On a clear day you can see W Oregon

[jjr]

Sometimes conditions in nature give truly beautiful
sights. The following pics depict a very clear mid
day view of western Oregon, on climb out from Portland.

These were taken on Thursday December 24, 2009 as I was
headed toward Dallas, TX.

For those that may find it interesting, these were taken
at about 11,880 ft while doing 326 knots ground speed.
At this point in the pictures, I'm trading off climb
rate for speed.The speed limit below 10,000 feet is
250 knots, and there's no limit above.













In the instrument panel picture, the bottom center
display is just packed with info.

It's a satellite navigation overview of position, heading,
track, wind speed and predicted top of climb point (T/C)

The green colored sprinkling is a terrain depiction. In the
lower left corner the amber digits of 114 over a green 059
are telling me the highest and lowest points of terrain on
the displayed area. AT 11,880 I am 480 feet above the very
highest point within the 160NM ahead.

To the right of the navigation display is a round gauge
that says Vert Speed (vertical speed) this display switches
to showing other airplane traffic as needed, and a resolution
of conflicting paths if needed.

If any one's interested, I can also show some engine
instrumentation, it's a little less interesting though.

Joe

[WarbirdTA]

Beautiful pictures Joe!
I love seeing those photos, including the instruments.
And it really helps when you explain them to me.
I know a few basic ones, like mainly in a T-34 Mentor.
I moved away when my brother had a T-28 Trojan, so I never quite made it up in that one.
I think I have some photos of it somewhere.
What aircraft are you flying?
Feel free to post up more! ;D

George

[LadyTA74]

Awesome pics!
I'm glad you know how to read those instruments!
I hope there isn't a test later.

[jjr]

> What aircraft are you flying?

The Boeing/McDonald Douglas MD-80 (DC-9),
a 140 seat, 70 ton, twin engine turbo jet.
(One of my "other" birds...)

> I hope there isn't a test later.

No Ma'am! just sharing a little. Most folks that
love cars - love speed and a good running engine(s).

George hints at some liking of aircraft, so I figured
he'd appreciate some pics like these.

I don't post that very often, but with such a pretty
day, I thought they were neat.

Joe

[lawbreaker2]

Well I don't know anything about airplanes but I dig the pic's, I love pic's from the air, is there a site where Pilots hang on and post up pic's, I know there is a guy with his own plane that take and post alot of pic's from the air over Parker,az. really cool stuff. ;D

[jjr]

> is there a site where Pilots hang on and post up pic's

Not that I know of...

Pilots are like many groups of skilled individuals.

Many are done with it all at the end of the day, and a few
are reluctant to go home.

Personally, I just love most all machines and the whole grand
experience.

Life holds a range of experiences, which aren't always positive,
but some things are quite uplifting...

A Trans Am smoothly idling with that distintive throaty tone.

A woman that loves pontiac muscle, and smiles at the mention.

A jet airplane that responds to it's master, staying under control,
but anxious to do much more.

Flight is very similar to a Trans Am trip, a very capable machine
with so much ability... man (or woman) and machine bond in a special way. It doesn't matter if it's a country road, or the skies just east of Portland, OR. Motorsports are Motorsports!

I'm pleased you liked the pics, George already said I could do more.

In my youth I also enjoyed dirt bikes and raced sailboats, but aviation and Trans Ams are my base...

Is there an area of the US you'd like to see?

Joe

[WarbirdTA]

Joe,
I fly with South West alot, back and forth to Daytona Beach and back to Las Vegas.
Visiting my brother about 1-3 times a year.
I use to go up in his plane all the time, but lately I have a sinus problem where altitude affects me.
I even have problems in the big airliners.
My left eye hurts, and a massive migrane headache.
Even light bothers me when this happens.
Getting old is starting to suck big time.
What airline do you fly for?
Where my brother lives, is a ton of airline pilots.
Quite a few I know because of it.
Most of them fly the 737s right now.
And all of them use to fly military.
A few fly private just for all the rich people, out of Las Vegas.
You still didn't answer me.
Do you have any pictures with your car and aircraft?
Like the big ones you fly.
I have quite a few pictures of my cars with planes, just not the big ones. ;D
And yes, post up some more photos.
Like here in the Southwest, or the southeast are what I like.
I was never a snow person.
But show those as well, I don't care.

Greorge

[jjr]

> What airline do you fly for?

Most airline employees don't comment
on that question. And it's because the next
thing most folks want to talk about is a
bad experience or lost bag stories... I know
you're not going there, but someone reading
along will want to tell me their story.

So, I'll PM you on that one.

It's not that I don't care or aren't sympathec,
but I just work there and do the best I can
with the sometimes limited tools by which to do
so.

The airline business, like most every other,
has been very, very squeezed by the pricing demands
of the public. Where we once offered a comfortable
service, people now want a simple cheap seat...
They sweat $4-$5 dollars on the ticket price only
to throw away $20 on junk at the airport.

Most airlines are very similar in operation today,
the distinctions of a by-gone era are memories now.

