Cockpit photos of airplanes that I've flown and a few that I haven't. 
Welcome to the front office.

B-757-351, N596NW, MSN32996, mfg 10/03 at LAX

B757-351, N589NW, MSN 32989, mfg 3/03 at SFO

DHC-6, deHavilland Twin Otter

Douglas DC-3, probably a former C-47

These four photos are from a Beech-18, or as some call it, a Twin Beech.

My first flying job was in a Twin Beech for Commuter Airlines in BGM flying night mail.

One of my favorite airplanes, Douglas DC-9. Someone once said of this photo, "it looks like a cold war era Russian sub." DC-9-41, N759NW, MSN 47287, mfg 8/68

We flew the DC-9 -10, -20, -30, -40 and -50 at REP and NWA. It's first flight was in 1965 and it has survived into the 2000's. 2014 to be exact. DC-9-51, N671MC, MSN 47660, mfg 2/76

But of all the jets, this is my favorite, the B-727-200. I was fortunate to have flown all 3 seats in this iconic jet.

The entire 727 cockpit. Actually, this is one of our simulators in MSP.

A rainy night in MSP, N529US, MSN 23844, mfg 9/87

Cleaning my own windscreen.

Max Chelf/747-400/to Narita

757-251, SFO/ Redeye to DTW. N552NW, MSN 26499, mfg 7/01

757. Oh oh...no land 3.

Fairchild-Swearingen Metro 3

757 with a few MEL's.

757-300 headed for HNL

Al at the gate in DTW. 744. N672US, MSN 30267, mfg 7/99

Tom at the gate in Narita. 744. N670US, MSN 24225, mfg 8/90

Rob at N67º W163º (Kotzbue) 744. N669US, MSN 24224, mfg 8/90

To learn more, click on this picture.

The cockpit of Breitling's Super Connie as it passed thru MHT on its way to Switzerland.

Engineers panel.

Manchester, NH

A-320 cockpit from Business Class.

Took me a while to adjust...

but I very much liked the Airbus.

My favorite time of the flight was when the flight attendants called and said,
"your crew meals are ready!"
Bon Appetit!

757-351, N586NW, MSN 32987, mfg 11/02. SFO - HNL

NWA 757-251, N549US, MSN 26496, mfg 9/96

757-351, N587NW, MSN 32986, mfg 12/02

N549US

NWA 757-351, N583NW, MSN 32983, mfg 9/02. DAL 2222, 4/2/10, HNL -SFO.

This is how we knew when it was time to descend when approaching a west coast city from HNL. The flight attendants would call and ask, "how much longer?" and then open the door and pass up coffee and these wonderful, Dancing Deer brownies.   Brownies at 0600!        

DHC-6, Twin Otter

Douglas, DC-6B

Boeing B-727. 727's can have the fire handles like this or on the overhead.

The restoration of an old Connie in Lewiston, Maine
Lufthansa Technik has purchased 3 Connies to make 1 flyable, here are a few pics.

Lufthansa Technik has removed

everything for overhaul

Click this pic for more info.

One of two of Maurice Roundy's 1649A's at LEW. This is N7316C. The third is in Florida.

Purchasing ceremony by Lufthansa Technik, one is being restored to flying condition in its new hangar at LEW.

Every boys dream... their own DC-10 cockpit.

Kollsman, you remember them, the people who make altimeters and a whole lot more these days, is based near Nashua, NH. Not too long ago the CEO of Kollsman offered me this DC-10 cockpit that was no longer useful to them. All I had to do was remove it. You can imagine how excited I was, until I learned that it would cost me in excess of $5,000 to move it. It had to be done in the early morning hours and required a police escort because it was so large. Linda was relieved!.

Breakfast aloft in a 767-300ER. We've departed Frankfurt and have been slowed for sequencing as we approach the North Atlantic Track system. Granola and strawberries, I loved this breakfast.

A beautiful morning as we enter the track system from overhead Scotland by the Outer Hebrides Islands. Only seven hours, lunch and many cups of delicious airline coffee to go.

Approaching CYMON, our oceanic entry point.

Just before my retirement, while cooling my heels in DTW on 747-400 short call reserve, I thought to climb aboard a DC-9 and take a few photos before both of us would be gone from the scene. Although not my favorite jet, that's reserved for the 727, I very much enjoyed my time on the Nine and learned much about U.S. geography and how to sleep and eat fast! This aircraft is a DC-9-51, ship # 9884, N677MC, MSN 47756, mfg 12/77. I took these photos on 8/7/11 in DTW.

