Ah yes... the Airplanes.
The focus of any airline career.

Let's start out with a few airline advertisements. (5)

CLICK ON the picture to watch the Britiah Airways ad: TO FLY, TO SERVE. I took this picture at LHR, 2012.

CLICK ON the picture to watch a Turkish Airways ad. I took this picture at LGW, 2010.

CLICK ON this picture to watch a Virgin Atlantic advertisement. LAX, 5/2/07 taxiway Echo next to 24L.

CLICK ON this picture to watch an Argentinian Airlines Ad.

CLICK this picture for Vintage AA advertisements.

Would you like to see how they created the British Airways ad above? CLICK ON this shot that I took at Gatwick, 8/24/08

MSP, 9/23/02, 1720L: NWA 757-351 at MSP, from Bravo taxiway. It's 179 feet long, 24' longer than a -200. Only 55 -300's were built originally for NWA, CAL & Icelandair. A total of 1,049 757's have been delivered, 1982 to 2005. Its profile is beautiful, don't you think?

PDX, 8/10/06, 1307: Click on the picture above.... and prepare to be moved. I've witnessed this scene several times and am always deeply moved.

NEA DC-3 owned by Dakota Aviation Museum at Hampton, NH. 2010.

We're about #10 for departure. NWA and USAir A-320's in MSP on 30R. 5/31/02

DTW, 10/3/02, 1305L: Waiting to cross an active runway behind this NWA DC-9, DTW, Uniform taxiway. Notice how the 2 stabs are split. Ship 9852, mfg 3/76

DTW, 10/2/02, 1646: Continental 737 and NWA A-320, DTW, Mike de-ice pad by 21R. A nice side/side comparison of the two brands.

MSP, 6/9/02, 1127L: NWA 747-251 on the ramp at MSP. 393 model 200's were built. Mfg 1980

LGA, 3/30/04, 1532L: Old LGA tower built 1964. We're taxiing to runway 4 on Bravo.

LGA, 8/20/02, 1053L: Song (DAL) 757 on Bravo at LGA as we wait for our gate to open. Song operated from 2003 to 2006.

B-767-400ER, CAL was the -400ER launch customer in 2000. It's 21 feet longer than a 300ER and all 37 are flown by CAL and DAL. HOU, 6/16/02, 1424L

LGA, 8/17/02, 1244L: American Trans Air, on Bravo operated, from 1973 until 2008 under a variety of names.

SEA, 4/21/06, 1115L: Horizon Air Q400, has a range of 1600 miles at 400 mph.

BOS, 6/22/06, 1847L: I love this shot of a 9 Pax, Cessna 402 behind a 400 Pax, 747-400 on November taxiway in BOS.

MSP, 6/20/06, 1802L: British Aerospace, BAE 146 in MSP. Why does the 146 have 4 engines? Because 6 wouldn't fit!

MSP, 1/3/04, 1412L: NWA 757 arriving in MSP, 30R. We're on Papa taxiway.

MSP, 1/3/04, 1421L: An old paint, or bowling shoe 757 arriving in MSP

DTW, 7/1/10, 0705L: 767-400. Have you ever seen the movie THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY, adapted from Ernie Gann's book of the same name? It follows a DC-4 flying from HNL to SFO in 1954 when all hell brakes loose. Starring "The Duke" and Robert Stack it's pretty corny by todays standards but it's fun to watch. Just click on the DAL 767-400ER to enjoy a clip. The famous line from this movie is "He weren't always a copilot."

A320 holds short on A10 at 12R at MSP, for DAL MD90. mfg 10/98. 1/13/04, 1246L

SWA holds short, B1 at runway 27 SAN, NWA 757. 1/13/05, 1405L

America West A320, MSP. 1/29/04, 1250L

DC-10 HNL, during walk around inspection on a 757. 9/12/05, 1532L

Alaska 737, ANC, 6/29/08, 1854L

Taxiway Bravo, BOS, behind NWA DC-9. That's Elton John on Airtran. 6/9/05, 1833L.

Holding short, PHL, for USAir on Mike. We're on Sierra. I loved these retro liveries. 4/5/07, 1056L.

Holding short 28L at Fox, SFO, 4/19/10, 1318L.

On the ramp at Guam. Noon thunderstorms rolling in, 9/7/08

Nose to nose, Lufthansa 737, remote parking, FRA, 8/3/10, 1209L

UAL 777, 24R, LAX, 4/7/08, 1349L

Short of Echo for 24L LAX, 5/2/07 1451L

SFO. the old tower, 6/18/08, 1428L

Turning into the gate off A taxiway. 6/18/08, 1730L

Clear left, right, slowdown, check brakes.

We've stopped, A-320. N348NW, mfg 2/93

Waiting for ground power

If you enjoyed the High and the Mighty clip above, click on this AA Triple-7 at JFK 8/3/10, 1640L to view a clip from FATE IS THE HUNTER by Gann as well. The book was wonderful but this screen adaptation has little to do with the book. Gann, a former American pilot, tried in vain to have the name of the movie changed he disliked it so. But its fun to watch and the book is great reading.

A snowy day, MSP 1/18/07, 1503L, Mike taxiway. 976 DC-9's were built. N604NW, mfg 4/68.

MSP, alleyway on to Bravo taxiway. 1/18/07, 1518L

when I enjoyed flying the most. MSP on Papa taxiway. N360NW, mfg 9/98. 1/18/07, 1507L

Captain Gene Petersen during my 747-451 IOE in JFK. These photos will put the -400 into perspective. Where's Gene? a/c 6308, mfg 7/90. 5/30/11, 1503L

Very interesting guy, excellent instructor, former NWA VP of Flight and ALPA MEC Chairman. It was a great IOE, we're headed for NRT.

