A flight to a mystery destination...

[Dennis the menace]

Hi everyone. I hope all is well in these trying times as we try to avoid the virus sweeping the planet. I do my best at staying home as much as can be expected, and find that YouTube and FS helps keep what sanity I have left. Hoping all of you are doing well also.

This reads like a story, not just a flight.

The idea of this flight started with this: I have a dear friend in St. Louis I've known for 30 years who is exhausted. He is dealing with his 93 year year old mother who lives alone (by choice), and due to her choice of "news" information, chooses to dismiss the Coronavirus even though she has breathing difficulties and is on oxygen at home. And she is having other medical issues, so he must drive the 60 miles each way to her home several times a week and take her to the hospital, and she has become belligerent towards him (because of her politics, not because of his actions), almost combative at times. He regards this virus as "real, and dangerous", which it is.  He is depressed because of her choice of "news", she is not the nice woman he knew growing up.  She has become angry and believes in conspiracy theories which drives him up the wall. He also has a myriad of other issues, and the constant depressing news is not helping. The other day he asked if I was flying in FS, I said yes, and he said "I wish I could fly someplace far away from all of this and just not have to deal with it for a little while". He likes to travel, and usually flies 2 or 3 times a year.  He is at home, working from home, and he's getting what I call "cabin fever".

So..........I got to thinking about what he said, and I came up with a flight that fits his personal requirements. He likes adventure, but not something dangerous like a Congo cruise. He does not like camping or hiking or "roughing it". He likes low bargain fares, is not afraid to fly at odd times, but he does not like changing airports just to save money. For example, he would not like to go from Newark to Idlewild, or from Los Angeles to Burbank just to save money. Taking luggage and dealing with a shuttle bus is not to his liking. He likes confirmed tickets, does not like "standby" or chancing getting a seat on a plane. He's from the Midwest, so that means American style food, no sushi or barbecue Zebra! He is not limited to US airlines, but shies away from a third world carrier. He hates paying for a hotel, and would prefer to take a chain of flights (again to save money), napping on the plane instead of paying for a room. That means no overnight airport stays, if possible. And everything should be in English, although he is not in the least xenophobic - he just does not like confusion and is afraid he would order something that he would not like, and then have to deal with it. Me, on the other hand, I can deal with just about anything, the stranger and more exotic and adventurous it is, the better! I'm a Sagittarius (flighty and adventurous, usually opinionated and outspoken, easy come - easy go) and he is a Taurus (earthy, practical, tends to be reserved and has little tolerance for complications - a real Midwest "meat and potatoes" kind of person). So what type of trip to put together to satisfy both people and to what destination?  Hmmmmmm.....

I went though timetable images, and my OAGs, and this is what I came up with. I will post this trip in parts as I complete them, leaving the final destination a mystery. I will say this, it involves five distinct sections of travel, each with a different airline. And at the end of this, I will announce the final destination, AND a new scenery upload of that destination, along with an aircraft repaint that flies to it, and a second aircraft repaint that is part of this trip, but NOT part of the final destination.  I am using FS2004, FSrealWX, and I am currently using the 1959 traffic.

So, here we go!  Its Sunday, June 21, 1959.  Summer solstice, the 172nd and the shortest day of the year.  Dwight David Eisenhower is President, and Richard Milhous Nixon is Vice President.  America is in the middle of the "Rock and Roll" era, the space race is getting into full swing, Castro is nationalizing US companies in Cuba, and we are quietly sending military "advisors" to South Vietnam.  Cars are longer, lower and wider than ever, and even an standard sized car like a Chevrolet is now over 18 feet long.  Jet airliners are starting to really cut into commercial aviation.  This is the last summer where piston power will dominate on long haul overseas routes.  The "Baby Boom" generation is still putting out record numbers of kids, in the US the top five names (first to last) for boys in '59 is Michael, David, James, John and Robert, and for girls Susan, Linda, Karen, Donna and Patricia.  Also this June, Queen Elizabeth II opened the St. Lawrence Seaway, the US Air Force Academy graduated its first class, Singapore became self-governing, the US launched its first ballistic missiles from a submarine, and on the sports side of things, on this day Hank Aaron hit his 755th home run.  On the "big screen", the hot pictures are Warlock, A Nun's Story, Hiroshima, Mon Amour, The Horse Soldiers, and Darby O'Gill and the Little People.  Top 10 Billboard smash hits are (first to last): The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton, Kansas City by Wilbert Harrison, Dream Lover by Bobby Darrin, Quiet Village by Martin Denny, Personality by Lloyd Price, A Teenager in Love by Dion and the Belmonts, Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb by Edward Byrnes and Connie Stevens, Sorry, I ran All the Way Home by The Impalas, Only You by Frank Pourcel's French Fiddles and The Happy Organ by Dave "Baby" Cortez.  Lipstick On Your Collar by Connie Francis just got bumped out of the top ten....sorry Connie!

