Not so long ago...
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: in the bunk
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not so long ago...
"Lifted" off another website
In the age of the 707 / DC8 / 727 / DC9
Those were the good ole days. Pilots back then were men that didn't want
to be women or girlymen. Pilots all knew who Jimmy Doolittle was. Pilots
drank coffee, whiskey, smoked cigars and didn't wear digital watches.
They carried their own suitcases and brain bags like the real men that
they were. Pilots didn't bend over into the crash position multiple times
each day in front of the passengers at security so that some Gov't agent
could probe for tweezers or fingernail clippers or too much toothpaste.
Pilots did not go through the terminal impersonating a caddy pulling a
bunch of golf clubs, computers, guitars, and feed bags full of tofu and
granola on a sissy-trailer with no hat and granny glasses hanging on a
pink string around their pencil neck while talking to their personal
trainer on the cell phone!!!
Being an Airline Captain was as good as being the King in a Mel Brooks
movie. All the Stewardesses (aka.Flight Attendants) were young,
attractive, single women that were proud to be combatants in the sexual
revolution. They didn't have to turn sideways, grease up and suck it in to
get through the cockpit door. They would blush and say thank you when told
that they looked good, instead of filing a sexual harrassment claim.
Junior Stewardesses shared a room and talked about men.... with no
thoughts of substitution.
Passengers wore nice clothes and were polite, they could speak AND
understand English. They didn't speak gibberish or listen to loud gangsta
rap on their IPods. They bathed and didn't smell like a rotting pile of
garbage in a jogging suit and flip-flops. Children didn't travel alone,
commuting between trailer parks. There were no mongolhordes asking for a
'mu-fuggin' seatbelt extension or a Scotch and grapefruit juice cocktail
with a twist.
If the Captain wanted to throw some offensive, ranting jerk off the
airplane, it was done without any worries of a lawsuit or getting fired.
Axial flow engines crackled with the sound of freedom and left an
impressive black smoke trail like a locomotive burning soft coal. Jet fuel
was cheap and once the throttles were pushed up they were left there,
after all it was the jet age and the idea was to go fast (run like a
lizard on a hardwood floor). Economy cruise was something in the
performance book, but no one knew why or where it was. When the overspeed
clacker went off no one got all tight and scared because Boeing/Douglas
built it out of iron, nothing was going to fall off and that sound had the
same effect on real pilots then as Viagra does now for those new age guys.
There was very little plastic and no composites on the airplanes or the
Stewardesses' pectoral regions. Airplanes and women had eye pleasing
symetrical curves, not a bunch of ugly vortex generators, ventral fins,
winglets, flow diverters, tatoos, rings in their nose, tongues and
eyebrows.
Airlines were run by men who had built their companies virtually from
scratch, knew many of their employees by name and were lifetime airline
employees themselves...not pseudo financiers and bean counters who flit
from one occupation to another for a few bucks, a better parachute or a
fancier title while fervently believing that they are a class of beings
unto themselves.
And so it was back then....and never will be again.
AMEN
In the age of the 707 / DC8 / 727 / DC9
Those were the good ole days. Pilots back then were men that didn't want
to be women or girlymen. Pilots all knew who Jimmy Doolittle was. Pilots
drank coffee, whiskey, smoked cigars and didn't wear digital watches.
They carried their own suitcases and brain bags like the real men that
they were. Pilots didn't bend over into the crash position multiple times
each day in front of the passengers at security so that some Gov't agent
could probe for tweezers or fingernail clippers or too much toothpaste.
Pilots did not go through the terminal impersonating a caddy pulling a
bunch of golf clubs, computers, guitars, and feed bags full of tofu and
granola on a sissy-trailer with no hat and granny glasses hanging on a
pink string around their pencil neck while talking to their personal
trainer on the cell phone!!!
Being an Airline Captain was as good as being the King in a Mel Brooks
movie. All the Stewardesses (aka.Flight Attendants) were young,
attractive, single women that were proud to be combatants in the sexual
revolution. They didn't have to turn sideways, grease up and suck it in to
get through the cockpit door. They would blush and say thank you when told
that they looked good, instead of filing a sexual harrassment claim.