N584NW, mfg 10/02

A few more shots to show perspective, just how big is a 757-351?

These pictures should answer the question. SEA, 10/20/08, 1358L.

HOU. 5/30/02, 0716L

HOU, 7/28/02, 1502L

A couple of Airbuses, MSP, Papa and 30R. 5/31/02, 1136L.

A variety of Fokkers: AMS. 6/2/08, 1320L

AMS, 3/23/08, 1423L

Osaka, 9/5/08, 0909L

Fort Meyers, FL. 1/29/06, 1354L

PHX, 3/12/06, 0843L

DTW, 6/26/06, 1321L

DTW, 3/9/07, 1505L

Air New Zealand, LAX, 4/7/08

Triple Sevens, LAX, 5/1/08, 2214L

at LAX, 4/7/08, 1553L

Behind a 717 at Maui, headed for HNL. We're going to Kona then SEA. 7/4/07 1902L

717 at Kona, nice looking airplane. 8/4/07, 2035L

717 at Kona, we're off to SEA.

Air Tran 717 pushing back at DTW, 8/28/07, 1742L

Air Tran 717 taxiing at DTW. 8/28/07, 1744L

Air Tran 717, BOS, 6/9/05 1718L

At FLL I think..12/12/05, 1346

Waiting for gate, on Uniform taxiway, DTW. mfg 1/87

At the gate, DTW. mfg 3/96

A snowy day, DTW, from Uniform taxiway.

AA 757 at LGA. AA has 106 757's.

1/27/07, 1238L. I love these hangars.

AA 767 on Zulu taxiway, HNL. Total of 821 767's are flying.

For a change... what's going on beneath the airplane?

747-451, Center gear articulates.

747-451, N668US, mfg 7/90

747-451 which allows 90º turns

767-300ER, DTW

767-300ER, SLC

777, Narita

Lockheed Super Connie, Maine

A-330, DTW

DC-6A, Arizona

757-351, ship 5810, mfg 3/03

757-251, ETOPS, Dusseldorf, N537US, mfg 2/96

767-300ER, SLC

767-300ER, Beijing

A-320, BOS

757-251 MSP

747-451, DTW, N665US, mfg 9/89

A-330

757-351 ETOPS at night, HNL, N590NW, mfg 3/03

Volga Dnepr, IL76TD, Guam

DC-6A Falcon Field, AZ, 5/23/10, 1410L Sadly, this A/C has been scrapped.

757 walk around, N583NW, mfg 9/02

757, MSP

747-451 and B717 at LAX. Thanks Ethan!

               QANTAS A-380's parked on the freight ramp at LAX.                    
      I took these pics on 9/30/09, shortly after Qantas parked the 380 fleet due to several engine failures.

We're holding on QUEBEC taxiway facing north.

That's SIERRA taxiway and the freight ramp on our left.

Big machine huh?

Holding short 34R, on Bravo at SEA. 10/31/06

757-351 departing 12R, MSP for LAX. mfg 3/03

Roll out of 1st 727, N7001U, 9/27/62. Boeing photo

I'm often asked.
Of all the jets, which is your favorite?
That's easy.....
The Three Holer!

MSO, N293US, mfg 1978

Wes and me.

At DTW

Can you distinguish a -100 from a -200? A -100 center engine intake is oval. -200 center intake is round.

Position and hold, 4, LGA

This is a simulator, MSP

My 1st experience at FL400. 727-2S7, N716RC, mfg 1980.

To visit the 727 Facebook page, click on the picture above. 727 first flight: 2/9/63. Project Engineer, Jack Steiner. Crew: Wallick, Loesch, Shulenberger. 1,832 built. First -100 went to United airlines. First -200 went to Northeast Airlines, Last PAX version went to USAir, Last 727 built went to FedEx. Lew Wallick's daughter, Rebecca has just written a new book, "Growing Up Boeing." Can't wait to read it. This aircraft, 727-251, N289US, MSN 21377, Mfg 1977

Hired at REP in '85 as a 727 FE, checked out as a 727 FO in '86 and as a captain in '95. Worked as a 727 FE sim instructor '85-'86 and as a pilot sim/aircraft instructor from '95-'00. I also flew the 727-100 series at Orion Air as an FE and FO '84-85. In the immortal words of General Jimmy Doolittle, "I could never be so lucky again."

Captain Randy Sohn sent this picture along. This was the REP livery when I was hired in 1985. This was a Hughes Airwest Airplane. N728RW, MSN 21741, mfg 1979

Above and Right: B-727-251, Ship # 2284, N284US, MSN 21323, mfg 1977.

LEFT: In DTW 2002 waiting to depart to MIA. ABOVE: At the NWA hangar by runway 22L, formerly 21R at DTW. NWA flew their last "scheduled" 727 flight on 1/7/03 from DEN to DTW.

Precision started as a freight hauler at Springfield, VT and grew to fly Twin Otters and Dorniers out of Manchester, NH before shutting down.

#2, 30L, MSP behind Frontier.

Holding short, 30L MSP for NWA

#2, 7L, PHX behind Alaska for an early morning departure to DTW.

We're short of runway 15/33 on taxiway Juliet behind this DAL 737 at DCA.

We've now crossed runway 15/33 on Juliet. Note the Washington and Jefferson Monuments across the Potomac River. During this layover I visited the Air & Space Museum and the Vietnam Memorial.

