Recall catching a flight down in the Carolinas long time back with a couple of young fellas, names of Wilbur and Orville, I believe. My memory's a bit foggy, but I know there were no drinks or food serviced, just a small bushel of peanuts strapped to one of the wings.

As alluded to, when some of us started flying, all passenger planes had propellers! DC7s, North Stars, Super Connies... and then came the prop-jets like Viscounts and Vanguards... On the latter two, the first class cabin was at the back of the plane where is was quieter.

Then came the jets, and the next revolution began!

Did fly LAKER a little later in my life, back when they also flew between Toronto and Gatwick. Just as VIRGIN today reflects the hip British present, LAKER was at the forefront of that image in the 60s and early 70s, transporting us to the world of the Beatles, Stones and Carnaby Street. [Austin Powers, anyone? Orange shag carpets?] Remember, Randy's Freddies are name after Sir Freddy Laker, innovator of the air bus, i.e. discounted flying for the masses. US$99 each way across the Atlantic. [What with inflation over the years and much higher fuel and other costs, it is no wonder today's carriers cannot make money flying passengers across the Atlantic to London for US$299, but still keep doing it. In effect, that is even cheaper than Sir Freddy's fare!]

There's a Quebec rock singer from the 70s called Robert Charlebois. He now owns one of that provinces best microbreweries which makes a wicked brew called: Le fin de la monde, or The End of the World [with a 12% alcohol level!]. Anyhow, one of his early hits was a little ditty whose lyrics were almost entirely composed of the names of the world's airlines of the day, virtually every one now defunct. In fact, the song's refrain starts out, somewhat ironically given its recent takeover:

"Ahhh, TransWorld, Nordair, Eastern, Western, pi Pan American. La, la, la..."

TWA = American Airlines
Nordair = Canadian = Air Canada
Eastern = Continental
Western = Delta
Pan Am = United/Delta

And I have FF cards from all these, and more...

Gotta go wipe the drool from my chin now, sonny. Time to catch old Abe Simpson on the telly, too.