Air Travel

Question:

> So basically we’re talking about average taxi speed then which really > doesn’t give you anything to compare.  I’ve read that in the air the 727 is > actually quite a fast jet, though it always seems like their climb > performance isn’t nearly as good as newer jets.

It’s not the difference between old and new, it’s the difference between 3 engines and 2 engines.  In general, twin engine aircraft will outclimb 3 or 4 engine aircraft, due to engine out performance requirements.  On the other hand, the climb and cruise speeds of the 727 can be much faster than the newer aircraft. –Mark Rogers

Response:

I’ve been calling the old Delta 727’s by the term "Tail draggers" ever since I flew in one… JP – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> So basically we’re talking about average taxi speed then which really > doesn’t give you anything to compare.  I’ve read that in the air the 727 > is > actually quite a fast jet, though it always seems like their climb > performance isn’t nearly as good as newer jets. > It’s not the difference between old and new, it’s the difference between 3 > engines and 2 engines.  In general, twin engine aircraft will outclimb 3 or > 4 engine aircraft, due to engine out performance requirements.  On the other > hand, the climb and cruise speeds of the 727 can be much faster than the > newer aircraft. > –Mark Rogers

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Got caught up in that little Delta snafu early January when some of their flights were cancelled due to the pilots not flying overtime. Had my connecting flight out of Cincinnati to Norfolk cancelled, and re-scheduled onto a Comair flight. Waited about 4-hours extra in the Cincy airport. Caught a 50-seat Comair jet over to Norfolk from the T-Terminal. Never knew this terminal even existed. Comair apparently is a sub of Delta, and Cincinnati is their hub. I found the little two engine jet to be a great ride, got out of there like an angry little bee and ripped along like a 727. What kind of plane was this? What kind of reputation does Comair have? Apparently they fly all over the place out of Cincinnati. Can one use them from Florida? If the airline is safe, and they appeared to have a ton of these little jets leaving one right after the other, will schedule again on them. Comments?

Response:

> re-scheduled onto a Comair flight. Waited about 4-hours extra in the > Cincy airport. Caught a 50-seat Comair jet over to Norfolk from the > T-Terminal. Never knew this terminal even existed.

Comair operates out of the "C" concourse in Cincinnati’s Terminal 3. Delta operates out of the "A" and "B" Concourses (most of their mainline flights are out of "B"). There is a train between "A" and "B" and buses between both of them and "C". > a sub of Delta, and Cincinnati is their hub. I found the little two > engine jet to be a great ride, got out of there like an angry little > bee and ripped along like a 727.

Better than a 727. The CRJ is like a "pocket rocket". And because you’re so close to the ground it feels even faster. > What kind of plane was this?

Canadair Regional Jet, made by Canadair, a subsidiary of Bombardier. > What kind of reputation does Comair have?

I’ve always found them excellent; certainly the best commuter airline in the USA. Their Cincinnati operation is all-jet. Comair also operates out of Orlando. > Apparently they fly all over the place out of Cincinnati.

From Maine to Las Vegas! > Can one use them from Florida?

Out of Orlando, yes, but many of their Florida flights are not jets, but Embraer props. –Helen

Response:

Yes Comair is DL Express…they are a regional airline and operate CRJ’s. DL pulled out of my local airport due to low passenger loads and Comair took over with non-stops to Cincinnati. They are reliable and offer good convenient service on short haul flights. I don’t think they operate on longer flights (to Florida) like you were asking. They are primarily used to connect to a DL flight.

Response:

>Yes Comair is DL Express

Not quite. Comair is a Delta Connection (as is Skywest and another whose name I forget). Delta Express is a separate subsidiary operating 737s handed down from the parent company. Brian

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> Better than a 727. The CRJ is like a "pocket rocket". And because you’re > so close to the ground it feels even faster.

You’re no closer to the groudn than you are in a 727.  They fly at the same altitudes. > I’ve always found them excellent; certainly the best commuter airline in > the USA. Their Cincinnati operation is all-jet. Comair also operates out > of Orlando.