DC-10-30 on 12R, MSP

MSO, Missoula, MT

Departing 21C, DTW, N8986E, MSN 47402, mfg 3/69

DC-10, 727, DC-9. What do these airplanes have in common? Of the seven types of airplanes that I flew at NWA and DAL, (like me) these three have been retired from the fleet.

Click on this image and let my friends at Virgin Atlantic show you how to land a 747-400. From CAL ret Capt John Brier. On Echo taxiway, LAX.

What does it look like during an aircraft walk around inspection? 
  We do this before every flight, regardless of the WX.

Spirit MD80, DAL 737, NWA 757, DCA

SWA 737's, 757, PDX.

AmWest Airbus, MSP

Airbus and 757, MSP. N320US, MSN 213, mfg 5/91.

Airbus, old paint & 757, MSP. N371NW, MSN 1535, mfg 6/01

A-320 / MD80 in LAS

757 by Alaska hangar, SEA

737 and 757-251 in PDX. N505US, MSN 23194, 5/85

Duncan Cooper, 757-251, N502US, MSN 23191, mfg 3/85

Airbus and 757-251, FLL

757 in MSP as catering loads my lunch.

A-330, Guam, 2010

A-330, DTW, 2004

Shanghai Airlines 767, Guam, 2011

NWA 757-251 ETOPS, DUS, 2008, N537US, MSN 26484, mfg 2/96

NWA DC-10-40, SEA, 2006

A sloppy day @ DTW. N539US, MSN 26486, mfg 3/96

SFO

SFO

LAS

My 1946 J-3 Cub

When we left Maui in a 757-300, the runway was too short to fly back to the mainland with any load, so we flew 90 miles to Kona to pick up more pax and fuel where they had a long runway.

Out having fun in the Stearman.

No jetways at Kona and we'd always see Hawaiian 717's there. Met a crew turning to HNL and they showed me their cockpit. Pretty impressive, don't you think?

My 1942 Stearman, PT-17. I ran a ride business with this airplane for several years. Photo by NEA/DAL pilot ret. Don Osbourne.

HAL B-717 Cockpit, Kona

TPA founded in 1946, became Aloha Airlines in 1955.

I recall this quonset hut from a family vacation in 1959.

And this is how Aloha looked in 2008, just before they closed the doors. I was in HNL the day they announced the closing. We had "many" Aloha pilot jumpseaters that night trying to get back to the mainland. Mfg 1983

I jump seated around the islands often during layovers on Hawaiian. Excellent employee's who went the extra mile to get you on board.

An old Aloha sticker that I purchased at a flea market in HNL.

A retro Aloha livery from the cockpit of a Hawaiian 717. Mfg 1985

Aloha's last livery, HNL. Mfg 1988

The Collings Foundation tours the US with their vintage aircraft. In this series I fired up my Cub and visited their B-17 in Keene, NH and somewhere in Mass. In Keene a couple of NWA pilots were flying the B-17 and I had the opportunity to fly several of the tours. You never know when B-17 time in your logbook might come in handy.

The carcasses of many start-up airlines from the 1980's litter the countryside. Started by a couple of Air New England pilots in 1983, this 19 passenger, Fairchild-Swearingen Metro III, SA-227, sits on the ramp at Republic Field in Farmingdale, NY.

Atlantic Express Metroliner (SA-227) in flight along the eastern shoreline of New York's Long Island. (1983) Other familiar Commuter Airlines from the 1980's that you may recall; Bar Harbor, Gull Air, Golden West, Mississippi Valley, Air Illinois, Air North, Command Airways, Altair, Aspen Airways and Chicago Air. All good ideas started by eager entrepreneurs with high hopes and lofty ambitions. You've heard the joke... how do you make a small fortune in the airline industry? You start with a large one.

On the ramp in Farmingdale, NY

NWA Airbusses, landing, MSP

America West Airbus at Phoenix. I flew the A-320 and A-319 at NWA for one year when bumped off the 757 and was not happy about it. After six months on the airplane though, I really came to like it. I did make it a habit however to disconnect the "magic" often and hand-fly to maintain my skills. I only flew it for one year though as I was recalled to the 757 where I spent the next ten years.

America West 757 and SWA 737 departing from Phoenix.

TAILS: The part that makes the airplane go straight and the flying billboard.

MCO

RSW

HNL

DTW

BOS

SEA

LAX

SFO

HNL

LGW

FRA

NRT: CLICK ON the pic to see a 747 tribute. 747-451, N672US, MSN 30267, mfg 7/99

Above is a picture of a B-707 tail and an A-340 model from Airbus. Right, is a Boeing Stratocruiser, B-337 tail. Both of these pictures came from the NWA History Museum near MSP.

ITM

Heavy metal at FRA.

NEA DC-6B crew: FO Norm Bishop, Stew Valery Williams and CA Irv Cumming at PWM. (Right:) At the National Airline History Museum, Kansas City with retired TWA captain Walter Gunn and (now) DAL captain Eric Spicer. Eric was my FO on this 5-day 727 trip. Click the pic to visit the museum; you'll enjoy it.

NWA's penultimate livery, often referred to as the "bowling shoe" paint scheme on a 757 tail at MCO.

And our final paint scheme. On the left side the widget pointed towards the northwest, but on the right side it pointed northeast. Apparently someone didn't want to make another decal.

NEA DC-6B before the introduction of the Raymond Loewy inspired Yellowbird campaign.

NWA 727, GTF. Interestingly, NWA failed in its attempt to purchase NEA in 1971, opening the door for a NEA/DAL merger in Oct '71

Eastwind, 1999, BDL

TWA, 1997, ABQ. MSN 21631, mfg 3/79.

