When flying was fun

[remphish1]

Great pictures from the hey day of flying 50-60's....

 

http://www.life.com/image/53367148/in-gallery/38402/when-flying-was-fun

 

[Winston Legthigh]

Those photos were great. I remember the days of pressing my face to the glass to watch my Pa fly away.

 

Loved the photo of the swingin stew.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Awesome photos. I used to love flying when I was a kid. I remember my dad looking down at me at O'Hare once on the moving walkway and saying, "Wait until you have to fly for business." I don't have to now, but my parents have since moved a flying distance away from me, and I really don't care much for flying anymore.

[Doug C]

Thanks for that. Flying is so far removed from what it once was. Some of the difference is simply due to cultural change and the novelty wearing off, no longer dressing 'nicely', for example. Some is due to economics as in cramped qurters and less service. And of course, the security changes. I still enjoy flying because I love to travel but I am glad that I have memories of flying circa 1970 on. A totally different head. International flights are the only time that the service even approaches the 'old days'.

 

I agree with Winston that picture #4 of the Southwest stewardesses (did I spell that correctly?) is priceless.

[Wendy]

When I was young, every time the plane would land, the passengers would applause for the pilot! Good landing!!!

[Doug C]

Oh, yes. I remember that. It was just expected. I know that I am old when all that I can say is, 'times change'.

[sureshot]

When I was young, every time the plane would land, the passengers would applause for the pilot! Good landing!!!

 

Thats awesome. Now of course, you'd be applauding the computer.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Now of course, you'd be applauding the computer.

 

You know that autopilot doesn't mean planes fly themselves, right? Pilots still do a hell of a lot of work?

 

A good read on this subject.

[moxiebean]

I remember a 1969 kindergarten field trip we took to Friendship Airport (now Baltimore/Washington International) where they herded us all up into the airport control tower where we saw the controllers huddled around those green glowing radar screens. We also got to sit on an airplane and we each got a gold airlines pin with wings (United or PanAm?). I guess in post-9/11 those days are long gone.

[jff]

My dad worked for Delta and our extended family lived in Boston (we live in Atlanta), so I flew a lot as a kid in the '70s and '80s. I remember there always being loads of empty seats on the airplanes. They used to fly L-1011s, which were enormous compared to what they fly now. In coach, the L-1011s had five seats per row in the middle and two or three per row on either side. You could usually take your pick of the numerous entirely empty middle rows and stretch out or take a nap.

 

I can't remamber the last time I was on a flight that had ANY empty seats. More often than not, they offer cash and vouchers as incentives for people to give up their seats and take a later flight.

[jff]

I remember a 1969 kindergarten field trip we took to Friendship Airport (now Baltimore/Washington International) where they herded us all up into the airport control tower where we saw the controllers huddled around those green glowing radar screens. We also got to sit on an airplane and we each got a gold airlines pin with wings (United or PanAm?). I guess in post-9/11 those days are long gone.

 

That must've been a great field trip.

 

My dad arranged for my Cub Scout pack to visit the hangar (must've been '81 or '82). We got to ride around on the tugs, which was tons of fun. No way that'd happen now. We also all got a big kick out of seeing the topless photos taped to most of the mechanics' tool chests.

[Guest Speed Racer]

I will always give up my seat if I don't have pressing engagements upon arrival at my destination. I've done it three or four times, and I haven't regretted it.

 

Airports and airplanes have become the realization of Thomas Hobbes's State of Nature, except for the "short" part, of course. I have sprinted through Atlanta, lost bags, been overbooked, bumped and endured a terrifying emergency landing once. People who are otherwise sane and agreeable are always a simple breeze away from snapping. I've seen parents scream at perfectly reasonable and quiet children, couples have arguments in public I would be ashamed to have in private; it's truly amazing what flying does to people now.

[Analogman]

I can't remamber the last time I was on a flight that had ANY empty seats. More often than not, they offer cash and vouchers as incentives for people to give up their seats and take a later flight.

 

I have noticed this on a lot on the trips I take on Southwest now. They seem to overbook flights quite often.

 

I never flew anywhere until in I was in the military (1984-1986), and then not again until a couple of years ago. Things have definitely changed.

[lamradio]

Hey, flying is still fun. Well, at least general aviation is still fun.. I just got to fly in my first small plane a few weeks ago. My band hired a pilot to fly us to/from two shows we had, and I had a blast.. It was a small Cherokee Warrior. The pilot even let me fly for a little while.

