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Our Mission : Aviation pictures the world needs to see. And some other stuff too.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Useful Airplane Travel Tips

We decided to share some our favorite travel tips that we have picked up over the years.

First, pack new pens. The pressure changes on the plane can cause older pens to leak all over the place.


Use bag tags from any airline other than the one you are flying on. Since most people have the same luggage that they bought at COSTCO, you need to be a little different.

When flying international, don't use tags from a US airline. You might as well have a sign around your neck that says, "I'm an American, take me hostage." I used Air Canada tags back when I flew to the Middle East. A Canadian is worth less as a bargaining chip.


Never, repeat, NEVER sit in coach. It's HORRIBLE. The seats are way too small, and the cabin is filled with weird people. We have these pictures of coach just for demonstration purposes.


I don't know what's going on here, but it doesn't look right. Not exactly, "refined clientele."


Place your carry-on bags in a compartment 2 rows ahead of your seat. If it's directly above your head, it's hard to keep track of. If you are right handed, sit in the seats shown - on the right. You will then be using your right hand as the stewardess hands you your drink. 


Bring your own IFE. We watched this movie called, "Senna," about the Formula 1 driver. We recommend it.

Stick with a Mediterranian diet. Everything here is OK except the dried fruit with their high carbohydrate density.

As far as alcohol, our rule of thumb is one drink per flight hour. Unless you're in First where drinks are free ... then simply double that.


Ugh. Those people are packed in there like sardines.


Always a good idea to verify operation of the ELT, especially on an ETOPS flight. This one worked OK. I usually take it back to my seat with me ... I feel more secure with it nearby.


I guess they didn't de-ice our plane before departure ...


Take one of your old STP or Bardahl stickers with you, so you can put it on your rental car. Highway robbers know how to look for rental cars. By putting on a sticker, it shows that you are a, "local." An alternative would be to hang one of those scented pine tree things from the reaview mirror.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Name That Airport

We have returned to our Global Command Center with over 850 new pictures and video. Below is one of the places we visited ...


Monday, August 20, 2012

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Tivo Premier Box Fan Replacement

This is what the Tivo Premier looks like on the inside :


I like how this mosquito got stuck in the heat dissipation array. Moquitos are notoriously stupid.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Randy's Donuts LAX Airport Inglewood

Another landmark visible on approach to LAX is Randy's Donuts. We'll always think of this place as, the "Big Do-Nut" which was it's name back in the 60's. Their glazed doesn't quite have the same appearance as they used to. But it smells and tastes the same...



Tuesday, July 31, 2012

United's First 787 N20904 Paine Field Everett

United's first 787 rolled out of the paint hanger at Everett this morning. Boeing picture.


Sunday, July 29, 2012

Airplane Life Magazine 1937

We found this old Life magazine. The "Transoceanic Transport" issue.




Sunday, July 22, 2012

Western Airlines Memorabilia

I found this Western stuff. I also have an official Western Airlines shower cap. Why they would give me a shower cap on an airplane, I don't know.


Thursday, July 19, 2012

Unknown Airplane

This appears to be an MD-95. Registration looks like it might begin with "N."


Monday, July 9, 2012

In-N-Out at LAX Spotting

So when you hang around the In-N-Out at LAX taking pictures like this ...


... someone up there thinks you look like this  ...


Today's trivia : If you went back far enough in your time machine, you'd find that that location used to be a Pier 1 Imports ... and before that it was Cost Plus ...

Sunday, July 1, 2012

La Concha Paul Williams LAX Theme Building

We used to stay at the La Concha or it's sister property, "El Morocco," back in the 70's & 80's. They were across the street from the Stardust. Check-in for both was in this building.

It was designed by the late Paul Revere Williams in 1961; the same year that Williams and others designed the Theme Building at LAX.

The Jetsons premired on prime-time TV in 1962.




Sunday, June 24, 2012

BOMARC IM-99 Missile Boeing


I found this box in the garage today. It is ""filled" with "hundreds" of publications.


Some of the titles :

"A procedure for estimating distribution and reliability characteristics of total scores on a newly assembled test from earlier item statistics"

"An empirical classification of error patterns in receiving morse code"

"Firing the IM-99 missile for training purposes"

"Analytical model to evaluate the effect of testing on the probability that a missile is operative at the beginning of a captive flight"

"Retroactive inhibition: Effects of stimulus-response variations in relation to degree of interpolated learning"

"Development of techniques for obtaining human engineering data applicable to maintainability and system effectiveness modeling"

Saturday, June 16, 2012

General Motors Firebird III Car of the Future

1958/9 General Motors Firebird III. A concept car with turbine power. Nine fins ...

Monday, June 11, 2012

Greenwaste Machinery Sorting Separator

Most of us have one of these, but sometimes we forget to notice the beauty of things that we see every day ...


Miami Heat Plane N8866E

Miami Heat's 727.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Ferrari 250 GTO World's Most Expensive

This Ferrari recently sold for $35 Million.

At that price, who cares about getting a ticket for a stupid stop sign ...

            

Monday, June 4, 2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Monday, May 28, 2012

Navy SEAL Parachute With Flag

We owe everything we have to those who have fallen so we can enjoy freedom.

On this day, we honor those people. Their sacrifice will never, ever, be forgotten...

Happy Memorial Day.














Sunday, May 27, 2012

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Crashed WW2 Aircraft Relic

A perfect "fixer upper" for the shade tree A+P mechanic. Needs TLC ... along with a fuselage, empennage, wings, cockpit, takeoff gear, and engines. But once you get that stuff, you're good to go! Aircraft was last used for low level aerobatics. Airworthiness Certificate is no longer current.





Sunday, May 6, 2012

Sunday, April 22, 2012

FAA Tower Frequency Transcript

United : "Tower, United 575 checking in, downwind Runway 2."


Tower : "United 575 Heavy, cancel altitude restriction, start base your discretion, cleared to land Runway 2, number two, following a Piper over the numbers, caution wake turbulence, wind zero-four zero at one-six, gust two-niner."

United : "Cleared to land Runway 2, cancel altitude restriction, base our discretion, United 575 Heavy."    


United : "Wind check."