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Dear Editor,
I thoroughly enjoyed your reports on the Convair 880/990. The articles brought back a lot of memories.
As a young man in the 60’s, I traveled extensively and flew on TWA 880’s and American 990’s many times.
Although I’d never been in a jet fighter, I could easily imagine what it would be like since taking off in a Convairliner was an exhilarating experience.
Whenever I had the option, I would always select a flight on a Convair over a 707 or a DC-8. I liked
the 3-2 seating arrangement since there was no middle seat on the “2” side which is where I always sat.
Alas, the Convairliner’s lifespan in U.S. commercial airline service was brief; I was sorry to see it pass into history, but it was a great airplane.
Bob Compton, Mill Creek, Washington
Dear Airways,
I particularly enjoyed the “Airlines of Alaska: Part 2” article by David Stringer. In 1965 the very first flight I ever took was on Pacific Northern Airlines. There is a 50/50 chance that the Boeing 720 pictured in the magazine is the same one in my snapshot taken through the window at the gate at Sea-Tac. Imagine that!
I have another snapshot taken by my father of me at the top of the airstairs in Anchorage as we boarded for our return flight. The puzzle is that the this aircraft was, apparently, one that PNA picked up from Braniff as the main color is ochre. But, I distinctly recall that one being a 707 because of onboard markings. The info I found so far is that the PNA aircraft from Braniff were all 720’s. I found only one vague reference to an ex-Braniff 707 flying with PNA. My photo doesn’t show any registration numbers.
Is my memory faulty? That would be no surprise after all these years. Were 707 “spare parts” on the 720? Anyway, it is a fun mystery and the article brought back great memories. To top it off, I think I looked rather dapper as a 12 year old in a suit and tie.
Thanks for a super magazine.
Roger Lipera