A Hint Of the Future Yet to Come short story by Esteban Erik Stipnieks all rights reserved
The flight crew and relief crew walked the spiral staircase to their position in the airplane. The route had been planned a series of checkpoints position reports to be made. Those checkpoints had given altitudes along with it. The relief crew made their way into the crew rest for cockpit. They strapped themselves in and went to sleep. They had scheduled their activities the previous night to put themselves to sleep. The door that separated the cockpit and crew rest from the rest of the cabin was closed. Pan Am was pioneering this was the third scheduled flight LAX to Sydney non stop. The cockpit would be manned by three people at a time. The Special Performance version of the 747 was shorter in overall length with a much larger range. The flight engineer had to manage fuel for bird over the flight. The airplane was a marvel of technology he had real work 4 flight control systems, a complex electrical system with multiple generators, a fuel system that was filled to brim, and other sub systems. The airplane was equipped with multiple inertial guidance systems that have become the industry standard. Pan Am had done a promo film with the system being certified on a 707 flight. That flight put the airplane over the north Pole. There was a navigator on board confirming. Now the 747 the navigator was gone and with the SP the need to stop in Honolulu likewise disappeared.
The first class boarded. The Long Island fisherman was now at last enjoying the fruits of his hard work. The Spiral staircase provided a nice touch he had seen it before walking up it was quite an experience for him in person. The view of the gate area from the window was nice. Window seat upper deck facing the west and north….the view would be spectacular the food was to be good and alcohol would be up to Pan Am’s standards. He would take his drink with the meal soon that evening two meals on the flight he would have a couple drinks to pass the time but he would also enjoy the view and the comfort. It took a while for the 250 people to be boarded. The airplane would not be totally packed even tourist class seating had larger then normal legroom so the airplane could cover the distance. From his vantage point sitting on the upper deck first class this would be a flight to remember. He could feel the push as the airplane was pushed back from the gate the journey started at JFK with a tourist class seat on an American Airlines DC-10 continued this time it was near the widest girth of a great ocean instead of a continent that would be crossed. From warm balmy LA to a chilly New South Wales he would ride. He had called Pan Am and gotten this trip booked.
Start checklist was called out. The flight engineer and captain watched. One by one the four engines were started first APU bleed then from bleed air of the started stabled engine. All three sets of eyes in the cockpit were watching two sets of engine gauges. Once started another checklist then a clearance request as the airplane taxied to 24L. The push off had been held just a bit to allow another flight to clear. Everything in the airplane was a script for the flight crew this would be a first time they would cross the Pacific non stop. LAX to Sydney was being done non stop for the first time by everybody in the crew rest and cockpit. For the Captain The SP behaved a little different then 100 on the taxi. Its body length was shorter. The wingspan was the same. The flight performance was near identical except for the phenomenal range of the airplane. The captain taxied the bird knowing that while on the ground the airplane was in one of its most hazardous modes of flight. While taxing pre takeoff checklist was followed as it was behind one of the last Qantas 707s which was behind a Braniff 727. They were pioneering they were pan am life was normal. The V2 would 177 knots. The First officer knew they would be eating runway compared to his days just 11 years previous though takeoff would be high powered with a real climb. The first officer had remembered clearing an end building at Anderson Air Base in Guam in ground effect…then sinking into ground effect for a quarter mile over the Pacific then climbing out. That was Vietnam the KC-135s. That was military airplanes full of fuel. The FAA would have hit they still would eat up between 75 and 85% of the runway before they broke ground.
He watched the flight attendant given he safety briefing to him and 9 other passengers as they went by the terminal building outside his window. He did pay attention then looked out watching. An era was passing narrow body airliners appeared not to be the way around Pacific. He saw the day when the Ocean would be crossed non stop would be the rule rather then the exception. There was mixed emotions. There was also excitement in being in the air and being in a pioneering. He was continuing in the vein of the China clipper. The 727 roared down the runway and into the sky over the Pacific soon the Qantas 707 took position. Pre take off check was started as the 707 from Qantas began its takeoff roll. The Captain briefed the takeoff and what would happen with engine outs the takeoff checklist “Clipper cleared takeoff 24 Left” Clearance obtained.
