Monday, January 28, 2013

What was that plane?


Most of the comments for my last post expressed more interest in the background of one of the photos than in the topic being discussed. Namely, this visiting B747, seen here in an early-morning shot while parked on the Atlantic Aviation ramp. At the time, I didn't know whose it was, but I remember at one point we discussed it in the cab - to the point that we looked up the nationality of the registration, which was Brunei Darussalam. Being no better at world geography than most of our countrymen, we decided that this was probably from one of the UAE states. (A bit of explanation is in order here: In the tower cab, cell phones are not allowed, and the various computers do not allow access to the internet, so on-the-spot Googling*, an ability most people take for granted nowadays, was not an option)

Now, taking a look at this shot, the registration (V8-ALI) is clear enough to feed into the Google, which reveals that this aircraft flies for the Sultan of Brunei. Brunei, by the way, is NOT one of the United Arab Emirates states. It is actually on the island of Borneo (in southeast Asia), which it shares with Malaysia and Indonesia.

* - In an curious coincidence, "verbing" words was the topic of the Calvin & Hobbes strip in my e-mail this morning. I would share it with you here if I wasn't afraid of lawyers and copyright laws. Instead, I offer you this link to it: Calvin & Hobbes

Also, this talk of Google reminded me of my first encounter with the term googol, from which the Google name was derived:

6 comments:

  1. Yea Captain Vector.............you got that right.....about 'google' and the answer.....pops up.....from somewhere....over the rainbow....just to the left of a cave buried deeper that the 'dead sea' scrolls.......ever died trying.....!!! then we have the effin nerve to get PO'd......if it takes longer ......than a multi million dollar second.....to fly by...!!!........
    btw........what does a 'sultan' do for a living.......!!??????
    Mmmmm...judging.....from this...link.....I'd have to say........a sultan........"Poses".....what do I know......I'm just an over achieving 'Aviation Geek"........You take care....and watch out for those....'nouns' 'posing' as verbs...they sure can be sneaky.....!!


    https://www.google.com/search?q=V8-ALI%29&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=tnk&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=XWMHUY77HZSm8QSS3oGAAw&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=665

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    1. I suspect that a sultan does whatever he likes! Just the name "sultan" conjures up exotic images of camels, harems, and Ali Baba . . .

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  2. I gotta tell ya.....That Carl Sagan.......made it so easy.......to understand.....science!!!!.......I Miss him saying.....Billlions and Billlllions......of stars..and how he finishes his sentences...by speeding up his words...being sure to finish....with exactness......you can mentally see the 'period' at the end.......by just listening........to him!!!!!
    So this is where the 'birth' of 'google'.....came from.........!!!???.......so if you try to look up the word...'google'.....would there be an infinite number of descriptions........???.......ooldles and oodles.....of googles....Yep, I've lost it......!!
    and how lovely of Mr. Sagan......to remind me....of how I can Thank the "Big Bang" for the Apple pie to end up on my........LaTiDa.....!!!
    Very Interesting video.......!!
    Thanks Captain Vector........for a lovely visit back in time........where there is no end or beginning.....!!!!!!!
    MissTWA
    PS.............apparently there are an "INFINITE" number of ways to 'prove your NOT a Robot.......I just ate up 3 tries..........Grrrr.......;)))

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  3. Haha great scene...miss that show and that man too! I remember the story of "googol," but didn't realize he was the one that had told it--good find! And the C&Hobbs..priceless--we'll have to google that verbing stuff, lol!

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  4. Thank you for your comments. Whenever I see one of your pictures, especially those of
    the South complex, I look into the background. Amidst that complex of utilitarian buildings, there stands the historic Hangar One.
    I remember an old venture, an attempt to launch premium transcontinental serrvice,
    called MGM Grand Air. I think they flew DC-8s. These operated from the 'Imperial Terminal'. Does that still exist, and can you point it out for us?

    I also miss Carl Sagan. I was quite impressed by his Cosmos documentary and bought the
    book (in Dutch translation).
    --Filip

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  5. MGM Grand Air was before my time, although I do remember the airline that grew out of the ashes, namely Champion Air, who shut down in 2008. Somewhere in the dusty archives here, you'll find a picture of the last Champion B727 seen at LAX, parked on the old Imperial Terminal ramp in the wake of their shut down. For more on MGM Grand Air, check out this link (and be sure to read the comments):

    http://www.airlinereporter.com/2011/02/airline-livery-of-the-week-mgm-grand-air

    The Imperial Terminal still exists, and is now the home of the Flight Path Learning Center and Museum:

    http://www.flightpath.us/index.htm

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