat and it’s quite lovely.View attachment 486508

It was built and delivered without winglets so perfectly fine to fly without it. It’s an aftermarket add on .

 

[Saab34]

It’s an old tired fleet that should be heading to the exit.

 

[Big John]

It’s an old tired fleet that should be heading to the exit.

I still hold AJ responsible for this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Maybe ‘ripped off’ is a little dramatic?

I thought I noticed a missing winglet a couple months ago, but even though I did a double take I dismissed it at the time.

ITA airways has a similar aircraft flying around… apparently waiting for a replacement part. Loss of revenue for the aircraft out of service supposedly much higher than any fuel burn penalty:

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Maybe ‘ripped off’ is a little dramatic?

What’s the point of a festive lil Qantas beat-up without a sprinkle of drama? Come on, people.

 

[Hvr]

It's obviously an enhancement.

 

[SYD]

“Qantas’ rickety old A330s”

It’s only 17 yo. DL and UA are still flying 27+ yo B757s….!

 

[jb747]

ust spotted at SYD — an A330 (VH-EBJ) with left winglet seemingly ripped off. Airworthy, clearly, as this frame has just pushed back as QF643 to Perth, but this takes “Qantas’ rickety old A330s” to a new level for me.

Sensationalism, much. Or just ignorance.

Flight with one or both winglets removed is allowed on pretty much everything that has them installed. There is a very slight fuel burn penalty.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Sensationalism, much. Or just ignorance.

Flight with one or both winglets removed is allowed on pretty much everything that has them installed. There is a very slight fuel burn penalty.

Just hadn’t ever seen this before. Not an aviation expert, but obviously recognised it’s not a problem if it was operating. Just being a bit cheeky given the novelty of it, but thanks for the earnest explanation.

Happy Christmas from the IgnorantKangaroo.

 

[moa999]

It’s an old tired fleet that should be heading to the exit.

The 332s are a varied fleet in terms of age.
EBA was delivered in Dec 2002 (so 23yo) whereas EBV is Nov 2012 (so 13yo).
333s much tighter as a Oct 2003 (QPA) to Dec 2005 (QPJ) group excluding the leased AY aircraft.

EBJ is in the middle at June 2008 (so 17.5yo), younger than all of the 333s and half the 737s.

10 332s are going to get fresh new seats with larger screens and USB-C charging in Y next year (of the same design as the new A350s).. (with EBJ probably just missing out) and these 10 will probably fly into the mid 2030s.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

The 332s are a varied fleet in terms of age.
EBA was delivered in Dec 2002 (so 23yo) whereas EBV is Nov 2012 (so 13yo).
333s much tighter as a Oct 2003 (QPA) to Dec 2005 (QPJ) group excluding the leased AY aircraft.

EBJ is in the middle at June 2008 (so 17.5yo), younger than all of the 333s and half the 737s.

10 332s are going to get fresh new seats with larger screens and USB-C charging in Y next year (of the same design as the new A350s).. (with EBJ probably just missing out) and these 10 will probably fly into the mid 2030s.

Refurb will be nice with or without innocent winglets macheted off but even now, every time I fly even the older ones I really don’t get the hate for them. Sure, not the greatest seat in J but not the worst out there either, and I would still actively seek them out for the two sets of pairs in Y over other types.

 

[Berlin]

Meanwhile, on my first A220 in an extra legroom seat and it’s quite lovely.

Was on my first flight on the new A321XLR last week. Very nice new plane, nicely updated seats in J and lots of overhead luggage space. Should speed up adding those to the fleet imho, huge improvement over the old 737s.

 

[wenglock.mok]

The 332s are a varied fleet in terms of age.
EBA was delivered in Dec 2002 (so 23yo) whereas EBV is Nov 2012 (so 13yo).
333s much tighter as a Oct 2003 (QPA) to Dec 2005 (QPJ) group excluding the leased AY aircraft.

EBJ is in the middle at June 2008 (so 17.5yo), younger than all of the 333s and half the 737s.

10 332s are going to get fresh new seats with larger screens and USB-C charging in Y next year (of the same design as the new A350s).. (with EBJ probably just missing out) and these 10 will probably fly into the mid 2030s.

Information floating around online suggests the 10 will include EBM-EBV (the ones currently designated as "long-haul" configuration), and the remaining two being EBG and EBL.

Not sure why EBJ and EBK missed out as they are of the same vintage as EBG and EBL.

 

[Saab34]

I wonder if someone hit the wingtip or it’s been taken away due cracks/corrosion etc.