The large Pratts spooled up as the pilot steadily advanced the throttles the flight engineers eyes were locked on the engine gauges the first officer likewise looked. The tiller in one hand throttles in another the nose gear was gently placed in the center of the runway as with a smooth motion the pilot advanced the throttles to takeoff thrust. The auto throttles worked as advertised the exact takeoff thrust being set by a computer weight and length of runway. The flight engineers focus was on engine gauges. They were stable. 80 knots was called out. The JT-9D had started life as a problem child now it was growing in reliability. The big fan two turbine all the agony now seemed to be in rear view the 46,000lbs of thrust the exhaust gas was going over two turbines one of those turbines drove the fan and first part of the two stage compressor. The other compressed the air the last bit before fuel was introduced it exploding. For all the push provided the four engines they actually made less noise that preceded it though each engine produced more then double the thrust.
The airspeed indicator was alive 80 knots engines stabilized the large airplane continued to accelerate it was now eating runway. The Captain and flight first officer guarded the throttle V1 was called out halfway down the runway. There was a few seconds as the airplane was now over 150 knots rotate. The large airplane broke round v2 78% of the runway the altimeter started its movement. Positive rate gear up it crossed the boundary fence and headed over the Pacific. The gear indicator lights indicated the gear had been retracted as it climbed over the Pacific after crossing Dockweiler State beach.
The take off had been an experience more of a push against the seat he could see the acceleration the runway was eaten up finally they broke ground then he could see the beach cross. The Special Performance was on its flight. A turn to the southerly direction was made. In the distance Catalina island was seen.
In the cockpit they were handed to LA departure the first notch of flaps was retracted. Climb power was engaged. The airplane turned to a direct heading to Sydney Australia. The airplane continued to climb another notch finally the last bit of flaps the airplane continued to climb above 10,000 feet. Catalina passed the four engined airliner was making its way over the wide ocean. Auto pilot had taken over. Soon the fasten seat belt sign was turned off.
Coke and rum was a nice drink as the sun was setting in spectacular colors. Dinner would later be served the seat he could practically lie down on. There was no one sitting beside him. This was a trip not quite of a life time but he fully intended to get lost in Australia so to speak. The journey to Australia would be part of the adventure the non stop LAX to Sydney service. The man’s father used to watch ships going into and out of New York keeping track they were the great things of a time period. Now it was the airplane first the great piston engined liners that called La Guardia and Idewild home then came the mighty jets. Now at last he was flying first class in mightiest of mighty the long legged Special Performance version of the 747.…making its third Non stop from LA to Sydney. He arrived that night he at the famous in and out burger and then he spent some time plane watching at Dockweiler State Beach. He had started off as a fisherman then had made some investments in a couple oil wells in Texas that were now paying quite richly. He had secured some of the proceeds in common stock. He continued fishing drawing wealth off the Atlantic. The oil was something he was gong to hold onto for a while their was going to be a crash he wanted to jump out before the crash but he could see oil going up for a while. This was a treat a rare treat but a big one. He had a heavy accent he lived in a modest house. He had lots of wealth but for the most part he chose not flaunt it. A lot of the wealth was also quite heavily taxed. He did give but few other then IRS were those who knew what he gave to. The vet of Korea liked having the grumpy old man reputation. He was too busy to learn how to fly but he loved the notion of flight. Airplanes were magic carpets and the Pacific was something he had never seen. He had crossed the Atlantic to Italy a couple times tourist class seat single hop going really fast. The Pacific was mysterious he would stop in Hawaii on the way to New York.
The flight continued tomato soup was served it was good. The came the filet mignon. Hard work had paid off and darknes had fallen around the airplane as it climbed over 40,000 feet. The captain had noted the speed of the airplane was over Mach .8. The airplane was over the bulk of the earth’s atmosphere and it was moving while a dinner worthy of a 4 star restaruarant was being served. The Coke and rum early in the flight was nice. He did not want to drink too much. This was too precious to be clouded by alcohol but cocktails on a long flight went hand in hand.
The Mach meter was where it was supposed to be. The throttles had been moved to cruise the selection of the airspeed. The auto pilot had gotten advanced and the auto throttle system had worked wonders the auto pilot system had been improved. The airplane was equipped with multiple systems the advances were making the flight both possible and safe. One of the crew was on oxygen. The flight engineer had a schedule to maintain fuel had to be moved through a network of tanks as it was burned off to keep the plane in the center of gravity envelope total fuel flow was indicated. He had a desk and his meal was given him. He took Tea instead of coffee. The fuel burn was going as expected they extra fuel would be used the first bit of headwinds was greater then expected. Three hours had passed. Three checkpoints the equator was coming up. The route would actually take the airplane below the Hawaiian islands. Now it was monitoring while the flight engineer did some work. Fuel from the center tank was moved to the wing tanks to replace what had been burned off. The captain ate his meal the night was spectacular the first officer took watch. There was a feel of excitement as they were doing something for the first time. The SP flew like the standard 747 but it flew longer. The result was this trip was possible. Over 8 miles above the earths surface over 75 percent the speed of sound traveling the girth of a large ocean and the trip was the safest means of travel. The crew on the flight deck was making sure it would remain that way. The captain finished his meal and took watch. As he did he donned the mask which regulations required be worn at that height. The first officer was given fish and chips. He drank sprite with it.