St. Louis Lambert field.  After a $3.20 taxi ride from his house, my friend Greg arrives at Lambert Field for his flight.  He proceeds to the TWA ticket counter and gets checked in on Flight 527 to Los Angeles.  Flight 527 is a "Sky Club Coach" flight on a Lockheed L-749. The fare is $78.20. Passengers who boarded the flight on the east coast could purchase a meal for a nominal cost, but for my friend leaving St. Louis that is not an option. The first class fare on another flight would have been $109.15, and for "Golden Banner Coach" (with complementary hot meals) it would have been $96.10.  So you can save money by flying coach. This L-749 is an older aircraft, but at least its been upgraded with radar.  Because its strictly a coach "no frills" flight, the galley has been reduced to only a snack galley.  The lounge is removed and seats added. TWA normally used 74 seats on this type of plane.  TWA found that these coach flights were growing very popular, and most flights left with 80% plus of the seats sold.  The writing was on the wall - people were willing to accept less if it meant a lower price.  Our flight started in Boston, flew to New York, then on to Pittsburgh, Columbus, Dayton and Indianapolis before arriving at St. Louis.  The ticketing lady has told us to proceed to gate B-7. Our departure is scheduled for 10:00 PM, and our boarding starts at 9:40.  The night is hot and humid, the smell of raw avgas and oil smoke is overwhelming, and when piston engines are not roaring, the sounds of millions of cicadas fill the air as we make our way from the departure gate door over to the airstairs.  No furs and strings of pearls here, oh no, just ordinary people in their "Sunday best", looking very much like they normally do on any trip downtown for shopping.

Our running total so far is "$81.40.  That's the same as $721.63.  Had we flown a nonstop first class flight it would have been $112.35, or $998.74 in today's dollars. OUCH!

[Dennis the menace]

We get seated, the engines start, and we get ready to taxi. I have this aircraft's weight set for 66 passengers, or a typical Sky Coach load. The winds are coming from the south, so this is one of those rare occasions where the usual runways 12/30 are not in use.  Instead we are instructed to use runway 29.  The 749 is quite a little hot rod compared to the DC-6.  In no time at all we reach V2 and off we go!  Here we are on climbout leaving the airport and city behind.  By 10:15 PM we are on our way to our first stop, Kansas City.

Not long after takeoff we can hear thunder, and around 7,000 feet turbulence kicks in.  Moderate, nothing too much to worry about.  We proceed on a course of approximately 280 degrees until we intercept the Kansas City VOR.  For this 160 mile stretch, we will cruise at 16,000 feet. Approximately 80 miles out we begin our descent.  ATIS informs us that runway 19 is in use.  Wind is again light, and the night is still hot and humid. We intercept the ILS and hope that a Braniff DC-6 decides to move itself off the runway before I reach short final.  It does. At 11:15 we set down and taxi to the terminal. Here is a longer stay as we refuel for the next leg of the trip.  At least with "Sky Club Coach" we won't be delayed for catering trucks!

We depart Kansas City at 12:00 AM midnight for the short flight to Wichita. Because its only 150 miles we will climb to 14,000 and run at the low power setting of 2200 rpm with 162 map.  We land at Wichita on runway 1L and proceed to the terminal.  A lone Central DC-3 and another Continental DC-6 are here to keep us company.  After a short 20 minute stay, we start up and proceed to runway 1L.  After another Braniff DC-6 lands and turns off the runway, its our turn to go, and off we are.  Destination - Amarillo.

Amarillo is more than 300 miles from Wichita, so we can now cruise back up to 18,000 feet.  Below us we can see lightning and scattered clouds, but up here where the air is rare, the sailing is fine.  At 2:05 we are on final to the Amarillo Air Terminal.

 At 2:10 the Amarillo terminal is a ghost town.  We stop just long enough to let a person off.  Nobody boards.  As soon as you open the cabin door, the smells of stockyards fills the cabin.  Just a Central and Continental DC-3s to keep us company, and a few coyotes howling.  Even the crickets are quiet.

We lift off from Amarillo's runway 22 at 2:35 AM.  Next stop is Albuquerque, and west of the Continental Divide.  Besides the mountains, we will be running into a squall line of thunderstorms and severe turbulence as the masses of hot, humid, monsoonal desert air push east and over the Rocky Mountains.  I'm going to climb to 20,000 and try to avoid the worst of it, but the "Fasten Seat Belt" sign is going to be left on, and the passengers are warned ahead of time.  You can forget trying to snooze on this leg of the trip.  Here we are at 20,000 feet over Santa Rosa, New Mexico and will start our descent to Albuquerque.  This entire leg over New Mexico was nothing but thunder, lightening and turbulence, hard violent turbulence.  It is not safe to descend lower than 12,000 feet due to the Sangre de Cristo mountains north and east of Albuquerque.  Worse yet, because of the strong monsoonal airflow from the south, ATIS directs us to use runway 21, a non precision runway that is close to the mountains.  We are going to have to head towards Santa Fe, and then turn south to Albuquerque and descend to 8,000 feet and go through the pass until it is safe to turn east and spot runway 21.  This is always a bad approach, and its worse at night and worse yet in thunderstorms but thankfully the storm ends and the sky clears up 20 miles north of the airport.

We finally (somehow) arrive at Albuquerque at 3:30 AM and taxi up the the terminal.  This is part of the updated Southwest Scenery that will be released in a month or so (there were many mistakes with the old Albuquerque scenery).  At Albuquerque we will remain for 40 minutes to again refuel for the last leg of the trip to Los Angeles.  Albuquerque at 5354 elevation is always an exiting place.  In the old DC-3s it was not uncommon to have Navajo or Zuni Indians greet passengers and sell their finery and silver and turquoise jewelry.  But at 3:30 AM only a few passengers, airport service workers and few great horned owls are up.  Here to keep us company in front of the old WPA terminal is a TWA Super G, a Frontier DC-3, a Continental Convair 440 and Viscount.  The airport hotel's neon sign is just visible in the background.

[Dennis the menace]

Flight 527 "Sky Club Coach" service departs the "Land of Enchantment" at 4:15 AM Mountain Time.

