Peek-A-Boo

Many times I have gone looking for examples to draw a more simplistic conclusion to a discussion or a problem or to prove a point. In short: a picture is worth a thousand words for any of the above. For good or for bad, today, that tenant still works today. It seems that in this age of social media, people take great personal pride in that mess. For me, I actually totally dislike social media. The days of the old telex machines in a new room or radio station or television news room was much more accurate, more to the point and always sourced. You knew when the news bells went off that something worthwhile was happening and you raced to find out what it was. Then, you sat on the edge of your seat waiting for updates.

Do I want to go back in time? No, not really. I look at that question in a different way. If all the Face books, Google's, yahoos, e-bays, amazons, etc.,etc., were to fail today I could still carry on with the old pencil and paper form. I'm not saying that I want some cosmic force to upset our magnetic fields and play havoc with our orbiting platforms in space. I'm just saying that knowing where to look and when to look and what to look for is the edge that the new tech businesses don't have. The old ways were time-tested and dependable. So, I continue to look for examples.

Should I be doing more consulting? Yes. But, I don't want to create something for the sake of just creating it. I still want it to be functional and have a worthwhile need. I have never liked doing work twice. It's the same as interest paid twice.

Doug Parker turned down a trip to the White House. There was a time when a CEO may have had previous engagements, but when the President of the United States invited you to a meeting or a conference, you found a way to get there. It's a priority kind of thing. It's a sense of urgency.  But Doug is just that kind of such a great CEO that he tells the President he can't make it to the White House. American Airlines passed on a meeting at the White House. That says a lots why the new uniforms are causing the employees to itch and scratch from the material, or his company cannot paint an airplane that shows the kind of pride that the airline once had. Yes, I know. People say they like the new livery. People also tell little white lies. But the fact is, the current generation of livery for American is so MD-80 boring! Take a picture of the tail and see how chewed up the paint is on the tail. There are plenty of Nikon 600MM glass focused on your tail every single day from coast-to-coast like apple butter on toast.

There my be something, however, that puts things into a simplified form in the old way of doing business.

A row of new rooftops after new rooftops and a field next to the subdivision with rolls of hay still in the field. Holding out for a better price, most likely. I went past a piece of property in Preston Hollow today that now has a new sign saying: 4 Lots for Sale. It once was a single piece of property. On either side and up and down the street are MC Mansion style homes with what I call handshaking neighbors that never have to leave their individual houses to shake hands, just open a window and reach out and shake hands.

Alaska Air painted this plane especially to celebrate the approval of the sale of Virgin American to Alaska Air. It's called More to Love with a blend of red paint from Virgin American to the royal blue fade and the Eskimo on the tail. Tom Braniff would be so proud of Alaska Air. Up to this point, Gary Kelly, at Southwest,  is the only good student to Tom Braniff's "How to Paint and Airplane" legacy.In short, this plane says that Virgin at Love Field where Southwest controls the gates, is now a closed deal for new owner Alaska Air and the Eskimo on the tail ties to Alaska Airs Livery. An excellent merge for a merger in paint. Why can all the other airlines get it and Doug boy doesn't even think he needs to go with his industry leaders when the President calls. WOW. that is arrogant.

Even the sweet ladies around Love Field were expressing a more of a LOVE theme than a Happy Valentine's  theme of the past. Do they have a marketing guy that's paying attention?

 

Three Planes for the President and Other Light Armor

C-17 globemaster iii based out of Charleston AFB carries the limos and other light armor.

While Air Force One pulled a sneak and slid over on 13R after the dog-leg turn onto his final (cross winds were bad) rather than his usual 13L landing, the Vice-President arrived separately on another government plane for executive branch use. The C-17 globe master iii sat parked at the far end, what looked to be on the threshold of runway 18. I have not seen that runway used since May of 2005. Highland Park, University Park and  Preston Hollow does not  like the noise! 

