I used to sit in the last row across from the galley. Pretty noisy, particularly when there was a compressor stall, but close to the lav and the drink cart.

(Written on 2019/01/18)(Permalink)

First 727 flight was from the Boeing Renton plant. Landed at King County Municipal (Boeing Field) because the Renton runway was too short. Watched it live on black and white TV - lived in West Seattle. Also was out on Lake Washington when Tex Johnson rolled the first 707 in a low fly by. 727 were flown by Continental on the "island hopper" out of Hawaii ending up in Guam. It could use coral runways.

(Written on 2019/01/18)(Permalink)

I was a deckhand on the ferry.

(Written on 2019/01/11)(Permalink)

5106 s. Oakes St in Tacoma was in the pattern.

(Written on 2019/01/11)(Permalink)

Hi Jeff: 50 years ago I was taking low-level photos from a Cessna 180 float plane owned and piloted by an Alaska Airlines pilot. He said he did this on his time off so he could fly instead of just smiling at dispatchers for a living.

(Written on 2017/11/10)(Permalink)

Beautiful! Wish I had been along for the ride.

(Written on 2017/11/10)(Permalink)

My first flight ever was around 1948 in a DC-3 from Seattle to Spokane. Going over the Cascades was quite a ride - fun and exciting until my big brother puked. Last DC-3 flight was 1962 in Hawaii.

(Written on 2017/09/01)(Permalink)

Grew up in West seattle just over the hill from Boeing. Remember how they tested jet engines at night. Was out on lake washington when Tex Johnson and and Co-pilot Gannet rolled the first 707. Watched the first 727 take off from the renton plant. It had to land at Boeing Field because runway at Renton was to short for a landing. Watched on TV first flight of 737. Local nick name "Guppie". Missed out on 747 and 787. Come on Lazy B what's next?

(Written on 2017/04/14)(Permalink)

It was a stunt. Something for the record books. But gutsy just the same. I don't think it was ever meant to be considered as the "future" of air travel. I would prefer dirigibles.

(Written on 2016/05/13)(Permalink)

TI think Congress had the most to do with the demise of the US space program. NASA always wanted to do more, but were given less. Administrations talked big but when it became appropriations time Congress looked the other way. This was also a constituent problem as once you got past the "gee whiz" aspect, few were interested in tax money going into space efforts. There has always been an interest in promoting commercial space ventures, but up until now there weren't any techno/billionaires to lead the way. The space industry did not have private funding it was totally dependent on government contracts and that was all it wanted anyway - the profits to be made. The mistaken mantra of "share holder value" ruled the day. Privatization of the space effort so it would be better? Think about the contracting out of such federal functions as airport security, background checks, and the collection of IRS payments. I remember what John Glen said (I was there) when asked what he w

(Written on 2015/12/25)(Permalink)