Wrote this in 2002 while at Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
The places have changed, Lexington, Concord, Valley Forge, Yorktown, Ft Mc Henry, New Orleans, Vera Cruz, Chulpultepec (spelling incorrect), First Manassas, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Manila Bay, San Juan Hill, the Trenches of France, Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Bastonge, Yalu River, Pork Chop Hill, Khe Sahn, Hue City, Beirut, Grenada, Panama, Al Kafji, 38 Degrees East, Kuwait City, Bosnia, Somalia, and Kosovo.
Now we add the World Trade Center, The Pentagon, a small field in Pennsylvania, and now Afghanistan and whatever comes next. The places change, the mission stays the same…defend Freedom.
Those before us look from the past at us and hope we are made of the same stuff they were.
The weapons and equipment change, but some of us have the same Minuteman spirit. If my Civil War ancestors could pull themselves out of their graves, regenerating bone and sinew, how would they view us today?
Can those who went through the hell of Iwo Jima see us as equals?
Will those who froze at Valley Forge look at our comfortable barracks and thrice daily hot meals, and laugh at us when we complain?
When the history of this war is written, I hope that we will be seen as, at least, half as good as our warrior ancestors.
May history judge us kindly.
TSgt Fred Shon Powers
363 ESFS/SFOA
Prince Sultan Air Base
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
May 17, 2002
Monday, April 27, 2009
A History Lesson
This was written while I was at Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2002
There has always been grumbling in the ranks ever since the art of war was invented.
From the time of Tiglath-Pileser III (700s B.C.) and the first professional army.
Through the time Alexander took his army east to the Indus River.
To even Napoleon’s ill-fated attack on Russia (he lost really big).
The people in the ranks grumbled and griped, but still got the job done.
I don’t think that the British soldiers at Rorke’s Drift in 1872 jumped for joy when they
found out that 4000 Zulus were headed for them. (The Brits won by the way)
It could also be said that the 20th Maine weren’t thrilled when they were the left flank at
Gettysburg. (Day 2, Little Round Top, July 2, 1863)
Neither were the 101st Airborne, looking forward to a quiet Christmas in Bastonge,
smiled at the SS troops coming at them.
The moral is this: for 6000 years, armies were placed in strange places, did amazing
acts, and were covered with glory afterwards. In the midst of this there were gripes,
complaints, and curses. Still the job got done.
AEF 1: Hang in there, not long now.
AEF 3: Time will pass soon enough.
My only complaint: the green tortillas.
TSgt Fred Shon Powers
363 ESFS/SFOSA
AEF 1
June 6, 2002 (The 58th Anniversary of D-Day)
There has always been grumbling in the ranks ever since the art of war was invented.
From the time of Tiglath-Pileser III (700s B.C.) and the first professional army.
Through the time Alexander took his army east to the Indus River.
To even Napoleon’s ill-fated attack on Russia (he lost really big).
The people in the ranks grumbled and griped, but still got the job done.
I don’t think that the British soldiers at Rorke’s Drift in 1872 jumped for joy when they
found out that 4000 Zulus were headed for them. (The Brits won by the way)
It could also be said that the 20th Maine weren’t thrilled when they were the left flank at
Gettysburg. (Day 2, Little Round Top, July 2, 1863)
Neither were the 101st Airborne, looking forward to a quiet Christmas in Bastonge,
smiled at the SS troops coming at them.
The moral is this: for 6000 years, armies were placed in strange places, did amazing
acts, and were covered with glory afterwards. In the midst of this there were gripes,
complaints, and curses. Still the job got done.
AEF 1: Hang in there, not long now.
AEF 3: Time will pass soon enough.
My only complaint: the green tortillas.
TSgt Fred Shon Powers
363 ESFS/SFOSA
AEF 1
June 6, 2002 (The 58th Anniversary of D-Day)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
TEA
I write this as I prepared to attend the San Antonio Tea Party....
There is a stirring across the nation.
Many voices, once still, are now being found.
There is an anger never seen since, maybe 1775.
People are angry over the burdens they now bear.
They fork money over to the government and see it spent on unnecessary things.
They see their money go to those who didn’t earn it.
They are told that they are greedy if they try to keep what they have earned.
The politicians have turned their backs on them.
Does not matter if the politicians have a D or an R.
No one is listening.
They are being told that to even speak out is now an extreme act.
What happened to Freedom of Speech?
They are being told that to pay taxes is “patriotic.”
They are being told to share the burden for the current economic mess, usually be the same people who caused it.
Meanwhile, companies are being driven into the ground.
Will we have an auto industry 10 years from now?
Will Americans soon have to fork over 50%, 60%, 70% of their pay to the government?
How many generations will have to pay for the trillions in debt that is coming?
