Very appropriate:
The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one’s gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: ” Frankfurt , Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.”
Ground: “Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.”
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?”
Speedbird 206: “Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.”
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): “Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?”
Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, — and I didn’t land.
Und another:
To Kenneth Clarke, who said, “Isn’t it terrible about losing to the Germans at our national sport?” when England lost to Germany in the 1990 World Cup Semifinal:
“I shouldn’t worry too much; we’ve beaten them twice this century at theirs.” —Margaret Thatcher
HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!! I would have paid big money to see that ground controllers face!
HAHA, thank you for posting that. Fantastic!
Wasn’t “Speedbird” reserved for Concordes - I know BA flew them too.