ON TOUR Pics Archive #2 2005
These images have been made on a 5megPixel Point and Shoot camera, the ones taken from aeroplanes have also been taken through three inch thick, dirty glass. They have not been chosen for their technical merit, rather to add colour to the stories..
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THEM, IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER ...
To see the previous
ON TOUR Pics Archive #1 2005
Click HERE
CROWNE PLAZA CHRISTMAS, BAHRAIN
Proof that the earth spins clockwise, Father Christmas arrived by a horse-drawn carriage, flanked by four glamorous, mini-skirted 'Helpers' that he obviously picked-up in the Philippines earlier in his Extremely Long Day. No wonder he needs a year to recover.
HERE HE IS AGAIN
In Bahrain Father Christmas doesn't mind waking-up the kids in the middle of the night as he delivers the presents, (even if a Christmas Eve party's in session). This Father Christmas seems older, fatter and hairier than the one above, was missing his helpers, but much more forthcoming in the present department. It took a few minutes for Miss Olivia to take it in, her eyes widening in utter disbelief. Afterwards she decided she didn't want him to leave.
AN ANGEL WITH WINGS
... led Carol Singers at Bahrain's Crowne Plaza every night in the week before Christmas. Free warmed-wine helped get spectators into the spirit and after a few, the sound improved markedly. "Five Gold-en Rings!" echoes around the foyer, making you add the Twelve Days Of Christmas to your list of most annoying songs.
MORNING IN MELBOURNE
A woman sculls on Albert Park Lake in the reflection of the World's tallest APARTMENT building, the Eureka Tower. The top ten of its 92 floors will be glazed in gold-encrusted glass when it opens next year. Albert Park Lake is the location for many Commonwealth Games events to be staged in March, followed soon-after by the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
POSSUM TIME
Terry The Terrible Terrier sits patiently underneath Sandy The Gay Dachshund who awaits for the earth to turn ... just a little bit more. At this latitude, spinning away from the sun at about 600 Nautical Miles An Hour, Sandy knows that it's not too long before the Possum, who lives in a nest above the downstairs bathroom window, emerges and delicately walks the tight rope to the nearby trees down the power cable. At which time Sandy will bark like a maniac, hoping to scare the hapless circus performer to lose his grip. Despite the audio mayhem, he never does.
RO NIXON - SISTER
In November Ro had a huge birthday. Despite its momentous number, she's still smiling.
KONGRATULATIONS KAPTAIN KAMMA
The satisfied smile belongs to the first female Captain of a Boeing 727 in Australia, Perth's Kamma Lyhne. Following a long stint in General Aviation, in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, she joined Ansett as a 727 Co-Pilot in 1992, then onto the Airbus A320 as Ansett pensioned-off the 727 in 1997. After the Ansett collapse she went back onto the 727, flying freighters across Australia's skies each night.
BONGIORNO PHILLIPE, AND DINER
As Owner and Maitre d' of Ricardos in Albert Park, Phil will always find you a table, even if its on the footpath. He'll run through the specials in crisp Italian, describing in intimate details what feats Chef is going to perform in the kitchen, in your honour. In winter, there's an open fire - and carpet on the floor to muffle conversation. Plus the Mona Lisa. Don't tell anyone how good it is or you'll never get a seat.
THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE ...
Is Dundas Place Cafe in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia. Run by Julie and George (with the Soup Of The Day made by their Mum); you can sit outside in the sun, or the shade. If the weather is cold and wet you can sit at the counter and look at the world squelching-by. It's two doors from the Avenue Bookstore - The Best Bookstore In The World. Great place for a holiday.
AFTER YOU
The break is over for Australia's most loved (and hated) football team - The Collingwood Magpies. Work, for these guys, starts about six weeks after the season finishes in September ... or, for those who don't make the Final Series, August. A testing swim in Port Phillip Bay, at Albert Park Beach, adds variety to their fitness regime. Those who are shy of the deep water or sharks, (three of 'em), stay close to shore but are not spared the length of time in the briny. Australian Rules footballers, especially the Rovers, run and sprint for two hours during every game, each week during the 22 week season.
PIRATE SHIP
Captain Paul Watson's tiny Pirate Ship, The Farley Mowat, flies a Pirate's Skull and Crossbones Flag while being replenished in Melbourne's Docklands Harbour in November 2005. The flagship of the Sea Shepherd organisation annoys Japanese 'Research' ships in the Southern Ocean, forcing them to run. This prevents them from slowing down to harpoon whales for Japanese Research. Research is a new word for Dining Tables.