DAL & SONG, LGA (I think) 2004

DIA 2005

Osaka, 2010

HAL "Pualani" LAX 2004

MKE 2003

(Top) AMS 9/1/09 0836L. (Right) North Central Airlines, MSP, 1967, 1st DC-9. NCA president Hal Carr, center, hands crossed.

HNL, 6/11/07, 1519L, NWA 757-351,

BOS ramp, 7/74

HNL, 6/6/07, 1620L

Remember these guys, DTW 1995

BOS 1978

They became these guys, JAX 1998

BOS 1978

Now they're these guys!

LGA 1998: Former Trump Shuttle and Braniff Airways 727, MSN 21041, mfg 1975

ABOVE: Summer 1999. ABOVE RIGHT: Summer 2001. RIGHT: 12/98, Henry Ford Museum near DTW.

View from our windscreen in a 767-300ER as we depart London Heathrow for DTW. 11/21/10

Top Left: Cockpit of Ship 195, N195DN a B-767-300ER. Top: Our Flight Release, EGGL to KDTW. 3,312 nm, flight time 7:52. FOB 93,900 pounds. Takeoff weight 329,374 pounds. Let me orient you with the chart to the left. We're holding short of 9R on taxiway Sierra at spot S11. The Virgin A-340-600 is on taxiway Yankee at spot NB11 as he enters runway 9R below.

Just past NB11

Approaching 9R

On to 9R

Position & wait, 9R

Took these pictures a week earlier of an A-340-600 departing 9R as I held short at the other end of the field on taxiway Alpha.

Now it's our turn. This is how 9R appears from our windscreen as we hold in position. We're well underway and on the North Atlantic track system... time for lunch.

On 30L, MSP, 2008, from a 757. CLICK ON this pic for a great 747 video. Did you watch the video? Is it any wonder that I loved what I did? I had the best seat in the house. Upper deck, left side, furthest seat forward! 747-451, N671US, MSN 26477, mfg 3/99

To see how the airplane above....

On Alpha, holding short of 34L, NRT, 2009, from a 767-300ER. 747-451, N672US, MSN 30267, mfg 7/99

became this airplane.... CLICK ON the DAL 747.

To learn a little BA history, CLICK ON the pic above that I took in 2009 at LHR from a 767-300ER.

Giving way to a 747-400 on the inner taxiway, FRA. From a 767-300ER, 2009.

The deHavilland Twin Otter, DHC-6, I loved flying this airplane it was a lot of fun. CLICK ON the airplane to watch an Otter take off and land. Just a little info: The power (torque) is controlled by the levers to the far left, the props are next to them on the right and to the far right are the fuel shut off valves.

Delivered new to Braniff in 1939, N18141 arrived at ANE in 1971. Two of the industries most iconic aircraft in this pic, the 727 and DC-3. I was fortunate to have flown both. "Triple Six," another 1939 delivery to Braniff flew at ANE from 1971 until the FH-227's arrived in 1975. To see a great DC-3 video, click the DC-3 to the right. The Plane That Changed the World.

Triple Six at the Marine Air Terminal, LGA.

Northwest Airways Lockheed 10A, MSP in the late 1930's.

While on a BDL layover in 2001, I visited the New England Air Museum where they're restoring a 1935 Lockheed 10A, to replicate the NWA ship to the left.

A few pics of their restoration.

If there's an aviation museum anywhere near a layover hotel... I'm there.

This is my Stearman next to the Collings Foundation B-17 at the Fitchburg Airshow several years ago. But to see retired SOU, REP, NWA captain Joe Shepherds magnificently restored Lockheed 12A, Electra Junior, click on the picture.

Anything odd about this 747-251? I took this in Guam while taxiing out. Years ago this NWA 747 had an incident here so they simply removed the engines and gave it to the Guam Airport. N627US, MSN 21709.

A DAL 737 landing on 4L at BOS as we hold short to cross for runway 9. This was several paint jobs ago.

A China Southern Airbus landing at MNL I think.

2006

We're at the Plum Island Airfield in Newburyport, MA where I'd flown my Stearman to take part in a small airshow. The man flying the Waco here is an 80 year-old retired EAL pilot.

I loved this airplane. An NWA 757-351 landing on 30L in MSP as we held on Bravo next to 30L. 2008. Although they did some domestic flying, the primary mission of the 757-300 was trans-Pacific flying to Honolulu and Maui from LAX, SFO, SEA, PDX and ANC. A little underpowered but it was very stable like most large Boeings.

Museum of Flight,  Boeing Field,  during a 757 layover in March 2011.

Boeing's Number 1 747 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Evan Elliott and me in old #1.

I took these pictures when I visited the Museum of Flight in SEA on my last 757 trip in March of 2011. My purpose was to visit the very first 747, serial number 001, pictured here before starting 747-400 school at DAL Evan Elliott, seated to the right arranged a private tour of this historic airplane.  More info is available under my Places & History tab. Do you know Bob Bogash? No, neither did I. Bob is a retired Boeing engineer, has a great site (available on my LINK page) is heavily involved with the Museum and is an airliner historian. Actually that's putting it mildly. Click HERE  to see Bob's 747 video.

I'm going to ask your indulgance. I dislike posting pictures that aren't crisp and clear but will make an exception here. The pics below were taken in 1998, 16 years ago, (I was a 727 captain) when I went to work and forgot to pack my camera. You can imaging my angst, but this was before digital photography anyway, so I bought a disposable camera to get me thru this trip. I'm sure that 727 aficionados will appreciate them. It's a beautiful airplane and I loved flying it.

