To an engineer, ugly is as ugly does.
Posted on 03/07/2007 12:27:32 PM PST by lowbuck
During my days working at Logan Airport, I had to stop what I was doing to watch when a 747 was landing. The pilots from Swiss Air were the best. It was unbelievable how graceful a huge machine could be.
To an engineer, ugly is as ugly does.
"It was unbelievable how graceful a huge machine could be."
True, I also remember watching the C-17's in the pattern while lying on the beach in Florida. Man, such a big machine and it seemed to "hang in the air" and float to the runway.
While age has erased the magic in many thing that amazed us in youth, well designed airplanes are still just that to me. . . magic.
I remember reading in a mag at the time the 747 came out that plans were to extend the upper deck the length of the aircraft. that hasn't happenned yet, but it looks like it's growing...
Form follows function, no?
As far as airliners go the 707 is still the most graceful yet business looking jet. and besides nobody has rolled a 747 on purpose a 707 has.Pilot Tex Johnson.
I remember that. he wasn't a pilot much longer, was he?
Looks beautiful to me....
One of my favorite images of one of the most beautiful variants of one of my favorite aircraft!
And this baby can move. Did anyone ever see the footage of this aircraft leaping into the sky at what appeared to be 70 degree angle on 9/11 with the President aboard? That thing cannot have stock engines...it climbed like a raped ape.
Spoken like a true aviation aficionado!
The 747 is the queen of the skies. The A380 is a ghastly beast.
“A gentleman’s airplane,” as one captain puts it.
Perfect description.
The euros used to design nice looking aircraft, but now they design boring stale crap.
It doesn't have stock engines. I don't know what type it has, but it's been souped-up and is able to land at many airports with runways too short to support an average 747.
Beautiful plane.
The president of the company just told him "Don't do it again."
He flew for Boeing for many more years.
It probably did not have much fuel and for sure did not have many passengers in it.
When airplanes take off, it is normal to climb at their best climb airspeed.
If it is loaded heavy, the climb angle won't be too steep.
If they are light, the angle is quite steep. They still climb at the same airspeed.
That makes sense to me...:)
Yes he was,One of the greatest test pilots ever.Died of old age.
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