What a wonderful report - I loved hearing about your experience. I too used to write off to all the airlines and anxiously awaited what glossy brochures you received. I remember on overseas holidays with my parents, I would use up the 1st day by schleping around all the airline offices and collecting all the material that I couldn't possibly get back home. Also, those days where security wasn't like it was today, I would head out to the International Airport with a few mates and often would approach airline staff and were taken onto transiting aircraft for a tour - with this method I was able to see aircraft like: JL DC8, PA 747-SP (with dining room in the sky!), SQ 747-200 with slumberettes in upper deck, UT DC8, NZ (TE then!) DC10, CP DC8, JAT 707, MH 707, Air Nuigini 707 and a few more. This was great fun - but as I said it was at a time that security was very different and airline staff had time for excited 12 year olds!