Click
http://www.seashepherd.org/whales/whales.html
DEATH ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Three minutes later the pretty dark mare, whilst walking back towards the centre after a comeback goal scored by a team mate, staggered and collapsed ... dead. No distress, just whammo, lights out. One minute and forty-eight seconds were left in the match. They decided, in her honour, to finish the Polo Match - hoping that her team could do the unbelievable. They couldn't. It's not only Polo Ponies that have dickey hearts. 65% of people who have heart disease, the first symptom is ... sudden death.
A KILLER STALKS SYDNEY
More prevalent and more dangerous than Killer Sharks, Crocodiles, Spiders and Snakes this super storm boils towards Sydney on the 2nd December 2005. Before the city of four million even knows it exists, four people are already dead. If you see one like this coming, get indoors and unplug the laptop ... and hang on.
FIVE MINUTES LATER
The weather hits. Roads flood, cars crash, outdoor cafe tables are trashed. Homebound commuters decide to hang out in a nearby bar and wait. The active part of each thunderstorm cell lasts only twenty minutes. While you are waiting, use your expensive watch to time the lightning strikes - about every 90 seconds. This fact may save your life if you have to make a run for it. To keep the Ozone layer charged (and us living) the world needs about 3,500 lightning strikes a day. The Met guys map every single strike.
SUN SETS OVER AUSTRALIA
Somewhere over central Australia the sun slips below the horizon. It's already dark on the ground. If you work out the square root of the altitude in feet and multiply it by 1.2, you work out how many nautical miles it is to the horizon. At this altitude its usually about 235 nautical miles or about 400 kilometres. So, until a second ago, people of the ground would have looked-up and seen the sun shining on us. Then we would have abruptly vanished and they would be ringing the UFO society. It took over twenty photos to get the timing right, so the shutter was open when the red light under the plane was flashing, throwing the reflection on the underside of the Trent 800 engine, so you can read both the Rolls Royce and Emirates logo, (being a passenger is extremely boring).
DARLING, CLEAN THE FISH TANK...
In Bahrain's GOSI centre, seemingly filled to the brim with mobile phone shops, two life-sized fish tanks occupy one end of the centre. This diver's job is to clean the window on a regular basis. The other tank has a mad shark who swims endlessly in circles ... I've never seen the diver in there.
A WAR WAS FOUGHT OVER THIS?
The famous English Channel, with Dover just in front of the engine and the endless stream of ferries tracing stripes on the sea. Hard to believe that this tiny body of water and a handful of Fighter Pilots, not one older than 25, was all that kept the British Empire from destruction at the hands of the advancing German forces.
REFLECTIONS
Shortly after takeoff, the eastern suburbs of London slide below one of the largest aircraft engines currently flying, the Rolls Royce Trent 800. When the Boeing 777 was launched in 1994 it was said that you could slide a 727 or 737 INSIDE the engine cowling. Being a 727 Pilot at the time this was a little unnerving, so we got out a tape measure. The fuselage diameter of the 727 & 737 is 11 feet 7 inches. The internal size of the hole? 9 feet 2 inches. Phew!
PLANE SPOTTING
Rotating at 140 knots, in focus with blurred background, this is the sort of image that Plane-Spotters hang over fences for. Instead, the new Business Class Window Seats in BA 777s face backward making such shots easy while you're waiting for takeoff at London's Heathrow Airport.
ALL DRESSED UP ...
And nowhere to go. The last British Airways Concorde sits out in the weather at the edge of Heathrow's Rwy 21, now a glorified taxiway. See the previous years' pics for the last minute of its final flight. The tiny aircraft should be displayed in the foyer of the new Terminal Five. It should be remembered that the Wright Brothers' Flight took off, flew and landed in a distance SHORTER than the length of the Concorde.
READY, SET...
As we cross the active Takeoff Runway at the busiest airport in the world, London's Heathrow, the Takeoff Clearance is being issued to the lined-up aircraft. Nearly four kilometres away, his lights are on. Either side of the runway, waiting aircraft are funnelled to the holding points. On the right hand side, the large building is the new Terminal 5, being readied in time for the arrival of the A380. It'll be the first time British Airways has had all its Heathrow operations in one terminal. Expect a more efficient airline ...
AS CLOSE AS YOU WANT TO GET...
To the M25, London's ring road, also known as the largest car park in the world. Streaking into land at 280 kph, this British Airways A319 crosses the motorway before touching down. Two of the three huge lakes that help Pilots recognise the airport from a distance can be seen in the photo.
