She was my first ride if I try I

She was my first ride if I try I can remember boarding her on that day at SAT. Mexicana to Mexico Guadaljara Puerto Villarta. I got a window seat that first section. The trip was magical she was in the late stage of prime. The old war horse saving her creators from demise. Clive Irving and his book filled in those details. I did not know that at the time she was just a magic carpet to a smelly place where they smoke a different language and the waves were quite large. I remember taking off into Thunderstorms and the rocking ride into the heart of Mexico I remember seeing a mountain top out the window and the Gaudaljara's airport lights the walk with my father outside. I remember the outside airstairs climbing aboard Boeing Logos. The dark wood tone brown tones of the Old Terminal San Antonio Internatioal Airport. I remember the heat mirage off those engines. I remember stting beside one staring it the whole trip back to San Antonio.

The next trip I was between fourth and fifth grade developing the cocky attitude Top Gun had come out. The memory of Tea/Cream and a scone as Queensland rolled out the window below. The memory of going over Canberra wondering where the city was. The Trans Australian Air Pass and comedy in the headphones Brisbane to Sydney. The following year it was another Mexicana outing SAT to Monterrey to San Luis then back via Mexico city. Each of those trips memorys filling my head.

It was the summer of Top Gun and Australian vacation. TAA with the blue print yellow stripe wide birds. The interesting terminal of Sydney and the air stair outisde old brick Terminal of Canberra. My most clear memory wondering where the city was that we were descending into. It was cold when we got there. The 727 would not be a star on the trip she was one of many magic carpets 737-200, L1011, 747SP, YS-11, 737-200, 747-200, A300. Window seat up and down the Australia coast from Brisbane to Cairins and back again. Tea is always nicer over 30,000 with half and half and surgar. The Scone a taste of British culture. Queesland is beautiful out the window. Townsville what an amazing place the P2V neptunes the old airstrip the small white terminal building. Then going into and of Cairins wow! The 727 at that time a friend a comfort. She hauled that soul hungry back for American food that last leg DFW to SAT.

Familar taken for granted a little on the old side was the ride from SAT to Monterrey then to San Luis glamourous compared to the bus to San Miguel and life at Hotel Central. The bus ride to Mexico city then the ride home. Mexico has a look from the window a 727 interesting.

My last ride I was a teen. That journey was a trip of lasts. The DC-10 of my child hood was being replaced by the MD-11 and Pacific was soon to lept in a single bound and Honolulu's days as crossroads were going to be no more. The trip had two 727 rides on the internerary. A got an encounter with a Fokker F.28 to Canberra and 727-200 back to Sydney. TAA like Honolulu and 727s from Canberra to Sydney, Compass and Ansett is now a thing a past. In three years I would a different man. The flight was slow we did not get high that turn to final near the harbor bridge was spectacular.

Now I am handling a D40X to cameras what two man cockpits and computer displays were to her. She emerged on final 03. As I made out the shape and the look of the triple slotted trailing edge flaps off those wings I had to photograph her. Her profile her view memories memories from around the world the land down under and the skies of the USA and Mexico. Gone but not forgotten I had to take pictures as my boyhood and youth was before me on approach Runway 03 SAT. She was likely a US Marshalls flight.

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