dr_phil_physics: (WWII-woman-aircraft-worker)
Yes, I've Been Very Quiet Here Lately

I just made it back from my third round-trip drive to Greensboro NC, after the ones on Thanksgiving and New Years. This one was less than scheduled, shall we say, but it was necessary. Thankfully I had good driving weather 3 of 4 days there and back. I'm sure I'll post more about my travels, because I took a lot of pictures along the way.

This Was Not Expected

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a workhorse. No question. The four-engine military cargo hauler is one tough sonofabitch. I know that they've made carrier landings and take-offs. And...
In 2007, the C-130 became the fifth aircraft—after the English Electric Canberra, B-52 Stratofortress, Tupolev Tu-95, and KC-135 Stratotanker—to mark 50 years of continuous use with its original primary customer, in this case, the United States Air Force. The C-130 is also the only military aircraft to remain in continuous production for 50 years with its original customer, as the updated C-130J Super Hercules.

I used to regularly see C-130s flying around Chicago -- along with Navy P2 Orions -- and used to see C-130s taxiing at Chicago's O'Hare field.

But I've never thought about the size of them before, or thought about putting one on a flatbed and driving it around. Good thing I had a 20mm ultra wide angle handy for the Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n so I could get it all in one shot. (grin)

Click on photo for high res.

This was at a rest stop in Ohio on I-75. I was going to drive around in front and get a cockpit on face view -- but I couldn't pull off the exit road because there was no shoulder and I didn't like the one foot hard drop-off. (evil grin)

Now for my idea for a kick-ass RV conversion van...

Dr. Phil
dr_phil_physics: (rose-airplane)
Out Of South Africa

Dr. Phil's Sister sent an email that's been going around and I decided to do a little research. Turns out that Kulula Air is a budget airline, but cheap doesn't you can't have fun. After all, in the U.S., Southwest has earned a lot of loyalty from its customers by maintaining a sense of humor and poking fun at their own stinginess with peanuts, as well as their competitors. Be sure to check out Kulula's special aircraft, including their camo plane (no one saw us coming) and their Flying 101 plane:


Their FAQ page is full of helpful chatter, too:
How do I book my ticket?

Easy, simply give us a tinkle and chat to one of our friendly helpers at our Contact Centre, or give your mouse a tour of our website and book online. Don't forget that booking with our Contact Centre is a bit more expensive than booking online. Lastly, you can just take a stroll over to your local travel agent or one of our airport offices.

And definitely check out the humor of Kulula's staff, pilots and advertising here, including this gem actually recorded from a flight:
"Now Ladies & Gentlemen, you know me and my wonderful team, so could you please introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. Come on, don't be shy, they're not going to bite. Ladies & Gentlemen we are going to be taking you through our safety procedure on board this aircraft. We ask that you please pay attention. Before the touch down your tray tables need to be folded away, your armrest down, blinds must be opened with your lazyboys in their most uncomfortable upright position. And those seatbelts fastened low and tight around those gorgeous hips. Now unfortuanately due to load-shedding there is no aircon on board this aircraft so we have provided you with your own fanning device which shows pretty pictures on escape routes, oxygen masks and flotation devices as well as the all-important brace-position which you must use in the event of an emergency - that's just basically when we all bend over and kiss our arses goodbye. Jammer om te hoor. There are 8 emergency exits on the aircraft and the crew will do the macarena and point them out to you now - there are 2 at the front 4 overwing exits and 2 at the back. Please take a moment to locate the nearest exit to you bearing in mind that it might be behind or on top of you at the time. To guide you to the exit we've placed floor-lighting in the aisle - disco style. Now in the unlikely event of Julius Malema ever speaking sense or we do have a loss of cabin pressure, free oxygen will be provided - masks will drop from the right and left service panel above you. Scream softly and pull the mask down with a sharp downward jerk to activate the flow of oxygen, cover your nose and mouth and breath normally or just simply dial 911. Now on our way to Slaapstad we should be flying over a few swimming pools, 4 rivers and a large sewerage pond, so in the case of a water-landing you have your own life-jacket under the seat. On instruction from the crew, fasten the life jacket tightly around your waist and pull down the red tags to give you that wonder-bra look. There's a red whistle for survivors and a light to shine in the shark's eyes. We are a smoke-free flight and the toilets are monitored by smoke detectors & video-camera'd for the captain's entertainment. But if we do catch you smoking the Civil Aviation Authority can fine you up to R6000; and Kulula fans, for those prices you could have flown SAA today and got yourself a free bankie. All those fancy phones - those blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, iphones, uphones, mephones all interfere with the aircraft's system. We ask you now to relax and enjoy the ride."

I'm not saying that flying commercial in South Africa is any better or worse than flying commercial in the States. But gosh, whenever I've had a "live" fun flight crew, it doesn't hurt to fly with a smile on your face.

Now if we could just get the airlines to give us actual information about delays and gate changes in a timely fashion...

Dr. Phil

X-15!

Wednesday, 29 March 2006 02:18
dr_phil_physics: (Default)
Finally one of my local post offices, Drake Street in Kalamazoo -- open til 7pm, has the new $4.05 Priority Mail stamps. And it's shiny and beautiful: Black background, with computer generated false-color temperature simulation of an X-15.

Ah-hhh...



The new rates have been in effect for months -- and I'd been putting them on return envelopes even longer -- but I had to use the old $3.85 stamp plus two 10-centers. First time out, the Allendale Post Office was finishing up 10-cent lick 'em stamps. Good lord, what are those? (grin) Then the $3.85 stamps began to disappear.

Just In Time Delivery

Now I'll be able to send this quarter's Writers of the Future entry on Friday. (double-grin)

Dr. Phil

(updated with pic 3-29-2006)

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