>>7926984 lb
>>7926987 lb
>>7927004 lb
According to the recording embedded, the hold was due to conflicting traffic, not weather.
The other traffic (317P) was advised about the helicopter holding, as the reason he had to wait to do something.
Doesn't look like this tail number has been used on any other aircraft. If it had, normally there would be another field below it on this view showing the "deregistered" aircraft.
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=72EX
Interdasting. Normally the FAA is very particular about what you can install on a certified aircraft. You can guarantee that there are several regulations surrounding it.
The picture I saw earlier today with the thing being almost completely black, I wonder if that was just done for static display and removed prior to its next flight.
>cosmetic vinyl wrapping that would have burnt and shriveled away due to the fire
I have a hard time believing FAA regulations would let it fly in that condition, being covered in a flammable substance.
A complex paint job on a bird like that would probably be in the neighborhood of $100K. It sounds like a lot, but compared to the costs of maintaining and operating such an aircraft, it really isn't.
You're right. It definitely seems to be a thing. From what I'm reading, it also seems to be extremely durable. If that's what is in the pic when it was black, I wonder why it came off?