The way we were - Ansett, TAA, Qantas
Going to work was always something to look forward to. No invasive security, no issues with the cabin because experienced flight attendants took care of things and flying with pilots who knew the job. No STARs and ridiculous profiles just 300 kts to 3000' and direct tracking. I don't recall that we had issues that are more prevalent now like misset QNH and cockups on visual approaches. Good luck to the next generation coming through and I am not being sarcastic.
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Another Like Button.
55 years ago, you know, yesterday it feels like, my Company's Managing Director and founder (retired) would meet most aircraft at the airport, call me by my Christian name and it was polite to pass him an unused Newspaper from the Aircraft.
He could have remembered my name, but as I was very new???, but he had found out and used it.
I can vouch for the above comments, the golden age pre accountants, HR, Poo%$#s, and Hostesses who knew who and what they were and made great use of the differences.
The best has long gone.
55 years ago, you know, yesterday it feels like, my Company's Managing Director and founder (retired) would meet most aircraft at the airport, call me by my Christian name and it was polite to pass him an unused Newspaper from the Aircraft.
He could have remembered my name, but as I was very new???, but he had found out and used it.
I can vouch for the above comments, the golden age pre accountants, HR, Poo%$#s, and Hostesses who knew who and what they were and made great use of the differences.
The best has long gone.
If I may have a final 'boomer moment', boy did we have fun flying the best aeroplanes ever built!
First service
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RE the black ring on the noses of some 72s, 73s and I've also seen it on a few 75s. Years ago I was told that it had something to do with aircraft equipped with VLF Omega. Apparently the antenna was mounted near the radar and it was used to avoid attenuation.
Kika
Kika
The VLF Omega would drop out in heavy rain. The Department of Changing Names were most concerned and insisted on dual Omega for any Pacific flights. A couple of the aeroplanes were subsequently fitted out with two units. Off we went into the blue and when in heavy rain they both failed.
I was told by a man in a white coat it was something to do with the 'H' type field antenna. All you can do is smile in agreement and pretend you understand.
I was told by a man in a white coat it was something to do with the 'H' type field antenna. All you can do is smile in agreement and pretend you understand.
"E" field (named after Ed Field?) and "H" field antennae. All the B737-200's were wired for dual Omegas but normally only carried one, unless you were doing Air Vauatu or Polynesian flights. Supposedly you had one of each antennae with dual Omegas. I thought it was icing, rather than rain, that buggered the signal, George.
You could be right Dora-9, but for some reason I thought it was heavy rain. I remember being with PK on the way to VLI and we lost the Omega. I was swearing like a trooper trying to get the bloody things to work again, being in the middle of nowhere. It was not until weeks later I learnt PK was very religious. I felt very bad about that, but to his credit he didn't hold it against me.
At the time the local aviation press hailed the 737-200AV as 'the first computerised aircraft in Australia'. Laughable now when you think of that mickey mouse PDCS and the limitations of the Omega.
At the time the local aviation press hailed the 737-200AV as 'the first computerised aircraft in Australia'. Laughable now when you think of that mickey mouse PDCS and the limitations of the Omega.
Laughable now when you think of that mickey mouse PDCS and the limitations of the Omega.
Not that I'd ever swear (ahem), but I also discovered that just plain shouting/begging/bursting into tears at the Omegas didn't work either! Nandi - Hilo (all 7:30 of it), with the Omegas in DR mode for 4 hours...
Not that I'd ever swear (ahem), but I also discovered that just plain shouting/begging/bursting into tears at the Omegas didn't work either! Nandi - Hilo (all 7:30 of it), with the Omegas in DR mode for 4 hours...
Lots of radio stations on the Hawaiian Islands! ADF’s do come in handy on occasions!
"E" field (named after Ed Field?) and "H" field antennae. All the B737-200's were wired for dual Omegas but normally only carried one, unless you were doing Air Vauatu or Polynesian flights. Supposedly you had one of each antennae with dual Omegas. I thought it was icing, rather than rain, that buggered the signal, George.