 

At one point we were flying through a bunch of clouds. The pilot found a small break in the clouds and said "hey, let's fly through that hole!" and we turned completely sideways (almost upside down) to fly through it... Fun stuff..

[Good Old Neon]

 

 

I've seen parents scream at perfectly reasonable and quiet children, couples have arguments in public I would be ashamed to have in private; it's truly amazing what shopping at Walmart does to people now.

 

This also.

[bleedorange]

They overbook everything now. It must be more important to ensure a flight is full and give away a few vouchers than the alternative, I guess. My friend and I booked an LA flight for the Rose Bowl and got bumped to a later flight. We got a $400 voucher and were able to go see a movie nearby before our next flight. Worked out pretty well.

 

Of course, a week before, a connection from Phoenix to DFW was canceled and my wife, daughter, and I had to spend the night in Phoenix. The next morning I sat next to the pilot of what was supposed to be our flight the night before, and he said every year they have a bunch of flight attendants that quit right before the holidays because they don't want to work during those days. I think he said around 350 had quit, which was forcing all the cancellations (that and the weather in the midwest).

[Good Old Neon]

Hey, flying is still fun. Well, at least general aviation is still fun.. I just got to fly in my first small plane a few weeks ago. My band hired a pilot to fly us to/from two shows we had, and I had a blast.. It was a small Cherokee Warrior. The pilot even let me fly for a little while.

 

At one point we were flying through a bunch of clouds. The pilot found a small break in the clouds and said "hey, let's fly through that hole!" and we turned completely sideways (almost upside down) to fly through it... Fun stuff..

 

So, who would you like to see play the part of Lamrod in the future tragidrama?

[Guest Speed Racer]

This also.

 

Have you ever at least tried to stay on topic?

[lamradio]

So, who would you like to see play the part of Lamrod in the future tragidrama?

 

 

You know as soon as the pilot did the crazy "fly through the clouds" stunt, I couldn't help but think of this guy..

[Guest Speed Racer]

Hey, flying is still fun. Well, at least general aviation is still fun.. I just got to fly in my first small plane a few weeks ago.

 

Glad you enjoyed it, but my only experience was like being in a 150mph leaf in the breeze that, if the breeze stopped blowing, meant instant death.

 

After my emergency landing I practically need horse tranquilizers to board; I couldn't get on a small plane unless I was wearing a diaper and completely unconscious.

[Guest Speed Racer]

My dad had a lot of business trips with an attorney who survived this crash, and his preflight ritual consisted of smoking about two packs of cigarettes and downing the better part of a bottle of whiskey and then, if he was lucky, passing out before the flight. Kinda sucked for morning flights preceding afternoon depositions.

[Analogman]

Of course, a week before, a connection from Phoenix to DFW was canceled and my wife, daughter, and I had to spend the night in Phoenix. The next morning I sat next to the pilot of what was supposed to be our flight the night before, and he said every year they have a bunch of flight attendants that quit right before the holidays because they don't want to work during those days. I think he said around 350 had quit, which was forcing all the cancellations (that and the weather in the midwest).

 

That is amazing. I generally try to sleep during the flight, so I sort of hate it when they bug you to offer you peanuts or whatever.

[Guest Speed Racer]

Despite (or maybe because of) all of my experiences with flying, I am obsessed by all things related to commercial airline travel - especially when it goes wrong. I read Ask the Pilot intermittently, but also read the weekly Washington Post online travel chat, and I have read (and re-read, and re-re-read, and re-re-re-read) most of the Wikipedia entries under this heading.

[bleedorange]

Despite (or maybe because of) all of my experiences with flying, I am obsessed by all things related to commercial airline travel - especially when it goes wrong. I read Ask the Pilot intermittently, but also read the weekly Washington Post online travel chat, and I have read (and re-read, and re-re-read, and re-re-re-read) most of the Wikipedia entries under this heading.

 

A friend of mine who has flown a lot for work is similarly obsessed.

 

Speaking of small planes, I flew a sea plane from Seattle to Victoria last summer. Smoothest landing I've ever experienced.

[jff]

I was amazed at some of the differences between flying in the US and flying in Peru. In Peru, they would bring out two stairways and load/unload passengers from the front and back of the plane. They got those planes loaded and unloaded in minutes. It seems like it takes close to an hour to get all the passengers on a plane in the US.