Unlike today's "glass flight decks" this cockpit has dials, switches, gauges, levers, buttons, knobs and lights everywhere. All of our Nines had this "cheery" aqua environment.

Sophistication and this photo together are an oxymoron, but it was a lot of fun.

Rather than screens that consolidate data, information is scattered everywhere. You needed to develop an efficient scan to maintain situational awareness. Flying a single engine missed approach to an NDB hold required effort.

Although introduced at about the same time as the 727, (1965) the DC-9 was far more automated. The Nine didn't employee a flight engineer so the electrical, fuel and pneumatic systems had many auto functions.

Just a few MEL's. "Essential power, download, power the bus." Others called it the "Fowler Four." NWA 727-251, N275NW, MSN 21154, mfg 1975.

NWA 727-251, 275US, MSN 21154 mfg 1979.

I spent seven fantastic years on the 727 and managed to fly all three seats. I also instructed pilots and engineers for several years too; another great experience. Of all the jets, this is my favorite.

My lucky rabbits foot. NWA 727-251, N296US, MSN 21788 mfg 1979

We're in "nosebleed" territory. 757-251, enroute to SEA, 7/7/10, 2015L @MSP.

MSP to SEA. RIGHT: Ship 5640, N540US, MSN 26487, mfg 4/96.

Commuting to work on an A-320, BOS to DTW 1/13/09, 1035L. LEFT: captains CDU, CENTER: captains flight and nav displays. RIGHT: center pedestal, thrust levers. BELOW, fuel info page.

Above FL400 is rare. I may have done this a dozen times when light and taking advantage of winds.

There is really nothing, quite as serene as a darkened cockpit, far out to sea in the middle of the night. Alone with your thoughts and a delicious cup of airline coffee.

With the thunderstorm lites out. 2/8/06

With the thunderstorm lites on. 757-200, N503US, MSN 23192, mfg 4/85.

757-200, 7/11/06

At or about 20ºW, inbound to AMS.

NWA 803, SFO - HNL, 5/30/07: 757-351, Ship# 5802, N582NW, MSN 32981, mfg 7/02
A few cockpit sights as we approach BILLO on R464. 

We're approaching BILLO on R464 which is very near our ETOPS point (142ºW) between SFO and HNL.

Our IRS Mode Control Panel overhead indicates that we're at our ETOPS point, near BILLO at N30º50' W142º. PPOS means "present position."

The wind is from 267º at 38 knots. Do you see the three NAV selectors at the bottom of the unit? This is how we align the IRS's. The next knob up marked L-C-R, selects which IRS we're looking at.

Our track is 241º and our groundspeed is 422 knots. We're in the TK/GS position. The IRS's are automatically aligned one last time as we advance the throttles for takeoff.

Drop down to BILLO on our "howgozit" form to check our progress. We passed BILLO at 0159, 4 minutes earlier than planned, BEKME intersection is next and we recalculate to arrive there at 0300Z. BOARD intersection is next. At BILLO the OAT is -51º, the wind is very near forecasted at 265º at 40 knots, the ride is smooth, indicated by the 0 and we have 32900 pounds of fuel remaining. LOOKS GOOD, press on.

This is our Jepp chart that we've highlighted to show our track, planned intersections, ETOPS point and where we keep a few notes. Flight planning is actually fun, but the goal is to remain on the proper track and double check all variables at each intersection to determine if anything has changed that will effect our arrival at HNL. Are we burning fuel as planned? Are our arrival fuel/time predictions accurate? Have the winds changed? What's our weight? Can we climb to a more efficient altitude? There's a lot of information here that will guide us in decision making.

After passing Maui, we've descended on profile on the MAGGI3 arrival and are now directly over head and looking down into the Diamond Head crater.

Marc further slows the airplane, calls for flaps 20º and turns onto a final for runway 8L. He's an excellent pilot, executes his approach very smoothly and slows to flap speeds "before" asking for the next flap setting.

We've been given a heading to fly a downwind for runway 8L. This is the view of Waikiki and downtown Honolulu from the FO's side window.

And all of our calculations have worked out perfectly. Five hours and 2,200 miles later we're on final, approaching the Pearl Harbor Channel for 8L with Waikiki and Diamond Head in the background. See you at Dukes!!