The tower instructs us to taxi to runway 21, and as we do so, we enter the military section of the airport. Permission to take off granted, we use METO power due to the altitude and after a short run we lift off and proceed directly to the Truth or Consequences VOR. At one time, it was called Hot Springs, but due to a contest for a town to name themselves after a popular game show of the day, it changed its name. This is due south of Albuquerque, which gives us ample time to climb up to our cruise altitude of 20,000 feet.  Truth or Consequences is in a valley where the Rocky Mountains split, and we must cross the western half to fly to our next stop on our flight, Tucson Arizona.  As we fly over the Truth or Consequences VOR we turn to a heading of 240 until we lock in on the Tucson VOR.  The air is calm and this gives the passengers a little time to nap as the engines drone on and the hours pass by.  The first purple of dawn is just starting, and it won't take long for the desert air to heat up.  Thankfully desert flying is usually very smooth in the mornings.  Here we are at 20,000 somewhere west of Silver City, New Mexico.

Seventy miles east of Tucson we begin our descent.  Once again mountains east of the city prevent us from going lower than 12,000 feet.  Finally we are able to pick up ATIS which directs us to use runway 30.  Tucson does not have any precision runways despite jet service.  Neither does Phoenix.  I'm not really sure why that is, but nonetheless we will have to live with it.  We touch down at 4:55 Arizona Time.  To this very day, Arizona has its own unique time.  Arizona is technically on Mountain Standard Time the year round, but it does not observe Daylight Savings Time.  This was thought that it would reduce power needs for air conditioning use by it getting darker sooner as people returned home from work. Also, central Arizona has many chicken and egg "ranches" and farmers complained that Daylight Savings Time interfered with when the chickens ate.  Anyway, nobody here (I live in Phoenix) says "Mountain Time", they only say "Arizona Time", because its less confusing.  Its a total mess with airline schedules.  For example, in the winter, I am one hour LATER than San Diego, and one EARLIER than St. Louis (Central Time).  But in the summer I am the SAME time as San Diego, and two hours EARLIER than St. Louis.  I wonder how many people in Arizona missed their flights because of that?  Any, not really sure exactly WHAT time it is, we pull up to the terminal.  A few early birds get on and then its time to start up those hot and tired engines once more.  A Frontier Convair 340 sits idly by and an Apache Airlines Beech 18 waits for its first run of the day to Phoenix.

[chris_c]

This is going to be fun, I'm certain.

Chris

[Dennis the menace]

Phoenix is just a short 115 mile flight from Tucson.  The main carriers between the two cities are American, TWA, and Frontier.  A local airline, Apache, uses Beech 18s on the service and operates much like a shuttle.  Seventy percent of Arizona lives in the Phoenix metro area, another twenty percent live in Tucson, and the rest live scattered throughout the state.  A large piston airliner usually takes 50 to 55 minutes for the flight.  You're luck to get up to 12,000 feet before you start back down again.  ATIS has directed us to use runway 26 and come in from the east.  I live in Scottsdale, east of Phoenix, and this is the norm for the mornings.  Around mid day, the winds shift and traffic will come into runway 8 from the west.  Here we are on final to runway 26.  Like Tucson, Phoenix has no precision runways.  Everything is visual.  On the far left is the Arizona State University football stadium, and the Tempe water tanks.  Scottsdale is to the right.  We are looking due west towards downtown Phoenix, and that broad barren strip is the Salt River.  Its a haven for rattlesnakes.  Today, it has been dammed and has become a recreational area with a marina and high rises looking more like Miami beach than anyplace in the Sonora desert.  It flows from the mountains in the northeast down to the Gila (pronounced HEE-lah) river 100 miles southwest of town.  Runway in the middle, Arizona Air Guard on the left, and the terminals on the right.

At 6:20 AM we arrive at the TWA gates.  Behind our flight is a TWA Super G bound for Chicago.  On the other side of the finger is Bonanza row.  In front of Bonanza is American, and two DC-7s sit there.  You're never bored sitting at the gate in Phoenix during the summer.  Activities abound!  Here, a stewardess and the First Officer demonstrate to amazed passengers from back east just how easy it is to fry bacon and eggs on the sidewalk in Phoenix in the summer.  Order up!

To the west is the old terminal, and the unique tower.  That tower was built out of an irrigation pipe, and is preserved today on the south side of the airport.  A Frontier DC-3 taxis out for its morning run to Prescott (pronounced PRESScutt) which is up north near Sedona.  The Apache commuter gate is here, as is Continental.  Western's gates are at the new terminal, in front of the TWA gates.

Phoenix is where I join this trip.  I only paid $20.75 for Sky Club Coach service one way to Los Angeles.  For that price, I get a seat in the five abreast Connie, and perhaps a coffee.  I really don't expect much more, actually. We depart Phoenix at 7:00 AM and the temperature is already well over 90.  The high today will be 112, typical for late June, unless there is a heat wave (yes, there are actually heat waves in the desert!) where the temperature can soar to 122.  The high heat and heavy load will have us use an extra 1,000 feet of runway than we usually need.  If it gets too hot, we will have to ask somebody to leave the aircraft so we can lighten it enough to take off.  We taxi the short distance to runway 26, line up, and off we go.  We will leave the cowl flaps at 30 until we reach 10,000 feet so as to not cook the engines.  Our departure takes us due west over downtown Phoenix and past Phoenix Union Station, home to Southern Pacific and the stub end of a Santa Fe line that connects Phoenix to the main line near Flagstaff.  From this altitude, we can still, but barely, make out a Southern Pacific streamliner heading to Los Angeles.