There were also two weather systems in the area in the early morning hours. A low level stream of moisture from the Gulf (visible between the buildings downtown) and an upper level system. By the time the Vice-President landed, the skies had already cleared leaving only strong southern pressure gradient with gusting 18-32 MPH cross winds. There was one Southwest that came in sideways from the cross winds. Always fun to see the bigger planes twist in the wind.☺ Still believe that is why Air Force One came in on 13R with the longest runway at Love. ATC ♥ calling  the shots by the book yesterday, most likely.  Usually, in past trips, he handles the shorter runway with ease. Not totally sure, but the new parking garage is being built on that side of the field. That could also have played a part in crossing over to Dal-Forth Fueling for parking. It's always a poetry-in-motion and just fun to watch. This will also end President Obama's trips to Dallas, most likely unless something else jumps off.

Hope to see the new 747-800 when our next president makes his first trip to Dallas. My one shot of  Air Force One in 2009 landing is still a super seller. I was hoping for arrival to be on 13L as always, but now we know, it didn't happen!

The Vice President's arrival on 13-L tail number 80001

Air Force One on 13-R tail number 28000

♥ ATC-Air Traffic Control

Herb and Gary Have Learned Well From Tom Braniff

Dallas has been lucky to have been the home to so many great airlines. Braniff International was a landmark at Love Field. American Airlines became the King of Dallas International and of course there is Southwest Airlines founded on a napkin by Dallas Attorney Herb Kelleher and a buddy. Braniff is gone now, but the old corporate offices at Love Field on the Lemmon Avenue side continues to be a part of the changing growth at Love.

Now that the brief history lesson is out of the way, it's time for the political flight to take off. I was just a kid when Braniff started painting their aircraft in wild, bright and eye-catching colors. No one had done that before. It was the talk of the town, so-to-speak. But, I know what an impression it made on me and being an old marketing guy, I've always remembered those days.

After American Airlines filed for bankruptcy, it was only a matter of time before the old AA eagle had to go. With  its fleet of old MD-80s  being the airlines workhorse and  badly needing to be  replaced, a new livery was on the horizon for American Airlines. 

The air begin to fill with excitement as to what the new livery would look like. American even set the first one down in Victorville, that no-mans land in the south of the Mojave Desert near that fairy-tale town on Apple Valley in California. Most aviation geeks set off the alarms almost the moment the wheels touched the runway and for sure by the time it parked on the tarmac. The word was out. "Ugly!";" It's Ugly! " the geeks cried. And--- no one paid any attention. The new livery  would, however, welcome the new American out of bankruptcy. Doug Parker rumors were that the new livery would only be a transition livery while American was merging with US Air and hope once again rose like a victory bonfire's smoke and shimmers of heat.Dud! It was a dud!

Even though Southwest had some colorful colors on it's planes, The ghost of Love Field rejoiced that color had returned to the runways at Love. At least one air line had once again painted the sky over Dallas with it's colorful planes. Tom Braniff must have been looking down on Love Field with a big smile on his face. Herb Kelleher had answered the call once again.

It became a new breath. Color had returned  with blues, oranges and reds. Not so much one color from  nose to tail but three! And Love Field's new upstart began to grow, and grow, and grow. Then, there was the  political roadblock to stop the growth because  DFW was the new wonder child. And that it was. It made a star of Dallas air routes. The need to bring back the focus to Love had an opportunity and splash some paint once more. This time with big orcas on the side of the plane or some other theme like the Texas state flag. And after being let down by American, Southwest and  Gary Kelly, being a CPA, knew how to charge off paint and make it pay. And it did!  Time and time again. People were talking again  about the color in the skies over Dallas. Then came the new livery for Southwest and every parking spot in the parking garage was filled at Thanksgiving and overflow lots were filled at Christmas, too. Love Field was alive and well and new terminals were under construction.

Now some folks will say that it was more than a paint job on an airplane. And I would have to agree that it was all true. Southwest is known to be a happy bunch--even when they work a picket line now and then. But deep down inside, we all know that the sky is filled with more color once again and it makes those that had seen Tom's planes start a revolution jump to the other side of the field  in the house that Herb built, paint shop and all!

The State of Florida and click on image to see a better view.

What Do You Do In A Traffic Jam ?

This guy knows how to wait out a traffic jam on a hot summer day.

