Geriaviator,
I must say that on the few occasions on which I have seen (from a safe distance) a 747 levitate, I've always thought "How on earth......?" - and a ton of paint would represent 10 pax, I would think. Might be enough to put the flight into profit. As most of the things I flew had hides like crocodiles with surface drag to match, it has never really occurred to me. You can learn something new every day !
I'm a bit slow on the uptake, but I've suddendly tumbled to it - "Graham" is a pseudonym, of course ! (and we all know who he really was, don't we ?) No wonder you know so much about "Abdul's" temperament. Speaking as one who doesn't much like things with big claws (and who can't run very fast - or - at all now), how big was he actually, ?
Hope you left him in Aden !
Danny.