HEATHROW'S SUNRISES ARE ALWAYS STUNNING
Red at Night - Shepherd's Delight means the next day will be sunny; Red in the Morning - Fisherman's Warning has nothing to do with it being sunny. Either way, the particles of dust in the atmosphere are indicating strong winds - the sun may be hidden all day.
HEATHROW'S STACKS ARE SELDOM BORING
Either side of Heathrow, to the east, are two Holding Patterns called the Stacks. Planes enter the stacks at anything up to 20,000 feet and work their way down until being split-off on the march westward, trudging after one another at exactly 220 knots, turning north after passing the lakes and then east to line up with the runway, reducing to 180 knots at 6 miles, 160 until 4. Gatwick Airport's single runway, which has its own stacks, is lit up below, near the snaking M25.
TUNNEL VISION
The promenade in Basel beside the Rhine. In every direction you glance you'll see a cyclist. No lycra, only a few stack hats, in a city where the bicycles have their own mini-roads and traffic lights.
SWISS TARTAN
So many air routes cross over the top of Switzerland, its amazing there aren't more mid-air crashes. The accuracy of the planes' navigation systems is spooky. The last crash, on the evening of Monday 1st July 2002, between a 757 Freighter and Russian plane carrying 45 school children, caused major changes: for the families of the 71 who died, for the German people, whose farms were rained-on by a combination of aluminium and body parts, in the way air crew respond to TCAS Collision Avoidance warnings, and more. A Father of one of the children, who amazingly found his daughter's body in the wreckage, went crazy and sought out the hapless Controller years later ... and killed him. In the investigation they said "No-one could foresee the crash". Not true. They loaded-up the poor guy by performing maintenance on his radar system and his phone system at once. His partner was on a break, so the guy was working two screens simultaneously, zipping between the screens on a chair with castor wheels, trying desperately to call a Tower Controller on a phone that was never going to answer. Until we start thinking about these differently, we will be doomed to repeat them. Such a crash is guaranteed to happen if you load-up one man to breaking-point. That's why they call it the 'breaking-point'.
SANS CARS
The Swiss are so efficient, that in Basel, on the border with Germany, they ban cars in large parts of the city centre - filling the tiny streets with trams and bikes. Speaking only German, using Swiss francs and not Euros; you can't even buy a 'normal' laptop. The QWERTY keyboard isn't regarded efficient-enough for these guys.
THE RHINE IN BASEL
The chilly Rhine River is a 1320 km-long lifeline, beginning in the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier in Switzerland and flowing north while passing through six countries: Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France and the Netherlands. Seagoing ships navigate as far up as Cologne in Germany where freight is transferred to barges for the trip to Basel.
SWISS ALPS
From 38,000 feet, over the glareshield of the A320, the Swiss Alps crinkle the horizon, the early snow confusing aviators ... clouds made of ice and rock.
SUNRISE IN TURKEY
Sitting on the plains in eastern Turkey, Mount Erciyes rises 3,917 metres and is always covered in snow and ice. The morning light adding three dimensions to the extinct volcano, it's the third highest mountain in the country.
For Whom Does The Bell Toll?
Australian cricket probably. After a gripping test match series the English are crowing about their team's victory. It has given the sport a huge amount of publicity and attracted an entirely new audience.
Sea Of Ice, Mont Blanc
While you're eating lunch, over your shoulder is about fifteen billion tonnes of ice suspended in space, struggling with gravity. What it wants to do is fall free, melt and kill the villagers of Chamonix, and their customers.
Chamonix, Mont Blanc
Fall out of the train and make for a French Restaurant in the sun. Marvel at the cable cars swinging between the peaks, drink French Champagne and eat dead snails. Once in your life. Then look over your other shoulder and get the hell out of there ...
Martigny, Switzerland
The railway station at Martigny sells great coffees and, if you are up for it, a double scotch at ten in the morning. Practise your French first though, then board a skinny mountain-climbing train bound for France.
Château de Chillon
Looking
like a stone ship, the thirteeth century's Château de Chillon sits
at the edge of Lake Geneva near Montreaux - site of the famous jazz
festival. This castle is supposedly the most photographed feature in
Europe. Lausanne, further along the shore back towards Geneva, is
home of the Olympics Committee. Geneva itself is European home to
the United Nations and also the Red Cross ... many banks that won't let
you in ... watch shops that will ... Toblerone and thousands of beautiful
women.
