Volkswagen & Boeing 747, Any aviation experts?

JG66ME · 08-07-2008, 11:25 AM

The well known Volkswagen test that turned into the advert where a Touareg towed a 747 has got me stumped. Unlike most 747s this one has its 4 engines mounted on two pylons. The outer pylons appear to have long range tanks fitted. Anyone here know anything about this unique aircraft? I cannot find anything writen about it.

Steve

See link to pic

http://www.seriouswheels.com/2007/20...e-1280x960.htm

flappist · 08-07-2008, 11:41 AM

That looks like the super rare B747PS (photo shop)

JG66ME · 08-07-2008, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

That looks like the super rare B747PS (photo shop)

The plane is on the airfield Top Gear use for tests. It was Top Gear that perforned the stunt. Not sure if the stunt is real but that aircraft is.

Steve

plext · 08-07-2008, 11:47 AM

It's G-BDXJ

Ex British Airways, and is indeed the 747 that lives at the Top Gear airfield.

It was modified with the twin pods and tanks for the Bond movie Casino Royale I understand.

blackwood · 08-07-2008, 11:47 AM

Here's the Ad that's currently showing on Aus TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crjLt_VcwEY

And here's the Fifth Gear clip from which VW got the footage to make that ad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWxMestl824

JG66ME · 08-07-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plext

It's G-BDXJ

Ex British Airways, and is indeed the 747 that lives at the Top Gear airfield.

It was modified with the twin pods and tanks for the Bond movie Casino Royale I understand.

So it never flew like that then?

Problem solved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-BDXJ

Thanks for the response.

Steve

plext · 08-07-2008, 12:10 PM

No, she's a time expired airframe and lives there solely for TV and movie use before being handed off to the scrappers.

The history of the airframe is reasonably documented here.

GTP-814 · 08-07-2008, 12:13 PM

Hi all,
The add is a crock in theory
I have just finsihed a contract at Qantas where I worked on the A380, which is the new double decker Airbus. Whilst there I leant about pushback trackors or tugs. based on the weight of these aircraft the tug weight has to be between 50 & 70 tonn to be able to push them. Qantas has just upgraded by adding 20tonn ballest to current tugs to be compliant at all port on route. So I doubt the VW weights that much.

But in saying that, if it is slightly down hill & the aircraft is a shell only it could be possible, especially seeing that some TV shows have shown "strong men" pulling a plane. Or it has been photoshopped

JG66ME · 08-07-2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP-814

Hi all,
The add is a crock in theory
I have just finsihed a contract at Qantas where I worked on the A380, which is the new double decker Airbus. Whilst there I leant about pushback trackors or tugs. based on the weight of these aircraft the tug weight has to be between 50 & 70 tonn to be able to push them. Qantas has just upgraded by adding 20tonn ballest to current tugs to be compliant at all port on route. So I doubt the VW weights that much.

But in saying that, if it is slightly down hill & the aircraft is a shell only it could be possible, especially seeing that some TV shows have shown "strong men" pulling a plane. Or it has been photoshopped

It does look far fetched. I seem to recall on the show the loaded the car with a large amount of sand in bags or somthing like that.

Steve

plext · 08-07-2008, 12:18 PM

The weight of a gutted 747 is radically different from the weight of a unit fully loaded and ready for an intercontinental flight that the airport tugs must be able to deal with.

A 747-400 can carry roughly 170 tonnes of fuel alone.

GTP-814 · 08-07-2008, 12:18 PM

you would need a lot of weight over the drive wheels otherwsie you would just have lots of wheel spin. The tugs are very lowly geared with a top speed of around 20k.

Yellow_Festiva · 08-07-2008, 12:21 PM

When that add is on TV, look closely at the fine print at the bottom of the screen. I'm sure it says that the VW doing the pulling had 4.5t of ballast on board.

Edit, just watched the video, was 4.3t... still, very impressive.

GTP-814 · 08-07-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plext

The weight of a gutted 747 is radically different from the weight of a unit fully loaded and ready for an intercontinental flight that the airport tugs must be able to deal with.

A 747-400 can carry roughly 170 tonnes of fuel alone.

The empty weight of a 747 is 197.5 tonns, so this what the VW is supposedly pulling. The max weight at take off is 450tonns

GTP-814 · 08-07-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

When that add is on TV, look closely at the fine print at the bottom of the screen. I'm sure it says that the VW doing the pulling had 4.5t of ballast on board.

