Author Topic: Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"  (Read 611 times)

Offline earl1937

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2290
Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"
« on: October 07, 2014, 05:08:37 PM »
 :airplane: One of the companies I flew for about a year and a half, was a "on demand charter outfit", flying out of ATL INTERNATIONAL...those were the days guys! Was nothing to see a Lockheed 1049G, with Eastern Airline logo's on it, a Delta "stretch" DC-8, Boeing 707's, Martin 404's, Convair 440's, DC-6B's and 7C's coming and going all day long at ATL! While I know the jet age improved travel for the public, I really miss all those "big Iron" birds. The Douglas DC-7C had the prettiest sound on takeoff of any of them, in my view, but everyone has there favorite I know. Here are some pic's to go with that comment about the 7C..



Picture of the "office" in the 7C

Now for the story!

This is actually a 421, which is the same aircraft, except the 411 was not pressurized as was the 421!

The "Company" had several aircraft which we used, but the Cessna 411 was the flag ship, so to speak! One of the companies which had us on a "retainer" was a civil rights group and yes, all the big names which you have read about over the years were very prominent in the origination, the president of which was killed in Memphis, Tenn by a lone gunman. The trip in question was a trip from Atlanta to Jackson, Miss and return.
Takeoff time was 3PM EST, with the return trip at 1030CST. The trip out, about 2 hours in duration was uneventful but it was IFR with tops about 7,000 all the way to Jackson. I had filed for 8,000, not being pressurized, but I always liked to keep passengers, which may or not be, afraid of heights, close to clouds and that way they are a little more comfortable and at ease. Base, as I recall, was about 3,000 above the ground at Jackson, so no real instrument approach was required. As usual, I stayed at the fixed base operator where we parked the aircraft, in case they wanted a unscheduled departure. I found the couch in the pilots lounge and took up position A, (full prone position), with instructions to desk clerk to wake me if those guys showed back up. I remember a disgusted look on his face, because I had brought some people to Jackson, which he did not agree with!
During the afternoon, of course, things had heated up, several thunderstorms in local area, but nothing dangerous that I could see with my naked eye. I had a good RCA AVQ-46 radar on the aircraft so should be no problem.
About 930 local time, this disgusted look guy came in and said, they are on the way and want an immediate takeoff. I had filed for 9,000IFR back to ATL and we took off, begin the slow climb to 9K, and I am having to deviate a considerable bit, working my way up through these boomers in the area. Jackson Departure was really good and he helped keep me out of most of the stuff, but every now and then, we would hit some turbulence and get kicked around a good bit. My passengers were not real happy, I could tell, by all the questions being asked by the one sitting closest to me.
I normally go to my aux tanks on the 411 right after takeoff and burn them down and then go back to the mains. I won't mention his name, but AJ was the guy closest to me, and asking all the questions. I am busy navigating and talking on the radio and answering his questions as best I could and as we passed through about 6,000, we finally found some smooth air and by the time we got to 9,000, we were in an out of the stuff, but with the help of center and my radar on board, we didn't bump into any thunderstorms.
We were about an hour into the flight when all of a sudden the right engine started surging and I realized then, I had run the right aux tank dry, so I reached down to switch back to main and the left one started surging also, so switched to main on both, hit the boost pumps to clear the lines and get them going again and after getting everything back like it was supposed to be, I turned to explain what had happened and in the glow of the instrument panel, as I looked back into the cabin area, all I saw was 8 eyeballs, white, about the size of a silver dollar. I am sorry, but it struck me as funny as all heck and I started laughing, I couldn't help it!
They requested of the company not to let me haul them anywhere again, as they didn't think my elevator stopped on all floors or something like that!
 
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!

Offline 68ZooM

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 6337
Re: Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2014, 05:14:27 PM »
that DC-7 was one sexy lady back in the day thanks for posting the pics and the story  :aok
UrSelf...Pigs On The Wing...Retired

Was me, I bumped a power cord. HiTEch

Offline GScholz

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 8910
Re: Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2014, 05:15:03 PM »
Awesome pics and story!  :aok

I always appreciate your stories Earl, but could you do me a favor? If you could add some paragraphing, some "air" to your texts it would make them a lot easier to read. Something like this:


"The "Company" had several aircraft which we used, but the Cessna 411 was the flag ship, so to speak! One of the companies which had us on a "retainer" was a civil rights group and yes, all the big names which you have read about over the years were very prominent in the origination, the president of which was killed in Memphis, Tenn by a lone gunman.

The trip in question was a trip from Atlanta to Jackson, Miss and return. Takeoff time was 3PM EST, with the return trip at 1030CST. The trip out, about 2 hours in duration was uneventful but it was IFR with tops about 7,000 all the way to Jackson. I had filed for 8,000, not being pressurized, but I always liked to keep passengers, which may or not be, afraid of heights, close to clouds and that way they are a little more comfortable and at ease.

Base, as I recall, was about 3,000 above the ground at Jackson, so no real instrument approach was required. As usual, I stayed at the fixed base operator where we parked the aircraft, in case they wanted a unscheduled departure. I found the couch in the pilots lounge and took up position A, (full prone position), with instructions to desk clerk to wake me if those guys showed back up. I remember a disgusted look on his face, because I had brought some people to Jackson, which he did not agree with!

