Comments on: A “Life List” of Planes

By: Dick Waitt

Dick Waitt — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:27:50 +0000

I graduated from high school in 1959, and the Air Force Academy was one of my college choices, until I found that at that time the vision requirement was 20/20 uncorrected.

Oops…

I grew up about 45 miles from Fairchild AFB, where in the early 1950s there was a squadron B-36s which we could see regularly.

My college choice included Gonzaga University where there was an Army ROTC group – I volunteered. My ROTC summer camp was a Fort Lewis, where one weekend we were invited to FLY!! My first ride was in a L-19, soon followed by a ride in an L-20 (I have a photo of that first L-19.)

The later years included rides, both civilian and military, including several that were already gone when you started, including a Comet IV (Aerolineas Argentinas), USAF C-133, and Caravelle (Cruizero do Sul and Thai International). Also was a ride in a sailplane (owned by a former neighbor) where I had the stick for a few minutes (although he landed it!!) and several helicopters including the model the one that stars in M*A*s*H.

Not quite the career you have had, but I can’t complain…

By: Dick Waitt

Dick Waitt — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:26:04 +0000

I have always wanted to fly, from about the same age as you. I graduated from high school in 1959, and the Air Force Academy was one of my college choices, until I found that at that time the vision requirement was 20/20 uncorrected.

Oops…

I grew up about 45 miles from Fairchild AFB, where in the early 1950s there was a squadron B-36s which we could see regularly.

Not quite the career you have had, but I can’t complain…

By: Greybeard

Greybeard — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 18:55:11 +0000

Sometime in the late 80s, we (software vendor) were doing a seminar at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Another group was setting up across the way; I wandered over and chatted with them and we swapped trinkets. They were doing something aviation-related — possibly leasing — and had a really nice bound pocket-sized book of aircraft, including capacities, MTOW, range, etc. that I treasured for years, until it became so obsolete that I either threw it away or it’s mouldering in a drawer somewhere.

Not as neat as your souvenirs or life list, but a fun memory!

By: 757MAX

757MAX — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 13:26:58 +0000

To put a twist on this, here’s a life list of the aircraft on display that I’ve visited. It was a bit more interesting for me to make.

707: USAF (SAM 970 & a KC-135)
727: United (727-100), FedEx (a section of a 727-200)
737: UsAir
747-100: Boeing, NASA, Northwest
747-400: Delta
767-200: Delta
787-8: Boeing
B-17: USAF

DC-7: American Airlines

C-130: USAF

Concorde: British Airways

By: 757MaX

757MaX — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 13:28:31 +0000

Great article, Patrick. I actually didn’t know people kept track of the planes they spotted! Or, rather, I didn’t know that hobby was so popular. I’ve seen a decent number of rare and/or interesting types. The good thing about not having a “life list” of types is looking through old pictures and remembering that I saw this or that plane.

Here’s my life list of planes I’ve flown on.

Regional:
CRJ-200: American Eagle Y (why did I fly on it, that’s the question. Lol)
CRJ-700: American Eagle F, Y
CRJ-900: American Eagle Y
CRJ-1000: Air Nostrum Y

E145: United Express Y
E170: United Express Y
E175: American Eagle F,Y ; United Express Y

Avro RJ-100: Brussels Airlines Y

I also flew a Dash 8 or ATR on Croatia Airlines in Y, I can’t remember.

Mainline:
E190: Lufthansa Y, American Y, JetBlue Y

MD-80: Spanair Y, SAS Y, American Y

A319: Lufthansa Y, Iberia Y, American Y, United Y, Spirit Y, Frontier Y
A320: Lufthansa Y, Iberia Y, United Y, Alaska Y
A321: British Airways Y, American Y. Also might have flown on it with LH & IB, in Y.
A330: American Y, Iberia Y

737: Turkish Airlines Y, Ryanair Y, United Y, American Y
777: American C, United Y
787: British Airways Y, American Y

I might have flown on more, but I only started logging my flights in 2016, so I remember very few that I flew on before then.

By: Rafael Augusto Reca Saumell

Rafael Augusto Reca Saumell — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 17:34:52 +0000

Dear Captain Smith,

Most probably, arriving late to the party, but nevertheless, there’s a smarter way to keep track of all my flights…

These are my Cabin Crew flights so far:

https://my.flightradar24.com/Boeing73G

And my leisure travel… https://my.flightradar24.com/ClipperVoyager

including some little Pearls.. More remarkable:

Boeing 737-990 N302AS – being one of the Prototypes involved in Flight Certification.

Tower Air – flying in the nose of the 747 – just below the flight deck.

United 747SP – I was amazed at how short it looked like, didn’t know of the SP existence, and later on, I realized it must have been a SP. (I was just 12 years old at the time)

Alaska 734 Combi / KLM 744 Combi – both before retirement.

Austral MD-81 LV-WFN – the MD-81 with most flight hours in the world, still wearing its original cabin.

Warm regards from Buenos Aires!

By: Don

Don — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 19:34:34 +0000

My shortest jetliner flight was on a United Express BA 146 from Denver to Colorado Springs the week JFK Jr. went missing. 11 minutes from liftoff to touchdown.

By: kevin thomas

kevin thomas — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:20:28 +0000

Flying is great and planes are super cool, but I can never match more than a small fraction of your enthusiasm, and none of your record-keeping. So the list I can’t enumerate contains most of the common domestic-service planes from 1980 to today, including some wide-bodies. I wish I knew if any were 747s.

The list that matters and is unforgettable has no airliners. Just two planes: my friend’s Cessna Skylane and a B-17. I do hope to add to this list.

By: Ann Baker

Ann Baker — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 01:48:24 +0000

Old timer here, loving this blog! I flew in TWA Connies when traveling in the USA (they had employee reciprocity with PAA) and 707s overseas – as that’s the plane my dad piloted. Later on, of course, 747s – even getting the upper deck all to myself on one enchanting flight. Then came the usual lineup we’re all pretty familiar with today. I do clearly remember my first time in an MD-11. I knew the sounds of a Boeing inside and out. So it was alarming to hear the high pitched whine of the MD-11s. I side-eyed the crew but they were unconcerned. The MD-11 also had an unsettling sensation upon reaching altitude. It would go eerily quiet, and seem to power down so much that you felt momentarily suspended, at a standstill. I don’t have the knowledge to know why – oxygen intake perhaps? But a flight attendant buddy said “Yeah, they do that”.

Our house sat under the flight path for JFK and I’d sit on the driveway spotting planes. Sometimes my dad would fly over and see me out there. One time he said he tipped his wings, but I didn’t notice haha. Those observation decks were the best. Do any still exist? I guess if they did the general public wouldn’t have access anymore anyway.

I could go on and on. Lots of memories of the early, glorious days. Love reading everyone else’s too!

By: Kenny Davies

Kenny Davies — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 07:34:21 +0000

In reply to Richard Wilson. I have always wanted to fly the A318. I remember boarding from the back on a WIZZ air flight from EIN-BEG. Hopefully there will be more US airports/airlines Boarding from the back.