Is KLM still landing a 747? If so, what is the schedule in the Aug 2003 timeframe?

Hi John, no, the 747's are not coming here anymore since the arrival of the 4 MD11's every day. The 747 was a flight that went from Amsterdam first to CUR, then to BON and back to Amsterdam.

Rats! Are the MD11's big planes?

The MD11's are moderate size but not as big as 747's. I know that seats at a sold out v. quickly.

What's the schedule for landing them? I want to sit at the end of the runway like we used to do for the 747's.

John -

The MD-11 may not be as large as a 747, but I think I am correct in saying that in the airline industry they are still in the same "heavy" or "widebody" class.

If you're standing at the end of Flamingo International when one comes in, you'll definitely know it.

This link will give you some comparative data on the 747 and MD-11: http://www.tca.viscal.net/klm/fleet.htm.

And this link has a good picture of a KLM (and some NW) MD-11: http://mitglied.lycos.de/McDonnellDouglas/187-NW-N225NW.jpg.

Hope this is of interest.

Charles Poteet
Dallas

The MD-11 is a wide-body plane, similar to the Lockheed L-1011. It has three engines, one on each wing and one in the tail. It would be a very impressive sight from the beach at the end of the runway as it passed 50 ft above your head during its approach to the airport.

Yes, I know. Does anyone know WHEN they land in Bonaire?

The MD-11 (new version of the familiar DC-10) and the Lockheed L-1011 are very similar in appearance. Both are roughly equivalent in size and capacity to a new Boeing 777, or approx 290 passengers. It's a very, very big airplane. Sitting on the beach watching one these arrive will make you think that it's going to land on you!

The link above of the KLM MD-11 is a good example of how to tell a MD-11 from a DC-10. The Northwest plane in the foreground is a DC-10 and the KLM is a MD-11. Looking at the ends of the main wings, the MD-11 has small vertical winglets whereas the DC-10 does not. You can see the small KLM logo on the winglets of the MD-11.

The Lockheed L-1011 TriStar is similar in appearance but can be easily distinguished by the tail engine. Whereas the MD-11 engine is mounted entirely in the vertical tail, the L-1011 rear engine intake is on top of the fuselage but drops downward to the engine that exhausts directly out the tail of the fuselage (similar to a Boeing 727).

Probably more than you want to know but once you get us airplane types going we won't shut up.

John te flight out of Amsterdam, lands around 14:55 local time daily there is also on coming in from Quito in the afternoon the exact time I can't remember.

The other flights of the MD-11 arrives in Bonaire early in the morning at around 03:00..

Thanks, Lisandro

The flights are daily flights from Amsterdam, one flies on to Quito, and one to Lima, on the way back to Amsterdam they also have a stop at Bonaire, before flying to Amsterdam, to cater (from our new Catering-company, relatively good quality), and get new crew.
The flights were quite full, half a year ago, but because of the better check on Bolita-smugglers, lower economy and low-season, the last times I had them they were not more than 60% filled. When booking, check out different days and night/afternoon flight, because there are important price-differences. The flight that leaves Amsterdam at 11:45pm is marvellous, you will be on a nearly desolated airport Schiphol, no lines, etc.

I heard a rumour that KLM is going to skip some of these flights, due to low occupancy, in September/October.

Harrie

KLM flights have been changed in September and October, our night flight on Friday October 24th was cancelled and we are coming on the day flight on Saturday instead.

I will never forget landing at Flamingo in a 747!