T-38s

Correct! And these Northrop T-38 "Talon" supersonic jet trainers are getting rather long in the tooth.....

For example....

NASA has been operating the T-38 out of EFD in the Houston area in support of the JSC-based astronauts since I was in high school. Back when I was attending high school (which was quite some time ago), astronaut Rusty Schweickart attended our church in Clear Lake, which is located near JSC. Rusty was the lunar excursion module (LEM) pilot on the Apollo 9 mission. He was also a friend of my Dad as my father was on the Boeing design team for the navigation systems for the LEM. And one fine Sunday morning following services, Rusty and my Dad were talking with yours truly in close proximity but not saying much. My Dad then mentioned to Rusty that I really liked airplanes and that I was hoping to take flying lessons (which I eventually did). Rusty looked at me and said, "Oh really? Would you like to go for a ride in a T-38?". After a moment, I said, "Ah, yes!".

Sorry, folks to jump back to an earlier post. I haven't been following this thread recently because I've been on work travel. However, being a geek that I am about airlines and also surface transport, I noticed these posts and then saw a reference on Wikipedia, claiming that Tampa International Airport has the first automated monorail system operating at a U.S. airport. See this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_I...rport#Monorail

The Tampa system started in 1991 but is driverless and claims to be running as a monorail system. I have not been on the Tampa system yet but I have been on the WEDway system at IAH (aka Inter-Terminal Train). Isn't the IAH system running on rubber tires?

The Tampa system started in 1991 but is driverless and claims to be running as a monorail system. I have not been on the Tampa system yet but I have been on the WEDway system at IAH (aka Inter-Terminal Train). Isn't the IAH system running on rubber tires?[/QUOTE]

The old WEDway system at IAH was upgraded some years ago. The cars had been equipped with rubber tires but the system now runs on tracks, which makes for a somewhat smoother ride.

I was looking through the November 15th, 1970 North American OAG the other day and came up with a couple questions - more to come if I sit down with a couple of beers and get into it...

1. As of November 15th, 1970, What was the only airline offering nonstop service between Seattle and Fairbanks?

2. As of November 15th, 1970, what two airlines dominated between LAX and LAS?

3. Boeing's 720 was built as a short to medium range alternative to the 707. Still, as of November 15th, 1970, one airline used a 720 on a transcon flight, so far as I know the only airline to do so. What was the airline and the route?

4. As of November 15th, 1970, what airline flew nonstop between Colorado Springs and Los Angeles?

5. Finally, in a more general sense timeline wise, what airports were once served by jets (NOT regional jets) and are still open today but have no airline service at all? This might be one with an ongoing stream of answers because I definitely don't know all of them. One airport that does come to mind is Jefferson City, Missouri which I flew into on an Ozark DC-9 in 1980. Today, there is no commercial air service at Jefferson City. Any others ya'll can think of?

Mid-America Airport, near East St. Louis, MO.
(Pan Am reincarnation)

Detroit City Airport
(Southwest and ProAir service)

Buchanan Field, Concord, CA, east of San Francisco
(PSA BAe 146 to LAX)

Kansas City Municipal Airport, which changed its name to Kansas City Downtown Airport in 1977, now known as the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) in Kansas City. This airport was once the headquarters of Trans World Airlines.

Palmdale Regional Airport (PMD) in Palmdale, California. United Airlines was the last airline serving PMD until 2008.

Grand Canyon Airport (GCN) used to be served by Hughes Airwest DC-9s.

Ft. Worth, Texas (Now Meacham Int'l. Airport) used to be served by 727s from BN and EA. AA also flew into there, possibly with 707s.

No commercial service to either airport today...

Did UA serve Palmdale with non-regional jets, though...?

Yes, you are right. UX used CRJs. I seem to recall other airlines providing service to PMD back in the day before UX but I have to research and come back if I find anything.

Some discussion points for a wet and cold (well, it is here in London) weekend.

There have been a number of aircraft types over time which have been pretty much directly competitive, and airlines make the choice to have one or the other.

But which US airlines had BOTH ......

a) Tristar and DC-10.

b) 707 and DC-8.

c) 737 classic and DC-9.

d) Constellation and DC-7.

e) Convair and Martin twin-propeller types.

3. Boeing's 720 was built as a short to medium range alternative to the 707. Still, as of November 15th, 1970, one airline used a 720 on a transcon flight, so far as I know the only airline to do so. What was the airline and the route?

GCN was also served by TriStar with BAe 146 aircraft....however, one might consider the 146 to be a regional jet, although it is certainly larger than a 50 pax CRJ or ERJ.....

As for Ft. Worth, perhaps you are referring to now closed Greater Southwest (GSW)? I'm not sure if Meacham ever received mainline jet service, although GSW sure did, including AA 707 and 727 service as well as DL Convair 880 service......and in later years, Mesa Air tried operating Canadair CRJ-200s to HOU and other Texas destinations from Meacham but the service was not successful (this Mesa operation from Meacham was also referred to as "Larry Risley's Last Dance" ;))......

I do not believe that Palmdale received mainline jet service as well. SkyWest, operating as United Express, did fly Swearingen Metro and Embraer EMB-120 turboprops to LAX from Palmdale (but I do not think the CRJ was used on this route).....and I seem to recall that America West Express operated Dash 8 turboprops from Palmdale to Las Vegas.

BTW, Palmdale Airport was home for the Lockheed L-1011 production line.....