This past Wednesday, President Obama (with the help of Governor Rick Perry) created a traffic jam on the Dallas North Tollway that lasted more than an hour while the president's motorcade moved from Love Field to a prominent Dallas Attorney's home in North Dallas. The arrival of Air Force One at DFW International was a first for Obama, making him only the third sitting President to land at DFW.  Air Force One had not landed at DFW since 1992. From DFW, the president took Marine One, along with it's decoy look-alike and three Osprey's that carried the press corp to Love Field.  The reason for the switch: Love Field has been undergoing a major renovation of both terminals and runway/taxiways. The last time Air Force One landed at Love, the flight deck at DalFort Fueling was cramped, to say the least, but dodging yellow cones and barrels from the left hand seat of Air Force One, some seven stories up in the air, was like watching some test driver move in and out between cones in a zig-zag pattern along a test track that only a professional could handle.

The work that Love Field was undergoing on Wednesday was due to be finished in time for the arrival of Air Force One ( SAM 29000 ran late arriving as Air Force One anyway) and the work was finished, but at the time the schedule was put into place, the White House Staff for Schedule Making decided to land at DFW to error on the safe side. After all, it was  POTUS that was being juggled around in the schedule. As it ended up, the meeting with Governor Perry and others was held in one of the conference rooms at DalFort Fueling where Air Force One usually parks anyway.

The old neighborhood where mom had lived has changed a lot since she passed over. It's more youthful now. Many of the wonderful 1950-60 era sprawling one floor ranch-styles have been purchased up, torn down and rebuilt with McMansions, the process of reclaiming perfectly good neighborhoods and putting two story and still sprawling houses with both double and a single garage doors and roof lines that make Edgar Allen Poe's House of Seven Gables easy to count by today's standards.

On Wednesday, the neighborhood's  neighbors were all out in force to catch a glimpse of POTUS. I can recall doing the same thing when Carter, Nixon and Johnson had come to my neighborhood after I had left the nest and started my own family. Nothing in life really changes much, just the GPS points and neighborhood names and a little architecture meddling hear and there.

This was the first time out of the last six trips to the Metroplex that I have failed to go watch Air Force One arrive. Actually, I had planned to go over to the old neighborhood and do what all the old neighbors were doing--wait to catch a glimpse of the president. But, that would be worse than getting caught up in traffic snarls at either of the two airports, the tollway etc.,etc.

St. Michael Drive runs from Forest Lane near Medical City Hospital  to Royal Lane between US 75 Central Expressway to Hillcrest Avenue. At Royal Lane, St. Michael becomes Boedecker, continues to run south and ends in the new parking lot of the George W. Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University. When ever I cross Boedecker to this day, I sing the word to the tune of "Gold-Finger!" by saying, Boe--Decker!-- is a street. It's just one of those things that I like to do. The area is just west and behind the JCC (Jewish Community Center) on Northhaven Road. Midbury runs one street north of Northhaven.


The part of the street were the president would be attending is  east of St. Michael on a cul-de-sac. I'm sure the Secret Service were pulling out their hair again because it is such a "dead end" type- area. It's one of the things mom liked about the neighborhood. She liked driving the back roads and she knew every angle of that neighborhood like the back of her hand. You never wanted to race her on the expressways. Just when you thought you had won--you looked up and saw the baby blue Buick  coming at you. She would park having gotten the right-of-way and all you could do was to pull in next to her (and laugh to yourself in defeat).

For now, there will be a count down to to the retirement of this SAM-29000 and the back-up. The bigger and more modern and upgraded 747-800 with the elongated second deck will await a new President in 2016. There has been talk of  a new Marine One and others in the detail. Most people get excited over a new car. I get excited over a new presidential plane. After all, it is the most visible source for our American Democracy on display where ever it flies. So make the best of presidential motorcade traffic jams!!

Competition Begins for Slots at Love Field

The settlement of the Justice Department's law suit in the American and U.S. Airways merger is hardly 48-hours old and already Delta Airlines says that they want the two slots that Southwest Airlines will give up at Love Field.

