Really OT - 747s coming in

My dh would love that. We spent a large amount of our honeymoon at the end of a runway in Dallas, TX, watching planes land. He's always been fascinated by airplaines.

-- Jere

I know that heart-stopping feeling. There is a perimeter road to the airport just outside Baltimore (BWI) that has signs posted "Low flying aircraft". Low flying my foot, try landing. First time I was driving down that road and a plane flew over I ducked.

Anne (> I've been curled up with a French roast and bear claw catching up on

Thanks for the warning! If I ever get in that direction, I'll know not to duck!

Dannielle

Yeah, it is, and it's no less heart-stopping to be on the plane when it happens!

My old office was on the approach path to San Diego Airport, and we'd sit in the lunchroom watching the planes heading straight for us. Coming home, I'd end up reassuring my seatmate that just because the plane appears to be headed directly for the building, trust me, I've been working in that building for X years and none has ever hit us yet. Now, get close to the window and wave at my co-workers who are expecting me.

I used to see the same thing on a parkway that was adjacent to Kennedy Airport in New York. When it swooped over the parkway to a landing strip the people in the cars were able to wave at the passengers, all of whom looked terrified.

There actually was an accident once where a plane did come down on the parkway. Fortunately I wasn't there at the time it happened, but I did see it at the side of the road. It held up traffic for hours and hours.

Lucille

My husband chuckled when he read that over my shoulder. He said you get the same feeling when you're sitting at the end of the runway, eating your lunch, when the F-16 fighters are doing take-off/landing excercises.

He never had so much fun eating a sandwich... Becky

Man o' man! The things I miss being in Germany AND stationed with the army LOL Once or twice a week we hear fighters fly low overhead, but nothing else. When at Barksdale I loved to watch the Buffs (B52s) come in on the flight line. Langley too! Not Buffs but 15s... the one main road passed at the end of the runway there and you could watch them scrape your roofs (so you thought :D) coming in for landings.

I guess that i sone of those things I miss terribly, jet noise and that sound of freedom :D

Susan

John used to hate landing at Hong Kong - said you felt you were going to get tangled up in all the washing lines. He hates flying, anyway.

Pat P

Glad yo enjoy it. I was part of a noise study of the 747 done at NAFEC in New Jersey, just outside of Atlantic City. We set up at the ned of the runway while 747's did touch and go's. (Landing practice for pilots, they touch the wheels down and then take off again). We recorded the noise levels as the planes were 50 feet or less above our heads. Boy, those suckers are big and noisy.

George

"Glad yo enjoy it. I was part of a noise study of the 747 done at NAFEC in New Jersey, just outside of Atlantic City. We set up at the ned of the runway while 747's did touch and go's. (Landing practice for pilots, they touch the wheels down and then take off again). We recorded the noise levels as the planes were 50 feet or less above our heads. Boy, those suckers are big and noisy. "

****************************************************** We live in a "Noise Impact Zone" even though we're several miles from the airport. People who live closer received insulation and new windows to minimize jet noise, but we're considered 'too far away'. I argued unsuccessfully at planning commission and city council meetings that the unique topography of our area amplified the engines' roar, particularly on outbound flights where the pilots step on the gas to head out over the Pacific. They wouldn't even run decibel studies to confirm. Our noise has lessened considerably though since they've changed runway configurations and required pilots to use European style take-offs and landings (steep). European planes that use Rolls Royce engines are far quieter than Boeings and other American jets, by the way. The Russian Aeroflots have a very distinctive sound but aren't offensive.

DH works at a building where 747 cargo planes park just outside...I mean "just"...maybe 20 to 30 feet from the entrance. They are indeed BIG and noisy and smelly up close and personal. I can't get out of my car if they're revving up...no earmuffs...but I love to watch them anyway. My mom says the first word I ever said was "airplane" (or more accurately, "aia pane") so maybe that's why.

Lynda

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Sometimes I think war is God's way of teaching us geography." ..................Paul Rodriguez.*.................................... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*nope, NOT Ambrose Bierce!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~