Junior Stewardesses shared a room and talked about men.... with no
thoughts of substitution.
Passengers wore nice clothes and were polite, they could speak AND
understand English. They didn't speak gibberish or listen to loud gangsta
rap on their IPods. They bathed and didn't smell like a rotting pile of
garbage in a jogging suit and flip-flops. Children didn't travel alone,
commuting between trailer parks. There were no mongolhordes asking for a
'mu-fuggin' seatbelt extension or a Scotch and grapefruit juice cocktail
with a twist.
If the Captain wanted to throw some offensive, ranting jerk off the
airplane, it was done without any worries of a lawsuit or getting fired.
Axial flow engines crackled with the sound of freedom and left an
impressive black smoke trail like a locomotive burning soft coal. Jet fuel
was cheap and once the throttles were pushed up they were left there,
after all it was the jet age and the idea was to go fast (run like a
lizard on a hardwood floor). Economy cruise was something in the
performance book, but no one knew why or where it was. When the overspeed
clacker went off no one got all tight and scared because Boeing/Douglas
built it out of iron, nothing was going to fall off and that sound had the
same effect on real pilots then as Viagra does now for those new age guys.
There was very little plastic and no composites on the airplanes or the
Stewardesses' pectoral regions. Airplanes and women had eye pleasing
symetrical curves, not a bunch of ugly vortex generators, ventral fins,
winglets, flow diverters, tatoos, rings in their nose, tongues and
eyebrows.
Airlines were run by men who had built their companies virtually from
scratch, knew many of their employees by name and were lifetime airline
employees themselves...not pseudo financiers and bean counters who flit
from one occupation to another for a few bucks, a better parachute or a
fancier title while fervently believing that they are a class of beings
unto themselves.
And so it was back then....and never will be again.
AMEN
Last edited by three eighty; 13th Feb 2009 at 05:31.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South Africa
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey Three Eighty, showing your age aren't you? - I agree with some, others not, but you know what they say in the classics : "the only constant is change!" - Go well my brother!
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: In this very moment of a short life.
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a refreshing read, except it made me have a panic attack cause I remember those days and they were great and now they are finished for ever.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
three eighty,
A lot of that was quite a time; and what a time it was!
Again, those were the times when Captains were 'TIN GODS' and co-pilots were just passengers lifting and dropping gear, with no opinions whatsoever relating to the safety of the airplane and it's occupant. A passenger in the cockpit that was to be seen doing stuff, but never heard.
Also the times when expressing an opinion to a Senior Captain got you in a world of trouble; because as a younger Captain, your opinion was classed as insubordination and rebellious! And by the way, what did you know anyway?
A time that make me realise, that truly, the young must grow and the old will die eventually!
The advent of wasteful management of dear resources, flying with no discipline or CRM.
A time when the guy in the left seat decided if we all lived or died even if he had an empty skull!
A time when you had to kiss ar$e to get ahead in the industry; because if you didnt belong to the clique with the so called 'Generals' of the air? You were f**ked!!
A time when just slight discomfort at the decision of the left hand seat bagage, would lose you your next PC or Recurrent.
A time when the frog in the left seat told us stories of how they flew DC3's in 300kt jetstreams that hit them head on, leaving them holding over the same position for 3 hours.
A time when the dimwitt would dictate what happened, when it happened and how it happened with no consideration for other ideas.
A time when Mr Captain could decide that though we were overloaded, we could still depart because he had done it a thousand times before.
A time when FLYING for those who came into it for the love of it, were turned into total dummies because Captain was GOD!!!
I fear that many co-pilots from that era have now become Captains as empty headed as their predecessors!
This is evident when you change airplane on them suddenly and watch their performance on newer equipment.
It sadly was a time of plenty, but unfortunately, that was a time when there were no thoughts of it ever ending and irresponsibility was rife!
A time when Captains were made in their 20's and had to bow to the older ones in order not to lose that most treasured extra stripe!
We are where we are today because our predecessors did not leave good precedence!
To be honest, I am glad we are past those times and glad they shall never return.
