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From this Wall Street Journal (subscription site; but worth a "thanks boss" moment) article, it can easily be seen that airfans are as passionate about their hobby as are the varietal of fans around here:
More than 200 vagabond business travelers, peripatetic frequent-flier-mile addicts and aviation enthusiasts did just that last week. Over four days, they traveled from the U.S. to Germany, Norway and France to meet with executives, pilots and mechanics at four airlines—plus representatives of aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The event, organized by members of FlyerTalk.com, a Web site that caters to frequent fliers, even included chartering a Boeing 757-300 to zip from airline hangar to airline hangar.
The trip showcased the passion still ignited by airlines and travel, even when service cuts, delays and layers of fees make travel anything but romantic these days. Some in the group fly more than 300,000 miles a year and tell people their residence is Boeing or Airbus. And yet they still want to fly more for fun.
And a Brief Passage just for Ms. Sojourner:
Patricia Hansen of San Diego, 69 years old, who loves to travel though her husband does not.
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I'm an airfan. My first flight was aboard a KLM 747 from JFK to Amsterdam. My most recent trip was from Ithaca to PHL, PHL-CLT, CLT-MCO, MCO-PHL, PHL-ITH. I took flying lessons at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY.
notelvis Member # 3071
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I'll add that there are also bus enthusiasts....
Former drivers; former executives in the industry; They love to restore vintage buses, compare the performance of various machines, and tell stories about which companies operated which routes when.....
The bus groups seem to fall short of attracting people who rode and enjoyed riding buses for pleasure.....but the men who made the machines go genuinely loved their craft.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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While I have no first hand experience with such, I understand that fifty years ago, that part of Greyhound's clientele could be called "middle class".
dmwnc1959 Member # 2803
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I have been a fan of commercial aircraft since I was a kid. Built models of them, had a dozen of them dangling from my bedroom ceiling. Old carriers like PSA (smile), Eastern, National, TWA, Western, and PanAm. I remember as a kid spending weekends with my parents at the end of a runway in Atlanta (when you could still do that) and watch 747's fly over the top of us. You could go to an outdoor observation deck at the terminal, didnt have to clear any security, and just sit there all day and watch planes come and go. My favorites were the L-1011's and DC-10's, which seemed plentiful back then. Been to Dulles to watch the Concorde come in and take off. That was loud. Longest trip I ever took by plane was CLT-ORD-SIN. Flew to London a few years back. That was a nice flight.
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I, too, was once an airfan. Many, many years ago (I'm talking early-mid 50's), I would spend some Sunday afternoons with my cousin (who later became a commercial pilot) on the observation deck at LGA where, for $.10, you could see piston-powered planes up close and personal and get a running discourse from a couple of announcers about contemporary commercial aviation. I remember "fallen flags" like Colonial Airlines, Capital Airlines, Northeast, and, of course, Eastern and TWA in those days.
sbalax Member # 2801
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No frequent flyer programs, although there were VIP clubs for some arbitrarily-selected customers. (Some allege that the "arbitrarily-selected customers" tended to be predominantly white and male, and that frequent flyer programs were created in 1981 so that the membership could be more open and standards more objective.)
My father was among the "chosen". He was a member of the original "Admiral's Club" at American. He also flew quite a bit on TWA's Constellations. I used to love to go to LAX to pick him up. Sometimes we would eat at "Mike Lyman's Sky Room" on top of the terminal.
He later was part of the design team that created the "Jet Age" LAX. The Theme building, which is now being redone, was one of his pet projects.
A friend's grandmother was an exception to the "males only" rule for recognition. We have her United 100,000 mile plaque. It has a cast DC3 circling the globe. She was a traveling rep for Charles of the Ritz cosmetics and sort of an "Auntie Mame" character.
Frank in cool and possibly soon wet SBA
notelvis Member # 3071
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My Longest Flight Ever -
On-board a chartered Northwest Airlines 747 for 21 hours
1st Leg - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia to Rheinstein AFB, Frankfurt, Germany
2nd Leg - Frankfurt to New York Kennedy
3rd Leg - New York to Ft. Campbell, KY
Fact of the matter is that the US Army really will permit a trumpet player to handle live ammunition!
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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Oh, yes, David, those "redtails" took lots of American guys and gals on "all-expense paid" trips to various Asian and European nations back in the day.
I went McChord AFB, WA (near Ft. Lewis) to Kimpo, Korea (near Seoul) via Anchorage and Tokyo on a Northwest charter back in 1966. I believe Northwest and Branniff had big contracts to move the military back in the day.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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I am also a bus foamer and an airplane foamer (and I have my pilot's license). Whenever I go to Vegas (every 3 to 4 weeks), I always drive over to the parking lot alongside Sunset which is there for the specific purpose of watching the planes land and take off. You tune your car radio to 101.1 FM and can listen to ATC. Vegas is an interesting airport---you get quite a mix of aircraft and airlines that most airports never see. There are even a few KC-10 tankers based out of there, as well as foreign air force F-15's. LAS is a great airport for plane watching!
