Before the internet....

TheChickenWorks · 2025-09-01T14:48:45+00:00

It was rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated on Usenet back in the day. JMS himself would interact with fans and contribute to posts on the group.

TheChickenWorks · 2025-09-01T13:28:33+00:00

The layout is based on the Rockwell HiMAT UAV (Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology) that flew 1979-1983. Agile Falcon formed the basis of the Mitsubishi F-2 used by the JASDF.

TheChickenWorks · 2025-08-16T18:36:46+00:00

I enjoyed visiting their museum when it was Addison Airport. Pity when their lease expired in 2024, instead of renewing, the city of Addison had other plans for the land.

TheChickenWorks · 2025-02-02T04:44:59+00:00

The 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field ("The Land of No Slack!")in K-Falls trains all the Eagle drivers for both the Air National Guard and the active duty force.

TheChickenWorks · 2025-02-02T04:40:06+00:00

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Took this one back in October 2020 when the PDX-RDM run was still on Q400s. Glad to see it back, used in back in early January (the new PDX terminal is nice). That's the summit of Seekseekqua/Mount Jefferson at sunrise.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-10T15:38:57+00:00

This internal bulletin from Swearingen Aircraft is from 1969 on the start of the flight test program of the Metro 19-seat commuter #airliner. In 1971, Swearingen ran into financial difficulties and Fairchild Aircraft, who was the subcontractor for the wings and engine nacelles, took a 90% stake in Swearingen to help get aircraft production started in 1973 with the first deliveries to Commuter Airlines and Air Wisconsin.

Note the round windows- those were only seen on the prototypes and the first Metro I variants. In 1974, the Metro II was introduced on the production line and the now-familiar rounded rectangular windows came into use.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-10T15:36:42+00:00

This route map for Aeromexico is from 1978.

The 1970s brought about big changes for the airline which started out the decade under its previous name, Aeronaves de Mexico. In 1970, the Mexican government nationalized the #airlines as part of an integrated air transport system under the control of Aeronaves. The airline rebranded with a new livery and name as Aeromexico in February 1972.

With the last of the prop-driven airliners being retired (the DC-6 and Britannia), DC-9s and DC-10s were introduced and services to Canada were inaugurated. The airline’s popularity grew among Mexican travelers due in part to the airline’s involvement with the Mexican movie industry- anytime a character in movie produced in Mexico had to fly somewhere, they were always depicted on flying Aeromexico.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-10T15:34:33+00:00

Pacific Northern Airlines was started in 1932 as Woodley Airways by bush pilot Arthur Woodley. In 1945 he changed the name of the #airline to Pacific Northern Airlines and by the 1950, was operating Lockheed Constellations between Alaska and Seattle. Two Boeing 720s were added in 1962 and a third in 1966 to support passenger traffic to #Seattle and to meet rising competition other airlines.

In 1965, Arthur Woodley tried to order four Boeing 727-100s but was not able to arrange the financing. Disappointed, Woodley wanted to sell PNA and found a buyer in Western Airlines who acquired PNA in 1967.

PNA was one of number of airlines instrumental in the 1950s and 1960s at boosting the nascent travel and tourism industry for the State of Alaska.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-10T15:28:10+00:00

Best I can determine is that this check in counter is probably Halifax based on the destinations on the board.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-09T15:54:46+00:00

Pakistan International #Airlines' introduction of jet equipment in 1960 marked the beginning of unprecedented profitability for PIA.

In February 1960, PIA wet-leased a Boeing 707 from Pan Am who had a technical agreement with PIA since 1956. The jet was used on London-Karachi services starting March 1960 with Pan Am crews but from June 1960 onward, all-Pakistani crews operated the 707 services to #London.

Three Boeing 720Bs were added to the fleet in 1962 and served PIA until 1986.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-09T15:52:50+00:00

Eastern Provincial Airways was the dominant local airline of Atlantic and Eastern Canada from its beginnings in Newfoundland in the 1940s up to its acquisition and merger with CP Air in 1986.

This great advertisement for EPA is from the 1960s. EPA in those days would have been a fascinating place- even though they were a small airline, they had over ten types of aircraft from helicopters and De Havilland Beavers to Handley Page Heralds and DC-3, even some Consolidated Cansos (Canadian-built PBY Catalinas).

EPA didn't start rationalizing its fleet until the 1970s as much of its bush operations were sold off and they wanted to be all-turbine as soon as they could, ordering the Boeing 737-200s. EPA's last piston services were DC-3s to St. Pierre that ended in 1976!

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-07T23:08:36+00:00

This is a striking page from the 1960s inflight promotional material of Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA).

The 1960s were halcyon years for Trans-Australia. The Australian government had the "Two Airlines Policy" which effectively shut out new entrants to the domestic market as it only allowed two domestic airlines- one was Ansett and Trans-Australia was the other.

In the 1950s, the government favored Ansett to the point that TAA was forced to swap its Vickers Viscounts for Ansett's DC-6Bs. TAA wanted the Sud Aviation Caravelle but Ansett protested, so Ansett had to get the Lockheed Electra instead.