How many pet projects will be paid for with money taken from the taxpayer?
Bridges to Nowhere, Pig odor research, and a maglev train from LA to Las Vegas?
The stirring gets greater.
It turns into a single word: STOP!
STOP the excessive taxation for projects that are necessary.
STOP the hurt being put on the small business.
STOP the imposition of extreme measures by judicial diktat.
STOP with the dawdling around on border security.
STOP with the voices being stilled by hate groups.
STOP messing with the American People.
In about 2000 towns and cities, April 15 2009 will be different.
The stirring turns into a gathering.
A thousand here, ten thousand there.
Millions across the nation gather to say one word to Washington DC.
STOP!!!!
The Founding Fathers would be proud of us.
They are tired of rolling over in their graves at what the nation has become.
I agree.
I will march.
I will go to Alamo Plaza and draw a line in the sand and shout one word.
STOP!!!!!
Peace out mijos and mijas.
TEA=Taxed Enough Already.
There is a stirring across the nation.
Many voices, once still, are now being found.
There is an anger never seen since, maybe 1775.
People are angry over the burdens they now bear.
They fork money over to the government and see it spent on unnecessary things.
They see their money go to those who didn’t earn it.
They are told that they are greedy if they try to keep what they have earned.
The politicians have turned their backs on them.
Does not matter if the politicians have a D or an R.
No one is listening.
They are being told that to even speak out is now an extreme act.
What happened to Freedom of Speech?
They are being told that to pay taxes is “patriotic.”
They are being told to share the burden for the current economic mess, usually be the same people who caused it.
Meanwhile, companies are being driven into the ground.
Will we have an auto industry 10 years from now?
Will Americans soon have to fork over 50%, 60%, 70% of their pay to the government?
How many generations will have to pay for the trillions in debt that is coming?
How many pet projects will be paid for with money taken from the taxpayer?
Bridges to Nowhere, Pig odor research, and a maglev train from LA to Las Vegas?
The stirring gets greater.
It turns into a single word: STOP!
STOP the excessive taxation for projects that are necessary.
STOP the hurt being put on the small business.
STOP the imposition of extreme measures by judicial diktat.
STOP with the dawdling around on border security.
STOP with the voices being stilled by hate groups.
STOP messing with the American People.
In about 2000 towns and cities, April 15 2009 will be different.
The stirring turns into a gathering.
A thousand here, ten thousand there.
Millions across the nation gather to say one word to Washington DC.
STOP!!!!
The Founding Fathers would be proud of us.
They are tired of rolling over in their graves at what the nation has become.
I agree.
I will march.
I will go to Alamo Plaza and draw a line in the sand and shout one word.
STOP!!!!!
Peace out mijos and mijas.
TEA=Taxed Enough Already.
Secession
I wrote this in 2008 after an old friend told me her son had asked about secession....
In the past few weeks, I have been hearing a lot of talk about what to do about the changes that the Obama Administration if forcing on us. Last week, at last count, there were about 2000 Tea Parties with about 1,000,000 in total attendance across the nation.
Of course, the Liberal hate groups have been running roughshod over the movement. In their minds, a demonstration has to be backed by powerful organizations, like International ANSWER and MoveOn.org. There can be no grassroots expressions of the anger being felt by millions over what Congress and the President has done and plans to do, in their minds.
And NO, I will not explain what “teabagging” means, children and mixed company may be reading this chronicle.
And to the two-bit actress who called all of us racists for protesting Washington DC’s actions, I dare you to come to San Antonio and say that to my face.
Well, at the Austin Tea Party (which had about 2000, everyone else was in SA rocking to Ted Nugent) Governor Rick Perry made a speech that got a lot of tongues wagging. He mentioned that Texans are an independently minded lot and that if the circus in Washington does not stop, a lot of Texans will feel that there is only one thing to do.That was interpreted to mean secession.The Dems in the Legislature immediately demanded the Governor retract those statements. He has not done so.
I was asked a question about secession from an old friend I recently reconnected with via Facebook. Her youngest son had raised the question and she then asked me.
This essay is the answer.
The process of secession is the easy part; a State Legislator submits a bill in order to create Articles of Secession. If that bill is approved, the Governor signs it into law. Another method would be a full vote of the people. For example; South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860 on a vote of the Legislature. Virginia settled for a popular vote in 1862.
That would be the easy part.
The mechanics of Secession would be difficult at best. I feel that the following questions would have to be answered before even going there;
How would a Texas Dollar be backed? Gold? Oil? Silver? Commodities? (I prefer Sam Houston on the TX$1, William Barrett Travis on the TX$5, Jose Antonio Navarro on the TX$10, Juan Seguin on the TX$20, Stephen F Austin on the TX$50, and Mirabeau Lamar on the TX$100, the coins would feature Fannin, DeZavala, and Susannah Dickerson, the only Alamo survivor)
How would the borders be protected? Instead of watching one border, we would also have to watch the Sabine and Red Rivers, as well as the West.
