essxjay

Actually, it's not a bad idea, esp. for a large household. It'd be like a Muggle version of Molly Weasley's nine-handed clock!

MegatopLover

As of last December, SIN T2 had a flipper board in the check-in area just inside the first couple of doors (the ones designated outside for Business Class, even though the actual Business Class check-in rows are a bit further along when you get inside). I don't remember which rows specifically. But it's a big wide board. OskiBear described it earlier in this thread:

That sounds right to me. IIRC, there are two yellow lightbulbs at the end of the row that flash if something about the flight displayed on that row has changed or needs attention.

My earliest recollection of these flipper boards is at New York's Penn Station, a dismal place to wait for anything. The flipper was an intriguing distraction as you waited to learn which track you'd use to board your train.

I can't remember whether LAX TBIT had one way back when. The big boards at the ends of the check-in rows are now LCD or LED, but they are obviously intended to give the same impression as the old flippers. That was the first place I recollect seeing airline codes like CX, JL, etc. I'll still watch the board at TBIT, even if it doesn't have the kinetic energy of the old flippers. That said, I posted in that TravelBuzz thread a year or a couple of years ago about watching any flight status display board just to see where people and airplanes are going (in my case, I watch primarily the international ones).

Someone asked about displays at individual gates. Atlanta's primarily international concourse, Concourse E, has digital-looking displays above each gate desk. The displays look old-fashioned and evoke the flippers, but they're not strictly flipper-style, just digital-clock looking bars.

What about HKG Chek Lap Kok? Are the big boards you see as you approach the check-in rows Solari flippers? Can't remember.

plon

There's a restaurant in London, Smiths of Smithfield that has one behind the bar which announces daily specials. You can see a picture of it on their website http://www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk/sos/index.html

Occupationalhazard

Sheremetevo Dva (SVO2) had them las I knew.

O/H

UrBear

Not for much longer, if this article is to be believed. The replacement sign is supposed to include a speaker that will continue to make that clack-clack-clack sound, though, so all is not lost.

It should be noted that the article is over two years old, with no sign of the new sign so far... but long delays aren't unusual for the MBTA.

SkyBuck

Even better, link up an RSS feed to the FT mileage run forum; when a new deal is posted, you hear the flippety-flip and look up to see (if you're lucky):

N W D T W S I N 4 3 0 + A I W B C D 0 N O T C A L L

cbastian

made by the Italian company Solari Udine. Flap displays are still advertised for rail systems.

http://www.solari.it/eng/solutions/d....php?catid=161

PH-BDG

There's also one at Arrivals in MEL - and part of it has been broken for at least the last six months...

And in VTE (Vientiane, Laos) they still have a non-mechanical board that gets changed manually by sliding in wooden slats - if they remember...

eefor jfp

IIRC BEG (Belgrade) has them for arrivals, departures, and little ones for each gate.

UNITED959

Wow. Never looked at them so close, I always thought they were flippers. The old-fashioned signs seemed logical...since the terminal is so old-fashioned.

Bytepusher

Anybody else remember the other technology that was used, where the letters and numbers were spelled out using dots or bars, usually in fluorescent yellow? Years ago I had an interview with the company that made these. What was kind of interesting about it was that it only consumed energy when changing, once it was set it stayed even if the power went out.

Doctor Who

For those of you considering the living room install, this article goes into some useful technical detail:

http://www.airportsindia.org.in/semi...info_board.jsp

Great thread btw.

mf44

Hey, that's cool. The 3rd photo there is in Secaucus, NJ at the train station. I'm through there pretty regularly. Sweet sign they've got!

MegatopLover

Quite. Although I was surprised earlier this week to see some much-needed cosmetic upgrading, one half-row at a time at the checkin areas. The old vintage 1989 checkin desks are progressively being replaced by snazzy new LCD signs and displays and generally getting a facelift. It is actually quite an improvement. Even so, TBIT is still the armpit of the United States.

essxjay

Neato jet! I'll have to get pix for my trip report when I'm there in June. ^

Tremendous public service there, Doctor Who.