If this is the case I would be advertising how good the chassis is

plext · 08-07-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP-814

The empty weight of a 747 is 197.5 tonns, so this what the VW is supposedly pulling. The max weight at take off is 450tonns

The empty weight yes, but let's not forget that this thing is a movie prop so we're dealing with gutted weight. My understanding is that the engines shown are shells only and naturally the interior of this aircraft is somewhat sparse.

While somewhat misleading, I do believe this thing is pulling the airframe.

GCPursuitPower · 08-07-2008, 12:37 PM

And it also said in the fine print on the ad that the diff was heavily modified to tow the plane.

Either way I wouldn't like to buy that car after they were done with it as the engine would be screwed.

GTP-814 · 08-07-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GCPursuitPower

And it also said in the fine print on the ad that the diff was heavily modified to tow the plane.

Either way I wouldn't like to buy that car after they were done with it as the engine would be screwed.

I concur with the abouve points that it would be a gutted plane, but after pulling it, it could be the first longer wheel base VW around

phoenix99 · 08-07-2008, 12:44 PM

plus it was also wet so it would have been easier to pull

SB076 · 08-07-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plext

The empty weight yes, but let's not forget that this thing is a movie prop so we're dealing with gutted weight. My understanding is that the engines shown are shells only and naturally the interior of this aircraft is somewhat sparse.

While somewhat misleading, I do believe this thing is pulling the airframe.

Doesnt it say on the ad how much ballast the VW had? I beleive they actually did it, from memory there is a footnote on the ad, thats states how much ballast the VW had

**Falcon Coupe** · 08-07-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SB076

Doesnt it say on the ad how much ballast the VW had? I beleive they actually did it, from memory there is a footnote on the ad, thats states how much ballast the VW had

The clip states the plane weighed 155 ton and the VW had 4.3 ton of ballast with tyre pressures doubled.

jcxr · 08-07-2008, 01:57 PM

How the heck did they hide 4.3t of ballast, did it have dark tint??? lol

**DJM83** · 08-07-2008, 02:09 PM

Interesting none the less, some knowledgeable aeroplane gurus on here

GreenMachine · 08-07-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcxr

How the heck did they hide 4.3t of ballast, did it have dark tint??? lol

I agree - that's a lot of concrete to pour in the boot and footwells!

**Falcon Coupe** · 08-07-2008, 02:17 PM

You could always watch the clip

**DJM83** · 08-07-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

You could always watch the clip

I thought the vid was the same as the ad, obviously not that is awesome. Plus the Toureg is deadset sexy aswell IMO

JG66ME · 08-07-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

You could always watch the clip

Go and read the fight going on in the comments under that clip,

Thers a yank boasting the USA can blow up the world 16 times and a Brit that responds saying if you blow up the world it aint there to blow up another 15 times.

My gut is hurting from the laughter. Had to shut my office door.

**DJM83** · 08-07-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Go and read the fight going on in the comments under that clip,

Thers a yank boasting the USA can blow up the world 16 times and a Brit that responds saying if you blow up the world it aint there to blow up another 15 times.

My gut is hurting from the laughter. Had to shut my office door.

08-07-2008, 03:05 PM

Hi, This particular 747 is supposed to have been featured in a new James Bond film.The VW ad was filmed at Dunsfold Park in the U.K. Plenty of fibreglass was used!
Dunfold Park is where the TV Show "Top Gear" is made, and quite often the 747 can be seen in the background, of some test track shots.
Apparently the VW had modifications made (read launch control) for the advertisement. This was to stop wheel spin and possible clutch burnout.

SB076 · 08-07-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG66ME

Go and read the fight going on in the comments under that clip,

Thers a yank boasting the USA can blow up the world 16 times and a Brit that responds saying if you blow up the world it aint there to blow up another 15 times.

My gut is hurting from the laughter. Had to shut my office door.

That is funny (the comments) its like Ford vs Holden rivalary but much more childish (cars made in the US vs' cars made in Europe)

Ringo · 09-07-2008, 08:57 AM

For Sale:

VW Toureg ex Demo

Immaculate condition with only 300 kms on the clock.

New transmission and diff.

Enquiries to.....