In the crew rest three people slept for a couple more hours. The flight engineer was dreaming of flying a Pitts special. He was struggling to save money to afford a Pitts special so he could do his passion. Long haul flying was the best way to make the money and Pan AM was a good start. He had gone from 727 to 707 and now 747. Relief on an SP was a nice position.
The bottle of water was nice to drink then after that it was time to recline the seat in the night sky. It was time to get some rest. The night sky was spectacular outside the window. The big fans and thrust kept going. It was a good nap that ended with a trip to the lav. The man was marveling at technology. While he was the relief crew started taking positions. It was 14 hour flight the distance drawn on a map was spectacular.
Sutter’s creation had incubated the shadow of the SST it had new technology snuck into it by others neglect now result was a marvel in its own way fuel efficient capable of the long distance. Pan Am was making a pittance on the flight but the flight was making history that is all that was important. The Captain went to the crew rest area he would have six hours he would wind up flying the approach and landing to Kingsford Smith half the world away. Hour by hour the plane made progress. Their progress was being noted through position reports made on HF radio.
The airplane was between too fast and too slow. The window of its performance envelope narrowed quickly too fast their would be flutter too slow their would insufficient lift. The window was trained for and rehearsed. While narrow the airplane had been designed with margins and the pilot, relief pilot the full relief crew had been drilled tested this flight was the end result of practice practice practice bookwork and learning. The process meant Pan AM would pay lower insurance rates because the company insuring Pan Am against potential lawsuits from an accident intellectually comprehended while the airplane was 8 miles above the earths surface 80% of the speed of sound variables had been accounted for. The 747 had been designed to be a pilot’s airplane. Boeing’s rep for safety had been enhanced through 6 years of the types service. The FAA had required while the range of the 747SP was much greater the control yoke and throttles coupled with the rudder pedals were the same as the -100 series and that takeoff flying and landing the special performance model was to the pilot the same experience as the bigger one. Joe Sutter had seen to it. The engines were making a fraction of the thrust they did take takeoff but it needed little to push through the thin air that the airplane was in. The quirks of the early generational JT-9Ds had been solved. The engine was doing as it was supposed to be doing. The shape of the wing and the body were doing what Sutter’s mind and others had intended. It was in the stratosphere moving fast and doing so quite safely.
The Captain slept remembering life as a crew person on a Stratocruiser then the Boeing 707 and DC-8. The navigator as now gone. The complications of life had now gone. The airplane was now so much smarter. He had been a flight engineer on the early jet service across the Atlantic now he was part of the last big bit of pioneering. The romance of the days of flying Connie was palatable he smiled in his sleep.
It was another nap then the view out of the window for hours as the wide Pacific was crossed. A couple hours later breakfast came French toast. The Italian had English or Australian Tea. The leg room and cushion of the first class seat the quality of the cuisine and the view out the window. How many hours he had spent on the Atlantic his hands almost freezing with the cold water. His hands were calloused his manner was rough. The stewardess had talked to him and gotten some his story. She as intrigued by this salty man who was enjoying the fruits of his feistiness.
Hour by hour position reports were called in every hour block altitude New Zealand came into view and the descent into Sydney started. The descent profile was programmed into the auto pilot as a weather forecast was given. The off duty time had been good for the Captain. He had changed into a new uniform. As they neared Sydney they were given an arrival: Runway 34. The 30,000 feet were gently lost. The Captain found himself smiling. It was note widely known but Pan Am had demanding ruthlessly almost in their expectations of Boeing’s new bird. While the Boeing could cruise beyond Mach .90 on the high end. It was also better at low speed then the 707. Below 10,000 feet as approach was initiated he was liking this characteristic. The Stratocruiser had been a bit of a dog, the 707 was spectacular now from the left seat as he turned final to runway 34 he was grateful to John Borger.
The fisherman had seen New Castle come into view. The long flight which had included naps was now coming to a close. He was taking in Australia he saw the Sydney Harbor bridge come into view in a distance he could see also the shape of the Opera house. The airplane turned on a long final. He looked at the Krueger flaps deployed. The airplane was now in a nose high gait. The airplane gently touched ground. Now his Australian adventure would begin.