What about Defense? We would need to form an Army and Air Force straight away. Those of us who are veterans would have to become training cadre from Day 1, and we would be vulnerable until sufficient numbers can be fielded. Would we also need to become a nuclear power in order to keep the rest of the US at bay? The other complication would be coming in from the sea; three task forces could bottle up Houston, Beaumont/Texas City, and Corpus Christi, cutting off access to the sea. (And a revamped USS Texas would not be able to hold them off, despite the premises of a book I read back in the 80’s)
Would the US allow the transfer of Federal assets to the new Republic?
Would other nations recognize the new Government?
How many social programs would we need to maintain?Would we need to revamp our tax system?
How about trade treaties?
What type of education system will we need?
And finally, do we have the political will to pull this off?
Answer those questions, and I will be the first to shout “UP WITH SECOND REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.”
I will tell you all plain, it would not be an easy decision for me to advocate secession. I have worn the uniform of the USAF for 25 years. I have done many things while on Active Duty and as a Reservist:
I have stood guard, in double-digit below zero temperatures, over aircraft that were ready to go on short notice against the Soviet Union.
I have done the same thing in full chemical protection gear and gas mask for hours on end in order to fight a war that, Thank God, never happened.
I was part of a Ring of Steel at Mildenhall as we protected the base from terrorists during Desert Storm.
I stood guard in the burning sands of Saudi Arabia, TWICE.
I helped guard aircraft that were a three-minute supersonic flight away from the Korean DMZ.
I volunteered to go back on Active Duty after 9-11.
I fought to stay in the Service after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes.
I dropped a stripe in order to retrain as an Education and Training Manager.
I will finish my service, Lord Willing, as the 433 AW Staff Agencies Training Manager and will finally lay down my uniform on July 1, 2016.
I will do like Robert E. Lee; if my State decides to go its own way, I will go with her.
The Texas Founders would expect no less.
In the past few weeks, I have been hearing a lot of talk about what to do about the changes that the Obama Administration if forcing on us. Last week, at last count, there were about 2000 Tea Parties with about 1,000,000 in total attendance across the nation.
Of course, the Liberal hate groups have been running roughshod over the movement. In their minds, a demonstration has to be backed by powerful organizations, like International ANSWER and MoveOn.org. There can be no grassroots expressions of the anger being felt by millions over what Congress and the President has done and plans to do, in their minds.
And NO, I will not explain what “teabagging” means, children and mixed company may be reading this chronicle.
And to the two-bit actress who called all of us racists for protesting Washington DC’s actions, I dare you to come to San Antonio and say that to my face.
Well, at the Austin Tea Party (which had about 2000, everyone else was in SA rocking to Ted Nugent) Governor Rick Perry made a speech that got a lot of tongues wagging. He mentioned that Texans are an independently minded lot and that if the circus in Washington does not stop, a lot of Texans will feel that there is only one thing to do.That was interpreted to mean secession.The Dems in the Legislature immediately demanded the Governor retract those statements. He has not done so.
I was asked a question about secession from an old friend I recently reconnected with via Facebook. Her youngest son had raised the question and she then asked me.
This essay is the answer.
The process of secession is the easy part; a State Legislator submits a bill in order to create Articles of Secession. If that bill is approved, the Governor signs it into law. Another method would be a full vote of the people. For example; South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860 on a vote of the Legislature. Virginia settled for a popular vote in 1862.
That would be the easy part.
The mechanics of Secession would be difficult at best. I feel that the following questions would have to be answered before even going there;
How would a Texas Dollar be backed? Gold? Oil? Silver? Commodities? (I prefer Sam Houston on the TX$1, William Barrett Travis on the TX$5, Jose Antonio Navarro on the TX$10, Juan Seguin on the TX$20, Stephen F Austin on the TX$50, and Mirabeau Lamar on the TX$100, the coins would feature Fannin, DeZavala, and Susannah Dickerson, the only Alamo survivor)
How would the borders be protected? Instead of watching one border, we would also have to watch the Sabine and Red Rivers, as well as the West.
What about Defense? We would need to form an Army and Air Force straight away. Those of us who are veterans would have to become training cadre from Day 1, and we would be vulnerable until sufficient numbers can be fielded. Would we also need to become a nuclear power in order to keep the rest of the US at bay? The other complication would be coming in from the sea; three task forces could bottle up Houston, Beaumont/Texas City, and Corpus Christi, cutting off access to the sea. (And a revamped USS Texas would not be able to hold them off, despite the premises of a book I read back in the 80’s)
Would the US allow the transfer of Federal assets to the new Republic?