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ADF’s do come in handy on occasions!
The 737-200 may have used the ADF Sense Antenna
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The Golden Era
Reading this thread brings back so many fond memories.
Can still remember my first ride in an airliner in 1958. Ansett-Ana Viscount from Sydney to the Gold Coast. A very formal affair where we all got dressed up to travel. The smell of kerosene as you boarded. The air hostesses in their smart navy blue airforce type uniforms.walking down the aisle with a basket of barley sugar. The scream of the 4 Rolls Royce Darts as you taxied out and tookoff. Then the hot roast meal served in the sky blue melamine dishes. Visiting the flight deck and exploring the aircraft.Then arriving at Coolangatta and being taken by the Ansett-Pioneer bus to the new Chevron Paradise Hotel at Surfers Paradise. From then on we used to travel there for most of our school holidays with both Ansett and TAA. These experiences are what got me hooked on becoming a pilot at a very early age.
Then the next experience was travelling First Class on a BOAC Comet 4 from Sydney to Auckland in 1964. The roar and howl of the 4 Rolls Royce Avons and the acceration and climb out was quite dramatic compared to the Viscount. Then being served several courses by a steward and hostess, fine china, table cloths, smoked salmon, oysters, roast lamb calved in front of you followed by desert and cheese platter. Was presented with a BOAC Junior Jetclub Logbook and wings. Visited the flight deck and it was quite noisy but upon venturing down the back of the aircraft the roar of the Avons was quite deafening.
We returned First Class in a Qantas Electra MK11 VH-ECC commanded by Captain Ashley Gay who was very hospitable when I visited the flight deck.. Breakfast menu in English and French.. The Electra was relatively quiet at the rear, where we were seated, but very noisy up near the props. Encountered some turbulence while i was waiting for a chocolate milk shake to be prepared the the poor young hostie in aqua blue uniform and hat got covered in chocolate quick powder much to the amusementnt of the male stewards. But those were the glory days when travel was expensive but you did it in style either First or Economy.
Would love to know if Captain Ashley Gay flew the QF Flying Boats before he went on to the Electra MK11.
Can still remember my first ride in an airliner in 1958. Ansett-Ana Viscount from Sydney to the Gold Coast. A very formal affair where we all got dressed up to travel. The smell of kerosene as you boarded. The air hostesses in their smart navy blue airforce type uniforms.walking down the aisle with a basket of barley sugar. The scream of the 4 Rolls Royce Darts as you taxied out and tookoff. Then the hot roast meal served in the sky blue melamine dishes. Visiting the flight deck and exploring the aircraft.Then arriving at Coolangatta and being taken by the Ansett-Pioneer bus to the new Chevron Paradise Hotel at Surfers Paradise. From then on we used to travel there for most of our school holidays with both Ansett and TAA. These experiences are what got me hooked on becoming a pilot at a very early age.
Then the next experience was travelling First Class on a BOAC Comet 4 from Sydney to Auckland in 1964. The roar and howl of the 4 Rolls Royce Avons and the acceration and climb out was quite dramatic compared to the Viscount. Then being served several courses by a steward and hostess, fine china, table cloths, smoked salmon, oysters, roast lamb calved in front of you followed by desert and cheese platter. Was presented with a BOAC Junior Jetclub Logbook and wings. Visited the flight deck and it was quite noisy but upon venturing down the back of the aircraft the roar of the Avons was quite deafening.
We returned First Class in a Qantas Electra MK11 VH-ECC commanded by Captain Ashley Gay who was very hospitable when I visited the flight deck.. Breakfast menu in English and French.. The Electra was relatively quiet at the rear, where we were seated, but very noisy up near the props. Encountered some turbulence while i was waiting for a chocolate milk shake to be prepared the the poor young hostie in aqua blue uniform and hat got covered in chocolate quick powder much to the amusementnt of the male stewards. But those were the glory days when travel was expensive but you did it in style either First or Economy.
Would love to know if Captain Ashley Gay flew the QF Flying Boats before he went on to the Electra MK11.