Good story...but I disagree with you "not the same today" line. If flying (whatever you fly and wherever you go) doesn't make someone happy today it probably never would have. In any case I don't recall being specially happy thundering along in cloud at night, St Elmo's Fire all round, chunks of ice being thrown of the props and the passengers throwing up into the chemical toilet.
But the 727 was fun
Viastra.