Posted on 03/02/2013 8:40:26 AM PST by BenLurkin
CITY OF INDUSTRY (CBSLA.com) — One Southland man has spared no expense to recreate a mock 1970s Pan Am 747 that’s now on display at a warehouse in the city of Industry.
As CBS2′s Amy Johnson reports, Anthony Toth has been working on a life-size model plane for about 35 years, moving it from place to place before finally having it settle into a 3000 square-foot warehouse.
“When I was 5 years old, I boarded a 747 back in the early 70s with my family on a trip to Europe and the experience actually changed my life forever,” Toth said.
Toth, who works at United Airlines in the passenger sales division, says he’s spent his weekends and vacation days working on the replica 747, which is equipped with electricity for in-flight films and food.
The mock plane also contains Pan Am coffee cups and dishes, as well as, emergency cards and a closet full of uniforms.
The cost? More than $100,000.
“This particular model cost me a lot of money to build but it was completely worth it,” he said. “I guess there’s a part of me that wanted to recreate that brand and that image of flying.”
Howz about a link for a pic. Sounds good.
He needs to round up an appropriate bevy of stewardesses to man the thing.
Tomkinson: Its a full-scale model, sir.
Mr. Ellis: [annoyed] Its not a model if its full-scale, Tomkinson, it’s an icebreaker.
The video at the link is unavailable.
Does he have a piano and an aquarium in the upper lounge? That was one of the really cool things about those 747s.
So, a ride on an airplane “changed his life forever”? He just may have issues that need professional analysis. Just sayin’.
Deregulation did in the “Sky Lounge” of the 747 upper deck. It was converted to passenger seating and not overly popular, other than with 747 first-timers. Funny how roly-poly the ride actually is up there when you’re not tipsy and thinking it’s just you.
3000 sq ft would be 30 x 100 (or 75 x 40). I don’t think his model includes wings, engines, etc.
It’s a full-size recreation of the interior without the jet itself, which makes it a little more compact but 3,000 sf still sounds small. The 747 passenger area seems at least that large by itself.
I am a math-ignorant product of a liberal arts education, so I may be wrong, but I don't think a 10' x 30' warehouse would get you 3,000 sq. feet.
First time I ever flew by myself was age 13 on a 747. Apart from takeoff and landing I spent the entire time on the upper deck. Coolest thing ever for a punk kid!
This guy is the definition of "busman's holiday'.
You say that 10 x 30 is 3,000 square feet??? The liberal arts major gets an A and you get an F!
Amen, brother. I was stationed in Spain from 68-72..and often flew Pan Am home from Barcelona. Back then, they had a great flight..154 outbound from JFK...Lisbon, Barcelona, Nice, Rome, and it was 155 home bound. I dated a Pan Am stewardess for 2 years, they were all gorgeous, classy, and I loved those powder blue uniforms with the little bowler hats.
When they finally put the 747 on the 154/155 flight..I think it was in late 1969..there were about 20,000 people at the airport in Barcelona to watch it land and then take off.
Flying then was still classy..not the cattle car it is these days. I often got upgraded to first class, and it was absolutely spectacular. Booze, food, all the amenities..I did get to play the piano a few times, but as I recall, they were all removed fairly soon.
154 would leave JFK about midnight, and when I was leaving on a Saturday night, I’d pick up several early editions of the Sunday NY Times, and 2 dozen fresh bagels, along with cream cheese and lox, and bring it back with me...
I wonder how pleasant the upper deck is on an A380.
Is it safe to assume he has no wife?
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