How long has their CVG ops been all-jet?  Ob: Comair used to be an independent operation, but now, I heard, Comair is a wholly owned subsidiary of DL. –Dan

Response:

>> Better than a 727. The CRJ is like a "pocket rocket". And because you’re > so close to the ground it feels even faster.

All flights will be operated with the 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet. This jet aircraft has revolutionized regional air travel because of its convenience and comfort. Comair, which pioneered the use of regional jets by introducing them in North America in 1993, operates the largest fleet of these jets in the world. (from Comair’s website) >You’re no closer to the groudn than you are in a 727.  They fly at the >same altitudes. > I’ve always found them excellent; certainly the best commuter airline in > the USA. Their Cincinnati operation is all-jet. Comair also operates out > of Orlando. >How long has their CVG ops been all-jet?  

Since December according to their website.  Not just CVG! >Ob: Comair used to be an >independent operation, but now, I heard, Comair is a wholly owned >subsidiary of DL.

-Robin Johnson

Response:

>> Better than a 727. The CRJ is like a "pocket rocket". And because you’re > so close to the ground it feels even faster. > You’re no closer to the groudn than you are in a 727.  They fly at the > same altitudes.

I should have specified "when on the ground". The CRJ is very "low slung". –Helen

Response:

>reputation does Comair have? Apparently they fly all over the place out >of Cincinnati. Can one use them from Florida? If the airline is safe, >and they appeared to have a ton of these little jets leaving one right >after the other, will schedule again on them. Comments?

Comair flies to several places in Florida–they’ve got several flights out of Orlando various Florida cities.  Also they just added a flight from CVG to TLH last week. FWIW, Atlantic Southeast Airlies (ASA) is the same type of operation (Delta Connection) and many (but not all) of their flights are on CRJ’s. Jason W. Coym http://mailer.fsu.edu/~jwc8398

Response:

>> Better than a 727. The CRJ is like a "pocket rocket". And because you’re >> so close to the ground it feels even faster. > You’re no closer to the groudn than you are in a 727.  They fly at the > same altitudes. > I should have specified "when on the ground". The CRJ is very "low > slung".

So basically we’re talking about average taxi speed then which really doesn’t give you anything to compare.  I’ve read that in the air the 727 is actually quite a fast jet, though it always seems like their climb performance isn’t nearly as good as newer jets.  - V.

Response:

> >> Better than a 727. The CRJ is like a "pocket rocket". And because you’re >> so close to the ground it feels even faster. > You’re no closer to the groudn than you are in a 727.  They fly at the > same altitudes. > I should have specified "when on the ground". The CRJ is very "low > slung".

What’s that supposed to mean? –Dan

Response:

Thanks everyone for the responses about Comair. I did have to take a bus over to their concourse in Cincinnati, thought it was the T-Terminal, apparently it is known as the C-Terminal. Even walked outside, in the cold to board, although we pulled up to the jetway in ORF. Fact was, although I travel in and out of Cincy to avoid Atlanta a lot of times, coming out of S.Fla. use Delta, and that means Atl. Comair now gives me another option. Saw their CRJ leave FTL-Hollywood yesterday, think it had Delta Connection printed on the side of it. As for the jet itself, well, just 50 seats, four wide, and one flight attendant, who got us all drinks, and the thing was very fast, found it refreshing for airline service. On the Atl-FTL return from ORF, prefer to travel Delta’s 767 or 757 late at night. Always know that flight is leaving on-time because they need the equipment the next morning early for an Atl. run. BTW, we did travel quite a bit lower on the CRJ, 23,000 ft. than the normal above 30,000 in the 727. Not sure why that day, was quite cloudy heading east, but it was a fun ride, like a very nice bus ripping along. I still like the 727 too, apparently they must still be profitable to the airlines, even with the extra person in the cockpit, because it sure doesn’t look like the classic is going to retire anytime soon.

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