Have been off the list a few months getting settled in England, where my wife is stationed with the USAF. Thought you'd like to hear about the SST.
Last Thursday I saw the last Concord lift off from Londons Heathrow Airport bound for New York. My friend from EAA Chapter 35, Terry Winnett, read about the last flight being on Friday, the 24th and we wanted to see it take off before then. A quarter million people were expected for Friday and we wanted to beat that crowd. The BP station across the street from runway 09 was the best place to see a take off, so we got there about 1745 and waited in the cold until the take-off at about 1920. A crowd of several hundred had gathered by the time the plane took off and we had a great time talking to all those around us. Many were not dressed for the cold but stayed anyway. The British love airplanes and the Concorde is very special to them. There were the very old and little kids and as many women as men in the crowd. A lot of us brought cameras but it was too dark for a good picture by the time our plane took off. Planes were going over every few minutes and we had a lot of false starts. When the SST did take off there was no mistaking it. First of all, there was the noise. Much louder and deeper than even the 747s that had gone over. Then the dark shadow rising from the horizon, followed by the orange lights of the four huge exhausts against the dark blue of the evening sky. It came directly over us at very low altitude and the roar completely blocked out all other sound. The cabin lights were clearly visible as a chain of light along the fuselage. The plane looked light blue against the darker sky. As it passed overhead, the nose lifting higher, those huge exhausts glowing in the night, now the top of those massive wings visible and the plane tilting slightly to the right, leaving us much faster than anyone wanted. Much too soon it was gone. The next day there would be more but they were in the daylight and not nearly as impressive. The Thursday evening take off to New York was the best by far. Oh, almost forgot the runner. Just as we arrived at 1745 a beautiful girl ran down the sidewalk dressed in very tiny running shorts and a halter top. Good runner, too. She disappeared almost as fast as the SST and we were just as glad to be there when she passed. A night Ill never forget. Frank Ross, EAA Chapter 35, San Geronimo, Texas, Now in England, UK __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/britneyspears/
