Suicidal pilot could be anticipated by super-deep vetting before he is hired. Check his genealogical record. Did Granny or her mother/father spend time in mental asylums in their day?

(Written on 18/06/2021)(Permalink)

Remember the old movie "Julie" with hostess Doris Day landing the DC-6B when the pilot was shot? Doris did a great job, but how many girls are there like her?

(Written on 18/06/2021)(Permalink)

Why the copilot? Because, generally unknown to the public, anyone can drop dead at any time, even if inconvenient. I disapprove of dropping the second pilot.

(Written on 18/06/2021)(Permalink)

The old Coors brewery in Golden Colorado is a good example of this; they actually originally paid better than union scale.

(Written on 28/08/2020)(Permalink)

That will affect the real estate market at that location, where I used to operate. (I also used to work for Boeing, but down in Kent on the southside) I remember showing a nice new house to one lady up from California on a Tuesday morning at Everett when I had forgotten that that is the time to roll out a new 747 from the assembly building 1 mile away. First time to start up all four engines on a new plane. Well that totally turned off the California lady "Oh, gracious, am I going to have to listen to that all the time?" I assured her it was only once per week on Tuesday morning, but of course she didn't believe me.

(Written on 28/08/2020)(Permalink)

Electra was a great, reliable plane, except attracted insects to it's intakes causing engine to stall. FAA determined sound of turbines was just right to attract them. Fix? ?

(Written on 22/08/2020)(Permalink)

I used to work at FAA Hq in Washington, where NOTAMS are edited and distributed. The same IBM 360-30 which originated and sent out NOTAMS did all the local stuff for us. I wrote the first program to require the 360-40; I tested and wrote it in two pieces, and joined them back when the 40 was installed.

(Written on 15/08/2020)(Permalink)

I remember the undershoots (see my comment today). All I heard later was FAA mandating a change in flap degrees to 40 from 30 as correction; no more after that, I believe. One time coming into Wash National I experienced the "fishtailing". Great plane other than that. I have more hours on a 727 than any of the more recent ones.

(Written on 15/08/2020)(Permalink)

Not mentioned here is the problem that this design had with undershooting runways at times, because of weight distribution and possibly rear microbursts at low speeds at times. At original landing specs the plane could go into a "fishtail", and drop before the runway was reached and at too low an altitude to correct. FAA later corrected this problem by mandating 40 degree flap adjust on landing over the prior 30 degree setting, which worked for the rest of the planes life. The undershoots produced fatalities, one of which I witnessed as a purchasing expeditor for a small company losing their sales manager in the Salt Lake City crash. Very sad as the poor fellow had just moved into a new house in Wellesley after marrying the owner's daughter.

(Written on 15/08/2020)(Permalink)

My first flight was on one back in December 1946. Nonstop Boston to Washington, American Airlines, 2 hours and 5 minutes as scheduled. Fare for a minor: $10.00.

(Written on 05/06/2020)(Permalink)