MSP

LGA

Missoula, MT, N283US, MSN 21322, mfg 1977

Memphis

Former Hughes Air West 727-2M7, Missoula. N727RW, MSN 21656, mfg 1979

MSP

DTW, the old terminal

GTF. Great Falls, MT

Landing MSP (1999)

Manchester, NH, the "prison ship."

DTW, the old terminal.

What's to become of FOUR engine jets?
They're likely to go the way of the Flight Engineer.
It's all about economics.

Honolulu 2008, just as the merger of NWA and DAL was announced. They're leaving for Nagoya. We're departing for SFO.

---

Two years after retirement and I'm still on the DAL 747-400 pilot memo email list. I recently received a memo announcing that DAL plans to retire four, 747-400s by the end of 2014. Three will be gone by September and the fourth by December as the company reshuffles its assets. Personally I'm sad to learn this because it means that the big Boeings days at DAL and most likely everywhere else too, are numbered.  The fleet currently includes 16 airframes that will shrink to 12 by the end of the year. It's a fabulous airplane and I'm grateful that I experienced flying her across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. On the other hand I'm glad that DAL recognizes that these iconic airplanes are getting a little long in the tooth and making decisions based on economics rather than emotion. Not that I doubted they would. The memo also shared that DAL has hired 467 pilots to date in 2014 and plans monthly new hire classes of 85 for the next year. Get your resumes out!!

With the advent of ETOPS in 1985 there aren't a lot of four-engine jets out there any longer and I suspect that with the new and improved  B-777's and A-350's, they'll all be driven out of the market before too long. What started out as a 90 minute rule is expanding to a 350 minute rule. As nice as it is to have four, mighty jet engines tucked under your wings on that dark and foreboding night, out in the middle of nowhere, their demise will be economically driven.

Arriving LAX 2008

Departing Nagoya 2010

2011 Narita: Interestingly, Airbus announced via ATW in December 2014, that they're considering ending the A-380 line. They're reasoning? Four engines!

2011 LHR

There's a grand sense of security when you reach over and find four throttles. Some call them "thrust levers" but I just never warmed to the term; it sounds sanitized. B747-451 cockpits.

747-451, N661US, MSN 23719, mfg 12/89

Behind a 747-400, R220, NIPPI, N50W160, North Pacific in Russian airspace. "Good afternoon comrade...."

A variety of B-737's  (I never flew the seven-three)

I took these photos of Alaska landing in Portland, (PDX) in 2008 while waiting to depart for Maui in a 757-300. Click HERE to see Alaska's newest 737-800 simulator as its delivered and brought on line. A few more 737's below.

At SEA from B taxiway. 2008

Holding on B taxiway, SEA for AA to come out. 2009

Deice pad, DTW, 2010

2005, SEA from taxiway Bravo

2004, LGA from taxiway Alpha

2006, Can't remember the location

2008, HNL, just days before Aloha shutdown. Note the little engines.

2006, SFO from NWA ramp.

2005 Las Vegas, I really disliked this layover and avoided it as best I could.

Alaska 737, PDX, 2004

Delta 737, 22R, BOS, 2004

UAL 737, MSP, 2005

American 737, LGA, from Alpha taxiway. June 2006

Southwest 737's, LAS, 2005.

Alaska 737, PDX, 2004

Alaska 737-400, SEA, October 2006. It took 30 painters 24 days to complete this look, created by wildlife artist Mark Boyle.

USAir, 1999, LGA

Hooters, 2003, EWR (I think) They didn't last long, they went bust in 2006!

Eastwind, 1999, BDL

A few freighters from around the world....

Shanghai Airways, MD11 landing 24R, LAX, 2008.

Martinair Cargo, MD11, holding on 16L SEA, 2009

FedEx MD11"s. Top landing at PDX 2007. Below, taxiing at Narita 2008.

UPS 767, LAS, 2008

---

UPS 757, ATL, 2009

DHL 767, PHX, 2006

Kalittla 747, ANC, 2007

NWA 747-251, NRT, 2006

JAL 747-200, NRT, 2006

Atlas 747, LAX, 2007

All Nippon 747, AMS, 2006

Air China 747-400, Beijing, 2010

China Airlines, 747-400, somewhere in the US, 2012.

UPS 767, PHL, 2007

DHL 727, DTW, 2005

Precision Airlines D-18, Springfield, VT probably 1975.

DC-3, ANC, 2006

DC-3, ANC, 2006. My camera and I have always been attracted to the freighter side of an airport. Oil seeping from a round engine and the aroma of combusted 100LL have always grabbed my attention.

Kamaka Air Super DC-3, HNL, 2006. Also note the Hawaiian Air, "old paint" DC-9, the Twin Beech and tricycled Twin Beech in the background. When I think about air freight operations, this is the vision that I have in mind. Some may remember "Corrosion Corner" in MIA next to the George T Baker School of Aeronautics. Although prolific with DC-3's, DC-6's and Connies when I started flying into MIA in 1985 with Republic Airlines, older DC-8's and 707's were beginning to take over.

Flying Tigers 747, BOS, 1985

Caravelle, entrance to NE Air Museum, 1995

Guam, 2008

Retired ABEX YS-11's, FLL, 1999.

Delta Air Lines announced in August that they plan to retire four of their 16 B-747-400's by the end of 2014. The first four will be ship numbers: 6301, 6311, 6312 & 6316. These airplanes were built for and delivered to Northwest Airlines, the launch customer for the 747-400. 
Scroll below to visit with each one of these airplanes.