Smoke On The Water
Lake Geneva, the bluest of the Swiss Lakes, is really only a 73 km bulge in the River Rhone as it heads west. Nearly 1,000 feet deep in places and surrounded by mountains, the wind causes it to whip into quite a dangerous sea - breeding pretty nifty sailors. So much so, that if you want to see the America's Cup you have to come to Geneva ...
Goodbye Summer
Problem with England is you never know when summer ends. It will be sometime in September, you can be assured. Offically it is the Equinox, on the 21st. In reality it's after a bright, hot, prefect sunny day. The sun vanishes, the cloud unloads, the wind starts and temperature drops. You think: Ah well, it's only momentary - it'll be warm again tomorrow. Not so. This squirrel is smarter than us all.
It Had To Happen
Warren reckons it's the Pilot's fault. The Pilot reckons the Engineer should fix the aeroplane. One thing's for certain, if you plant it, the catch on the row 10 ABC Passenger Service Unit Door will let you know how good you are. For all to see.
Get The Phone
The old style phones are fun. All those windows to smash. The new ones are excellent to place advertisements for prostitution. If you're sending your Mum to London these days - get her a mobile.
Rampant Consumerism
Summer in Oxford Street, London. A city of seven million squeezes another million tourists onto its footpaths. It's hot, (26 degrees) and humid. Can you believe that, in this incredible city, there's not one air-conditioned theatre, bus, taxi or train?
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Speakers Listen
Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park, near Marble Arch London. Every weekend the ranters gather and begin proclaiming their views to all who will listen ... and many who are just passing. The English politely watch, the tourists take photos and giggle ... and then there's someone who answers-back.
You Know Nothing!
With communism in tatters, Russians are into capitalism, money and travel. Not good for Socialist Speakers in Hyde Park who are confronted with the product of their ideals. "You know nothing of what it is like to live under Socialism ... with its secret police and hunger ... you know nothing! How dare you talk this talk!"
Byblos, Lebanon
Just north of Beirut, in Lebanon, lies Byblos. The water is the Mediterranean Sea, and they'll charge you about three dollars for a swim if you jump-in whilst sitting at ther cafe. If you're clever enough to have had your swim before they can tell you, you can just say "Well, I won't swim then ..." and get out of the water. Another one of the world's seas is added to the list.
Bei
Beirut, Lebanon
Looking north towards Byblos. Beirut is rebuilding after years of civil wars and suppression under the Syrians. Once called the 'Paris of the Mediterranean', the place is going ahead with great enthusiasm, not seen since the early eighties when the city was on our TV news every night.
A memorable image of Beirut is that of TWA 727 Captain John Testrake being held by a Hijacker at Beirut Airport on 14 June 1985 soon after the beginning of the ordeal which would see TWA 847 flown to Algeirs twice and back to Beirut. Progressively the 153 passengers and crew were released, save for the final 39 who were taken from the aircraft and secreted in the suburbs for two weeks ... and Robert Stethem, a US Navy Diver who was executed and dumped onto the tarmac.
(this picture taken by an unnamed photographer & is available copyright-free)
War Is Hell
Just how long is can you remain on full alert? A question being asked around the world. In the War On Terrorism this Lebanese soldier, loaded machine gun in his lap, has hit the wall. To the right, out of frame and staring at the photographer with intent, is his partner.
The Lights Are Still Turned-Off
Six months are ex-Prime Minister Rafik Harreri was assasinated in Beirut the black hole still hangs over the city. A frozen moment of terror. Everything has been left as it was until the investigation is concluded ... or has it? To deceive investigators “Parts of a pickup truck were brought to the scene by members of the security services some time after the incident and were placed in the crater and were subsequently photographed and labelled as evidence,” so said the UN report into the bombing.
Four Times Bigger ..
Than the bombs that rained on London in the Second World War, 1000 kg of explosive was packed in a commercial vehicle outside the famous St George Hotel on the stunning Beirut beachfront. As the billionaire Harreri's motorcade went past, itself a bulletproofed-haven emitting an electronic jamming forcefield to guard against terrorists, it was no match for what is believed to be a suicide bomber who had two wires and an old-fashioned mining plunger connected to the explosive.
The Crater Is Fifteen Metres Wide
The UN Report into the explosion, which is still being investigated, slights the Security Forces for tampering with evidence. The crater which held forensic evidence was allowed to fill with water from broken pipes. The latest rumour is that they have found a thumbprint from the suicide bomber. The next day a million Lebanese rallied and soon the occupying Syrian forces retreated. But the Syrians say they didn't arrange the bombing, they blame the Iraqis for trying to upset the USA ... the Israelis for trying to upset the Lebanese ... anyone. Whatever - Harreri is now a matyr. And Syria is out of Lebanon ... well, on the surface at least.
