benairblog.blogspot.com
Ben's Air Blog: May 2013
http://benairblog.blogspot.com/2013_05_01_archive.html
Wednesday, May 29, 2013. I stayed at a four-star lodge called Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge. By contrast, on the day I left, a university student group was scheduled to arrive and the lodge was to be at the max capacity! The bar and dining rondawel; the dining room is behind the doors. Pool (I did not use it – the weather was quite cool). The back lawn, looking out to the African bushland. And playing catch with Timber, the lodge’s unofficial mascot. I imagine the shower would be quite refreshing in the summer.
benairblog.blogspot.com
Ben's Air Blog: Later, 'Bro!
http://benairblog.blogspot.com/2015/05/later-bro.html
Friday, May 8, 2015. Farewell to the Brasilia. In November 2014, SkyWest announced the Brasilia would be retired from their fleet by June of 2015. Suddenly, E120s disappeared from sight, as evidenced by the flight schedule from April through the last day of service in May: ten flights in and out of LAX and a paltry four flights at SFO. I got dropped off at SFO's recently refurbished Terminal 3 East, known as T3E, and checked in at one of many available kiosks. N291SW was delivered new to SkyWest in 1996.
benairblog.blogspot.com
Ben's Air Blog: November 2014
http://benairblog.blogspot.com/2014_11_01_archive.html
Friday, November 28, 2014. Across the Pond in Business - Part 1: American 777-300ER. See Part 2: British Airways A380. While pricing for my trip to Amsterdam for the last KLM MD-11 flight. And returning on the BA A380. This also allowed for a BIS comparison between the new business class products from the two airlines. How does the new American flying their newest airplane compare with the elegant old British queen flying their newest behemoth of the skies? I headed to the Admirals Club. Food selection w...
benairblog.blogspot.com
Ben's Air Blog: June 2014
http://benairblog.blogspot.com/2014_06_01_archive.html
Sunday, June 8, 2014. Everything You Dreamed Of. Flying on Air Canada's Inaugural 787 Flight. In my quest to fly on as many Boeing 787 Dreamliner inaugural flights as I can, hot on the heels of Norwegian’s Oakland to Stockholm inaugural flight came Air Canada’s inaugural 787 flight into service. As well as the All Things 787 blog. I took a delay at Chicago-O’Hare due to Obama being in town. Air Force One. Landed there while I was connecting (I didn't see the landing myself because I was in the United Clu...
benairblog.blogspot.com
Ben's Air Blog: May 2015
http://benairblog.blogspot.com/2015_05_01_archive.html
Saturday, May 30, 2015. Flying in the “Tin Goose”. Flight in a Vintage 1929 Ford Tri-Motor. The Ford Tri-Motor, known affectionately as the Tin Goose. Was world’s first mass produced airliner. Built with corrugated aluminum, the Tri-Motor resembled more like a tool shed than an airplane. I flew in Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) aircraft NC8407. A Tri-Motor model 4-AT-E. It was built in 1929 for Eastern Air Transport (a predecessor of Eastern Airlines) and restored between 1973 and 1985....
benairblog.blogspot.com
Ben's Air Blog: January 2013
http://benairblog.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html
Wednesday, January 16, 2013. Trip Report: Dream Came True for San Jose! Flying on ANA’s inaugural flight from San Jose to Tokyo on board the Dreamliner. Go straight to the photos. NH1075, San Jose, California (SJC) – Tokyo-Narita (NRT). JA813A (34521/67, ZA118). August 30, 2012 (13th 787 for ANA, 19th 787 delivered by Boeing). Scheduled Departure – Arrival. 11:45 am – 4:10 pm (next day). Actual Departure – Arrival. 11:45 am – 3:52 pm (next day). SJC Runway 30R, 11:57 am. NRT Runway 34L, 3:48 pm. On the f...
benairblog.blogspot.com
Ben's Air Blog: February 2014
http://benairblog.blogspot.com/2014_02_01_archive.html
Monday, February 24, 2014. My Flight on Concorde. Trip Report - British Airways Concorde from London Heathrow to New York JFK (July 1, 2003). This was originally written in 2003. I tried to make this trip report as detailed as possible, so it might be a long read. But I hope you will nevertheless find it interesting. So recline your cradle seat to a comfortable position, fasten your seatbelt, and let's dart into the stratosphere! Time would pass and I would no longer be dependent on mom for financial sup...
mindensoaring.blogspot.com
Minden Soaring: August 2012
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Sunday, August 26, 2012. Sightseeing Yosemite National Park - The Unconventional Way! I made my third trip of the 2012 soaring season to Minden, NV and flew on Sunday, August 5, 2012 with Devin Bargainnier in SoaringNV's Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus X. We entered the Sierras at Tioga Pass below mountain top level. We would have to find a gas station soon if we wanted to continue any further. As we made our way south, we noticed several lines of clouds extending west. One of them reached out almost to the...
mindensoaring.blogspot.com
Minden Soaring: September 2010
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Thursday, September 9, 2010. Fifth and Sixth Minden Flights of 2010. I paid my fourth visit of the 2010 soaring season to Minden, NV and flew on Saturday and Sunday, August 14-15, 2010 with SoaringNV in their Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus X. Once again, I flew with Kenny Price and Devin Bargainnier. This time I flew with Devin on Saturday and Kenny on Sunday. Day 1 - Saturday, August 14, 2010. Although it was mid-August, there was still a surprising amount of snow in the Sierras. As we crossed the the next ri...
mindensoaring.blogspot.com
Minden Soaring: July 2011
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Saturday, July 30, 2011. Third Minden Flight of 2011. I paid my second visit of the 2011 soaring season to Minden, NV and flew on Saturday, July 16, 2011 with Devin Bargainnier of SoaringNV in their Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus X. I made this trip with a heavy heart as my Dad, Richard, had just passed away on July 3. It was somewhat of an untimely death (are they ever timely? All too soon, Richard's Runs came to an end as we knew we would have to start back to Minden while the "gas stations" were still open&...