Delta Connection arriving Love Field

Dallas on the World Stage--Again!

SAM 29000 parked at a FBO at Love Field

The fleet of 5 helicopters returns from Waco and West,Texas

A Dallas Policeman prevents well-wishers from getting to the better picture spots this time.

A beast of beauty

Good Bye until Next Trip

The dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, on the campus of Southern Methodist University, was a success for all concerned. With all five living Presidents in attendance and a long and impressive dignitary list, security was tight. The event was by Event Ticket and Invitation only.
Even the protest gallery across Central Expressway from the event had a national television personality in their group.

The activity and security around Love Field was also tighter than in the past when Air Force One or SAM 29000 has been in town. It's never as much fun when security must be tightened but it is still exciting to see the most visible form of our government either arriving,parked or departing the field.

At Love Field, the crowds grew while waiting for the fleet of helicopters to return from Waco and West, Texas. The arrival was a bit late but just short of the seven o'clock hour, the 747's four big engines kicked up dust on the runway as it rotated and lifted off  and began its climb out in the glare of an early springs setting sun.










 

Flipping/Turning and Airport

The Dallas airports were flipped today landing south to north because of the strong north wind. Caught this Southwest flight coming in low over Deep Ellum and downtown landing runways 31 R and L rather than 13 R/L. The sunlight was perfect on the reading racks at the Klyde Warren Deck Park.

Outdoor Reading Material at the Klyde Warren Deck Park

Racks are made available by DMN and the Belo Foundation.

The flip approach landing runways 31 R/L rather than 13 R/L

Sunset on Love Field then Rise on Delhi

A late Fall sunset at Love Field on a day that tied a record set in 1950 of 83 degrees F.

A very unique shop of Asian decor . The shop is filled with very unique items of inspiration for your home from Delhi Decor. Thanks to Anil for allowing a few shots of his neat merchandise and for our Indian Visitors.

A few things handcrafted from India. The items are made from leather,wood,marble,brass and clothes such as hand stitched wall hangings,sculpture and jewelry. It's a neat shop.

Lost Images Revealed

The Baddest of the SS. This is for real an example of "Don't Tread On Me"! 

Air Force One on Final at Love Field,Dallas
Taken moments before my prized image from that day's shoot.

Basically, I hate it when I index images and mis-direct one here and there. Such is the case with this post. These two I have searched high and low for a year. Today, it was "Bingo" because they were found and now have been re-indexed to be where they should be filed. But, since  they have been found, I think there is still some interest by my readers. Enjoy.

Southwest Airlines Dedication Ceremony Scheduled for June.

Driving past Love Field this morning following a doctor's visit there was something really big and really new at the North end of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.When I got to the traffic light ahead I turned onto the General Aviation roadway to the parking lot of the museum.As luck would have it the monthly meeting of the Airline Pilot Association of Love Field was underway (taking up a lot of parking spaces,too).After parking,workers were standing under the tail section. Inside the museum, one of the volunteers was being taped for a monitor presentation and the meeting was stlll going on upstairs. It was a great time to wonder the museum and see the new additions and to revisit some of the historic old ones (Apollo 7 capsule). As it turns out, Southwest Airlines ownes some of the earliest production numbers for the Boeing 737s.  The one being prepared for the museum will be one of those accourding to a couple more of the volunteers and one of the pilots that slipped out of the meeting early. So, next month, there will be a dedication ceremony and the exhibit will be formally open to the public. It's rather funny, in some ways in that only the nose of the 737 will be inside the musuem. However, the rest of the plane is outside! One will be able to enter the plane from inside the museum and then walk down the isle like any normal boarding. It's a novel way to draw attention and to utilize space all in one exhibit. Clever, indeed. Of course I should have know with Southwest part of the exhibit. To Herb and Gary: You guys are just plane (get it?) Fantastic. It might be a good time to bring back the old bumper sticker too! Remember that catchy littlel do-dad: "Fly Southwest,Herb needs the money!" I loved that bumper sticker! BTW..I also favored the old color scheme of the brown and orange rather than the blue and orange.It made it a more "down to earth" airlines.