Would other nations recognize the new Government?
How many social programs would we need to maintain?Would we need to revamp our tax system?
How about trade treaties?
What type of education system will we need?
And finally, do we have the political will to pull this off?
Answer those questions, and I will be the first to shout “UP WITH SECOND REPUBLIC OF TEXAS.”
I will tell you all plain, it would not be an easy decision for me to advocate secession. I have worn the uniform of the USAF for 25 years. I have done many things while on Active Duty and as a Reservist:
I have stood guard, in double-digit below zero temperatures, over aircraft that were ready to go on short notice against the Soviet Union.
I have done the same thing in full chemical protection gear and gas mask for hours on end in order to fight a war that, Thank God, never happened.
I was part of a Ring of Steel at Mildenhall as we protected the base from terrorists during Desert Storm.
I stood guard in the burning sands of Saudi Arabia, TWICE.
I helped guard aircraft that were a three-minute supersonic flight away from the Korean DMZ.
I volunteered to go back on Active Duty after 9-11.
I fought to stay in the Service after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes.
I dropped a stripe in order to retrain as an Education and Training Manager.
I will finish my service, Lord Willing, as the 433 AW Staff Agencies Training Manager and will finally lay down my uniform on July 1, 2016.
I will do like Robert E. Lee; if my State decides to go its own way, I will go with her.
The Texas Founders would expect no less.
As I turned 44....
I wrote this on my 44th birthday....
I was born in 1964.
Then, the US was captivated by the arrival of four mop headed youths from Liverpool. Now, popular music takes many different forms.
Then, it was vinyl records. Now it's MP3s.
Then, we were getting into a war in Vietnam. Now we are waging a War on Terror.
Then, the turmoil of the late 60s was barely forseen. Now, we are still living with its effects.
Then, a new car was about $2000. Now it's $20,000.
Then, a new house was $20,000. Now it's $200,000
Then, the jet age was just underway with the Boeing 707. Now, we have jumbos like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.
Then, the greatest threat was a country called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Now, it's Islamic terror groups.
Then, games were Monopoly, cards, and cribbage. Now it's PS3, X-Box, and Wii.
Then, skateboards were not well known. Now, you can make a living off skateboarding.
Then, computers were the size of a small building. Now, I carry more computing power on my keychain.
Then, we at least tried to maintain a good set of values. Now, those values are held in disdain.
The price of postage has risen about 1 cent a year since my birth.
I have seen my country almost tear itself apart, from the riots of Chicago and Watts, to Watergate, to the "malaise" of the late 70s.
I have seen lines at the gas pumps on several occasions.
I have been through four recessions, and I'm still here.I have seen the price of gas go from 25 cents a gallon to $2.85.
I have seen men walking on the Moon.
I have seen TV grow from 3 channels to hundreds.
I have seen TVs grow from 18 inch black and white screens to 50 inch high definition color sets.
Then, radio was sent by carrier wave. Now, it's by satellite.
I have seen the rise of the cell phone.
I have seen computers now become as essential as a washing maching.
I have seen the rise of the greatest repository of information since the Library of Alenandria (the Internet).
Then, you had to go to the bank in order to access your account. Now it's a 24/7 ATM.
Then, most stores were closed on Sundays. Now, people don't believe that was once the case.
Then, news was a day or two old. Now, we have 24 hour news channels and the latest news is seconds old.
Now, you can get your books in either print, audio, or electronic.
Then, there were fears of a new Ice Age. Now, it's Global Warming.
Then, no one would dream that an African-American, or a woman, would be a viable candidate for President. Now both are represented.
The sports story of the year 1964 was the Tokyo Olympics. This year it's in Beijing.
Then, the up and coming fashion statement was the mini skirt. Now fashion includes low cut jeans and bare midriffs.
Then, illegal drugs were entering the public domain. Now, still here and worse than before.
Then, our borders were respected. Now, it is not (sometimes by our own people).
Then, you could meet your relatives at an airport boarding gate as they got off. Now it's a meeting area outside the security zone.
Then, people worked for what they owned. Now, people think those things are an entitlement.
Today, some people think the American Dream is evil.
Then, we learned from history. Now, some people want us to apologize for it.
Then, the nation was marking the Civil War Centennial. Now we are noting the Lincoln Bicentennial.
Then, commentary was linited to newspapers. Now we have blogs.
Then, Republicans and Democrats were rivals. Now they are mortal enemies.
Then, people respected the country even if one dod not agree with the policies. Now, people on TV, radio, and the Internet openly advocate the assassination of political leaders they don't agree with.