I Never Heard Anything
The Security Guard standing here, out front of the HSBC building around the corner from the explosion, was outside the direct blast area - and lived. Nine died and 100 were injured. "The pressure wave came before the noise and destroyed my hearing. I never heard anything." Anything in its path was destroyed ... it took the colour from the grass. "One man got out of the car, he had all his skin burned off, he was alive .. but I think he died later"
It Was Five To One...
".... and the conference guests were about to walk into the restaurant for lunch. We were having a meeting with all the staff at the doorway to the kitchen when it went off. The pressure wave came and smashed all the windows. I didn't hear anything. The windows were laminated and the plastic lamintion melted ... they were all like honey." The speaker is the Maitre D' of the Restaurant of the Phonecia Hotel about two hundred metres across the way. He has returned to Lebanon after running a business in Sydney for 17 years. "The big doors onto the balcony came out as one piece and flew across the restaurant and ended-up under the dessert table. Every chair in the restaurant was turned upside down as if someone had placed them that way. I got cuts in my leg, we were very lucky, five minutes later and all the conference guests would have been outside on the balcony and all would have died ... I am sure of that." A car engine was found on the roof of the hotel, 19 floors up. The Phonecia Hotel suffered fourteen million dollars damage.
If You Haven't Been To Brisbane In A While
Australia's northern city really is only halfway up the east coast. In fact, it's not really NORTH at all. What it is, is Australia's Eastern-most city - even though it's a few miles inland. Whatever. If you haven't been in a while, or at all, go there in July or August - when Melbourne is a little too chilly.
Go Somewhere Else
At Brett's Wharf in Brisbane Australia the pelicans agree that the restaurant deserve's its Best Fine Dining Restaurant (2003) award from the Australian Meat and Livestock Association. Every afternoon at three o'clock they grab a seat for the free feed dished-out by one of the waitresses. Table Service.
London On Edge
The Bobby's Helmet has temporary been left at home. Flack-jackets and machine guns the order of the day. Armed Police patrol embassies and government buildings in Grosvenor Square.
London By Day
Terrorism returns to London a week after the bombings on public transport. A new tourist symbol; not red phone booths, not red buses, black taxis or the Underground logo; but instead, speeding cars, sirens wailing, enroute to unseen destinations. The tourists in Trafalgar Square noting that, to the novice, it looks like the Police drivers were confused - all traveling to different destinations ... sadly, they were.
What Do You Mean ... Closed?
Sorry, the underground is closed. But I have to go down there. You can't. Why? There's a bomb down there, in fact we have heard of four bombs. But I have to go DOWN there! There is a bomb there. (Thinks: how dumb are you?) Sorry, you'll have to walk down there to the next station - that line might be open. Walk? Yes. DOWN THERE? Thank you Ma'am.
Tony Stamp's Still Searching ...
The Bill's TONY STAMP searches London streets for James Nixon's push bike, stolen two summers ago in Bristol. No word yet but it won't be long now...
Dubai By Night
With its restaurant on the top left, and helipad top right, the Burj Al Arab Hotel is part of The Jumeirah Beach Resort complex, situated 15km south of Dubai. Soaring 321 meters, the lighting effects make the view a photographer's dream.
A King's Eye View
This is what Royality sees from the balcony of the Royal Apartments of the Palace at the Al Qasr Hotel. It's a long way from the Luton Chiltern Hotel which could learn much from the staff of the Al Qasr .
The View Continues
Glancing right from the balcony and the stunning Burj Al Arab Hotel, the centrepiece of Dubai, draws your gaze with its everchanging light show.
Madinat Jumierah - Al Qasr Hotel
"The
Palace, the centre-piece of the Resort and designed to reflect a Sheikhs summer residence. It is grandiose and impressive in its elegant situation - elevated to provide a magnificent
- jewel in the crown - at the heart of the Resort."
"Approached via a long tree-lined avenue adorned with beautifully sculpted Arabian horses - Al Qasr is a breathtaking sight - a tribute to age-old architectural styles and a stunning statement of Dubai's history. Public areas have a majesty which is both elegant and refined."
- so says the publicity blurb. For once it is right.
From The Restaurant
Al Qasr, in the centre, dominates the Jumeirah Beach Resort complex. The Balcony mentioned above is the highest point in the middle of the picture.
