This is the building that houses Era Aviation in Bethel. This is where we checked in for our flight to Anchorage. No metal detectors or security guards here. No scales for weighing the bags. The plane that we were scheduled to leave on was about 45 minutes late.
This plane that we flew in was a 19 seater plane without a cockpit door, the Beechcraft 1900D. We could see everything that the pilot saw because Chandra and I were in the first two seats. It was pretty amazing to look out the front window and see the runway as we were landing. We would be headed straight for the runway, then all of a sudden a cross wind would blow and the plane would veer off to the right...it was pretty trippy. It made me queasy to watch, but I just couldnt tear my eyes away from that front window. It was also neat to get to watch the pilot flip all the knobs and levers to get the plane going. I could see all the gages clearly...altitude, pressure, everything. It felt like going back in time...this must have been what it was like to fly back in the 60's and 70's? Our flight attendant was also the copilot. The pilot and copilot were both female. It's the first time I've ever been on a plane the started and killed the engine while the passengers are on the plane.
The plane was full and they could not carry our luggage. They had to put in on an Alaska Air flight to Anchorage later that evening, which meant that we had to go back to the airport at 11 o'clock at night to pick up the luggage.
The flight home only had five people on it and all of our luggage made it on the plane, thankfully. I brought home a big rubbermaid bin full of supplies and a bookshelf for Avery. Those were my two checked bags and then I had my same carry on that I had taken with me. So, that all worked out well. The weekend was too short and we're already looking forward to the long Thanksgiving weekend. We already have our flight and hotel booked for that. We will have more time and are planning to do more "touristy" type stuff, depending on what's open, but hopefully there will be snow on the ground so I can take Avery sledding. I am also hoping to get out to see a glacier, but we'll see. It was a nice break to get out of Bethel for the weekend and go out and pretend we have a social life. Now...back to the regular grind.
This plane that we flew in was a 19 seater plane without a cockpit door, the Beechcraft 1900D. We could see everything that the pilot saw because Chandra and I were in the first two seats. It was pretty amazing to look out the front window and see the runway as we were landing. We would be headed straight for the runway, then all of a sudden a cross wind would blow and the plane would veer off to the right...it was pretty trippy. It made me queasy to watch, but I just couldnt tear my eyes away from that front window. It was also neat to get to watch the pilot flip all the knobs and levers to get the plane going. I could see all the gages clearly...altitude, pressure, everything. It felt like going back in time...this must have been what it was like to fly back in the 60's and 70's? Our flight attendant was also the copilot. The pilot and copilot were both female. It's the first time I've ever been on a plane the started and killed the engine while the passengers are on the plane.
The plane was full and they could not carry our luggage. They had to put in on an Alaska Air flight to Anchorage later that evening, which meant that we had to go back to the airport at 11 o'clock at night to pick up the luggage.
The flight home only had five people on it and all of our luggage made it on the plane, thankfully. I brought home a big rubbermaid bin full of supplies and a bookshelf for Avery. Those were my two checked bags and then I had my same carry on that I had taken with me. So, that all worked out well. The weekend was too short and we're already looking forward to the long Thanksgiving weekend. We already have our flight and hotel booked for that. We will have more time and are planning to do more "touristy" type stuff, depending on what's open, but hopefully there will be snow on the ground so I can take Avery sledding. I am also hoping to get out to see a glacier, but we'll see. It was a nice break to get out of Bethel for the weekend and go out and pretend we have a social life. Now...back to the regular grind.
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3 comments:
Hey, the pics from the cockpit are cool. I'm glad you guys were able to fly in and have fun.
More like the 40's and early 50's.....in the 60s and 70s we had REAL PLANES....lol.
So glad you were able to get away to shopping, drinking and having fun. Have you ever shopped from Sierra Trading Post?
http://www.sierratradingpost.com
Great stuff at great prices. I got news from Ketchikan today and will be in Alaska November 4th!!! Wahoooooooooo..............
Edna
Edna...
CONGRATULATIONS! How exciting! I know how exciting it was for me when I got my job...now for all the hard work...finding a place, packing your stuff, trying to decide what to haul up here and what not to.
Thanks for the info on the planes from back when...it's always interesting to hear the perspective of someone who lived through those times.
I've never heard of sierra trading post...thanks for the info...i'll check into that.
Good luck
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