From the Phoenix VOR we head due west to the Blythe VOR, and then again due west to the Thermal VOR.  We will cruise at 20,000 feet on low power settings.  Even at 16,000 over the Mojave desert, its still so hot that the OAT is 5!   But its best to have to pitot heater on, just in case. Finally, at 20,000 feet we get an OAT of 0.  We cross the Colorado river and 20 miles later the Blythe VOR needle swings around pointing behind us.  As we drone on to Thermal, we pass the Salton Sea in California's Mojave desert.  Originally it was called the "Salton Sink", just a dry, low lying salt bed from a prehistoric lake.  Around 1905, massive winter floods in the Colorado River caused a levee to break, and for over 2 years, water poured through the break, ran across the desert, and filled up the Salton Sink, which then became the Salton Sea.  Today its a wildlife refuge and home to many birds that use it on the annual migration routes from Mexico to Canada.  Its slowly evaporating and getting smaller and smaller, returning back to its former dry lake status.  You can see it here from the left side of the plane.

Before we reach the Thermal VOR, we intercept the LAX VOR and make our turn to the right.  We are now flying over the Coachella Valley, home to Palm Springs, a favorite LA quick get away.  Completing our turn, we begin our descent to Los Angeles.  We will fly to the Ontario VOR, which takes us through the Banning pass and from the Coachella Valley, out of the true desert and into the hot, semi-arid region of the "Inland Empire" - Riverside - San Bernardino - Ontario.  Famous Mt. San Jacinto, home of the Palm Springs aerial tramway, is the large mountain on the left hand side.  Its always 40 degrees colder at the mountaintop tram station than it is at the desert floor tram station.  I've seen many people wearing shorts and a tank top get on the tram, only to find at the top the first thing they do is run in and buy a sweatshirt!

We have passed through the Banning Pass and are coming up on Ontario airport.  Down to almost 10,000 feet now and 50 miles from LAX.  We have tuned in the LAX VOR and now that it is showing 249 degrees, we begin our turn to the left towards a straight in approach.  ATIS informs us that runway 25L and 25R are in use.  We will use 25R.

Just four miles out and on final to Los Angeles international airport.  Douglas El Segundo facility to the left, and the big blue Pacific straight ahead.  We are at full flaps and just letting the ship slowly float on down.  Seat Belts and No Smoking signs are on and just 300 feet from decision height.  Many people will be getting off here at Los Angeles.  Will they be going to Disneyland, or Knott's Berry Farm?  How about the beach or a trip to Hollywood to perhaps catch a glimpse of a movie star?  Who knows?  One thing is for sure, they will have some extra dollars in their wallets because they flew night coach, but they paid for it with plenty of red, bloodshot eyes!

Touch down at 8:27 AM!  A few bumps, a screech or two, then the nose gear thumps down, and then comes that roar of reversing props.

We arrive at the TWA finger at 8:30 on the nose, and remarkably, on time!  Los Angeles is a 40 minute stop.  The aircraft will be serviced and refueled.  Passengers who are continuing on to Fresno, and the San Francisco can now purchase a meal if they so choose.  My friend and I will not be purchasing a meal, because this is where we leave our Connie.  For us, the first section of our flight has come to an end.  We will have our breakfast over at Mike Lymon's Flight Deck restaurant.  In the background are a Delta and National DC-7 on an interchange flight.  Another American DC-7 is parked behind them.  Even though its only June of 1959, the new tower is operational, but that's about it for the new Jetport airport.  You'll have to wait another 3 years to use it, so in the meantime, enjoy the 1940s "temporary" terminals!

As we leave our flight, we can look southwest towards the international finger.  Immediately in front of us is Continental, and behind that is American.  The big jets have a hard time in tight areas designed for DC-6s and L-049s, so they are kept out on the ends of the fingers.  Past American is where Western parks.  A couple Uniteds are over at the repair hangar, and one can just make out an Air France L-1649, an Aerovias REAL Super G, and a Japan Air Lines DC-7C.

Looking east one quickly spots the old tower with the freighter parking area behind that, and the old TWA hangars.  United is next to TWA, and beyond that is what I call "the jungle".  Its overflow United, local carriers, non-scheds, charters and the like. The further out you get, the "cheaper the rent" for a gate, so you really can spot the fly by night stuff there.  And there it is!  I do believe I see our plane that will carry us on the next portion of our trip to our "mystery destination"!

[aharon]

I always believe in extensive explanations on each of screenshots and so far, you have succeeded via this screenshot trip report by surpassing and exceeding expectations of my screenshot philosophy!!

Regards,

Aharon

[qxtoolman]

Jul 17, 2020 19:14:54 GMT -5 Dennis the menace said:

Hi everyone. I hope all is well in these trying times as we try to avoid the virus sweeping the planet. I do my best at staying home as much as can be expected, and find that YouTube and FS helps keep what sanity I have left. Hoping all of you are doing well also. On this day Hank Aaron hit his 755th home run.

Not to nitpick..  Being a longtime Milwaukee Baseball fan, and who saw many games at Milwaukee County Stadium.  Also I am huge fan of "Hammering Hank".  At the date in question Henry Aaron was with the Milwaukee Braves and had only hit 143 of his 755 career Home Runs.  His 755th Home Run was hit on July 10th 1976 while he was with the Milwaukee Brewers.  The greatest thrill I had, was being at game in which I saw both Willie Mays & Hank Aaron hit home runs in the same game.  Oh what fun to be a "Child of the 60's" 
BTW: Great Story & Awesome Pics...
Take Care,

Stefan

[Dennis the menace]

Leg one of the journey is now complete.  A TWA L-749 Sky Club Coach flight from St. Louis to Los Angeles.  That's 1,586 nautical flight miles.  Departure time was 10:00 PM Central time and arrival was 8:30 AM Pacific time.  Since Pacific time is two hours earlier than Central time, that makes our travel time twelve hours and thirty minutes so far.  My friend's cost for this part of the trip so far is $81.40, or $721.63 in today's dollars.  A walk up flight on Southwest is $519.  That's a walk up to the counter and fly today "Anytime" fare.  You had more room in the Connie but service was about the same - drinks and perhaps a snack.  Here is our route map we have traveled so far -

So here we are at LAX, we proceed down the airstairs and into the TWA finger. As we walk to the terminal, this is the view that greets us.  Its the retail building (barber shop, etc.) and baggage center, and the top floor is the home of Mike Lymon's Flight Deck restaurant and cocktail lounge.  Having had nothing to eat, this will be our first destination.  Our luggage will be automatically transferred to our next flight, so no need to worry about that.  Here, a couple of TWA stewardesses pass us on our way to the terminal, and then to breakfast.