Now, people who are Americans, born and raised in freedom, express their contempt and hatred for the US and want to tear it down.
Then, we were respected. Now, we are condenmed no matter what we do.
Still, people still move here from around the world.
Our movies, TV shows, music, sports, food, and other cultural items can be found in many places in the world.
Despite everything, we still are the Light by the Golden Door, and the tired, huddled masses yearning to breathe free still come here.
We have changed in the past 44 years. Some for the better, some for worse.
I still have hope.
I was born in 1964.
Then, the US was captivated by the arrival of four mop headed youths from Liverpool. Now, popular music takes many different forms.
Then, it was vinyl records. Now it's MP3s.
Then, we were getting into a war in Vietnam. Now we are waging a War on Terror.
Then, the turmoil of the late 60s was barely forseen. Now, we are still living with its effects.
Then, a new car was about $2000. Now it's $20,000.
Then, a new house was $20,000. Now it's $200,000
Then, the jet age was just underway with the Boeing 707. Now, we have jumbos like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.
Then, the greatest threat was a country called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Now, it's Islamic terror groups.
Then, games were Monopoly, cards, and cribbage. Now it's PS3, X-Box, and Wii.
Then, skateboards were not well known. Now, you can make a living off skateboarding.
Then, computers were the size of a small building. Now, I carry more computing power on my keychain.
Then, we at least tried to maintain a good set of values. Now, those values are held in disdain.
The price of postage has risen about 1 cent a year since my birth.
I have seen my country almost tear itself apart, from the riots of Chicago and Watts, to Watergate, to the "malaise" of the late 70s.
I have seen lines at the gas pumps on several occasions.
I have been through four recessions, and I'm still here.I have seen the price of gas go from 25 cents a gallon to $2.85.
I have seen men walking on the Moon.
I have seen TV grow from 3 channels to hundreds.
I have seen TVs grow from 18 inch black and white screens to 50 inch high definition color sets.
Then, radio was sent by carrier wave. Now, it's by satellite.
I have seen the rise of the cell phone.
I have seen computers now become as essential as a washing maching.
I have seen the rise of the greatest repository of information since the Library of Alenandria (the Internet).
Then, you had to go to the bank in order to access your account. Now it's a 24/7 ATM.
Then, most stores were closed on Sundays. Now, people don't believe that was once the case.
Then, news was a day or two old. Now, we have 24 hour news channels and the latest news is seconds old.
Now, you can get your books in either print, audio, or electronic.
Then, there were fears of a new Ice Age. Now, it's Global Warming.
Then, no one would dream that an African-American, or a woman, would be a viable candidate for President. Now both are represented.
The sports story of the year 1964 was the Tokyo Olympics. This year it's in Beijing.
Then, the up and coming fashion statement was the mini skirt. Now fashion includes low cut jeans and bare midriffs.
Then, illegal drugs were entering the public domain. Now, still here and worse than before.
Then, our borders were respected. Now, it is not (sometimes by our own people).
Then, you could meet your relatives at an airport boarding gate as they got off. Now it's a meeting area outside the security zone.
Then, people worked for what they owned. Now, people think those things are an entitlement.
Today, some people think the American Dream is evil.
Then, we learned from history. Now, some people want us to apologize for it.
Then, the nation was marking the Civil War Centennial. Now we are noting the Lincoln Bicentennial.
Then, commentary was linited to newspapers. Now we have blogs.
Then, Republicans and Democrats were rivals. Now they are mortal enemies.
Then, people respected the country even if one dod not agree with the policies. Now, people on TV, radio, and the Internet openly advocate the assassination of political leaders they don't agree with.
Now, people who are Americans, born and raised in freedom, express their contempt and hatred for the US and want to tear it down.
Then, we were respected. Now, we are condenmed no matter what we do.
Still, people still move here from around the world.
Our movies, TV shows, music, sports, food, and other cultural items can be found in many places in the world.
Despite everything, we still are the Light by the Golden Door, and the tired, huddled masses yearning to breathe free still come here.
We have changed in the past 44 years. Some for the better, some for worse.
I still have hope.
I Love Flying...
I wrote this in 2008 after a quick TDT to Robins AFB, GA,
Just got back from a quick trio to Georgia. I was attending a one-day class at Robins AFB. Over two days, I added 4 flights to my Lifetime Air Travel Log, making a total of 164 flights since I boarded an Eastern Airlines Boeing 727 at Houston Intercontinental Airport in 1972.
The list of flights that I have taken run the gamut of jet airliner history. That same year, I boarded a Trans World Airlines Boeing 747-100, which had just entered service. Now, there is the 747-400 in service with the 747-8 on the drawing boards.