So - in other words, there's fewer of us working longer
and harder making less than we ever have.

Still, most of us do our best and try to give the
extra when and where we can.

On Christmas eve my last flight got cancelled, the
reason was that a Flight Attendant had run out of
duty time for the day. Our customers were quite
angry. To their perspective, they couldn't understand
why she couldn't "just" work a little longer...

At the time we cancelled she had been on duty 14 hours
and 34 minutes. Their limit is 15 hours. But who exactly
would even consider going to 16 hrs in that single day.

The actual fault in that cancellation, was that
Management didn't have reserve employees on hand. Too
expensive >and< detremental to the bonus check. The guy
that made the decision not to have extra staff on hand,
was well rested and at home enjoying some holiday cheer.

None of those disgruntled travelers will ever get the
chance to talk to the guy that made that decision.

So we don't want to hear the story, we know it all too
well and can't fix it.

> And all of them use to fly military.

I didn't... I cut grass for flying lessons in my teens,
and put myself through college as well.

> You still didn't answer me.
> Do you have any pictures with your car and aircraft?

No way to get on the same ramp with security as it is.

> And yes, post up some more photos.

Okay...

> Like here in the Southwest, or the southeast are what I like.
> I was never a snow person.
> But show those as well, I don't care.

Usually ship rock, the painted desert, grand canyon make nice
subjects... I just wait for the scene to move me... <grin>

Joe

[lawbreaker2]

I like to see pic's of anything and everything, from sea to shinning sea. ;D it don't matter to me there all cool, vegas would be cool to see as flagstaff, az to, I use to drive a big rig coast to coast and wound drive over flagstaff all the time, oh sodona, az to. ;D

[WarbirdTA]

Joe,
I hang out with nothing but pilots, when visiting my brother in Daytona Beach, Florida.
They all fly for different airlines (except for South West for some reason).
They do hate the South West pilots.
Seems that South West gets to wear their Leather Flight Jackets, which upsets ex-military and other airline pilots.
Doesn't bother me, a pilot is a pilot.
One pilot there in Daytona, has worked his way up into a certain aircraft, to be pilot, only to have the airline drop that type aircraft, causing him to take a cut in pay, and stay from the other seat again.
He is soon to lose the 737, and have to start all over, with another large cut in pay.
Heck, I remember being a little guy (ya, my age is showing. ), and being allowed to visit the pilots in their "flying office". ;D
Even got plastic "airline wings".
Do they still give those out?
I haven't seen anyone do it.
Anyway, I even remember walking onto a plane with not jet engines.
A Connie.
Use to go back and forth, Chicago and Los Angeles to visit my relatives back then.
And don't worry about not wanting to say who you fly for.
I can understand.

George

[jjr]

Southwest is a different culture from most airlines.

Born of modest size and a small intial workforce, they were
able to foster and somewhat maintain a team spirit amongst
their employees. Something that many of us envy.

Their business model has proven to have some good merit,
but even with recent times they can't do much better than
any other airline. The saving grace was fuel hedges, allowing
them to shelter themsleves from price spikes.

The pilot group has grown a bit smug over the years, but
seem to ease when they over-ran a few runway ends.

All airlines eventually have mishaps, and sometimes it's
human error. The pilots at Southwest aren't any better than
anywhere else, but that's not what they will tell you...

The rest of us knew eventually those smug attitudes would
normalize.

They are proud of their outfit, and we all wish we had that,
but they also cut corners that the rest of us don't. That
doesn't mean they are less safe, and the rest of us more though.

I was taught to be conservative and focused, like using the
entire length of runway (when I can). Sure, it might add 2-3
minutes to start at the end, but I may need the extra should a
engine come apart. If nothing happens, did I waste anything?

A typical Southwest crew would opt for a "still legal" shorter
takeoff point to get out sooner. And if nothing happens, they
are heros supposedly for the 2 minute savings.

Most airlines had a boom period where their jobs were peaked
and many were happy. Today, only Southwest has any of that left.

It won't last though... Since Herb's not at the controls, the
accountants will eventually do less and less for the employee
unit and they will also become a big cold corporation.

I'm not sure if hate is the right word for the SW folks, I
don't hate them but am way past tired of any smugness. Most of
us just watch them and shake our heads...

> Even got plastic "airline wings".
> Do they still give those out?

I'm pretty sure they stopped making/buying them, which is a shame.

Every now and then we do a first flight certificate for kids, but
the wings were cooler.

> And don't worry about not wanting to say who you fly for.
> I can understand.

Obviously it's not SouthWest... <grin>

Joe

[TAdan]

Hi Joe, thanks for posting the pics. I am also an aviation fan (mostly Warbirds) and being ground bound I am always interested in hearing what pilots have to say.

I keep telling myself that one of these days I'll get my liscense...

I've only been up a few times, most notably on a C-47 and a B-17. (It was pricey, but well worth it).

[WarbirdTA]

You know Dan,
I can get you into a T-34 Mentor, but you have to go with me to Daytona Beach some time.

Same with you Joe. ;D

George