It would gladden my heart NOT to hear such stories from any of my children who ever decide to fly for a living.
Now we all know better!
A lot of that was quite a time; and what a time it was!
Again, those were the times when Captains were 'TIN GODS' and co-pilots were just passengers lifting and dropping gear, with no opinions whatsoever relating to the safety of the airplane and it's occupant. A passenger in the cockpit that was to be seen doing stuff, but never heard.
Also the times when expressing an opinion to a Senior Captain got you in a world of trouble; because as a younger Captain, your opinion was classed as insubordination and rebellious! And by the way, what did you know anyway?
A time that make me realise, that truly, the young must grow and the old will die eventually!
The advent of wasteful management of dear resources, flying with no discipline or CRM.
A time when the guy in the left seat decided if we all lived or died even if he had an empty skull!
A time when you had to kiss ar$e to get ahead in the industry; because if you didnt belong to the clique with the so called 'Generals' of the air? You were f**ked!!
A time when just slight discomfort at the decision of the left hand seat bagage, would lose you your next PC or Recurrent.
A time when the frog in the left seat told us stories of how they flew DC3's in 300kt jetstreams that hit them head on, leaving them holding over the same position for 3 hours.
A time when the dimwitt would dictate what happened, when it happened and how it happened with no consideration for other ideas.
A time when Mr Captain could decide that though we were overloaded, we could still depart because he had done it a thousand times before.
A time when FLYING for those who came into it for the love of it, were turned into total dummies because Captain was GOD!!!
I fear that many co-pilots from that era have now become Captains as empty headed as their predecessors!
This is evident when you change airplane on them suddenly and watch their performance on newer equipment.
It sadly was a time of plenty, but unfortunately, that was a time when there were no thoughts of it ever ending and irresponsibility was rife!
A time when Captains were made in their 20's and had to bow to the older ones in order not to lose that most treasured extra stripe!
We are where we are today because our predecessors did not leave good precedence!
To be honest, I am glad we are past those times and glad they shall never return.
It would gladden my heart NOT to hear such stories from any of my children who ever decide to fly for a living.
Now we all know better!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: In Transit
Age: 76
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good old days
Times when co-pilots had a sense of humour, which obviously newer co-pilots like LJT do not. What a pity.
LJT, are you by any chance Nigerian?
LJT, are you by any chance Nigerian?
Last edited by Habari; 25th Feb 2009 at 03:38.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Flyin' low and feeling mean
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Little Chip on the Shoulder?
There have always been idiot captains, just like there are idiot managers anywhere in business. More often than not over the last 20 years, the left seaters I have flown with (many old school guys) were SH Pilots. Guess they don't make Capt's the same way across the pond.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: your sisters house
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In my opinion the 'old bullets' I've had the pleasure of flying with from that era display none of those bad qualities you describe LJT. Infact the wealth of experience they bring into the cockpit from their days of flying 707's/DC3/ Shackletons etc cannot be bought and I fear as these old timers retire and pass on it would be like closing a library. Therefore I think we should learn as much as possible from these guys before they're all gone. Don't know why you harbour so much animosity towards them LJT, but in my experience they don't tolerate fools and young upstarts. So try seeing them in a different light and showing some respect for what they've achieved and who they are and perhaps they'll start treating you in a different way...
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Habari,
Yes i am Nigerian, and yes i flew in that neck of the woods for quite some time.
LittleMo,
I refer to the individuals i flew with at those times. FYI: I flew in Nigeria and my reference is to the Nigerians, and those i speak of know themselves!
Surely, i will get some reprisal for my comments, only showing how right and how true my statements are.
I have always had the ability to say things all other Pilot peers are thinking, but not able to voice.
Having flown elsewhere in the world, i find that not to be the case and have found that elsewhere, things are a lot different.
I do not knock the fact that the skippers from that era brought a wealth of experience, but directly refer to the ones in Nigeria who now scrape for a living having played God for so long and forgetting that it would come to an end one day.
They all cannot be classed together, i make my deductions based on particular individuals who i know will read my post and will really be pissed off!
Like i give a toss about how they feel!!
Sorry if you all think these comments were made classing them all together.
That was not my intention.
