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Paris Air Show

blusk
Aviator C
This week, the Paris Air Show is underway, and it is an event of which I have longed to attend for many years.  While I can't be there reporting to you firsthand (darn!), here is a link to the Boeing Blog about the Air Show.
16 Comments
jim
Adventurer C
I find it sad that Boeing's number one customer won't be represented by The Voice Of The Blog, Mr. Brian Lusk - Brian should be there for us, his legion of fans throughout the world. And I'll bet a 737-800 with just a few people on board (Brian, Kim, Joe, Leah, Francisco, and all other BlogSouthwest regulars) would make it from Manchester to Paris.
blusk
Aviator C
Jim, thanks, but it would be a hard-sell item to put on an expense report. Actually I have attended two air shows at Farnborough in the UK (they alternate years with Paris), and they were pretty amazing. But, I had to attend them on my own. Blog Boy (Incidentally, we don't have any 737-800s, but the -700s we have actually have a slightly longer range and would make the jump across the pond--but they lack the items needed for extended overwater operations.)
pthompson
Explorer A
I wonder if Herb went over there to formally announce Southwest's order for the 787... Sure would be comfy on those cross-country long-hauls! Anyway... if Brian needs a photographer to document the air show I'm happy to oblige!
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
All we need is a few liferafts. You already have the vests installed right? What's up with these crazy gas prices? $2.97 in the morning and $3.29 at night! Ding! boy Joe
Micah1
Explorer A
Southwest Airlines is thirty-six!
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
That's right, Micah! 🙂 I wonder what time Southwest was "born." Southwest is So Wonderfully Awesome!
Don_Kessinger
Explorer B
I was hoping that SWA would announce a B787 on its 36th B-Day over at Paris. Oh well, not every birthday wish comes true. Happy Birthday SWA!!! Thanks for the many happy years!
pthompson
Explorer A
6/18 is also my hire date! Yesterday was my 6th anniversary. 😃
blusk
Aviator C
Congratulations Paul! Happy Anniversary Ding! boy, life rafts are one requirement for extended overwater operations, but it is more complicated than that. There is a lot of different equipment that has to be installed, plus Pilots have to be trained on overwater procedures. Blog Boy
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
Life rafts plus ETOPS. Gotcha. Please remove your batteries from all cellphones and discard them! Ding! boy Joe
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Jim, I'll let you in on a huge secret if you promise to keep it to yourself. Southwest does NOT have any 737-800s, as Blog Boy pointed out, BUT they will soon be taking delivery of a few brand new A-380s. This will allow them to consolidate all of those DAL-HOU and HOU-DAL trips into ONE roundtrip per week and still carry the same number of passengers! :) Joe, The liferafts aren't the biggest issue for extended range operations. The main problem is removing enough revenue-generating seats to be able to store the supply of Candy Corn necessary for trans-Atlantic trips. Brian, What's the big deal about going to Paris on your own money? Gee, its only 104 miles -- just go east out I-30 to Sulphur Springs and then go north to US 82. You can make it in about two hours from here. Take your camera, because it is a scenic drive! Kim External Blog Boy and Travel Guide to Blog Boy 🙂
blusk
Aviator C
Gee Kim, that's a lot of gas to drive to Paris, TX. Funny, I don't remember all the world's aerospace companies setting up booths there. However, I did hear of a planned East Texas Candy Corn Carnival coming to town. Blog Boy
jim
Adventurer C
Kim - I did a little more research, the 737-700ER will fly up to 10,200 kilometers (with extra tanks). Even without extra tanks, the 700ER has a range of over 6,500 KM - so we could make it to Farnborough (5,829 KM) next year with room to spare. And, thankfully, the free skies agreement absolutely prohibits candy corn from being distributed by any crew member on any international flight. LOL on the 380 - I think the distance from Dallas to Houston is about how far this monster must fly to get to altitude. And can you imagine 200 people with "A" boarding passes? Brian - It should be a simple matter to put the flight on an expense report. Getting reimbursed might be an issue, but we will back you up when you tell accounting you put in a request to go to the Farm Bureau and it was misinterpreted as Farnborough.
blusk
Aviator C
Hey Jim, Does the IRS know about your creative accounting? Maybe we could show the flight to Farnborough as a candy corn relief flight for sugar-deprived Brits? Blog Boy
eric-montz
Explorer B
Just to let you know, Southwest doesn't have the 737-700ER, just the 737-700. So check the range for that one.
Leah4
Frequent Flyer B
Blog Boy, I wondered if you really meant Paris, TX! 🙂 Ha, ha!