Simpler times

You can tell a lot from a photo. That "40 years" scheme puts the photo at about 1960.

VH-EBA was the first Boeing 707 delivered to a non-US operator and was the first civilian jet to wear an Australian registration.

Cool. I love simpler times. I wish I could go back to it.

Bakster

Cool. I love simpler times. I wish I could go back to it.

 

But think of all the things you would miss- cell phones, internet, really high quality digital cameras and TV sets and whatever else.  It would be nice if we could keep modern gadgets and services, and somehow improve the services that have degraded since then.

Much of the problems in airline services have been due to deregulation, with another big impact from terrorism.  Remember, though, we saw terrorists kill 3000 Americans in the year of 9/11.  About a hundred a year or less since.  Yet we kill between 30,000 and 35,000 every year on the highways.  Yet we cannot even legislate penalties against cell phone and internet uses while driving.  Most states' laws against drunk driving are a farce.  In Minnesota police cannot even use automatic cameras to photograph people running red lights.  It used to be nice to enter an airport terminal and merely walk straight to a gate if you have tickets, and check in.  Is there no way to return to that?

I work on airport design in addition to some of the other buildings In the office.

Making changes to the way things are done is glacial. Designing and building a terminal for an international airport is easily a ten year process.

The current TSA structure is a patch, but seems to be effective.

The future will see more of a secure airport approach, in which once you are in the airport, moving around is unimpeded, although closely monitored.

Nice to see the family all dressed up for the occasion.

When we traveled as a family on employee passes, we got a lecture beforehand about acting appropriately so as not to reflect poorly on our father.

Don Stauffer

It would be nice if we could keep modern gadgets and services, and somehow improve the services that have degraded since then.

I totally agree, Don. If had these gadgets when I was growing up... I would have been in heaven!

Knox, did you grow up in PNG?

That aircraft reminds me of Travolta's.

First thing I noticed was the "gun"(that is a gun, right?!)

Speaking of simpler times...that reminds of my Dads stories about carrying him shotgun to school during hunting season. He'd hunt squirrel and rabbit on the way to school...stash his "game" and gun in his locker...and hunt on the way home. Nobody ever said a word.

 These days, come firearm deer season, the cops are sitting near the high schools and will pull over anybody wearing camo (they are clearly going hunting after school) and search em...and bust em for having had their firearm in their car/truck on school property.

I didn't see that!

One time my dad took a shotgun that had belonged to his father back to Michigan to give to one of his uncles.

Darn, Dad!

Anyhow, it had to ride in the cockpit.

Fermis, your story reminds me of one, but I'm not gonna 'jack the thread.

The tools and toys have changed. But what has changed for the worst is a mindset. The dress, demeanor, and hunting stories being just a few examples. I remember my first airline journey and having to dress in one of those horrid looking kid suits (a plaid or check pattern jacket more appropriate for a seat cover, but it was the 60’s) and having the similar stern lecture on my behavior. Nobody thought twice about a kid getting a swat on their behind in public for bad behavior then. It was expected of the parent.... that was to be addressed immediately.

Nice photo!

Dad:

"If you don't pay attention to the stewardess during the safety lecture, they won't help you get out if we crash".

GMorrison

Dad:

"If you don't pay attention to the stewardess during the safety lecture, they won't help you get out if we crash".

 

Dad:

”Don’t press that button (on the armrest for reclining the seat), that’s for the ejection seat”.

Yeah he was a big James Bond film fan, and had a wicked sense of humor on occasion.

Phil H,  thanks for the info on the plane. 

G Morrison,  yes, I did grow up in PNG. The most beautiful country in the world. I went to school for a while in Rabaul, so I got to see all the Japanese caves and fortifications. I was more interested in girls and don’t remember a lot of it. Most of my time was spent in the Western Highlands. 

The gun I catried was a pellet gun my Grandfather had bought for me.  

Please feel free to tell stories.  They are fun to read. 

knox

Phil H, thanks for the info on the plane.

If you ever get to the QANTAS Founders Museum in Longreach Queensland, you can (for a price, of course) tour this actual aircraft. 

stikpusher

 But what has changed for the worst is a mindset. 

I didn't notice the gun either. Too funny.

I don't have any stories to share involving air travel. Air travel was out of our budget back then. The best I can offer is my pretending to fly. Lol.

I have a story when I left the navy in 1985 I took a bus to ohara airport went to get ticket to go home and found out I had what they called a standby ticket if anything opened up you would get it if not you where stuck. This was about 12pm in the afternoon and I was pretty thirsty so I went found the lounge and got wasted. They called my name I never answered I was having fun. The next morning I went to departure gate told woman my name and she said had opening the day before and couldn' find me.She told me to sit down and not move.Thankfully I didn' have to wait long because I had a hangeover that wouldn' quit.landed in Columbus Ohio called girlfriend and started all over again.i was only 27 then those were the days . Try that today I would never make it.

Phil_H

 If I read right, Quantas was the only customer of the 138, which was a shorter 120.

I can't get a read on Travolta's, but it may also be a 138.

My Dad's airline never bought the 707, but they did stray from Douglas to buy the 720 and the 727 and so on.

I grew up flying for free, so I have a lot of hours. I wish UAL had been an International Carrier when I was a dependent.

My Dad was a flight performance engineer. He was posted to England for a couple of summers to evaluate Concorde for purchase by UAL, which of course never happened.

My first overseas trip was on BOAC New York- London, about the same time that Knox was flying home to PNG.

 

knox

Phil H, thanks for the info on the plane.

 

 

If you ever get to the QANTAS Founders Museum in Longreach Queensland, you can (for a price, of course) tour this actual aircraft. 

 

GMorrison

If I read right, Quantas was the only customer of the 138, which was a shorter 120. I can't get a read on Travolta's, but it may also be a 138.

Yup, the model number -138 is derived from QANTAS's customer number (38), so all -138's were built specifically for QANTAS.

JT's aircraft is indeed a -138B, apparently the last one (of 13) built for QANTAS. It's been reported that he is donating the plane to an aviation museum here in Australia.

Long long ago never to return 2 dollar cigs 25 cent pop 75 cent a gallon gas 65 volkwagon run for a wk on a tank fillup 10.00 dollars.