Airlines You'd Like to Bring Back
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Dan Air were always good, but I have to confess a sweet-spot for BA.
Mid cruise as a youngster I asked the cabin-crew if it would be possible to go upfront. Yes came the reply and after a few minutes talking to the Captain, he asked if I would care to stay and take the jump seat for landing.
That first jump-seat flight in a BA757 on a winter's afternoon coming into Heathrow, as the sun was setting. The dusk over London and then the right turn onto 27R, with the runway lights lit up. Even now, I can still remember the stand!
Mid cruise as a youngster I asked the cabin-crew if it would be possible to go upfront. Yes came the reply and after a few minutes talking to the Captain, he asked if I would care to stay and take the jump seat for landing.
That first jump-seat flight in a BA757 on a winter's afternoon coming into Heathrow, as the sun was setting. The dusk over London and then the right turn onto 27R, with the runway lights lit up. Even now, I can still remember the stand!
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Only slightly off-topic:
In 1969 I had lunch at a Chinese dive (I'm sure it's the same one that Ernie Gann describes) with Benny Howard, who had been a line pilot back in Ford Trimotor days. Benny with his sly smirk asked me if I knew what the first major breakthrough in airline travel was. I must have proposed a half-dozen technical ideas - retracting gear, NACA cowls, radio nav, ... but he poo-pooed them all.
"No," he said, "The first major advance was when the airsickness rate fell below 75%!"
(I've been waiting to use this > > >)
In 1969 I had lunch at a Chinese dive (I'm sure it's the same one that Ernie Gann describes) with Benny Howard, who had been a line pilot back in Ford Trimotor days. Benny with his sly smirk asked me if I knew what the first major breakthrough in airline travel was. I must have proposed a half-dozen technical ideas - retracting gear, NACA cowls, radio nav, ... but he poo-pooed them all.
"No," he said, "The first major advance was when the airsickness rate fell below 75%!"
(I've been waiting to use this > > >)
Join Date: May 2008
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Prince of Dzun-
I too remember Malayan Airways with great affection - my father was an engineer with the company and I remember being allowed to fly on the CofA test flights which were often used as an excuse for low flying around the islands by some of the slightly mad Australian pilots. We were neighbors of Charlie Russell and Arthur Larkman - my mother is his youngest childs godmother.
My father was Bob Gallacher - usually known as Jock.Sadly he is no longer with us but my mother Effie has just turned 90.
I too remember Malayan Airways with great affection - my father was an engineer with the company and I remember being allowed to fly on the CofA test flights which were often used as an excuse for low flying around the islands by some of the slightly mad Australian pilots. We were neighbors of Charlie Russell and Arthur Larkman - my mother is his youngest childs godmother.
My father was Bob Gallacher - usually known as Jock.Sadly he is no longer with us but my mother Effie has just turned 90.
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YES ! BRANIFF
"FAT ALBERT" -- The Orange 747 to Hawaii!
I used to climb up on the roof of our house and could see the runways at Dallas Love..
Would watch that thing roll out and make his ever so slow climbing turn up and over our part of town then head West...
Always missed that.
I used to climb up on the roof of our house and could see the runways at Dallas Love..
Would watch that thing roll out and make his ever so slow climbing turn up and over our part of town then head West...
Always missed that.
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Malayan Airways: Singapore
bcgallacher:
Did you know that Arthur Larkman left Malayan Airways to join Dan Air. He became Director of Flight Operations there and wote a book about his experiences in Malayan Airways. The book is called "Chance Encounters". Amazon have three copies for sale. You have to enter "Chance Encounters book by Arthur Larkman straight into your search section rather than enter via Amazon first as this brings up dozens of the same title but not Arthur's book. There is another book entitled "Luck is No Accident" by Colin King that deals with his time as a pilot with Malayan Airways. Also put title straight into your search section.
I understand how you enjoyed your days in Singapore. The standard of engineering as set by people like your father was very high. In ten years flying the DC-3 for Malayan Airways I never saw a mechanical problem that delayed a flight for even 5 minutes. Amazing!!!
Best
Prince of Dzun
Did you know that Arthur Larkman left Malayan Airways to join Dan Air. He became Director of Flight Operations there and wote a book about his experiences in Malayan Airways. The book is called "Chance Encounters". Amazon have three copies for sale. You have to enter "Chance Encounters book by Arthur Larkman straight into your search section rather than enter via Amazon first as this brings up dozens of the same title but not Arthur's book. There is another book entitled "Luck is No Accident" by Colin King that deals with his time as a pilot with Malayan Airways. Also put title straight into your search section.
I understand how you enjoyed your days in Singapore. The standard of engineering as set by people like your father was very high. In ten years flying the DC-3 for Malayan Airways I never saw a mechanical problem that delayed a flight for even 5 minutes. Amazing!!!
Best
Prince of Dzun
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Prince of Dzun -
I acquired Arthurs book some years ago - my father is in one of the photographs. I used to go fishing in Katong with Joy and Arthur, my memories are of an absolute gentleman.We left Singapore in 1956 when I was 12 years old. These days I am retired from the airline business and live mainly in Scotland but have a house outside Manila where I am heading tonight on a sad journey as my wife's mother passed away on Saturday.
I acquired Arthurs book some years ago - my father is in one of the photographs. I used to go fishing in Katong with Joy and Arthur, my memories are of an absolute gentleman.We left Singapore in 1956 when I was 12 years old. These days I am retired from the airline business and live mainly in Scotland but have a house outside Manila where I am heading tonight on a sad journey as my wife's mother passed away on Saturday.
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Have to agree with Lou Scannon, Laker Airways, simply the best time of my life. Work was a blur, Skytrain tickets at £10 (or was it £5), got left behind in JFK for 48hours but apart from that always got on.
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Had this chat with fellow PPRuNe member Beavis & Butthead over a beer on Saturday in fashionable Wilmslow! Ex employees and happy memories of Excalibur Airways and our ex colleagues!
Ansett Flying Boat Services which ran from Rose Bay, Sydney to Lord Howe Island. This is VH-BRF on Sydney Harbour, Dover Heights in the background. Worked for this airline on the conversion of BRF from
Sunderland to civvies. Nothing tangible left of it at all now in Australia, except in the archives.
Kermit Weekes has the boat in his Florida collection.
Sunderland to civvies. Nothing tangible left of it at all now in Australia, except in the archives.
Kermit Weekes has the boat in his Florida collection.
Several of you mentioned UTA. Being a bit older, I'll put one in for its predecessor, UAT (Union Aeromaritime de Transport), with its DC-6Bs on the JNB/SAY/BZV/NCE/LBG run in the late 1950s. Brazzaville/Nice non-stop in 13 hours, and a small boy fascinated by the cycling of the gills, occasionally revealing the white-hot exhaust manifolds as she thundered through the African night sky.
Remember Derby Airways elegant Herons landing at Sywell when I was doing my Flying Scholarship. we were given landing times to avoid as we were non-radio in the Austers