In 1972, the Boeing 707 was still in active passenger service, I flew in two of those in 1974. Now, not many are left. The 727 was the workhouse of the airline world in the 70s. The last trip I remember in one was 1994, a short hop from Mildenhall to Ramstein, and back. 727s still make up the backbone of cargo deliveries.
The 737 became the new workhorse in the 90s, I remember a flight from Frankfurt to London in a 737-100 in 1973. The model range now goes to -900. (There was a serious plan to cstart regular trans-Atlantic service (Newark to Shannon) in a -900, but I heard no further word of that.)
The 747 was considered the king of the long-haul world. My first trip in one was from New York (JFK) to Frakfurt in 1972. My most recent flight in that type was a 747-400 from Seoul to Los Angeles in 1997.
In the early 80s the 757 had enter service, but it was 1997 before I flew in one, from Los Angeles to Memphis.
A 767 was the equipment used the first time I flew on a twin-engined aircraft across the Atlantic, however, my first flight in one was 1987, from Atlanta to Philadelphia.
My first flight on a 777 was in 2000, from London Gatwick to Dallas-Fort Worth.
Hopefully, I will soon fly on the new 787 that will enter service soon.
I have also flown on aircraft built by McDonald Douglas:I remember a flight in a DC-9 from Frankfurt to Amsterdam in which the pilot had the throttles firewalled before the plane was on the runway.
Some of those DC-9s still fly on passenger service, I flew in a Northwest DC-9 in 2007 from San Antonio to Memphis.
From the DC-9 came a series of streched versions, the MD-80, 82, 90, and 95.
The MD-95 was remaned the Boeing 717 when Boeing took over Douglas.
I also flew on the DC-10, a three engined wide body, on several trans-Atlantic trips, the most recent being 1992.
On three occasions I had the chance to fly on the DC-10's derivitive, the MD-11. They did not last too long in passenger service. but have a second life as cargo carriers.
In 1972, the Europeans, happy that their cooperation resulted in the Concorde (sadly, I never got to fly in one before they were retired in 2003), followed that with the Airbus A300. I flew in one from Orlando to Houston in 1992. Not a bad ride.
The only other times I flew in a Airbus product was in the A319, in 2006 and 2007.Airbus is now fielding the largest passenger aircraft in the world, the A380.
Over the years, airlines that I have grown up with have eiter survived or gone by the wayside:
American still exists.
Braniff went out of business in the late 80s.
Continental still exists.
Delta still exists. As a matter of fact, while I was leaving Atlanta recently, I noticed that about 85% of the aircraft there were Delta jets.
Eastern went out of business in the late 80s.
National went out of business around 1980. there was an attempt to revive the brand a few years ago, but that did not last.
Pan American died in the early 90s, and two attempts to revive it did not succeed.Southwest is the most successful airling in the world.
Trans World Airlines got taken over by American.
United still exists.
Many regional airlines like Allegeny and Pacific Southwest got absorbed into larger airlines, with the result being US Airways.
I remember an airline called Texas International, which was bought by Continental.
Many new airlines, like JetBlue and Virgin America, have come on the scene in recent years.
The major difference between 1972 and now is that service has gone down in the name of cost cutting.In 1972, you were guaranteed a decent meal. Now, you are lucky if you get a bag of pretzels with your drink. As a matter of fact, American was selling snacks on flights that were running two or less hours.
$3 for a small bag of cookies, no way!
No wonder the consessions cost so much at the airport, it's usually the only way one can get something to eat while flying.
I remember flying on Asiana from Seoul to Los Angeles and the service was outstanding, and I was in the Main Cabin!
I had never been pampered on a flight before. Inagine trying that on a US airline.
Still, I live to fly and will put up with the extra security and bring my own snacks in order to enjoy it.
My goal is to have flown 200 times by 2010.
Yep, I love flying!
Just got back from a quick trio to Georgia. I was attending a one-day class at Robins AFB. Over two days, I added 4 flights to my Lifetime Air Travel Log, making a total of 164 flights since I boarded an Eastern Airlines Boeing 727 at Houston Intercontinental Airport in 1972.
The list of flights that I have taken run the gamut of jet airliner history. That same year, I boarded a Trans World Airlines Boeing 747-100, which had just entered service. Now, there is the 747-400 in service with the 747-8 on the drawing boards.
In 1972, the Boeing 707 was still in active passenger service, I flew in two of those in 1974. Now, not many are left. The 727 was the workhouse of the airline world in the 70s. The last trip I remember in one was 1994, a short hop from Mildenhall to Ramstein, and back. 727s still make up the backbone of cargo deliveries.