We pass through the TWA terminal, and turn to the left.  We're only going a short distance to the restaurant.  We pass the doors leading into that, pass the Bank of America doors, and come to the stairs that takes to the Flight Deck.  Hopefully we can get a table by the windows for a nice view of the apron area!

Mike Lymon's Flight Deck has an enormous neon sign that can't be missed at night.  I heard the place was always crowded, and not just with travelers.  People dined there just for the view, and many a high school prom night dinner was had there.  I see Cadillacs and tailfins and chrome galore everywhere.  There's nothing quite like driving a V-8 powered Brontosaurus from the Chrome Age!

Here's a 1958 menu from the Flight Deck.  You know your in the '50s when the first thing that hits you is "Cocktails in the Rocket Room"!  A Bloody Mary does sound good right now, it kind of matches the look of one's eyes after 12 hours of listening to four 3350s and catching only bits and pieces of sleep while bouncing through the air in an aluminum tube filled with cigarette smoke.

Miss, I'll have the "Kosher style corned beef with three eggs, and a side of melons".

...oh wait, on second thought, make that the scrambled eggs with lox and green onions, and the side of melons.  My "midwesty" friend orders the steak and eggs with hash brown potatoes.

We will be having lunch aboard our next flight, but I'm so hungry right now that I can't wait.  Here's a nice overview of the original Los Angeles International Airport, but from a few years earlier than our trip, but the overall layout is similar.  From the left, you have a bit of the American maintenance hangar, and the first "finger" is where the international airlines will go.  Eventually a customs and immigration office will be built there on its extension.  On the east (right) side of that finger is where Western parks.  American occupies the right end of that terminal, and uses the finger to the right of that.  The next building over is where the Flight Deck restaurant is with its observation balcony; the Bank of America is also located there.  The next terminal to the right of that is the TWA (left end) and United (right end) terminal, and that small building to the right of that is FAA and ATC. I don't know where the non-scheds, charters and overflow parks.  The TWA hangar is to the far right.  It appears that the cargo area beyond that has not yet been built.  The main parking lot occupies the center of the photo and behind it and across Century Blvd. are where the catering is located.  One of those buildings is the post office building for airmail.  This has to be the very early '50s.

After paying our tab, we will walk out and turn right and go past the United terminal.  This is taken in at least 1957 because there is a 1957 Mercury in the photo.

We continue walking until we get to the last small terminal and then enter it. Looking around, we see a swarm of people and a sign that says "Trans World Airlines". That's ours! (we'll say).  We make our way and stand in line to check in for flight 301, a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser that departs at 10 AM.  These old "temporary terminals were dark, cramped, and not built for the crowds of the late 1950s.  Pictured is the Western Airlines ticket counter, but they pretty much all looked the same.  The few color photos I have seen showed them painted ginger green and gray, with dark green linoleum tile floors.  Seats were hard to come by, and the amenities pretty much limited to a few small gift shops and some vending machines.  Not the best way to greet tourists to Southern California.

We pay the Transocean ticket salesman our $99 for a one way fare to Honolulu, Hawaii.  I will explain that decision later on.  After checking our bags, we head back out front as its much too crowded and smokey inside.  The bright sunny day that greeted us when we landed is now turning into "June Gloom".  Southern California is notorious for gloomy, overcast, damp and cool mornings in late May, throughout June and into early July.  Here we will wait until we hear our boarding call on the building's loudspeakers.

[Dennis the menace]

Regarding Hank Aaron. Sometimes using a "On this day in blank blank blank" website is not always correct. I looked at three different sites, and they all said three different things. Sort of like the man who has one clock always knows what time it is. The man with multiple clocks never knows what time it is! Thanks for the correction.

[Dennis the menace]

As we are watching buses going here and there, and dropping people off and picking them up, suddenly the loudspeaker on the front of the building crackles to life and blares out "All passengers on Transocean flight 301 to Honolulu now proceed to gate 5 for boarding".  Last year, in 1958, Transocean was flying Connies to Honolulu, and they departed from the Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California, about 24 miles away, which is a step up from the DC-4s that they used to fly.  But flying out of Burbank meant having to find some way to get from Los Angeles International up to Burbank airport.  But ever since Transocean bought ex BOAC Stratocruisers, they use Los Angeles International.  The runways at Burbank just aren't long enough, and its too close to the San Gabriel mountains for the B-377s to safely use.  So that makes it easier for us!  Just a few years ago, these Stratocruisers were the "Queens of the Sky", but those days are long gone.  Expensive to operate, a mechanics nightmare, and prone to breaking down, the airlines could not wait to get rid of them.  But still, they were popular with customers because they were big and roomy, and best of all, had a downstairs bar.  We wait at the concourse while the ground crew brings up the airstairs to board our flight.

