Fifty five years ago today Tex Johnson, renowned Test Pilot, flew the Boeing 367-80 prototype of the Boeing 707 over Seattle during an air show and surprised everyone but himself and his crew by doing a wing over roll....
Video
And the age of commercial air travel was born.
It wasn't the first commercial jet, the British de Havilland was that and the French Caravelle was just a year behind, but it was clearly the best and established Boeing and America as world technology leaders.
You could fly Pan Am out of JFK to Brussels, flip up some arm rests and sleep for a few hours until they brought you a hot wash cloth and OJ to get ready to land. And that was in coach. Back then only demi-gods and movie stars flew First Class....
Hat tip to Mostly Cajun for reminding me of the date!
WOW! Quite a ride. With test pilots like Tex, it was safe to fly in those planes afterwards. I remember the good old days when you were treated like royalty even in the tourist class.Full hot meal with a glass of wine. I don't know in USA, but today Air Canada serves you a lukewarm coffee with a bag of salted peanuts on your flight. Anything else costs a fortune and is not worth buying. Ah! well. At least, we've seen it! Thanks for the memories...
ReplyDeleteMostly Cajun is a good link. I appreciate it. :)
In '69 or '70 I flew Air Canada from Vancouver to Montreal non-stop First Class. (I was traveling with a "senior" executive who had a policy that who ever traveled with him for meetings had the same perks as he... Naturally he had no problem in getting his pick of the the support people!) I had a rental car at the air port and wisely took a cab to my hotel...he caught another flight to Europe..the food and service was beyond compare... not to mention the wine...
ReplyDeleteI flew them quite a bit from Boston to Montreal in 2001-2000 and must report that they have matched the US flagged carriers in lowering their service...
Glad you like Mostly Cajun.. If you get a chance, tell him where you heard of him.
Just post a comment on Mostly Cajun and mentioned your link. You both write very interesting, informative blogs. Thank you.:-)
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