I’m not sure what’s more fascinating here — the route that was operated yesterday, or the plane as such…
Continue reading: Mysterious Boeing 787 Flies 20+ Hours Nonstop
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It's mine, sorry. Been trying to find something that fell out of my bag a few weeks ago and don't know where to look.
Actually it's mine - I've been trying to get Ben's attention for some time and figured the only way to do it was to fly my jet circuitously and randomly over very long distances. Success!
Gan Island has a small runway, so probably that's why the refuel was needed in Male? I was quite surprised a 787 could make landing at GAN.
ICN-EZE 12,106 miles
EZE-PDP 196 miles
If EZE was just a refuelling stop, that's a weird way of splitting the journey. Ultra long haul uses a huge amount of fuel, as the plane is burning fuel to carry the fuel used for the later part of the flight.
Splitting the journey in two roughly equal segments would have saved a lot of fuel.
Gan is where your plane goes after it drops you at a Maldivian resort. Gan has parking for planes, affordable lodgings and meals, services for maintenance. Not unusual for a plane to drop VIPs farther north on another atoll, then park at GAN for days.
A follow-up to the previous comments about Enrique Piñeyro, this Tweet also suggests that Enrique is flying the plane on this crazy around-the-world trip: https://twitter.com/andreslavallen/status/1361796434874560514
Well, it seems that Enrique Piñeyra is one of the pilots. He has a commercial pilot licence and enough experience to obtain a 787 type rating in a relatively short time. Although he's not poor, he's arguably not rich enough to finance flying restlessly a 787 around the globe ... so this raises the question, who is behind this trip?
As a filmmaker, I am wondering if Enrique Piñeyra is working on a project or just burning someone else's fuel.
That second tweet posted above mentions "el vuelo de instrucción," or "instruction flight." That's a clue... but it seems AWFULLY expensive to fly an empty 787 around the world as a means for someone to get their pilot's license. But maybe some very wealthy person paid this Enrique Piñeyro to be his (or her) instructor? And rented this airplane?
I would say there was a decent chance the ICN-EZE was an empty leg. Given it had gone from MLE to ICN, that would seem to be a return of a VIP entourage. My guess is there was another large group that need to go for EZE-PDP. Perhaps there are still some restrictions on commercial travel or a ferry.
Certain flights arrive in 1 city to clear customs & immigration, then continue on to the 2nd location.
I believe in this particular instance, the 787 has brought South Korean-made Astra Zeneca COVID vaccines to Argentina. No clue about other flights or the aircraft's current config
I'm with Alonso, I'm wondering if these are COVID-19 vaccine delivery flights. If so, they would certainly have very light loads and would be more focused on time between destinations than optimal fuel management.
Because of it's painting, it reminds me a private jet that i saw many years ago. At the time it was for chairman of the biggest private company in s. Korea.
I've heard it's 787 range extender version.
I seem to remember a recent story about some amazing range on an airliner recently, and it ended up being that they had actually stopped for fuel on wake island, or one of the pacific alternates, and most adsb apps didn't not show the stop because limited coverage in that area and it guesses the route
If these are indeed vaccine delivery flights as some have hypothesized, it's like the real-life blue plane from Plague Inc!
The NYTimes just did a piece today about how Sputnik V is being manufactured in Korea. A Korean firm named GL Rapha is producing it. Argentina is one of the users of Sputnik V.
Ha, I always wondered what the longest possible commercial flight (between cities of hub size) would be and from my toying around with GCmap awhile ago I concluded it was probably ICN to EZE. Pretty cool to see that a plane actually flew it.
Likely either rendition or DLA/DOD. Those are not vacation spots and they're always from a large city or area to a small cairo to male is odd, copenhagen to st petersburg unless it's business or diplomatic.
I dont think that the flight was for vaccines .
Argentina imports its Sputnik vaccine from Russia not from South Korea .
Actually some days ago there was a delivery flight with Aerolineas Argentinas from Moscow to Buenos Aires with an A330-200 (reg. LV-GIF) .
The flight lasted 17.32 hours ...
Sounds like a way for Boeing and Comlux to garner free advertising and attention.
Actually the plane belongs to my boss. He will only use it once a year. He decided to retire the reindeer and use the jet. He is a very happy Jolly Old Man and he gets Frost bite in December. It takes him several months to thaw out. So that is why he is going with the jet. See y'all in December!!!
It might be of interest to cross check arriving passengers from other airlines coinciding with these destinations and times to see if there could be possible similarities or purposes of interested parties. Clandestine meetings perhaps?
I’m from Buenos Aires (EZE). This plane has been coming and going and it’s a bit of a mistery. It’s indeed rumored that Enrique Piñeyro is one of the pilots.
The vaccines theory is good, but we received only one shipment from South Korea so far (on March 28th), but it was on a KLM passenger flight (from AMS).