Yes i am Nigerian, and yes i flew in that neck of the woods for quite some time.
LittleMo,
I refer to the individuals i flew with at those times. FYI: I flew in Nigeria and my reference is to the Nigerians, and those i speak of know themselves!
Surely, i will get some reprisal for my comments, only showing how right and how true my statements are.
I have always had the ability to say things all other Pilot peers are thinking, but not able to voice.
Having flown elsewhere in the world, i find that not to be the case and have found that elsewhere, things are a lot different.
I do not knock the fact that the skippers from that era brought a wealth of experience, but directly refer to the ones in Nigeria who now scrape for a living having played God for so long and forgetting that it would come to an end one day.
They all cannot be classed together, i make my deductions based on particular individuals who i know will read my post and will really be pissed off!
Like i give a toss about how they feel!!
Sorry if you all think these comments were made classing them all together.
That was not my intention.
Last edited by LongJohnThomas; 25th Feb 2009 at 11:24.
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: just down the road
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
bang on the money three eighty
Times of rampant imperialism and good sense, bring 'em back I say. Aviaiton is now lumbered with a world of beancounters, papershufflers and roving litigation lawyers.
No longer can you say what you like and like what you say.
The world just hasn't been right since the British stopped running it.
No longer can you say what you like and like what you say.
The world just hasn't been right since the British stopped running it.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: USA
Age: 45
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And yet another thread that has one side as the instigator and the other as the one feeling it in the "big ones". I guess I can refer to myself as a different breed.....a NG pilot flying NG equipment. One thing that I always heard from my professor was that "change is inevitable and if you can't stomach it, then you move over or risk getting trampled".
Oh and one more thing, research has found time and time again that when "women" feel insecure and emotional, they start a journal!
PS: Wondergog If the British run a such a tight ship, it would still be sailing.......
Oh and one more thing, research has found time and time again that when "women" feel insecure and emotional, they start a journal!
PS: Wondergog If the British run a such a tight ship, it would still be sailing.......
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: UNITED KINGDOM
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did the Brits run things or Plunder? Not too clear on that...
Changes happen not all for the better but in our little section of the cockpit I say it has improved dramatically.
Changes happen not all for the better but in our little section of the cockpit I say it has improved dramatically.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Champagne Lover,
Unlike you? I have the luxury of having dual Nationality and all the required licences to fly anywhere in the world, and also an education that offers me same!
Home for me, can be any of two places, so, i would advice that you look into your TRAP and check its filth before you let it run wild without direction!
Furthermore, i would let you know that i have never been party to electing anyone! If a system does not suit a person and that individual cant singularly change the situation, its time to move on! That? I have done!
It seems to give you sleepless nights and hurt you and your type that Nigerians actually have alternatives eh?
I am entitled to an opinion on any issue. You referring to my comments as poison, i take as very distasteful and moronic.
Sorry mate, on this occasion there will be no champagne drinking!
You can gnash your teeth all you want; I HAVE CHOICE!!!!
wonderdog,
You stand to be corrected. Britain has never run anything.
For crying out loud; the economy per capita in the UK is worse than that of the United States!
I digress there, this forum is targeted at Aviation topics and thus, i shall return to them.
Unlike you? I have the luxury of having dual Nationality and all the required licences to fly anywhere in the world, and also an education that offers me same!
Home for me, can be any of two places, so, i would advice that you look into your TRAP and check its filth before you let it run wild without direction!
Furthermore, i would let you know that i have never been party to electing anyone! If a system does not suit a person and that individual cant singularly change the situation, its time to move on! That? I have done!
It seems to give you sleepless nights and hurt you and your type that Nigerians actually have alternatives eh?
I am entitled to an opinion on any issue. You referring to my comments as poison, i take as very distasteful and moronic.
Sorry mate, on this occasion there will be no champagne drinking!
You can gnash your teeth all you want; I HAVE CHOICE!!!!
wonderdog,
You stand to be corrected. Britain has never run anything.
For crying out loud; the economy per capita in the UK is worse than that of the United States!
I digress there, this forum is targeted at Aviation topics and thus, i shall return to them.