LAX 6/10/07, ship 6301, N661US, MSN 23719, mfg 12/8/89

Ship 6301, LAX, 6/20/09 from a B-757.

Ship 6301, LAX, 3/14/03

Ship 6301, on the ground DTW

MSP 5/18/06, ship 6311, N671US, MSN 26477, mfg 3/29/99

Ship 6311, MSP 5/18/06 from a B-757.

Ship 6311, MSP 5/18/06 from a B-757.

Ship 6311, TLV-JFK, NAT, 6/17/11

Narita (Tokyo) 1/3/11, ship 6312, N672US, MSN 30627, mfg 3/19/99, taken from a B-757 at ramp spot 1.

6312, Narita from A taxiway at runway 34L from a B-757, 1/3/11

6312, Narita, remote parking, from a B-757, 9/12/06

6312, at the gate in Manila, 6/22/12, Manila - NRT

Honolulu, 6/21/09, ship 6316, N676NW, MSN 33002, mfg 4/18/02 taken during a 757 walk around inspection.

6316, pushing back, HNL, 7/12/07.

6316, pushing back HNL, from a B-757 on A taxiway. 7/12/07

6316 on the ground DTW, 2011. Ready to fly flt 629 DTW - NRT.

747-400 disposition update: According to Chief Line Checkairman Steve Hanlon in a 3 October 2014 email, ships 6311, 6312 and 6316 are now stored in Marana, BUT, with the provision that any ship can be reactivated within 48 hours of notice.

A little DC-9 and A-320 comparison (and humor)

"Old" paint NWA DC-9-30, DTW. N8986E, ship# 9993, MSN 47402, mfg 3/69, 100 seats, JT8D-7B, former EAL. Bowling Shoe livery in effect 1989 - 2003.

"Old" paint NWA A-320, DTW, N375NC, ship# 3275, MSN 1789, mfg 4/02, 148 seats, CFM56-5-A3.

Last NWA livery, DC-9-30, DTW, N604NW, ship# 9604, MSN 47222, mfg 4/68, 100 seats, JT8D-9A.

New paint NWA A-320, DTW, N325US, ship# 3225, MSN 281, mfg 12/91, 148 seats, CFM56-5-A3.

N759NW, ship# 9759, DC-9-40, MSN 47287, mfg 8/68, 110 seats, JT8D-11, First Flight 2/25/65.

THIS IS THE HUMOR PART!!

N325US, ship# 3225, A320, MSN 281, mfg 12/91, 148 seats, CFM56-5-A1. First Flight 2/22/87

2/21/06 MCO: I was on the ramp waiting to depart from the gate next door when I noticed this Airbus returning to the gate after the right engine failed to start. Maintenance jumped right on it, cleaned the spark plugs or something and they were on their way.

LAS, 2/10/06: We're flying the redeye back to DTW next to this AA 757.

FLL 1/27/06: From the jetway stairs. Hey, how did Mugaburu Brothers get here?

LAS 8/15/05. AA is waiting for us to get out of his way.

10/29/05 BOS 1600 hrs: And their big brother the B-767 on Kilo in BOS that just arrived from CDG. We're holding short of Kilo preparing to taxi out to runway 9 for DTW. Boeing built 1,050 757's for 54 customers on an assembly line that operated from 1982 until 2004. 1,062 767's have been built and is still in production. I flew the 757 for ten years at NWA but didn't fly a 767 until we merged with DAL in 2008.

- L A N D I N G S - 
All pilots stop what they're doing when they see an aircraft approach to land, airplane photographers position them selves around airports to capture them with long lenses, they're the first thing someone asks me about at parties and passengers think it's the most dangerous aspect of flight. But the approach and landing are fun after you've disengaged  the auto-pilot and  auto-thrust. Here are a few examples.
I'll add to this segment regularly.  rev. info. (11 Pics -  10/12/14)

LAX, 24R, 8/29/07 @ 1757L. There's a saying about good landings... they start with a good approach!

LGA, runway 4, 2/6/05, 1026L

LGA, runway 31, 5/20/07, 1646L, NWA 757-251

A-319, MSP, 30L, 4/22/06, 1804L. DC-9, 604NW, MSN 47222, mfg 4/68

A-319, MSP, 12L from the deice pad, 12/30/05, 1447L

A-320, MSP, 30L, 4/22/06, 1805L. N329NW, MSN 306, mfg 2/92

There are seven airplanes in line here, three in front of me and three behind. What do you think? Are all of these pilots watching this 747-400 land? Not only are they watching, they're wondering, "when will I be able to hold the 747?"

MSP, runway 12R, 5/18/05, 1306L.

(#1) Alaska Airlines 737 landing 24R LAX

(#2) SWA is going into position on 24L and we're on taxiway Echo in a 757-300 headed to HNL.

(#3) This sequence occurred: 2/27/08, LAX, 1541L

Do you remember  TED? 
Created by UAL to compete with Frontier at DENVER, it operated from 2004 until 2009.

TED, which came from the last three letters of UNITED, flew a fleet of 57 A-320's. MCO 2006

They were configured with 156 seats. MCO, 5/29/05.

MCO 5/19/06

LGA, 3/30/04, 1648L.

MCO 5/29/05

How about SONG?
Do you remember them?

FLL, 9/6/05, 1302L.

FLL, 12/12/05, 1351L.

LGA, taxiway Bravo, Whitestone Bridge. 8/20/02, 1053L. SONG, created by DAL to compete with jetBlue, flew a fleet of 48 757's from 2003 until 2006.

