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At least 47 reported killed in Laos plane crash
At least 47 people were killed in a Lao Airlines plane crash in the southern Laotian province of Champasak on Wednesday afternoon, witnesses said, according to the country's national news agency, KPL. (www.cnn.com) More...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
R.I.P to those 47 passengers
May I reminisce? In 1974 I flew in a DC-3 from Savannakhet, Laos to Vientiane. The pilot was French and I think the airline was Air America, aka CIA. It was a former gunship with the machine gun mount still on the left side. No gun, though. The main door had been removed and there were no seats. In the aft of the cabin was a tied-up calf being taken to a feast in the capital. The 20 or so passengers, me included, stood all the way. Forget seat belt. The pilot before takeoff shooed us to stand over the wing for balance purposes. Compare that with present-day flying in a commercial airliner. Great ride.
Was there too. We mostly flew 119's and scared most of the time. AA was replaced by Challenge Air.
and a lot of young folk today would say your were lying cause you can't do stuff like that
Good old SCARE AIR
Sad, I rather enjoy the ATR-72. They've been doing so well since their initial icing issues were fixed. The final report will be of interest.
Personal opinion, hunk a junk, at least from a pax standpoint and crew too for that matter. AA started running them a couple times per day between DFW and FSM a couple years ago. While doing some fill in a couple years ago, I dh on one from FSM to DFW. Worst flight I think I've ever had. Maybe just to used to jet.
When I was with Eagle, the 72 was the best A/C we had. As a scheduler, the crews LOVED them because it had two attendants instead of one like the 42 or SF3. There were no jets then, and the Shorts 360 were being retired in the Caribbean. I loved the aircraft of that time. Flying from DFW to SJT on a day off only to eat Chinese food at Mathis Field, as we'll as take orders for food from AE rampers and agents was a blast. I'd take the same plane back so their food was still a little warm. Plus, flying on a SF3 to West Texas in the summer was so much fun! Passengers would clench their armrests lol! Oh man as an ex scheduler I have TONS of stories! Ones that will scare, ones that are hilarious. We're talking infidelity etc.
Ahhh, SJT. Also you could get the CCC station to make a Whataburger run for you! I was DFW from 2001-2003 in the ATR and SF3.