@ Richard Miller -- I don't think I said anywhere that I'm entitled to know this info, but this is the internet, and last I checked I'm allowed to ask questions? Why is it any of your business why it's any of my business? 😉
I work at Boeing SC and this plane continues to amaze me. This should be an interesting story to follow. Thanks Ben
It’s testing the new AI autonomous Pilot equipment, collecting data from all different situations & locations of the world...
Gab Island is the parking space for most charter operators that fly to MLE because parking is very limited (read expensive) in MLE. drop off the Pax in MLE and then you ferry to GAN
If I tell you, I would have to kill you. So please do not force me to say a word. Then we can all live happily ever after. Unless we call catch covid. Then only someone us will live and some of us won't be living happily ever after in which case I probably should have told you to prevent undue suffering by just killing you.
I guess that in response to Ben’s original question (... does anyone know ...) (and within the constraint of those who are aware of Ben’s column) the answer is a resounding NO.
Just watched it take off from Gan 4 days ago and was wondering about it myself 🙂 there were only 3 people onboard the 787. No passengers or cargo was offloaded here. Did a couple of takeoffs and landings and just left.
Also @Hiro. Gan does not have a small runway. 3600 metres.
From my flight dispatcher experience, customs can not always be arranged in Gan so we plan a tech stop in Male to clear the customs 🙂
Hello earth. Just check the tweeter account of the actual pilot and you will have the answer. https://twitter.com/epineyro_ok?s=09
To add to the mystery, P4-787 uses the same transponder as Igor Makarov's former 737 BBJ, ie. 48411C: https://www.planespotters.net/hex/48411C , so it could be assumed with great probability that the 787 is owned or at least handled on behalf of Igor Makarov. Interesting what purpose this "joint (ad)venture" between a Russian billionaire and an Argentinian actor/pilot may have...
@CR and @Ahmad: Had no idea GAN had such a long runway. Quite impressive for a tiny island.
p.s. I have used the airport once in 2018 with Sri Lankan Airlines. There is one resort just a 15-minute walk from the airport terminal, called Equator Village Resort. While it may not have the best private beach, it was really affordable and the best part was being able to rent a bike and ride along the longest road in the country connecting several islands, stopping along villages/interacting with locals which is a rare Maldivian experience for tourists. Would love to be back there again.
Thanks everyone for the laughs! It's nice to see lots of levity and little drama in the comments!
Enrique Piñeyro is flying this 787.
He lives in Punta del Este.
He has been flying this and other planes several times in the last months.
Thank you, Ben, for picking up the story of the flight to CPH, which obviously evolved significantly.
Truly fascinating to follow.
Please do keep posting stories like this.
I saw her at PDP in late February... 787 are not usual visitors in Punta del Este...
What this looks like is slow key pickup of the wealthy elite who run the world. Obviously a secret meeting aboard the plane, possibly to discuss where to go post COVID with the global economy. Just a theory of course but look at the stops, the length of travel, the plane obviously wasn't carrying a full load. And why a crew and the plan through an exercise like that without a good reason, given the age of the plane.
Well I must say this story IS VERY interesting and i am very curious of the true conclusion of this "story". I however do not have the knowledge of exact runway locations or wtf Santa wants to spend his vacation time STILL above ground. I enjoy reading stories like this while pooping but not enjoying the loss of circulation in my no ass ass. So I shall retire and crawl out of the bathroom and back to work on my car...when I can walk. Hopefully I speak for all y'all SAVAGES and KEEP US POSTED! (Punk ass commenter needs to have himself a nice poop story LMAO)
Has anyone thought of just asking Comlux!?Theyre getting a lot of ink over this! Check Comlux url....
maybe connected to the four season airline / round the world trips about to start?
Wow 787 8 has less range then 787 9 it has auxiliary fuel tanks to give it more range
The company was just taking over they may have brand new pilots they're getting paid less money then Pilots that already have hundreds of hours underneath their belts allowing them to fly passengers. Sounds to me a training exercise to get the hours in for Pilots in order to qualify for passenger flight touch and go that's a, standard procedure for training Pilots Air Force or civil aviation
With fuel being cheap as it was the abundance of aviation fuel why not blow it it's only going to go bad and have your pilot's train for a lot less than it would cost to hire an experienced pilot and a experienced pilot gets paid six figures a year why not hire a pilot for five figures and train him it's still overall cheaper to train him with cheaper aviation fuel because of covid
I know some of you say or add why not just train them around your local home well unfortunately a lot of airports are different sizes as mentioned in some articles you have some airports that are so dangerous you literally have to come down on the mountain to land a plane there are airports that are so small they are designed for smaller airplanes no Boeing airplane should be on there but they still do land them on it as an emergency landing sometimes even for passenger arrivals and departures
Hey all, I am an armchair plane watcher and have noticed differences in flight patterns in my area. This is certainly intriguing to say the least.
I instantly do not trust richard miller, his comment had the Uber assertiveness of an authoritarian who's modus operandi is heavy handed oppression that should be monitored very closely.
Yes all this from a simple statement.
