Them's were the days - jets with good-sounding grunt and a graceful signature of burnt kero behind!
The Air Nauru 727 taking off from Nauru. What an awe-inspiring sight and sound. Island houses among the palm trees lined either side of the 5200 ft runway copped the lot but no complaints The traffic cop on his motor bike stopping the traffic at each runway end. The noise of the JT8D's was incredible but the population didn't mind because it was the pilots and flight engineers of Air Nauru who were the life blood of that tiny island bringing in from overseas, food, medical supplies, mail, bank notes, car parts and new comers on contracts. The whole length of the runway was needed for take off and landing and there was no shortage of the ghouls holding their breath wondering if a disaster would occur.