The 737 became the new workhorse in the 90s, I remember a flight from Frankfurt to London in a 737-100 in 1973. The model range now goes to -900. (There was a serious plan to cstart regular trans-Atlantic service (Newark to Shannon) in a -900, but I heard no further word of that.)
The 747 was considered the king of the long-haul world. My first trip in one was from New York (JFK) to Frakfurt in 1972. My most recent flight in that type was a 747-400 from Seoul to Los Angeles in 1997.
In the early 80s the 757 had enter service, but it was 1997 before I flew in one, from Los Angeles to Memphis.
A 767 was the equipment used the first time I flew on a twin-engined aircraft across the Atlantic, however, my first flight in one was 1987, from Atlanta to Philadelphia.
My first flight on a 777 was in 2000, from London Gatwick to Dallas-Fort Worth.
Hopefully, I will soon fly on the new 787 that will enter service soon.
I have also flown on aircraft built by McDonald Douglas:I remember a flight in a DC-9 from Frankfurt to Amsterdam in which the pilot had the throttles firewalled before the plane was on the runway.
Some of those DC-9s still fly on passenger service, I flew in a Northwest DC-9 in 2007 from San Antonio to Memphis.
From the DC-9 came a series of streched versions, the MD-80, 82, 90, and 95.
The MD-95 was remaned the Boeing 717 when Boeing took over Douglas.
I also flew on the DC-10, a three engined wide body, on several trans-Atlantic trips, the most recent being 1992.
On three occasions I had the chance to fly on the DC-10's derivitive, the MD-11. They did not last too long in passenger service. but have a second life as cargo carriers.
In 1972, the Europeans, happy that their cooperation resulted in the Concorde (sadly, I never got to fly in one before they were retired in 2003), followed that with the Airbus A300. I flew in one from Orlando to Houston in 1992. Not a bad ride.
The only other times I flew in a Airbus product was in the A319, in 2006 and 2007.Airbus is now fielding the largest passenger aircraft in the world, the A380.
Over the years, airlines that I have grown up with have eiter survived or gone by the wayside:
American still exists.
Braniff went out of business in the late 80s.
Continental still exists.
Delta still exists. As a matter of fact, while I was leaving Atlanta recently, I noticed that about 85% of the aircraft there were Delta jets.
Eastern went out of business in the late 80s.
National went out of business around 1980. there was an attempt to revive the brand a few years ago, but that did not last.
Pan American died in the early 90s, and two attempts to revive it did not succeed.Southwest is the most successful airling in the world.
Trans World Airlines got taken over by American.
United still exists.
Many regional airlines like Allegeny and Pacific Southwest got absorbed into larger airlines, with the result being US Airways.
I remember an airline called Texas International, which was bought by Continental.
Many new airlines, like JetBlue and Virgin America, have come on the scene in recent years.
The major difference between 1972 and now is that service has gone down in the name of cost cutting.In 1972, you were guaranteed a decent meal. Now, you are lucky if you get a bag of pretzels with your drink. As a matter of fact, American was selling snacks on flights that were running two or less hours.
$3 for a small bag of cookies, no way!
No wonder the consessions cost so much at the airport, it's usually the only way one can get something to eat while flying.
I remember flying on Asiana from Seoul to Los Angeles and the service was outstanding, and I was in the Main Cabin!
I had never been pampered on a flight before. Inagine trying that on a US airline.
Still, I live to fly and will put up with the extra security and bring my own snacks in order to enjoy it.
My goal is to have flown 200 times by 2010.
Yep, I love flying!
I had to bury my Mother-in-Law the other day…
I wrote this in 2007 after my wife's Mother was killed in an accident...
The call came in suddenly on a Wednesday. Ten minutes before my wife and I were to head out to work, the phone rang. It was Lionel, my Mother-in-Law’s husband. He needed to speak to my wife urgently. As I went upstairs to tell her the phone call was for her, I had one of those sinking feelings. After I went back downstairs, I heard a cry from upstairs that told me that all was not well. As I reached my wife, I saw the tears that were already falling. I grabbed the phone and got the news from Lionel; they were traveling on the A34 road near Oxford when they stopped over on a lay-by (kind of like a rest area). She had departed the car and was crossing the road. An Alfa-Romero came out of the blackness and struck her, killing her instantly.
Bibi Richardson, my wife’s Mother, my Mother-in-Law, someone I had known for 21 years, was suddenly and tragically gone.
I went into emergency mode and soon had us ready to fly to England the next day.We spent two weeks there, one handling the funeral and the other starting the legal processes concerning her estate.The funeral was beautiful, held in an old English church. The grave side ceremony was also beautiful.
