Leaderboard

I've seen them many times from a distance and they are quite beautiful. But to really get the full effect, go down to the end of the runway at O'Hare, you can drive there, and watch as one of these ( An Air China in my case) takes off practically over your head. Not only do you get to appreciate the beauty... but you end up in awe of the size. My brain said "My god, that's a big ship!"

A beautiful spring day to have made history and to have launched the latest rendition of the "Queen of the Skies:" Just incredible ... both the rotation from Paine Field in Everett, WA and the descent to Boeing Field in Seattle, with the Cascades in the background. Note the chase plane (a routine thing on inaugural flights) and the fact that the landing gear is in the operative position after the climb out. Sadly, airlines have not been lining up to buy these in pax form as was hoped. There have been way more orders for the freighter version. It's all good. Lufthansa was the launch customer and has/will have 19 of them. I believe there are Air Force One orders for this version ... it's about time. Either way, the 747(-8i) should live to see 50 years of flight next February 9, since it first took the skies on that date in 1969. If being the "King of the Skies" means one has to be as ugly as the Airbus 380, it's probably better to settle for being queen. I swear ... even today, when you're in an airport and one of these taxis by, everyone still turns to look! At one time, I believe there were 2 YouTubes - one for the take-off and one for the landing. I was just poking around and found this YouTube which consolidates the events.

trippy!

Fun....one of my favorite spots to view them is at Honolulu airport..the way the airport is laid out, there are open (covered) walkways between the gates and you will be walking along and find yourself within 50 feet or so of one parked at the gate...they are so huge in person. Used to love taking the British Airways 747s from Phoenix to London.

Back in 07-08 when I was living in Denver and doing a gig at Jeppesen (Boeing subsidiary that makes aviation charts and charting software), I went to a few internal videoconference presentations about the 787...aviation is a fascinating domain... complex products and complex systems...

Why was this? Testing purposes..?

No, we went to Disney Thursday through Sunday and the cruise was Monday through Friday out of Port Canaveral, Florida.

Quiet Tuning?

Since it was almost 80 and sunny today, went to the beach after work then out for seafood for dinner. Restaurant is in a building from 1865 that was once a hotel.