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To: Gaffer
I think the whole airline business could do with a bit of rejeuvenation myself.
I was in the service in the 60s and flew military standby a lot - primarily coast to coast red eyes flights.
I swear, the crews we got on the "midnight shifts" were 180 degrees from the day crews.
15 posted on 06/29/2013 9:15:11 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: oh8eleven

I did 68 to 76. In 1971 when my dad died, I flew across the Pacific to HI on a 141 in web seating (butt and back) with my feet and legs straddled across a classified jet engine (covered) and leaking internal fuel. Crew had to turn on the smoking lamp and turn down the cargo temperature to near freezing. Landed at Norton AFB and TMO guy says, “I gotta C130 headed right now to Dobbins AFB and you’re on it”....I said no thanks, point me to LAX.

I wearily made it to LAX and asked the Delta Airlines tickey guy for a seat. He said “Go standby - nobody on this plane.” Okay I says.

It was a beautiful 747, stewardesses (they called them that then) were amazing and good looking. It was a “red eye” but I’m not sure that term was en vogue at that time.

The plane had maybe 10 pax...I had the whole damned rear end of the plane and I bagged (after a good amount of liquor) out on a row of 5 seats in the middle and slept the whole time. Best damned $64 bucks I ever spent


18 posted on 06/29/2013 9:25:31 AM PDT by Gaffer
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