I remember when I first met Bibi. She was wondering just what to make of me, a young Airman First Class that her daughter was interested in. I also was still immature in some things, but for the most part, she was patient with me. We all attended the same church, near the base I was stationed at and she frequently hosted the young single servicemembers for an evening of tea and cakes.
Dinners were also interesting, she was from Guyana and the cuisine was interesting to say the least. Curry, dall, roti, and other legacies of Indians who were transported to Guyana were the regular bill of fare in her house.
She was also a prayer warrior; she would pray for me, even after I got her mad as me for one reason or another.
She had a sweet spirit, even if a little squirrelly at times.
Still, somehow, she saw something in me that allowed her to say yes after I asked for her daughters hand in marriage.
After two and a half years of courtship, Kamela and I were married with Bibi’s blessing.Through the years, we were blessed by Bibi’s prayers, packages, and visits.
Sometimes we would visit her, other times she would visit us, even to Texas.
I remember once, on her first visit to Texas, she saw all these signs that said, “Don’t Mess With Texas” on signs, shirts, and billboards. One day she went off on me about it, claiming that Texans were “too big about themselves.” I laughed my head off, before I explained to her that is was the state's anti-littering slogan.
On her second visit she brought her new husband, Lionel. They enjoyed the sights of San Antonio immensely.
The last time I saw her, she had come over after my wife’s surgery. She was a great help and I believed actually speeded Kamela’s recovery. She left that January of 2007 with us promising her we would visit her in 2008.
That was not to be, God willed otherwise.
The one thing we can take comfort in was that Bibi was Saved. She is in Heaven right now and we have the hope of a reunion someday.The past two weeks was spent with plenty of family and food. The wake after the funeral was about one of the best gatherings I ever witnessed.
Everything went well and we are back home with some good memories.
We look forward to a Heavenly Reunion with Bibi someday.
Rest in Peace
Bibi Zohora Richardson
1941-2007
The call came in suddenly on a Wednesday. Ten minutes before my wife and I were to head out to work, the phone rang. It was Lionel, my Mother-in-Law’s husband. He needed to speak to my wife urgently. As I went upstairs to tell her the phone call was for her, I had one of those sinking feelings. After I went back downstairs, I heard a cry from upstairs that told me that all was not well. As I reached my wife, I saw the tears that were already falling. I grabbed the phone and got the news from Lionel; they were traveling on the A34 road near Oxford when they stopped over on a lay-by (kind of like a rest area). She had departed the car and was crossing the road. An Alfa-Romero came out of the blackness and struck her, killing her instantly.
Bibi Richardson, my wife’s Mother, my Mother-in-Law, someone I had known for 21 years, was suddenly and tragically gone.
I went into emergency mode and soon had us ready to fly to England the next day.We spent two weeks there, one handling the funeral and the other starting the legal processes concerning her estate.The funeral was beautiful, held in an old English church. The grave side ceremony was also beautiful.
I remember when I first met Bibi. She was wondering just what to make of me, a young Airman First Class that her daughter was interested in. I also was still immature in some things, but for the most part, she was patient with me. We all attended the same church, near the base I was stationed at and she frequently hosted the young single servicemembers for an evening of tea and cakes.
Dinners were also interesting, she was from Guyana and the cuisine was interesting to say the least. Curry, dall, roti, and other legacies of Indians who were transported to Guyana were the regular bill of fare in her house.
She was also a prayer warrior; she would pray for me, even after I got her mad as me for one reason or another.
She had a sweet spirit, even if a little squirrelly at times.
Still, somehow, she saw something in me that allowed her to say yes after I asked for her daughters hand in marriage.
After two and a half years of courtship, Kamela and I were married with Bibi’s blessing.Through the years, we were blessed by Bibi’s prayers, packages, and visits.
Sometimes we would visit her, other times she would visit us, even to Texas.
I remember once, on her first visit to Texas, she saw all these signs that said, “Don’t Mess With Texas” on signs, shirts, and billboards. One day she went off on me about it, claiming that Texans were “too big about themselves.” I laughed my head off, before I explained to her that is was the state's anti-littering slogan.
On her second visit she brought her new husband, Lionel. They enjoyed the sights of San Antonio immensely.
The last time I saw her, she had come over after my wife’s surgery. She was a great help and I believed actually speeded Kamela’s recovery. She left that January of 2007 with us promising her we would visit her in 2008.
That was not to be, God willed otherwise.
The one thing we can take comfort in was that Bibi was Saved. She is in Heaven right now and we have the hope of a reunion someday.The past two weeks was spent with plenty of family and food. The wake after the funeral was about one of the best gatherings I ever witnessed.
Everything went well and we are back home with some good memories.
We look forward to a Heavenly Reunion with Bibi someday.
Rest in Peace
Bibi Zohora Richardson
1941-2007
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