Much of the old BOAC cabin interior remains, however Transocean has added more seats.  Instead of four abreast, its now five abreast.  But the seats are still plush, legroom is better than today, and overall its an enjoyable experience for a coach flight.  Here's a publicity photo of a Transocean Stratocruiser (at least that's what it claims to be).  This flight is certainly no "Millionaire's Special", quite the contrary, its filled with everyday middle class folks who thought they could never afford that "once in a lifetime" trip to Hawaii, but now can because Transocean charges just $99 each way to Hawaii from Los Angeles.  Transocean even advertises a budget Honolulu eight day vacation with round trip airfare from California, and luxury accommodations on Waikiki Beach for just $234.  Only $2,080.16 in today's dollars.  The $99 one way airfare alone is $880.07 today.  Let's compare this to the regularly scheduled airlines.  The two main airlines from Los Angeles to Honolulu are Pan American and United. Pan American offered both B-707 and DC-7 service to Honolulu from LAX in June of '59. For the DC-7C coach the price one way is $133.  If you choose the 707, you'll have to add an additional $20 to that. So Pan Am on a DC-7C in today's dollars costs $1.182.31 one way, or $1,360.10 if you pay extra for jet coach.  United, on the other hand, does not offer jet service to Honolulu. Its DC-8s are still sitting at Long Beach. Their first class flight is on a DC-7, and the coach flight (comparable to our flight) is on a DC-6B.  United's fare for the DC-6B coach service one way is $133, or $1,182.31 today.  The only difference between the two is choosing a DC-6B or a DC-7.  Both are faster than the Stratocruiser (the DC-6B just ever so faster), but not worth the extra cost in my opinion - I'll keep the $302.24 difference and put it in my wallet.  I doubt that the service was any better on United or Pan Am as far as coach goes, and all three offer complimentary hot meals.  All three give you the same baggage allowance and are guaranteed flights.  But only ONE offers the luxury of a downstairs cocktail lounge!

Although Transocean configured their Strats for 86 seats, our plane is configured for 84.  Two people apparently missed the flight, or being confused, went to Burbank airport instead where instead of spending their honeymoon in Hawaii, they end up spending it in Hawaiian Gardens instead.  So its almost a full load.  Our takeoff gross weight is 147,170 pounds.  The OAT at Los Angeles is 78 and we have a 6 mph wind from the west.  Skies are overcast to 3,000 feet.  The door shuts, the airstairs are pulled away, the "Fasten Seat Belts" and "No Smoking" signs are lit, and the big engines start.  ATIS informs us that runways 25L and 25R are in use, and permission to taxi is given.  Off we go!  Peeking out the windows we spy a TWA 707 bound for Chicago, an Avalon Air Transport bound for Avalon, Catalina, and an American DC-7 bound for Dallas.  Many people are going many places this June 22, 1959.

Ground instructs us to hold while two Uniteds pass by,  A DC-7 going to Chicago and a DC-6B going to San Francisco.  We drop the flaps two notches.

We actually end up being number eight for takeoff.  Once the run-up is completed, we line up in position.  As the United DC-6B receives its release from the tower, we are given permission to fly.  Bring the engines up to 40 map and let them stabilize, then release the brakes, and then slowly move the throttles up to full power. Autofeather and ADI is a must. I give the trim just a very slight nose up. As we begin to roll, the cowl flaps must close to 30 degrees.  Any more than that produces severe buffeting.  A Stratocruiser was ditched off of Portland because the cowl flaps were mistakenly left fully open, and the crew thought they had thrown a prop or lost an engine. At 116 knots we rotate and lift off.  The Stratocruiser does not hop off, it just sort of floats up off the runway like the Graf Zeppelin.

Up goes the gear, and flaps to stage one. The engines are deafening, even after going to METO. Fly my little chickadee, fly!

Around 2,000 feet its flaps fully up, and at 170 knots we can go into climb power.  Its not so noisy as it was in METO, but its still plenty noisy alright, just not SO loud that you have to shout to be heard.  We climb at 450 feet a minute in order to hold our speed.  Passing the 3,000 foot mark, the "June Gloom" breaks away to beautiful blue skies. Looking to the right, one can see the Santa Monica mountains, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu.  Uh oh, it looks like First Officer has already headed to the downstairs bar!

To the right are the Channel Islands, a wildlife preserve. A few ranchers lived there in the 1900s, but by the Depression they were all gone. Water is scarce on those islands, and they are full of cactus. The coasts are rocky and there is no real beach, nor anyplace much to land a boat. To the right we can see Santa Cruz island.

Using the LAX VOR we proceed on a heading of 249 degrees.  We will hold that heading until we can reach the NDB on the first picket ship 4YN.  Here we are at our first cruising altitude of 16,000 feet.  It has taken us 141 miles from LAX just to reach 16,000 feet. As soon as we burn off some fuel we can go up to 18,000.  So far, we have had moderate head winds the entire time.

Once we cross over 4YN, we then set a course for 232 degrees to the next picket ship 4YU.  By this time we are light enough to climb up to 18,000 feet. We are using the recommended cruise power setting of 38 map and 1700 rpm.  Ironically the headwinds are slightly less than they were below us.  Its lunchtime over the Pacific and this high up means a calm enjoyable lunch.  Transocean advertised "delicious, hot entrees inspired by Polynesian recipes and cooked by award winning chefs are served at no extra charge to all passengers". Today's selections are "sweet and sour ham steak with pineapple ring or Chicken a la King, served with Oriental style rice, vegetable of the day, tossed salad with a tropical dressing, roll and coconut cake and choice of non-alcoholic beverage.  Not bad at all!  Sure beats the one and a half ounce plastic pack of pretzels they reluctantly give out today.

