For the aviation fans

[Bateleur1]

It was so very long ago, I can safely post this without anybody recognizing us. But today we remember.

 

Was also on youtube late last night looking for some clips of that day.  Got to this one which is a combination of some mobile phone recordings of people that were close to the buildings.  Sent shivers down my spine watching it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gKxSqhA4WE

[SwissVan]

It was so very long ago, I can safely post this without anybody recognizing us. But today we remember.

Yeah... I was in the USA at the time, far from the events but the fall out and reaction nation wide still gives me goosebumps when I think about it.

[geomark]

An interesting 9/11 graphic

This was U.S. Air traffic on 9/11

 

https://twitter.com/thingswork/status/1171843192049688583?s=11

[geomark]

Bring me my brown parachute!

 

RAF Lakenheath fighter jets in near miss with parachutists

 

• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-49664560

[Long Wheel Base]

 

Bring me my brown parachute!

 

RAF Lakenheath fighter jets in near miss with parachutists

 

• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-49664560

 

You see, that is why you don't jump out of a serviceable plane.

Would love to see the go-pro footage though.

[Bateleur1]

You see, that is why you don't jump out of a serviceable plane.

Would love to see the go-pro footage though.

 

They are still cleaning the gopro and jump kit .... be patient. 

[Quagga]

You see, that is why you don't jump out of a serviceable plane.

Would love to see the go-pro footage though.

Have you seen some of the jumpships.....hardly  serviceable

Edited September 12, 2019 by Quagga

[patham]

Yeah... I was in the USA at the time, far from the events but the fall out and reaction nation wide still gives me goosebumps when I think about it.

 

I visited the towers the week before the event. I flew into Vancouver late the night before, slept in late, and then woke up, flipped on the TV to see what canucks watch only to find the same movie (which seemed to have a far-fetched plot) showing on all the TV channels. It took me a few minutes to work out that it was not in fact a  movie. 

 

As North American airspace was shut down, I was stuck in Vancouver for a bit over two weeks. As the regular scheduled airlines were impossible to contact (imagine a few hundred thousand people trying to phone them each day), I gave up trying to get my original airline rebooked, and just bought - at huge premium, a flight on of the first charters to leave get to the UK.

 

BA eventually gave me a refund for the flight that I never got to take.

 

This was in the days before facebook and roaming, so global connectivity back then was pretty minimal. One of the casualties in the WTC was a Saffa with the same surname as me, so when those names started to be released I had a few people try and contact me/friends to see if my itinerary had shifted and if it was in fact me.

[patham]

Have you seen some of the jumpships.....hardly  serviceable

That's part of the plan - you feel so unsafe you would rather jump out halfway than land in the bucket of bolts. I did a few jumps out of Carltonville (I think) - C182 with no door, no seats, flown with the stall warning buzzer on constantly. Luckily I was young and bulletproof.

[Quagga]

That's part of the plan - you feel so unsafe you would rather jump out halfway than land in the bucket of bolts. I did a few jumps out of Carltonville (I think) - C182 with no door, no seats, flown with the stall warning buzzer on constantly. Luckily I was young and bulletproof.

I have jumped a few different aircraft. from a 727 to a cropsprayer (well that one did not work that well ) :-)

None had seats, only ting that worked was airspeed indicator :-)

[Long Wheel Base]

I have jumped a few different aircraft. from a 727 to a cropsprayer (well that one did not work that well ) :-)

None had seats, only ting that worked was airspeed indicator :-)

A 727, wow. Out the back? How fast and high were you?

[Bateleur1]

I have jumped a few different aircraft. from a 727 to a cropsprayer (well that one did not work that well ) :-)

None had seats, only ting that worked was airspeed indicator :-)

 

Was this perhaps you? 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._B._Cooper

[Quagga]

A 727, wow. Out the back? How fast and high were you?

Yes out the back, they only took us to 13000ft and tried to slow down to around 170mph, 150 jumpers per pass, and I was number 35 on 1st pass and last one to make it onto the airfield.

 

The rear staircase was "lined" with wood panels so it was like a shute that nothing could get caught up. I went out on my back feet 1st and then into track, stayed up with aircraft for a about 5 sec as I slowed to terminal velocity. Then started free falling.

 

Was this perhaps you? 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._B._Cooper

I wish.... :-) The idea to do this jump at the boogie came because of MR DB C :-)

[Long Wheel Base]

Was this perhaps you? 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._B._Cooper

Still one of the greatest mysteries. I remember that stupid series prison break had a character based on him. Guess it will remain unsolved.

[SwissVan]

I visited the towers the week before the event. I flew into Vancouver late the night before, slept in late, and then woke up, flipped on the TV to see what canucks watch only to find the same movie (which seemed to have a far-fetched plot) showing on all the TV channels. It took me a few minutes to work out that it was not in fact a movie.

 

As North American airspace was shut down, I was stuck in Vancouver for a bit over two weeks. As the regular scheduled airlines were impossible to contact (imagine a few hundred thousand people trying to phone them each day), I gave up trying to get my original airline rebooked, and just bought - at huge premium, a flight on of the first charters to leave get to the UK.

 

BA eventually gave me a refund for the flight that I never got to take.

 

This was in the days before facebook and roaming, so global connectivity back then was pretty minimal. One of the casualties in the WTC was a Saffa with the same surname as me, so when those names started to be released I had a few people try and contact me/friends to see if my itinerary had shifted and if it was in fact me.

Giving me goose bumps again

My wife had calls from friends asking if I was ok, even tho I was far away in Wichita.

I probably have told this story a few times already....

My next flight was Wichita to Michigan and it was obviously delayed. When it did eventually take place there were only 2 pax on the plane, me and another guy. There were More hostesses than pax and we had an unlimited supply of free peanuts ( the only food they give you for free )

The security boarding at Wichita was unreal, my suitcase was unpacked by a marine before I could check in.... he did look extra hard at the mtb hubs, spokes and front shock I had in there

[patham]

Giving me goose bumps again

My wife had calls from friends asking if I was ok, even tho I was far away in Wichita.

I probably have told this story a few times already....

My next flight was Wichita to Michigan and it was obviously delayed. When it did eventually take place there were only 2 pax on the plane, me and another guy. There were More hostesses than pax and we had an unlimited supply of free peanuts ( the only food they give you for free )

The security boarding at Wichita was unreal, my suitcase was unpacked by a marine before I could check in.... he did look extra hard at the mtb hubs, spokes and front shock I had in there

 

Was crazy days just afterwards if you were in the States for travel, it was bad enough in Canada. Just not knowing how the hell you were going to get back home, and when, was a bit disconcerting. It's not too often you get to email your boss and tell him, sorry, you won't be reporting for work and you have no idea when you will. I am forever grateful I got stuck in a place where I could stay with friends and not have to hunt for commercial hotel accommodation.