Prove me wrong Mr. miller.
"Keep your enemies closer"
All these comments and only one person got it correct. The poster simply said "Anyone seen 12 Monkeys"?
In the movie the nutjob hellbent on spreading a terrible disease flys around the world unleashing his viral friend....
You thought Covid-19 was bad?......
Hello
As per the news article below claims, Enrique Piñeyro bought this plane to flight it with the objective of making an impact. He's a filmmaker and philanthropos, among other things.
The news article shows the inside of the plane as well as him speaking. It also shows Chinese fishing vessels ilegelly fishing on Argentinean territory.
It is very easy , it is typical pattern for many intelligence agencies like CIA like MOSD tying to mask their moves or chasing someone over the world.
Well is NOT unusual...first the company who operate it COMLUX does VIP flights and modifies the aircrafts with long range tanks, the standard flight between Johannesburg to New York with a 20 year old aircract is 14 hrs 45 min flight and if the winds are bad will take almost 16hrs and that is for a 400+ seater aircraft.
Today a range like this becomes more and more normal and flies at altitudes between 45,000ft and 51,000 ft.
Most of the VVIP aircrafts have extended range, Global 8000 has a standard range of 8200 Nm so has about 18.5 hrs standard endurance, if you order it with long range tanks goes about 24hrs.....
VVIP people like to go non stop between places if posible, thus these extended ranges..
With regards to the short turnaround time for configuring the changes in such an aircraft, You need 4 days to add the long range tanx, they are called PATS and they are removable, they are fitted in the cargo bays in modular type, about 8 of them, interconnected and the have pumps fitted already to them and all you have to do is connect a fuel line to the central tank of the aircraft, you do not alter anything to the fuel system of the aircraft, and when you do not need them you just slide them out, alao you can use 2, 4 , 6, 8, you have to pair them front and back only for balance, a B787-900 or Airbus Neo 350 has
standard range of 18hrs so they needed very less fuel to be added
@ADS Maybe they didn't plan to land for fuel (weather, re-route, headwind).
I've been on a flight that experienced stronger than anticipated headwinds that then did not have adequate fuel reserves to go over water. A simple fuel stop turned into 4 hours on the ground due to computer glitches.
He is going for world records:
https://www.tendenciashoy.com/viajeros/aerolineas/este-es-el-vuelo-mas-largo-de-la-historia.html
can this plane fly from USA to the Philippines...I would like to c it or even get the chance to fly on it....I just would like it to fly from USA to the Philippines or close to it.....
Who owns this jet and r they gonna put it into use....if it can fly that distance then it could b very useful
It's those martians. Since we are exploring their planet, they are exploring ours.
They may have better mileage on Mars and hence got their calculations wrong on earth. Luckily they did not run out of fuel and crash.
Call me lame but this was reading this screams HOLLYWOOD MOVIE. I have No idea why I clicked on the article. But read ever work and comment. I live mystery and conspiracy. I say it's the devil at work. My first thought virus spreader. Jorge Soros.
It is not uncommon for the Boeing 787 to be able to fly 20+ hours. As a 787 engineer, it's reliability makes it easy to keep up in the skies for 20+ hours. If you consider a commercial round-trip route between YVR-DEL minus the layover, it works out to be the same thing.
Just when you think that you're about to catch her, she gets away again!
Can someone PLEASE, just tell me, where in the world is Carmen Santiago?
I don't know how much more I can keep this up.
Hi, any chance you can just confirm the units used for the range please?
Km/nmi or miles.
Cheers
So, saving the ozone is no longer worthy of the elite? I cannot fathom the "carbon footprint" left by this behemoth. (I don't care... I just find it ironic.)
Curioser & curioser … this flight is currently flying from BCN to N/A today 13th June 17.25 hrs local (Canary Islands). Only tracking it as saw it’s very visible trails overhead.
It came to Sal (SID), Cape Verde. Just spotted it on take-off but unaware of the destination of this flight.
It was flying few days at the end of july from mallorca to ibiza on and off as well menorca to ibiza
Right now, night of October 8, it is in a corner of the Nice (France) airport, where the few huge private planes that arrive here are parked. Otherwise no 787s operate here (and even less so the 747s, except for another private one belonging to a sheikh a couple of months ago...), Indeed, intriguing who could be using it? In contrast to the 20-hour long flight you feature from the past, recently it has been flying multiple half an hour segments within Spain...
If I'm correct the plane it's involved in humanitarian affairs, check Enrique Piñeyro, and solidaire. Hopefully this shed some light.
You are absolutely right apparently.
One of multiple stories, partially in my city:
blueskynews.aero/issue-646/Filmmaker-Enrique-Pineyro-uses-his-Dreamliner-to-lead-Ukraine-humanitarian-mission.html
&
Haha, it's apparently opposite:
blueskynews.aero/issue-646/Filmmaker-Enrique-Pineyro-uses-his-Dreamliner-to-lead-Ukraine-humanitarian-mission.html
&