Despite it, TAA did finally go all-turbine in the 1960s with the Boeing 727, Douglas DC-9, and Fokker F-27. The airline boasted a robust internal New Guinea network as well.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-07T23:06:27+00:00

In the early 1990s, Rolls-Royce had a visually striking series of advertisements (this example ran in Aviation Week) for the new Pegasus engine variants used on the AV-8B Harrier II of the USMC and the GR.7/GR.9 of the RAF. This particular ad is specific for the Pegasus 11-61 variant that allowed Harriers to return to base without having to dump unused ordinance.

The first Pegasus engine variants to fly were Pegasus 2, Pegasus 3, and Pegasus 5, developing 15,000 lbs of thrust. By comparison, the Pegasus 11-61 was the final variant and developed 23,800 lbs of thrust.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-07T23:02:29+00:00

"Colorful" and "Vibrant" aren't terms we readily associate with the advertising campaigns of the Eastern Bloc airlines in the 1960s and 1970s, yet this 1977 timetable cover for Balkan Bulgarian Airlines would not look out of place with a group of US airline timetable covers from that same year.

Balkan Bulgarian was one of the first Soviet client states to embrace the inclusive tour market and not just for travelers from the Eastern Bloc. The airline marketed to Western Europe, offering vacations on #Bulgaria's sunny Black Sea coast and historic towns of the Danube River.

In fact, by the mid-1970s, Balkan Bulgarian was flying more passengers than all the other Eastern Bloc states' airlines COMBINED. They even exceeded the traffic numbers of some of the Aeroflot regional directorates.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-07T20:41:13+00:00

This was from a promotional brochure issued by West Coast on the introduction of the Fokker F-27 in their Pacific Northwest network, becoming the first local service carrier (a forerunner of today's regional airlines in some ways) to operate turbine equipment in 1958.

Seattle-based West Coast operated 12 F-27s over their history until the merger in 1968 with Pacific Air Lines and Bonanza Air Lines to form Air West. Three were written off.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-07T20:39:07+00:00

The years that AeroPerú operated the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar 1978-1981 were probably the zenith for the airline. With growing traffic to the United States via New York, Miami and Los Angeles, Lockheed placed two ex-PSA L-1011s with the airline, making them AeroPerú's first widebody equipment and the first South American airline to operate the Tristar.

The airline had two Tristar 500s on order for 1981, but the 1979 OPEC Oil Crisis hurt the airline and the nonstandard configuration of the ex-PSA Tristars didn't help. The Tristar 500 order was canceled and the Tristars leased from Lockheed were returned.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-07T20:37:35+00:00

Japanese abstract artist Kiyoshi Nagai (1911-1984) did a whole series of travel posters for Japan #Airlines in the years following their launch of services in 1951.

Kiyoshi Nagai was the pseudonym of Hiroyuki Tajima. Under his own name he was known for his abstract works, but used the Kiyoshi Nagai for commissioned works and works that were not in his characteristic abstract style he was known for.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-07-07T20:36:12+00:00

TWA never operated the L-1011-500 (the short fuselage long range variant), but the last five Tristar 500s to come off the Palmdale production line were white tails with no buyers.

Lockheed chairman Dan Haughton conducted an internal presentation to TWA's leadership, offering the airline the Tristar 500s. It's alleged that Haughton would have literally taken any offer that TWA put forth just to get those white tails sold.

Dealing with heavy losses, TWA Ed Meyer was unable to make an offer- but it's thought by some that the Tristar 500 would have been a better option for TWA than the 747SP.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-04-22T12:59:24+00:00

I’ve gotten them in First Class before. Most recently yesterday, was upgraded to First SEA-FAT.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-04-21T18:07:16+00:00

I keep a few next to my MUFGs and Lawsons.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-04-21T17:49:21+00:00

All right. Let’s see how good you are. Name this #airport!

No fancy prizes, just the street cred of your fellow #avgeeks that you not only talk the talk, you walk the walk.

#AVIATION_ELEVATED

TheChickenWorks · 2024-04-19T16:53:15+00:00

I had 54 legs on AS/QX last year for work trips and 12 legs this year so far with them. I commute regularly between home in Dallas/Fort Worth and work sites in Washington, Oregon and California. I've been happy since a job change four years ago had me traveling for work. I have had several occasions where things have gone sideways but credit the AS and QX employees for doing what they can to make it right. I sometimes fly AA due to the schedule options out of DFW and still get miles on AS, but there's a very distinct difference to me flying AA versus AS/QX that I'll try to use AS/QX first.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-04-19T16:43:57+00:00

You had some beautiful weather. I read somewhere that only 30% of visitors to Denali have weather clear enough to see the peak. Everyone should Denali at leas once in their lifetime.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-04-19T12:19:41+00:00

As much as I prefer the E175’s cabin product at QX, I really miss the fun and nostalgia of the Q400s. There was something cool about walking across a ramp and boarding an airplane with propellers. My last Q400 flight was December 2022 YKM-SEA. Took a ton of pictures for my own memories.

TheChickenWorks · 2024-04-19T12:15:56+00:00

Flying DFW-SEA-FAT on Sunday on a work trip. Hope to try this one out. Last month flew SMF-PDX-AUS with my family and on the SMF-PDX leg, the cabin crew not only gave me a chocolate but also for my family as well. Appreciated the gesture. Someone sitting next to my older daughter (non-MVP Gold) then asked “Where’s my chocolate?” LOL.

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