Ever-Changing Colours
Every fifteen minutes or so, you look across and wonder, "Has that changed colour?" Luckily the camera can track the changes. After a few hours drinking world class Champagne, it also starts to blur...
An Historic Piece Of Concrete
Runway 12 Left at Bahrain, stopping-off point for millions of Australians enroute to Europe in the last 50 years. Off the aeroplane, into the terminal while it is serviced, cleaned and refulled .. and on the way again. You've probably only been there in the middle of the night.
Are We There Yet?
Nearly. It's at the end of the green line. 5 hrs 54 mins into the flight, still 110 NMs to go, the white arrow denotes where the aeroplane thinks it should start descent. The -18 is a Gulf Air flight we are following, about 55 miles ahead and 1,800 feet below us.
Collie James
Captain Collie Fitch James has been called Captain Fitch, Captain James and Captain Collie ... of the Royal New Zealand Air Force! Our flight planners, who have a problem knowing the time of day, usually work for the RNZAF ... so gave Collie his promotion. He holds US and Australian passports too, and wears my old FO Bars with his old Ansett Uniform! The rest of his gear is still in Vietnam following the end of his time at Orion / Pacific.
A Wet Six And Climbing
Warren Appleton, our token Kiwi crew member and Engineer extraordinaire who kept our plane humming (and cooked our meals onboard!) He'd been in Toulouse since February overseeing the aircraft's birth. He'd travelled with it to the Caymans for registration, a process that took two weeks. Then he flew with us on the delivery flight. He's grinning because the 6 degree Luton, UK temperature feels like a heat wave compared to Gander. About to attach the downlocks to the under carriage to stop someone lifting the wheels up while its parked overnight.
Ahh! England Again!
Covered in cloud all day, with misty drizzle and visibility of only 4kms, Luton's Runway 26 emerges from the gloom. No wonder the English abandon the place for summer charters to the Greek Islands as soon as the flights begin each year at the beginning of April.
Gander By Day
You can make out the cleaned runway and taxiways for our departure. The runway we used for landing the previous night has not been cleaned since the prevailing wind makes its use undesirable.
Wing De-Icing
A little known fact, these de-icing crews are the only reason aeroplanes are able to operate in below freezing conditions. Here the dry snow which piled-up on the wings overnight is removed with a water/ glycol mixture. The highly-regulated process, (as a result of the Potomac River 737 crash in 1970s), ensures that the wings will lift the aircraft off the runway symmetrically.
Snow Plows At Work For Us
These guys must be rally drivers in their spare time. They throw their machines around in perfect synchronisation ... at alarming speeds.
The Author .... Of The Artic
Self portrait during a Canadian sunrise, Gander April 15th 2005, minus NINE and a 12 knot breeze. Bit of a change from Cayman Island the day before. Time exposure using Warren's ladder.
Icicles
Underneath the plane an icicle is evidence of the previous night's water dump. It's hard to describe how quickly the cold started affecting the human body. I'll try: Fast. Very Fast
Minus Five And Falling
With engine covers on, and every static port and pitot tube covered; the new aeroplane sits out in the cold. Toilet fluids and water has to be drained so they don't freeze and the handbrake left off. She's chocked on all wheels and put to bed. Every day she flies at altitude it's always minus 57 degrees so it's no big deal for her ... just don't forget your gloves when you step outside.
The Famous Gander Airport
There's only one thing worse than being stuck on the ground when you'd much rather be in the air. That's being in the air when you'd much rather be on the ground. Since the beginning of aviation time, Gander has been here, on the edge of the Atlantic, providing a safe haven (and lots of fuel) for planes stricken by head winds, engine failures and other disasters. On 9/11, 37 airliners were diverted here after USA airspace was closed and the 6,000 passengers and crew almost doubled the town's population. For ferry flights, it makes a sensible end to a long day.
Drifting Snow
Just taxi up the runway and make a left, left again then park. Excellent controlling can make a testing time seem extremely simple. Just don't get it sideways on the corners.
Snow, Crosswinds, -5 Degrees
Gander in Newfoundland, Canada has it all. Like a simulator session out of a bad dream, every time we checked the weather, it changed! "Four seasons in a day..." the ground agent aplogised. Makes Melbourne's days seem very palatable, no matter what time of year.
Sniffing Around in Cayman
Each cruise ship disgorges 1,200 to 2,000 tourists a day at Grand Cayman Island in the Caribbean. Like huge monsters they nudge the shoreline. By 6pm they reverse out and wander off to find another island tomorrow and leave space for the next five or six who will replace them.