MSP, F concourse, 5/7/06, 1725L. We're due out shortly to depart for SAN and I took a variety of pictures from beneath this 757-251 tail while traffic landed of 12R. This is Ship 5520, MSN 23208, mfg 10/27/86. The 757-251 behind us on Alpha taxiway is N549US, Ship 5649, MSN 26496, mfg 9/20/96.

A little DC-10 activity. Aircraft built for NWA were -40's, they later purchased used -30's.

This DC-10-40 had just landed on 12R and turned off on A3 to join Alpha. 5/7/06

MSP, 4/11/04, 240NW and 236NW at the gate.

The center landing gear distinguishes it as a -40, but it could be a former JAL-30ER. 5/7/06

Landing DTW

N243NW, does not appear on my 1986 NWA fleet list. 5/7/06

MSP, 12L, 4/9/04.

B-767-300ER's
I didn't fly a B-767 until we merged with DAL in 2008 and the only model I flew was the 767-300ER. It was a wonderful airplane which I flew to both Europe and Asia.

The main branch of the Seattle Public Library has an extensive Boeing collection.

CAL, FLL, 12/12/05. CAL was the launch customer for the -400ER in 2000.

DAL, SFO, 6/5/07

AA, LAX, 5/22/07. AA was the 300ER launch customer in 1988.

Zoom, LGW, 6/28/08

I found these news stories there on 4/1/10 during a layover.

HAW, SFO, 4/12/04

UPS, PHL, 4/5/07

ANZ, LAX, 4/7/08

Belair, AMS, 5/30/08

USAir, PHL, 3/11/08

DAL, PEK, 6/12/10

UAL, HNL, 8/25/09. From 1981 until 6/14, 1062 767's have been constructed and they're still being built. UAL was the launch customer in 1982.

Shanghai, PEK, 9/4/08. No where near as beautiful as it's little brother, the 757, it's a great flying airplane and with only a few minor differences, the cockpits are identical.

I never met an engine I didn't like 
Starting a jet engine is simple: 
(1) Engage the starter  (2) Check N2 rotation  (3) Open the fuel valve (4) Call the back for more coffee.

One of those large Russian cargo ships. Guam 1/2/11

A-320, BOS, 8/13/11

757-200. SLC, 2/19/06

757-300 PDX, 8/10/06

757-200. MSP, 4/22/06

757-300, SFO, 9/7/07

757-200. MSP, 4/20/06

757-200. DTW, 10/27/05

767-300ER. FRA, 3/14/11

757-300. SFO, 6/9/08

A-330. Paris, 1/18/06

747-400. NRT, 4/13/12

Collings Foundation B-17 Turners Falls, Massachusetts.

Collings Foundation B-17 and my Cub, Keene, NH

DC-6A Falcon Field, near PHX. Since been scraped.

Dakota Aviation Museum, DC-3, Nashua, NH before restoration.

New England Air Museum, BDL, 1935 Lockheed Electra 10A.

Commerative Air Force Museum, Twin Beech, Falcon Field, Mesa, AZ.

Aboard the Dakota Aviation Museum's DC-3, Concord, NH

Aboard the Collings Foundation B-17, north of Nashua, NH.

Now let's talk about starting a radial engine; an 1830 maybe or R2800.
It's similar to conducting an orchestra, getting everyone involved at specific times.

(1) Crack the throttle  (2) Boost pumps on  (3) Hit the started button, count 8 blades  (4) With a spare finger, tickle the primer (5) Magnitos ON  (6) Prepare yourself for smoke, barking, fire, rattling and shaking as the engine thinks about waking up. (7) Repeat step 4, prime as necessary but don't over do it (8) Mixture control to "auto rich" (9) Close the cowl flaps to warm the engine  (10) Check oil pressure  (11) Throttle to idle. (12) Light a cigarette (optional)

Keep in mind that no two engines starts will be exactly alike as outside air temperature and humidity change.
But it's a hell of a lot of fun as the fragrance of combusted aviation gasoline and oil waft into the cockpit as the engines  settle into a soft, throaty crescendo and the fuselage stops shaking.

A variety of "vintage" pre-digital photos of a number of 757's.

I took these three Airbus shots from the cockpit of a B-767-300ER. To see an interesting Airbus video, sent to me by retired Braniff, REP and NWA captain Bill Schoknecht, click HERE

Virgin Airbus departing LGW 1/29/11

DAL Airbus landing NRT 10/1/10

Virgin Airbus departing LGW 12/2/10

A 757 and 767 taken from the PAX terminal at NRT shortly after deboarding. 
To the surprise of many, the 767 flew first on 9/26/81 vs 2/19/82 for the more sleek 757. 

Probably the most beautiful commercial jet designed, Eastern Airlines was the launch customer in 1983. 1,050 units were built from 1981 until 2004. Photo: 9/9/08, NRT, we'd just arrived from Taiwan.

United was the launch customer for the B-767 in 9/8/82. Still in production from 1981, 1,066 units have been built as of 11/14. Photo: This is a -300ER, NRT, taken on 7/9/10 after arriving from Beijing.

Holding short of 24L on Echo at LAX while this UAL 757 lands on 2/27/08. Note the difference in the "trucks" position between the two aircraft. The 767 looks like it will stub its toe on landing.

Holding short of 26L at HNL while a Hawaiian 767 lands on 2/6/10.

In 2007 NWA added "blended" winglets to the 757 which I thought would make it look "squat." I was mistaken, it was even more elegant now. These photos were taken at MCO on 3/31/07 as I did a walk around inspection on another 757 sans winglets. N537US, ship # 5637, a -200, MSN 26484, mfg 2/20/96.