David---since you're into buses, this might interest you:
My friend runs that website, and we have taken several "bus fan" trips with the private buses that the members own. They've got fishbowls, school buses (one of them is a restored Crown that is pristine), and all types of stuff. Check out the image gallery on that website---it's got a lot of neat stuff in it.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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I love the view of Las Vegas coming into McCarren International at night; you can see all the big casinos and resorts lighting up the sky. Airport is real close to the Strip; couldn't get over the slot machines in the waiting areas!
sbalax Member # 2801
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quote:Originally posted by Ocala Mike: Oh, yes, David, those "redtails" took lots of American guys and gals on "all-expense paid" trips to various Asian and European nations back in the day.
I went McChord AFB, WA (near Ft. Lewis) to Kimpo, Korea (near Seoul) via Anchorage and Tokyo on a Northwest charter back in 1966. I believe Northwest and Branniff had big contracts to move the military back in the day.
As did Continental. That was their "foot in the door" to flying the Pacific.
Two years ago I attended a reunion of about 300 "Old" Continental employees in, yes, LAS. The people who impressed me the most were "The Girls" (And that is what they insisted on being called!) who flew the MAC flights to Vietnam. A number of them also flew flights in support of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. I've often thought there is a good documentary film there.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
smitty195 Member # 5102
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quote:Originally posted by Ocala Mike: I love the view of Las Vegas coming into McCarren International at night; you can see all the big casinos and resorts lighting up the sky. Airport is real close to the Strip; couldn't get over the slot machines in the waiting areas!
It is a GREAT approach! At night, they use the beam on top of the Luxor as a visual reference if they will be landing on the 25's. Sometimes, depending on wind, they will route the approaches over the Stratosphere. It really is a neat airport, and I LOVE the city!
dilly Member # 1427
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One noticeable difference between the airfans mentioned in the article and your typical railfan:
Rabid airfans seem more likely to regularly travel by plane, often with a frequency that borders on obsessive-compulsive.
In contrast, railfans -- to a much larger degree -- are more content to be trackside observers, even in areas of the country that Amtrak serves.
Yes, many of us do plant ourselves in an Amtrak seat multiple times each month. But I suspect that a great many people who post to this and other Amtrak forums rarely -- if ever -- travel by train, even if they live a short distance from an Amtrak station.
That's not a criticism. Just an observation. I sense that airfans, as a group, have a greater tendency to be more than passive observers. They're more apt to want the "full experience" -- watching and talking about airplanes, yes, but also using them for frequent travel.
They're not only airline fans, they're also regular customers. . . which is something that fewer Amtrak fans (to judge from the topics posted on web forums like this one) seem to be.
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notelvis Member # 3071
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Smitty,
Thanks for the website! I've had fun browsing through the photo galleries.
dns8560 Member # 15184
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notelvis - Not to be nitpicky, but a 747 can't get into LGA - or can it?
I did a lot of plane watching at the control tower bar at Boston Logan. That was a great spot!
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by dns8560: notelvis - Not to be nitpicky, but a 747 can't get into LGA - or can it?
I did a lot of plane watching at the control tower bar at Boston Logan. That was a great spot!
You are correct sir. That 747 flight I spoke of was in and out of Kennedy Airport. Thanks for calling my attention to my error.
I'll edit and correct my original statement and apologize for not pulling the correct memory out of the gray matter!
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Well, theoretically a 747 can land almost anywhere......check this out:
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Well, I'll confess I'm something of an "airfan" myself. My first cab ride was in a NYC RDC at the age of 5, and at about the same age, I got to ride the flight engineer's seat of a DC6B en route Idlewild to West Palm Beach (it wasn't Kennedy yet, at the time).
Flying used to be a lot of fun, and occasionally still is. I've had some good ones and some long ones. Anyone who ever landed at Kai Tak in Hong Kong will remember the wake of the aircraft flapping the laundry hanging from the laundry poles of nearby apartment buildings. And the approach to LGA can't be beat -- right up the west side of Manhattan, then across the Bronx.
Yes, air travel isn't what it was, but it can still be fun. I do prefer trains, however, and I ride them frequently.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Kai Tak's approach was crazy!! Fly towards the checkerboard, hang a right, and side-slip all the way down!
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by sbalax:
quote:Originally posted by Ocala Mike: Oh, yes, David, those "redtails" took lots of American guys and gals on "all-expense paid" trips to various Asian and European nations back in the day.
I went McChord AFB, WA (near Ft. Lewis) to Kimpo, Korea (near Seoul) via Anchorage and Tokyo on a Northwest charter back in 1966. I believe Northwest and Branniff had big contracts to move the military back in the day.