Crossing that, we then set a new course of 216 which takes us to the Hilo VOR, the closest VOR in Hawaii that we can intercept.  We finally are able to reach 20,000 feet cruising altitude, but it has take us over 1,500 miles to be able to do so. We will hold that course to Hilo until we intercept the Honolulu VOR and then turn 280 degrees to follow it right into to Oahu. Hilo is also a good place in case we need to make an emergency landing.  We don't, and now that we have the Honolulu VOR picked up, we make our turn towards Oahu and begin our descent.

These engines must be throttled back slowly.  They are temperamental beasts even when everything is done by the book.  About half of the Transocean flights will have some type of engine problem on the flights to or from Hawaii.  We are scheduled to land at 4:30 PM.  I'm 133 nautical miles out from Honolulu and its obvious that I am going to be late.  I'm now 48 miles out and at 7,700 feet and going down to 4,000 feet.  Directly ahead is Oahu and Makapu'U point.  Fasten Seat Belt signs go on, and its time to tell the Stewardess to start the tape of Hawaiian music!  Got to get everybody in the mood, especially because as of now I'm 5 minutes behind schedule.  Maybe they won't notice...

Off to the left of the plane the island of Moloka‘i comes into view.  You can almost hear the ooooooohhhhhs and the awwwwwes from the passengers in the back.

Coming up on Makapu'U point, we turn 222 degrees until we are parallel to our runway 4R.  ATIS says we can use 4L or 4R, and traffic coming from Asia and due west can land on runway 8. Having made our turn west, we descend to 3,000 feet, and right on cue, the clouds roll in. A small tramp freighter is steaming south out of Honolulu harbor.

Down to 2,500 feet and having turned to a heading of 042 degrees, we pick up the ILS just as we pass the entrance to Pearl Harbor.  Ford island is in the middle, and just east of that lies the rusted remains of the USS Arizona.  I'm now almost 30 minutes behind schedule.

On final to runway 4R, the precision runway.  Runway 4L is only a visual approach.  I'm cleared to land and nobody is sitting on the runway, so in we go!

Flying a Stratocruiser is like flying the Hindenburg.  It wallows.  It is sluggish.  It does not "plop" down, neither will it jump into the air.  It sort of just glides.  It feels like its twice as big as it actually is.  The best way to land the beast is to come in almost flat, and just let it decide where on the runway it wants to land, and just before the main gear touches the asphalt, gently flare the nose.  If you flare to much it will bounce.  It takes lots of practice.  We have a nice landing and then the props balk at reversing, so we try it again and this time they roar to life.  You have to give those huge props time to slow down a bit, otherwise it will not reverse.  It only requires a few seconds of rolling before you can throw them into reverse.  But once you do, the ship stops fairly quickly and its not long before the tower is barking at you to clear the runway.  So we turn off and wait for instructions from ground.  The Hawaiian Airlines terminal can be seen in the background.

Aloha!  Welcome to paradise.  Paradise right in front of the Pan Am freight hangars, that is.  Oh, you thought you were going to park right up front, in front of those swaying coconut palms and lush gardens?  You thought that hula girls were going to come out and sway to a ukulele and put a lovely lei around your neck?  Oh you did, did you?  Not for $99 bucks.  If you want that, you better fork out that $133 for Pan Am or United!  For $99 you're going to get a "thank you for flying Transocean" and "make sure you collect all your belongings".  And then you are going to hoof it.  Right past the forklifts and the cargo hangars, right past the mechanic leaning against an oil drum smoking a cigar, but you won't even notice him, because your going to be looking down at the ground making sure you don't step in oil or grease.  And then finally, your going to reach the gate and be among all the civilized people of the world who flew a scheduled airline! 

So why do you do it?  Why join that army of cheapskates who look for that last minute deal, for that "fly by night" airline with a price that's just too good to be true, never knowing for sure if the thing will actually show up, or even make it to the destination?  Because you got all those extra bucks in your wallet, and now you can spend it on something like renting a surfboard, or going on an outrigger canoe, or a Luau, or buying that giant dried spiny blowfish with a red light bulb inside that says "Souvenir of Hawaii" on it, the one you always wanted but couldn't buy back in the states.  Something to brag about when the boys come over to play poker on Friday nights.  Something your wife just despises and would like more than anything to throw out, but its something that makes your life complete and you just can't live without!

At least your not last.  No, that honor goes to all the unhappy people who flew on Californian Hawaiian.  They ended up with a non pressurized DC-4 that lugs along at 200 mph through the worst weather. And when they finally get to Hawaii, they park the farthest out.  No, you can hold your head high, because on the totem pole of cheapskates, they are next to the bottom.  The only thing lower than this is working your way to Honolulu on a tuna boat.  An Aloha Airline F-27 climbs east on its way to Maui.  I also spy an Aloha DC-3 and a Northwest DC-6B, and one, or perhaps two Uniteds beyond that.

I arrived at the gate at 5:15, 45 minutes late.  Something is not quite right.  Either Transocean's schedule lies, or they flew the Strat at a higher than recommended power rating, and I don't believe they did that.  Since Hawaii has the same time zone settings since WW2, its not a time difference thing.  Perhaps they stretched the truth a bit.  I think most people were thrilled to get there and then head to their hotel and dinner, and the "Transocean crowd" may not have been so picky as Mrs. Richbux flying first class on Pan Am would have been.  Here's a nice overview of the airport as it must have looked at 5:15 PM, Monday, June 22, 1959.  That Quonset hut in the background is United's catering service.  The Sky Room restaurant is on the second floor of the terminal at the corner closest to us.  We are parked in front of the Pan Am cargo and maintenance area.

