Now that was pretty cool!

[Ticker]

It can get pretty depressing sometimes what with all the crap coming our way. I'm likely going to be on the street come Sept. 20 years since getting my commercial ticket. First time. Not bad even considering my meandering course to my first 121 job. It's been an interesting ride though. Been able to see some pretty neat things for a plumbers kid.

Last tour, we were coming into BOS just when an aircraft carrier was steaming into port. It was pretty cool to see all those sailors up on deck in their dress whites. Close enough to see their clothes blowing in the breeze. That's the kind of thing that puts your own situation in perspective.

Made a quick announcement to the cabin for those on the left side to take a look. I hope someone appreciated it as much as I did.

I just thought that was pretty cool.


So.....whats one of the things y'all have gotten to see that most others might never get the chance to see??

 

[Jakejett]

Seeing the Space Shuttle launch while flying over Orlando. Don't get that kinda view every day.

Also, seeing the B2 Stealth bomber midair refuel over Missouri was cool too.

 

[clippyrip]

I flew over a heard of caribou while on my way to Arctic Village in Alaska. I was probably 50 feet off the ground and found that the young ones spook easily. Especially when you fly right at them. There had to have been a couple thousand of them that day. Amazing.

 

[Soverytired]

Space shuttle coming apart in flight (which sucked).

Northern lights over the Atlantic (which didn't).

Being escorted by fighters on 9/11 (which was kinda cool, but also kinda sucked).

Aw hell . . . everyone could go on and on. That's really the hole point of this job isn't it? Your desk is a computer game and you have the best damn view in the world?

 

[Ticker]

Aw hell . . . everyone could go on and on. That's really the hole point of this job isn't it? Your desk is a computer game and you have the best damn view in the world?

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

Keep them coming folks! These are fantastic!!


Northern lights more brilliant than I'd ever seen them before. What was truely notable was the I was abeam JACKSONVILLE, FL! Flew all the way to TTN that night and it was clear and a million the whole way! Blues, reds, greens, amazing. Brought the GIV's owners into the cockpit and blacked it out to show them. Everybody was talking about it. There was a thin high overcast at TTN and the controllers thought the "brightness" to the north was the moon. I reminded them that the moon rises in the east and informed them of the arora.

Someday I'll get to see the shuttle lift off, Alaska is next year and hopefully 2 shuttle disasters is all I'll ever have to see.

Keep 'em coming!!!!!

 

[AWACoff]

Seeing the atolls and volcanic islands of the Pacific is a view I will never forget. The colors are amazing and the view out the passenger windows isn't even close to the view out the front as we are coming into land on the atolls.

 

[FCPhotography]

Space shuttle attached to the space station over Montana at 34,000. Looked like the light from a train.

 

[Turtlesfly]

although it's not that exotic . . . the river visual in DCA never gets old. Runway 15 over Arlington/Pentagon is also super

 

[FCPhotography]

And the satellite being blown up over the Pacific.

 

[dispatchguy]

Jumpseating (for me, being a DX) over the North Atlantic, and watching from about 30W the sun slooooooooowly rising. All the traffic preceding us leaving these awesome contrails all leading off to the sunrise.

Twas way cool...

 

[Ticker]

It's becoming readily apparent that I need to stick it out and get out more!!!:beer:

 

[Colonel Savage]

Saw a Delta rocket launch one night as we passed abeam the Cape. Thought I was seeing a Shuttle launch when the SRB's separated. Also thought it was going to pass over the top of us until it finally headed off shore.

Took off Rwy 5 from Norfolk VA one afternoon and looked down in time to see a Boomer leaving the Navy base. Could see the guys on the sail in their orange jackets. Saw the Aegis class ship following him as well (looked straight down onto his helicopter deck from @ 500ft).

Saw a big meteor one night in Nov 2003 over NY state after it had broken into several pieces and passed right over us. Looked like a trail of very bright landing lights moving very fast.

Numerous other Boomers off shore (those from higher altitudes), especially off Florida. A few more very big meteors, most at night, one during the day (it was green).

You're right, it's quite a show.

 

[Ticker]

Took off Rwy 5 from Norfolk VA one afternoon and looked down in time to see a Boomer leaving the Navy base. Could see the guys on the sail in their orange jackets.

You're right, it's quite a show.

That reminds me of the Fast Attack Sub I saw coming out our Grotten. I had taken off from Fishers Island and was overhead at about 500'. Did a 360 overhead and the guy on the bridge threw me a salute. I reciprocated of course!!!

 

[Long Time Gone]

Two separate Shuttles being piggy-backed to the Cape in the same day, within 2 hours of each other. Happened back in 2000ish.

 

[FlyBarneyJets]

Descending into Denver from the East one morning during sunrise, passing between several thin broken layers of clouds that were illuminated by the rising sun in the most brilliant oranges, pinks, purples, and golds that I've ever seen.

 

[Dr. Rumack]

I've seen a boomer surface from less than 1000' and plenty of whales and fish. Seeing a sun set while in between layers of clouds and all the ensuing colors was pretty cool too. I'm going to miss that.

 

[magrs]

Good on ya boys, this is why I so desperately want this damn career to survive!

Beats a freakin desk job anyday, trust me!!

 

[Pilot Knob]

Not so much flying related, but on my way to Okinawa, parked next to KAL 007 in Anchorage while getting gas. It was shot down 3 hours later. I can still envision looking at the passengers moving about in the cabin. Very sad!

 

[TNPILOT]

Not visually related but something I heard on the radio...

I was returning to EWR from YYT a few years back. We were in the flow of aircraft returning to the States from Europe. There was a "Reach" Air Force transport on frequency with us all morning. When Moncton handed us off to Boston Center, the Reach pilot asked the controller if his name was "Steve" (or something similar). He replied yes and the pilots asked him to standby. The next voice on the radio was a young female who replied, "Hi Dad!" They talked for a few minutes and apparently she was returning home from a tour in Iraq. Before he was relieved (he was obviously pretty choked up), everyone on frequency thanked that girl and her family for their sacrifice.

Thinking about that story still gives me goose bumps...did I mention it was Christmas?

 

[ProFracPilot]

Flying so far north on a crossing that you're underneath the northern lights. And I saw the same northern lights show abeam JAX that you saw, Ticker. Unbelieveable and awesome!

Making an eastbound crossing on or about the summer solstice; watching the sun set out the left window and less than 90 min later watching rise out the left windshield without it ever getting dark.

The first approach to the checkerboard followed by the right turn to land on RW13 @ Kai Tak.