UAL 767, Reef runway HNL, 8/25/09

DAL 767, Reef runway HNL, 9/25/09

HAW 767, Reef runway, HNL, 8/8/09

We're number 2 now for the Reef runway behind Hawaiian. 8/8/09.

This is the view down runway 8R as we go into position and hold. You can see downtown Honolulu and Diamond Head. 8/8/09

The same view down 8R except it's 2330 hours. 6/21/09.

For the NWA crowd; here's 11 minutes of great video, taken between 1989 and 1993 of a variety of NWA airplanes in many different paint schemes at LAX.  Click HERE.

The (extraordinary) Diesel Nine
More than 900 DC-9's were constructed and then more MD's and later B717's followed. It was an airplane that I very much enjoyed flying from 1986 until 1998. A DC-9 pilot becomes very proficient at takeoffs, landings and instrument approaches when flying throughout the upper midwest. To enjoy a west coast produced DC-9 video from the 1980s, click HERE. To read a DC-9 short story I wrote for AIRWAYS Magazine, click HERE.

Ship 9754, a -41 model, MSN 47178, mfg 5/68, delivered to new SAS 6/10/68, waits to enter the deice pad at DTW on 3/2/04.

9/29/05 at MSP with a variety of DC-9's in a couple of NWA liveries.

Ship 9872, N781NC, a -51, MSN 48121, mfg 12/79 departs somewhere on 4/11/04. She flew for NCA, REP, NWA and DAL. That's a lot of paint.

A DAL MD88 from beneath an NWA DC-9 during a walk around inspection on 6/8/05. MSN 53420, mfg 2/93, deliverd to DAL 5/17/93.

ABOVE: The "flight deck" of a Hawaiian Airlines B717 taken 7/11/06 in Kona before we departed for SEA. RIGHT: The "cockpit" of DC-9, ship number 9857, N766NC, on 6/8/07. This is a -51 model, MSN 47739 mfg 2/77 at FL290. Delivered to North Central Airlines 3/25/77.

I shot this American MD82, N578AA, from Bravo taxiway at LGA on 6/11/06. MSN 53155, mfg 6/91.

So, do you think aviation technology has advanced?

A couple of Spirit MD82's that the airline parked near the old DTW tower as they took delivery of their Airbuses. 4/4/07.

ABOVE: These identification placards are located on the wall to the left as you enter a DC-9 cockpit. This DC-9, 766NC was built in 1977 and delivered new to North Central Airlines. Before going into storage it also flew for REP, NWA and DAL. RIGHT: When I started DC-9 sim training in 1986, Captain Ted Williams cut this decal in half and gave me the left side. Two weeks later when I passed my check ride, he gave me the right half.

THIS DC-9-51 MADE HISTORY, when in January, 2014 she operated the last DC-9 flight of a US Air Carrier as DAL 2014 from MSP to ATL. Pictured here in DTW near the old DTW tower, she's found a permanent home now at the Charlotte Aviation Museum. N780NC, ship # 9871, Model -50, MSN 48102 mfg 11/79 was delivered new to North Central Airlines. I took this photo on 6/9/09.

Two views from the cockpit windows of a DC-9-51

We've slipped the surly bonds of earth....

UPPER LEFT: Were departing runway 21 R in DTW. UPPER RIGHT: We've leveled off at FL330 enroute to BOS.
This is ship # 9867, N776NC, MSN 47786, mfg 4/79 for North Central Airlines. I took these pictures from the jumpseat as I commuted home on 8/20/10. Thanks for reading about some of my DC-9 adventures, she was a great airplane and fun to fly.

7/9/06 - SEA
I was in SEA on this date when this DC-10 arrived from HNL and parked at an adjacent gate while I was doing a walk around inspection on a 757.

Ship N235NW, MSN 46915, a -30 model flown at NWA from 1996 until 2006 when she went to ATA as N705TZ. At one time the fleet consisted of 46 airframes, -30's and -40's. The 40's were original to NWA but the -30's came from Korean and Swiss Air.

I flew as a DC-10 copilot out of BOS in 1991 and loved this large, comfortable airplane. The Ten's weren't going to be around much longer so I ran up the stairs to grab a few interior shots too.

The first flight of a DC-10 occurred on 8/29/70, 386 were built and American was the launch customer.

At NWA the Ten flew the Atlantic and Pacific and saw limited duty on long haul US domestic routes.

The FE panel. The panel to the right is a circuit breaker panel.

2-5-2 seating in coach class. There's another coach class behind the next divider which houses two lavatories.

Looking forward in the very spacious first class cabin.

N241NW, MSN 48282, a -30 that flew at NWA from 1999 until 2007 when it was sold to ATA. Here she is at runway 12R in MSP on 5/28/05.

N239NW, MSN 48290, a-30ER, that flew at NWA from 1998 until 2006 when it was sold to Omni Air Int'l as N612AX. Here she is on runway 12R in MSP on 4/9/04.

Northwest Airlines last DC-10 flight. 1/7/07, Flight 98, HNL-MSP. 
Captain Rob Stewart, Captain Tom Knutson, 2nd Officer Craig Woodruff, Purser Sallie Quan

N237NW, MSN 47844, -30, flew at NWA 1997 thru 2007, went to ATA.
(To read a DC-10 story that I wrote for AIRWAYS, click here.)

Poster announcing the DC-10 retirement flight party.

I took this pic of NWA's last flight, HNL-MSP from a 757 taxiing into the gate. Sorry it's blurry, but it's dark and we were moving.

A DC-10 enthusiast who came to watch this historic event took this pic and sent it to me. I was in the 757-300 with the taxi light on. We'd just arrived from Anchorage.