What crashed in front of us today?

In article , Steve
Hix wrote:

In article ,
nt (Gordon) wrote:

I'm supposed to raise him, not keep him in a bubble. For years he's
stood by
the runway, watching me step out of various aircraft with a giant-sized
s-eating grin on my face, telling him, "Sorry, you aren't tall enough
for this
ride." Under the tutetage of a 7,000-hour TWA Captain in his personal
aircraft, meticulously maintained since he purchased it in 1976, it seemed a
more responsible than handing him to a leather-clad biker on a Ninja.

You did good Gordon. I envy your son, being as there is nothing much to
match the feeling of your first flight (passenger or not).

Of course, now the kid is ruined for life. He's going to want to do it
again. And again. ... :}

Reminds me of my own first flight as an engineering student working at
a company named (at the time) Airwork in Millville, NJ, overhaul and repair
of various gas turbines, such as the Spey, CJ610, etc. circa 1973

Asked by lead pilot if I wanted to go on shakedown flight in Gulfstream II.
Of course he twisted my arm.
It turned out to be Ray Kroc's private jet. I sat at Ray's desk for the flight.
Partial fuel, we sat at the end of the runway while the pilot held it at
full throttle checking engine pressure and temp. The a/c was shaking
and rumbling with the nose pushed down, then....he just released the brakes.
Snapped back in seat with acceleration, a few seconds later he rotates
then we're off and climbing at a fantastic angle.
Still don't know if he did this for my benefit, or if it was his SOP.
Gotta think he was giving me a memorable ride, especially with the plane
so light.
Only about a 20 minute flight, but I found out later that the G II at that time
was the highest performance private jet available. (So they told me)

--
Harry Andreas
Engineering raconteur

"Harry Andreas" wrote in message
...
In article , Steve
Hix wrote:

In article ,
nt (Gordon) wrote:

I'm supposed to raise him, not keep him in a bubble. For years he's
stood by
the runway, watching me step out of various aircraft with a
giant-sized
s-eating grin on my face, telling him, "Sorry, you aren't tall enough
for this
ride." Under the tutetage of a 7,000-hour TWA Captain in his personal
aircraft, meticulously maintained since he purchased it in 1976, it
seemed a
more responsible than handing him to a leather-clad biker on a Ninja.

You did good Gordon. I envy your son, being as there is nothing much to
match the feeling of your first flight (passenger or not).

Of course, now the kid is ruined for life. He's going to want to do it
again. And again. ... :}

Reminds me of my own first flight as an engineering student working at
a company named (at the time) Airwork in Millville, NJ, overhaul and
repair
of various gas turbines, such as the Spey, CJ610, etc. circa 1973

Asked by lead pilot if I wanted to go on shakedown flight in Gulfstream
II.
Of course he twisted my arm.
It turned out to be Ray Kroc's private jet. I sat at Ray's desk for the
flight.
Partial fuel, we sat at the end of the runway while the pilot held it at
full throttle checking engine pressure and temp. The a/c was shaking
and rumbling with the nose pushed down, then....he just released the
brakes.
Snapped back in seat with acceleration, a few seconds later he rotates
then we're off and climbing at a fantastic angle.
Still don't know if he did this for my benefit, or if it was his SOP.
Gotta think he was giving me a memorable ride, especially with the plane
so light.
Only about a 20 minute flight, but I found out later that the G II at that
time
was the highest performance private jet available. (So they told me)

Which of course was an ugly dog, compared to Joan Kroc's GIV, with its
priceless Egyptian antiquities.

Sounds like a hell of a ride, Harry!

G
PS, had Ray gone round the bend at that point..? I used to take tequila
lessons from his bartender, Rick. Ten years on, I have very nearly recovered.

In article ,
nt (Gordon) wrote:

Sounds like a hell of a ride, Harry!

G
PS, had Ray gone round the bend at that point..? I used to take tequila
lessons from his bartender, Rick. Ten years on, I have very nearly recovered.

No, he was still fairly young at that point (this is unabashed hindsight,
in 1973
I would have considered him a geezer).

Interesting job, that.

I was really into racing then. One day in early July the Champion Spark Plugs
jet came through for service on it's way to the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It was also a G II. The pilot and crew offered to take me to the race, but I
declined. I didn't have a passport and would have had to leave the next day.
Splendid opportunity, but I was young and ignorant.

--
Harry Andreas
Engineering raconteur