Aviation

World Guinness record by Tesla pulls Qantas Boeing 787-9

Interesting facts about Qantas airlines Project Sunrise - Non-stop flight Newyork to Sydney - 2019

World Guinness record by Testla pulls Qantas Boeing 787-9

Never has a passenger airliner been hitched to an electric passenger vehicle for towing. Well at least until today.

On a remote taxiway at Melbourne Airport, a Tesla Model X P100D with the greatest pulling power of any electric passenger vehicle came face to face against the newest star of the Qantas fleet, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

In a world first, the all-electric SUV successfully towed the Dreamliner as part of a Guinness World Record attempt, as the heaviest tow by an electric production passenger vehicle.

While the Model X can accommodate up to seven passengers, far less than the 236 people on a Qantas Dreamliner, the Tesla punched above its weight towing the 130 tonne 787* well above its on road tow rated capacity of 2.5 tonnes

Its dual electric motors generated a huge amount of torque, powering the Model X with enough strength to tow the 787 almost 300 metres.

It’s not the first time that we’ve used an electric vehicle to tow a Qantas aircraft. We’re already using electric aircraft tugs at Sydney and Canberra. It’s part of our plan to reduce greenhouse emissions.

With more than 10,000 pieces of Qantas ground services equipment like catering trucks, aircraft loaders and other vehicles all running on diesel, even just a small shift to electric power will have an enormous impact in the move to a sustainable future.

That’s why we’re continuing to collaborate with our friends at Tesla, driving innovation for our customers and increasing sustainability in the transport industry.

And for Tesla drivers and Qantas customers, there’s other ways to be rewarded:

Tesla owners who are also Frequent Flyer members will have their mileage offset both in their vehicles and in the air for the month of June with the Qantas’ Future Planet Program (opens in new window);
Supplying charging solutions with Tesla High Power Wall Connectors at Qantas Valet facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide allowing Model S and Model X owners to charge whilst they travel; and
Collaborate to deliver innovation towards holistic sustainable transport.

It’s not the first time Qantas and Tesla have gone head to head. Remember when we raced a Boeing 737 against a Tesla Model S P90D?

*The 787 was not carrying cargo or passengers at the time. It had a small amount of fuel onboard.

	DREAMLINER	TESLA MODEL X
CAPACITY	236 seats	5-7 seats
ON ROAD RATED TOW CAPACITY	N/A	2,500kg
TOP SPEED	Mach. 82	250km/h
RANGE	14,500km	565km
SIZE	63m x 60m (wingspan)	5mx 2.2m

Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly