A Dream Job!!!

[LandRvr Convert]

Although 9/11 has taken alot of the fun out of commercial air travel, flying remains my favorite way to travel long distances.

I'll admit I am biased, as my Dad just retired from Delta after almost 40 years there. I have flown more in my 41 years than most people will fly in a lifetime. It's been a large part of my life since I was 2 years old, so flying is in my blood.

I am always amazed with the power of the engines on a jet especially at takeoff no matter how many times I fly! Incredible power!

Anyway, the video I've attatched is my favorite. I watch it alot. Great music too!

It's a KLM MD-11, a huge jet. After watching this video, who wouldn't want to be a pilot?!

 

[LandRvr Convert]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0zku7Z8VVYY

Here's the video!

 

[Mark86]

Even though I am not a pilot, I love everything about flying. I love traveling by airplane, flying a plane in FSX, and collecting model airplanes. Before everything happened, I used to enjoy photographing airplanes on approach too!

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Mark86,

Every now and then on a nice Sunday afternoon, I'll go down to Hartsfield (the busiest in the world) and watch takeoffs and landings from the top of one of the parking decks. Binoculars are OK, but if security sees a camera, they'll be on you really fast.

I found a website with a huge database of really great photographs of all kinds of airplanes. It's www.airliners.net
You can search for photos by aircraft type or by airline. Really cool.

 

[JB.]

When my son was little we used to routinely go to the airport and just hang around watching planes, talking about the layout, equipment, etc - going just about anywhere we wished. Probably did that 20 or 30 times. He even once got a detailed tour of a cockpit from a really nice pilot.

We also went to the local small airport a few times and wandered around outside, walking right up to any plane and looking at it for as long as we wanted. Even at the time, I was amazed we were allowed to go anywhere we wanted. I'm not really even a plane guy, but it was just such a great way of sharing an interesting experience that could be enjoyed simultaneously on both an adult and child's level. This was all before 9/11, of course. My son was 6 1/2 on 9/11/2001. Luckily, he still has quite a few memories of those airport days.

 

[Mark86]

Mark86,

Every now and then on a nice Sunday afternoon, I'll go down to Hartsfield (the busiest in the world) and watch takeoffs and landings from the top of one of the parking decks. Binoculars are OK, but if security sees a camera, they'll be on you really fast.

I found a website with a huge database of really great photographs of all kinds of airplanes. It's www.airliners.net
You can search for photos by aircraft type or by airline. Really cool.

Funny you should mention that site, I actually have 3 photographs uploaded there. I used to love sitting in the Ikea parking lot across the street from Newark airport and watching the planes take off. The best part was when the 747's, 777's, DC10's, etc would take off. That was like music to my ears! I don't even do that anymore because it is not worth the trouble. I was able to get a tour of the cockpit last time I traveled which was really fun.

 

[sharp4runr]

You guys ever see the movie "Pushing Tin"? I LMAO at the part when John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton are on a runway when a plane is landing.

 

[Rescue84]

Before 9/11 I had the opportunity to go out in Boston Harbor on my uncle's boat and sit at the end of the runway watching planes land. If anyone has ever flown into Logan, at least one of the runways starts right at the edge of the harbor so the planes are literally just a couple hundred feet over your head, it was incredible.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Rescue84, yeah, I know what you mean. I've flown into Boston several times, and on final approach it looks like you're going to land in the water until the last second! LOL!

A few other airports I've flown into that had a similar approach over water are Anchorage, AK, Salt Lake City, Laguardia (NYC), and Regan Nat'l. in DC.

Here's a good final approach video into Boston
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mFi7pU1QxZw

Here is another approach video into Boston. Geeeeeeze talk about NO visibility until the last second! http://youtube.com/watch?v=o18iLX2EMqE

On landings like this last one, I'm blown away with how accurate the navigation is!

Enjoy!

 

[Mark86]

Has anybody ever flown into San Diego? That approach is scary because you fly very close to the buildings. It makes for a great view from the window seat though!

 

[LandRvr Convert]

Mark, yes many years ago, but I remember final approach very close to downtown SanDiego!!
I was a kid then, and thought 'did the pilot miss a turn back there" This doesn't look right!!! LMAO!

Phoenix is the same on final approach right beside the the tall downtown buildings and the big sporting arena. Pretty cool.

The first time I flew into DIA, I rermber thinking, I think we landed in Kansas! It was flat with corfields and I did'nt see the Rockies!!LOL

Funny, flying on my dad's pass as a kid, we almost aways got on in first class (not so much nowadays) and see and hear what was going on in the cockpit as we taxied out. I remember saying to my dad , gee the cockpit door does't look very strong. Dad's response was something like it has to be made of lightweight material to be a part of the plane. Anyway, it just seemed unsafe from an intrusuion standpoint to me.

I have noticed on recent flights (at least on Delta flights) when one of the pilots comes out to take a leak, the flight attendants will block the very front of the aisle wit a fully loaded drink cart. Seems like a good idea.

Cheers

 

[Mark86]

Mark, yes many years ago, but I remember final approach very close to downtown SanDiego!!
I was a kid then, and thought 'did the pilot miss a turn back there" This doesn't look right!!! LMAO!

Phoenix is the same on final approach right beside the the tall downtown buildings and the big sporting arena. Pretty cool.

The first time I flew into DIA, I rermber thinking, I think we landed in Kansas! It was flat with corfields and I did'nt see the Rockies!!LOL

Funny, flying on my dad's pass as a kid, we almost aways got on in first class (not so much nowadays) and see and hear what was going on in the cockpit as we taxied out. I remember saying to my dad , gee the cockpit door does't look very strong. Dad's response was something like it has to be made of lightweight material to be a part of the plane. Anyway, it just seemed unsafe from an intrusuion standpoint to me.

I have noticed on recent flights (at least on Delta flights) when one of the pilots comes out to take a leak, the flight attendants will block the very front of the aisle wit a fully loaded drink cart. Seems like a good idea.

Cheers

JetBlue and Continental do that as well. I actually like that new rule.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

The cockpit video of Bonaire is awesome! As LandRvr Convert points out it is kinda a dream job! His Dad was in at the right time. It's a very cyclic industry and if your in at the right time it's truly a wonderful life... During some bad times I have said, "$%#@&&*!!, I'm quitting this f-ing industry" and then I go flying. That fixes me and if that doesn't get me totally fixed the next question does; what would I do if I didn't fly? Bottom line is if the engines aren't whining the crew is:biggrin2: Nothing beats flyin'. I mean if I could do what I do or be a pornstar I'd stay where I am...

 

[LandRvr Convert]

The cockpit video of Bonaire is awesome! As LandRvr Convert points out it is kinda a dream job! His Dad was in at the right time. It's a very cyclic industry and if your in at the right time it's truly a wonderful life... During some bad times I have said, "$%#@&&*!!, I'm quitting this f-ing industry" and then I go flying. That fixes me and if that doesn't get me totally fixed the next question does; what would I do if I didn't fly? Bottom line is if the engines aren't whining the crew is:biggrin2: Nothing beats flyin'. I mean if I could do what I do or be a pornstar I'd stay where I am...

Well said Chris! You're right, it's a tough business to be in sometimes. There is an excellent "behind the scenes" show that originally aired on CNBC last fall. It's a two hour documentary by Peter Greenberg called "A Week In The Life at American Airlines." I bought the DVD from the CNBC website and it is just fantastic! The cameras were allowed just about everywhere from the maintenace base in Tulsa, OK, (showed a complete overhaul of an MD-88) baggage handling on the ramp, interviews with the CEO, management, labor unions, ticket sales, etc.

Of course one of my favorite segments is the cameras were allowed in the cockpit of AAs flight #1. A 767 flight from JFK to LAX, complete with all cockpit to ground, tower and ATC communication during the flight.

It really shows how incredibly expensive flying is and how very complex a business it is to run. One statistic in the video stated AA Flight #1 used enough jet fuel during it's one flight from JFK to LAX to fill up 2,000 minivans! Incredible!

I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

:bigok: