DC-9

The Douglas DC-9 was a great airplane. 

For many pilots this was their first jet. 

We liked it for it's smoothness and how quiet it was.  

You couldn't even hear the engines start. 

That was a big change from the propeller planes. 

It was introduced in 1965, and is still being used  today. 

It was good on slippery runways and 

topped nearly all the thunderstorms, unlike the props.  

It was much more reliable than the props. 

We very seldom, or never, lost an engine, and if we did, 

it flew just great on one. 

DC-9 Cockpit

We were still using the 

old NDB approach system at many airports. 

We did not have GPS or even ILS at many airports.

The DC-9 and the B-737 were the last aircraft 

to require flight training prior to carrying passengers. 

After that it was all done in the simulator.

The DC-3 was like the DC-9 in that, it too was a workhorse, having flown ever since WW II.

DC-3

DC-3 Cockpit

B-747

B-737 Cockpit

               

B-737

B-747 Cockpit

        
                   

                   These are what's known as glass cockpits.

They are much cheaper and reliable 
than the old "round dials" and 

the pilots much preferred them.  

Above you can see a good comparison for the CV-580, 
B-737-200, Twin Otter, MD-80, and the B-737-900. 
I was fortunate to have flown all of the above while at 
Frontier Airlines.

When the early model 737's first came out they 
were quite stubby.
It was affectionately known among pilots as 
FLUF

(Fat Little Ugly F____ R)

The B-737 was a great airplane also. 

I flew and instructed in both many many hours. 

Later I got the best job ever. 

I was doing what they call IOE (initial operating experience). This was flying with the new pilots while they were watched 

and assisted, while they gained the  

confidence they needed to do the job alone. 

I got to fly in both seats on my own schedule. 

The students always gave up their own schedules.

B-737 at ShipRock New Mexico

CV-580 

The CV-580 shown above was another workhorse. 

It was a converted CV-340 that had 

more power from, its turbo-prop engines on one engine than the  CV-340 did with two. 

It was especially good for short fields and on ice. 

I flew it for Frontier Airlines for 12 years, 

first as a First Officer, and then as Captain and Check Airman. We got to take several crews out to a layover airport, and 

fly it all night to teach the new pilots to upgrade from the DC-3. We were treated like kings with our own car, and the 

best of hotels and meals.

Old and new paint jobs

I HAD FLOWN MANY OTHER JETS BEFORE the DC-9, but I liked it all the same. 

It was not a plane with all the fancy gadgets. 

One had to hand fly it quite often except in cruise. 

One had to think ahead much more 

than on the slower the prop planes. 

Once you got by that it was smooth and quiet.

Some pilots learned to not only fly all the planes, but to 

take care of the passengers. 

They were what kept us in our great jobs. 

We learned to keep the passengers informed. 

They like to know things, like when we will get there, 

how high we are flying, 

all about any mechanical problems, 

how late will be, anything you would want to know. 

One time we diverted to Newark on a flight to Cleveland, because bad weather had developed; 

our radar was needed. 

During the two hour delay my crew, and I moved the 

bar to the terminal, and kept them entertained.

DC-9-30

The DC-9 was introduced in 1965; 
it is still being used today. 
It was good on slippery runways and 
topping nearly all the thunderstorms, unlike  the props. 
This was one of the last aircraft to 
require flight prior to carrying passengers. 
After that it was all done in the simulator. 
It was much more reliable than the props. 
We very seldom, or never, lost an engine, and 
if we did it flew just great on one. 
We were still using the old NDB approach system, 
at many airports. 
We did not have GPS or even ILS at many airports. 
There were many versions of the 9. 
They were called the Dash whatever.  
I got to fly four of them. -10, -30, -50, -80.

The DC-9 and the B-737 were both great airplanes. 

The simulator was a lot of fun too. 
I flew and instructed in both many many hours. 
Later I got the best job ever. 
I was doing what they call IOE (initial operating experience). This was flying with the new pilots; 
they were watched and assisted, 
while they gained the  confidence, 
they needed to do the job alone. 
I got to fly in both seats on my own schedule. 
The students always gave up their own schedules.

MD-80

Later Douglas introduced the DC-9-80. 
It was an intermediate plane 
with some of the new gadgets, but not all. 
It made for a good transition. 
It would have to be the BEST plane, I ever flew! 
Now my daughter is in school to fly it. 
I am very proud, and she is anxious to get going. 
Her husband has also flown it for American Airlines.

B-757

I retired on the 757. 

It was the only modern glass age aircraft I flew. 

I loved the way it looked; 
I loved the way it flew with a wonderful set of gadgets. 

Once programmed we could arm the 
autopilot to fly the entire route, and 
it was able to land automatically in all weather.

A pair of P-51's

The P-51 was used extensively in WW II, 

both in Europe and in the Pacific and again in Korea. 

It even outfought the ME 102, the 

German jet fighter of the day;

it was a perfect pilot's plane. 

It had the range to protect the bombers 

all the way to their targets.

There are still a number of them in service today.

       The old along with the modern at the Statue of Liberty 

B-52 Bomber

AN-225

The 225 is the largest airplane ever. 
The US often charters this Russian cargo ship to 
transport the Space Shuttle.

Grumman TBM's in formation

Carrier Landing

F-22 carrier takeoff

The fighter pilots always say carrier operation is the most fun (and dangerous). 

F-22

AN-225

Note the 6 engines, the 28 wheel gear going up, and wing flaps.

AN 225 Cockpit

  

AN-225 take off

 

AN-225

Airbus A 380

First class night on A 380

First class day on the A380

We can't forget the largest segment of aircraft, 
general aviation

Beachcraft Barron

This was my favorite twin. It would carry 5 people.

Cessna 195

I got my float rating in the 195

Piper Aztec

I got my multi-engine rating in the Aztec

Piper Cub

I flew and soled this in 1956 at age 15.

It was fun to open the door and window and 

watch the cars pass us by.

Pietenpol Aircamper

This got it's name from the builder and flyer, 

Bernard Pietenpol. 

He only had an 8 th grade education; 

he 

designed and flew the camper in 1927. 

My Uncle Don helped Bernard build and fly it. 

He was the first to fly it, as he had a little more experience. When it was ready they pulled the plane with a Model A Ford to my grandfathers farm to fly it.

My dad owned a share and soloed in it. 

In 1939-40 he would fly it to my grandfather's farm and 

give  the neighbors a ride. 

This where I had my first airplane ride in my mother's belly.

These were all great planes, but I still have a soft spot in my heart for the good old DC-9.

I would like to dedicate this article 

to our fighting men, 

some of whom gave their all for us.