As did Continental. That was their "foot in the door" to flying the Pacific.
Two years ago I attended a reunion of about 300 "Old" Continental employees in, yes, LAS. The people who impressed me the most were "The Girls" (And that is what they insisted on being called!) who flew the MAC flights to Vietnam. A number of them also flew flights in support of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. I've often thought there is a good documentary film there.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
Nice that you had known airlines to fly on. My excursion into and out of the Southeast Asian vacation land in 1971 was on airlines I had never heard of before or since and hope not to. The general quality of the planes I rode made me understand my Grandmother's comment about her sons and son-in-laws return from WW2 (ALL of them went): "We did not count them home safe until they walked in the door."
Absolutely memeorable statement by the pilot as we took off from Japan after a several hours delay due to "mechanical issues": "We will attempt a non-stop flight to Travis Air Force Base, California." ATTEMPT??? What if we don't make it? There is not much between except water!!!
sbalax Member # 2801
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quote:Originally posted by smitty195: Well, theoretically a 747 can land almost anywhere......check this out:
Thanks for the link. That was an amazing piece of airmanship!
For a time we had regular arrivals and departures of DC10's and 747's here at SBA. Tracor Aviation was doing refits for several airlines, including Continental's conversion to BusinessFirst and the then new paint scheme. They were both brought in and left light on fuel. I believe the were refueled at LAX. I was lucky enough to do several walk throughs at various stages in the process. A gutted DC10 is not all that pretty.
Frank in sunny and cool SBA
palmland Member # 4344
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Perhaps we should have an AirForum.com. My favorite airline recollections include:
My first flight as a ten year old on Ozark airlines DC-3 from Clarksville to Nashville, Tn - all of 50 miles or so.
My first 'overseas'flight on an Eagle Airlines (not to be confused with American Eagle) prop plane (don't recall the make) from NY to Bermuda (Many of the passengers even had Bermuda shorts - acceptable to that destination even in those dressier days.
And another DC-3 honeymoon flight on an inter-island DC-3 on BWIA airlines. We seemed to skim the tops of the palm trees.
There isn't a whole lot of appeal to a ride on any jet, but I did like it when the pilots seemed to really fly the plane, as on a DC-9, rather than the automated and impersonal flights today.
I still remember the steak on my last prop flight in the mid-60's. It was AA airlines DC to Memphis. The plane was late because the DC-7 was substituting for the jet which caused it to be quite late. The booze flowed freely and I was on a 1/2 rate student fare. I guess this would be considered the transition era for prop to jet, much like steam to diesel a decade earlier.
As for bus rides, I took quite a few in college - mostly to catch a train. It seemed that Trailways were always nicer than Greyhound. Also, the passengers seemed a lot more civilized and I was never concerned with personal safety. But, then that was when most were in coat and tie, including me, and at that age mortality didn't cross our minds.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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OK Junior Birdmen, here is a feat of airmanship:
Incidentially, KCGX Rwy 18-36 was 3900ft. I think as most know, Mayor-for-Life Daley, decided that he wanted a "voter's park' so "In the heat of the night' on March 31, 2003 Meigs runways were bulldozed and the big "X" was painted in place of an 18 and 36.
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The Runway 13L approach at JFK (known as the Canarsie Approach or "Parkway Visual") is on the list of the 20 most dangerous airports that I just saw through AOL news. Reagan Airport near DC is the only other US airport on the list.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Here is a video of an approach and landing KJFK 13L:
Obviously, a "straight in" approach would have aircraft flying over Manhattan - a "no no" long before 9/11.
Oh well, last time I flew into KJFK (from KACK last August), landing was on 31L.
Finally, am I any kind of airfan? No, unless getting window seats away from the wing and simply keeping eyes and ears open qualifies as such. What I know of navigation mostly comes from as a kid serving in the Fairfield Navy.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Here is a video of an approach and landing KJFK 13L:
Beautiful weather, and an incredible approach and landing. Awesome!
Here is one of my all-time favorite airplane videos. This is an MD-11 on short-final at JFK, and at the last possible moment they are told "Go Around!" due to traffic being on the runway. Watch how smooth and professional they are. Gives me goosebumps to watch this:
If you know the layout of the cockpit and what they are doing, it makes it that much better!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Just tried the Canarsie Approach on my FLTSIM in a B-737-400; sorry but KJFK 13L is closed 'until further notice' until the pile of tin is swept up (and other morbid 'details" attended to).
Addendum: "tried it again"; this time "walked away".
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Roll the crash trucks to 13L. GBN as the PIC just created havoc at JFK!
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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GBN, don't try 22L at JFK either. A "short" landing there will put you on Rockaway Boulevard, which is what an Eastern Air Lines B727 did back in June, 1975. Wind shear was blamed, and 115 people died.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Topic retitled; it appears there are many more of the ilk around here than I anticipated.
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