Through The Mist Darkly

So your company just spent $140 million on a brand new Boeing 777-300ER, you’re in Seattle to pick the beauty up and the CEO is sitting in the cockpit.  What could be better than a low-level fly by to see how she handles?  Good idea?  Unfortunately, the senior Cathay Pacific pilot who performed this stunt has now been fired.

The aircraft in question

Pictures of the manoeuvre

The aftermath

Lots of chatter in the aviation forums about this one.  Seems to be running about 50-50 as to whether the guy should be fired or not.

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You’ve just won the lottery and are looking for something to spend all that money on.  Sure you could buy an airplane but why not make a real statement.  Buy a big one!  Boeing even gives you this friendly price list so you can make your decision from the comfort of your own home.

Click pic to read.

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Haven’t done one in a while but this was too good to pass up.

John Benfield

“Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.”

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There’s nothing better to be away on a business trip and come down with the flu.  I feel like crap. In about 16 hours, I have to get on a plane and fly for 7 hours with a stuffed head and a body that feels like I’ve gone 10 rounds with Mike Tyson.

To top it all off, I’m having a real problem getting a project completed that is now *only* 2 months overdue.  The client is beating me up so I’m trying to get it resolved when all I want to do is climb into my hard hotel bed, bury my head in the really thin pillows and hide under the too-short duvet until it’s time to head for the airport.  I’ve already promised a colleague from Toronto who’s also over here in Switzerland that we’ll get together tonight for diner which involves hopping a train from Winterthur to Kloten and back so it looks like there’s no rest for the wicked (or the sick).

The next person that tells me I’m so lucky to be able to travel around the world on business is going to get a punch in the face.  And I’ll cough on them.  That will teach them.

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Very interesting dinner last night at Runway 34 Restaurant just off the Zurich Airport property.

You sit near, around or under a Russian IL14 turboprop.  Servers are flight attendants and all the dishes have aviation related names.

Surprisingly, the food was very good and we had an enjoyable time.

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The flight over to Switzerland was uneventful.  Arrived about 1/2 hour late which put me at the hotel in Winterthur around 7am.  Luckily, they had a room for me so I was able to grab a couple of hours sleep.

Today was parade day as part of Carnival.  It took me a little while to figure out what was going on because people in strange costume were all over the city.  When I pieced it all together, I got a spot at the start of the parade route and grabbed some photos of the marching bands.  Everyone was having a wonderful time.

More pictures available in this Flickr set

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Since no one has offered to by me an executive jet (see previous post), I guess I’ll have to fly commercial tomorrow.  Off to Switzerland once again.

Another week of meetings.  Love the trip, hate the reason.

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The Citation Columbus, scheduled to go into service in 2014.  Wouldn’t this make a dandy little retirement vehicle.

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Kate Bush has been a favourite artist of mine since she released “Wuthering Heights” back in 1978.  Commanding one of the most expressive voices in music, she was discovered in 1976 by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd fame.  She’s still active in the music business though somewhat of a recluse.  Sadly, we’ll probably have to make do with some of the most inventive music videos ever created.

In 1985, “Hounds of Love” was released with the beautiful “Running Up That Hill” showcasing Kate’s vocal as well as dance skills.

Here’s the same song featuring David Gilmour.

Bush’s songs told stories and her videos brought these stories to life.  “Cloudbusting” features Donald Sutherland in a cautionary tale of governmental abuse of power.

Kate Bush, an original in every way.

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