Here's the "terminal" for our furry, four legged friends.  That little building with the blue pickup truck in front is the quarantine area for animals.  A Seaboard and Western Connie freighter is pointed directly at it.  Rabies in the wild does not exist in Hawaii, and they mean to keep it that way by imposing a mandatory quarantine on all animals to Hawaii, either from a foreign country or from the mainland.  Even animals in transit are kept there.  A veterinary doctor is on hand, and the animals are exercised, fed and watered.  They are kept inside, but they can be let out in an enclosed area for exercise.  To this day Hawaii has a mandatory quarantine on all animals and pets, but if you come from the mainland, and have your vet records and a health certificate from your vet, they will only conduct a preliminary screening and then allow you to home quarantine your animal.  But that means a "stay at home order", and no walks around the block.  After 30 days, the quarantine order is lifted so long as the animal is not sick or rabid.  I wonder if they have a mandatory quarantine for unruly drunks that stumble off some of these flights?  Navy spy planes hide in the background.

So now this leg of our trip is complete.  We will not go to a hotel, we will wait at the terminal for our next flight.  Perhaps go to the bar for a Mai Tai where a little combo band plays Hawaiian music, and nibble on some snacks.  No need to spend money for dinner, as it will be served on our next flight.  Here's how far we've come since Sunday night...

WOW!  That's 1,586 miles from St. Louis to Los Angeles, and another 2,222 miles from Los Angeles to Honolulu for a grand total so far of 3,808 miles!  The cost of my friend's flight from his house in St. Louis to Honolulu so far is $180.40, or the same as $1,603.68 today.  Who knows where the next portion of our travel will take us?

[aharon]

AMAZING PRESENTATION IT IS SCREENSHOT TRIP REPORT OF THE YEAR OF 2020!!

Regards,

Aharon

[PW053]

What an atmospheric account of a "historical" journey, Chapeau!

By the way, are those extraterestial lamps still sold today ??

Regards, Frank

[Dennis the menace]

Yes they are! I bought one which was not a lamp at Pismo Beach, California at a seashell shop. But they sell them online, I've seen them on Ebay. They come in many varieties, some hang, others are on a pole like a desk or table lamp. Others like mine just hang from a fishing line from the ceiling. Very typical of '50s Tiki kitch. If you want an original one, especially one from a well known tiki bar or restaurant, they can be very expensive. I paid less than $20 for mine. And yes, the spines are very sharp, like needles. I'm not sure what is going to try to eat that thing!

[dave mcqueen]

Me-thinks this website when firstborn was intended to recall the time when jet airliners were still in diapers -- to see the propellers turning to catch the moment when they would come to life and watch the smoke pouring from the piston engines was what this site was all about. The adage "Jets are for Kids!" has real meaning here. Not to disparage the improvement in speed and time later jet powered airliners provided ( I would much prefer a 5 hour flight to the East Coast than an 8 or 9 hour flight ) but MD80s, BAE146s and even DC8s belong to another era -- of course as the clock keeps ticking those aircraft will inevitably become classic planes sooner to those who are much younger than I am. I can only say I prefer seeing piston engine props.

Perhaps my problem with jets growing up was the horrific noise. The water wagons flown by TWA and the 120s by American wreaked havoc over South San Francisco High School. Classes had to pause for a few minutes when one flew directly overhead due to the racket they made. I don't think it made much impact on the educational experience.

Now having offended at least half the regulars on this forum I will press on in celebration of this Magical Mystery Tour ( Is that yet a classic statement?). Mike's essay is just wonderful so far and I am waiting anxiously for the next installment. Hank Aaron of course hit #755 in 1976 not 1959. Most I think would have known that but a few younger folk may not have. I admit I could not recall when either.

----

Transocean's B377 flight from SFO to PHNL was also on Sunday morning. We would get home from church just after 11am and I would hear in the distance R4360's straining to climb out of SFO through the "gap" over our house. I'd run in to get my terrestrial telescope, go outside and extend the 3 legs of the tripod, tighten the screws and try and find the B377 flying over. I wanted to see if it was a Clipper or one of Transocean's. And also look for the registration number because the first time I'd seen it the aircraft was showing N1027V which had been a Pan Am aircraft. This one was showing N401Q, a different number but I later discovered was the same aircraft. I'd watch it until it passed Westlake and turn southwest to Hawaii.

I did several repaints of Greg Pepper's B377 over time. The one in Mike's presentation was a sharp yellow, the true color used on the actual aircraft. But it had been my observation and verified in some photos that the sun did a number on fading the yellow color and blue-green design on the cheat line and stretched rudder "triangle." I had also erred in the size of the flag and in placing some of the BOAC styled windows - 2 windows on the port rear fuselage and 1 on the starboard rear side. Also BOAC on their aircraft had a small 3rd rear window on the starboard lower lounge instead of the larger one like the other two had. Funny how you can look at something and what sticks bears no resemblance to what you actually see. So I repainted the '377 again years later. Anyway what comes next in the tour? I have an idea but will wait and see.....

j

[dave mcqueen]

Jul 18, 2020 20:40:41 GMT -5 Dennis the menace said:

Much of the old BOAC cabin interior remains, however Transocean has added more seats.  Instead of four abreast, its now five abreast.  But the seats are still plush, legroom is better than today, and overall its an enjoyable experience for a coach flight.  Here's a publicity photo of a Transocean Stratocruiser (at least that's what it claims to be).

I was wondering if this is an actual Transocean photo or something else. The windows do not appear to be Stratocruiser like - more of a constellation style and it looks like a mockup and not a real sirplane.