Ah yes... the Airplanes.
The focus of any airline career.
Let's start out with a few airline advertisements. (5)
The focus of any airline career.
Let's start out with a few airline advertisements. (5)

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."

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.
For a change... what's going on beneath the airplane?
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.
I took these pics on 9/30/09, shortly after Qantas parked the 380 fleet due to several engine failures.

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

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.

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.
TAILS: The part that makes the airplane go straight and the flying billboard.
View from our windscreen in a 767-300ER as we depart London Heathrow for DTW. 11/21/10
To see how the airplane above....
became this airplane.... CLICK ON the DAL 747.

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.

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

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.
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.
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.
A few freighters from around the world....

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.
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.
Scroll below to visit with each one of these airplanes.
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)

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)
Do you remember TED?
Created by UAL to compete with Frontier at DENVER, it operated from 2004 until 2009.
Created by UAL to compete with Frontier at DENVER, it operated from 2004 until 2009.
A little DC-10 activity. Aircraft built for NWA were -40's, they later purchased used -30's.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
To the surprise of many, the 767 flew first on 9/26/81 vs 2/19/82 for the more sleek 757.
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.
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.
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.)
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