During the afternoon, of course, things had heated up, several thunderstorms in local area, but nothing dangerous that I could see with my naked eye. I had a good RCA AVQ-46 radar on the aircraft so should be no problem.
About 930 local time, this disgusted look guy came in and said, they are on the way and want an immediate takeoff. I had filed for 9,000IFR back to ATL and we took off, begin the slow climb to 9K, and I am having to deviate a considerable bit, working my way up through these boomers in the area. Jackson Departure was really good and he helped keep me out of most of the stuff, but every now and then, we would hit some turbulence and get kicked around a good bit. My passengers were not real happy, I could tell, by all the questions being asked by the one sitting closest to me.

I normally go to my aux tanks on the 411 right after takeoff and burn them down and then go back to the mains. I won't mention his name, but AJ was the guy closest to me, and asking all the questions. I am busy navigating and talking on the radio and answering his questions as best I could and as we passed through about 6,000, we finally found some smooth air and by the time we got to 9,000, we were in an out of the stuff, but with the help of center and my radar on board, we didn't bump into any thunderstorms.

We were about an hour into the flight when all of a sudden the right engine started surging and I realized then, I had run the right aux tank dry, so I reached down to switch back to main and the left one started surging also, so switched to main on both, hit the boost pumps to clear the lines and get them going again and after getting everything back like it was supposed to be, I turned to explain what had happened and in the glow of the instrument panel, as I looked back into the cabin area, all I saw was 8 eyeballs, white, about the size of a silver dollar. I am sorry, but it struck me as funny as all heck and I started laughing, I couldn't help it!

They requested of the company not to let me haul them anywhere again, as they didn't think my elevator stopped on all floors or something like that!"
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline earl1937

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2290
Re: Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2014, 06:04:52 PM »
Awesome pics and story!  :aok

I always appreciate your stories Earl, but could you do me a favor? If you could add some paragraphing, some "air" to your texts it would make them a lot easier to read. Something like this:


"The "Company" had several aircraft which we used, but the Cessna 411 was the flag ship, so to speak! One of the companies which had us on a "retainer" was a civil rights group and yes, all the big names which you have read about over the years were very prominent in the origination, the president of which was killed in Memphis, Tenn by a lone gunman.

The trip in question was a trip from Atlanta to Jackson, Miss and return. Takeoff time was 3PM EST, with the return trip at 1030CST. The trip out, about 2 hours in duration was uneventful but it was IFR with tops about 7,000 all the way to Jackson. I had filed for 8,000, not being pressurized, but I always liked to keep passengers, which may or not be, afraid of heights, close to clouds and that way they are a little more comfortable and at ease.

Base, as I recall, was about 3,000 above the ground at Jackson, so no real instrument approach was required. As usual, I stayed at the fixed base operator where we parked the aircraft, in case they wanted a unscheduled departure. I found the couch in the pilots lounge and took up position A, (full prone position), with instructions to desk clerk to wake me if those guys showed back up. I remember a disgusted look on his face, because I had brought some people to Jackson, which he did not agree with!

During the afternoon, of course, things had heated up, several thunderstorms in local area, but nothing dangerous that I could see with my naked eye. I had a good RCA AVQ-46 radar on the aircraft so should be no problem.
About 930 local time, this disgusted look guy came in and said, they are on the way and want an immediate takeoff. I had filed for 9,000IFR back to ATL and we took off, begin the slow climb to 9K, and I am having to deviate a considerable bit, working my way up through these boomers in the area. Jackson Departure was really good and he helped keep me out of most of the stuff, but every now and then, we would hit some turbulence and get kicked around a good bit. My passengers were not real happy, I could tell, by all the questions being asked by the one sitting closest to me.

I normally go to my aux tanks on the 411 right after takeoff and burn them down and then go back to the mains. I won't mention his name, but AJ was the guy closest to me, and asking all the questions. I am busy navigating and talking on the radio and answering his questions as best I could and as we passed through about 6,000, we finally found some smooth air and by the time we got to 9,000, we were in an out of the stuff, but with the help of center and my radar on board, we didn't bump into any thunderstorms.

We were about an hour into the flight when all of a sudden the right engine started surging and I realized then, I had run the right aux tank dry, so I reached down to switch back to main and the left one started surging also, so switched to main on both, hit the boost pumps to clear the lines and get them going again and after getting everything back like it was supposed to be, I turned to explain what had happened and in the glow of the instrument panel, as I looked back into the cabin area, all I saw was 8 eyeballs, white, about the size of a silver dollar. I am sorry, but it struck me as funny as all heck and I started laughing, I couldn't help it!

They requested of the company not to let me haul them anywhere again, as they didn't think my elevator stopped on all floors or something like that!"
:airplane: As usual, appreciate your comments and you are right of course, problem is, most of the time when I recall one of these, seems as though I am always in a hurry so I just get to typing and don't pay much attention to proper English. Some of these posts are just briefs from the book I am working on, example, the one here is longer than 500 words, which is limit on posting so I just "cut to the chase" and get it told.
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!

Offline GScholz

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 8910
Re: Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2014, 06:11:45 PM »
It's fine. I can always cut and paste into Word and do it myself.  :)
"With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably."

Offline Slate

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3242
Re: Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2014, 08:25:28 AM »
    You should have told the passengers the fuel pumps failed and I just saved you all by switching to the backups! I am your Hero!  :D
I always wanted to fight an impossible battle against incredible odds.

Offline earl1937

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2290
Re: Cessna 411 and "White Eyes"
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2014, 07:52:12 PM »
    You should have told the passengers the fuel pumps failed and I just saved you all by switching to the backups! I am your Hero!  :D
:airplane: At the time, I did not know the part these guys would play in changing things which needed to be changed in our society! The sad part was when they buried MLK, I removed a door from a Cessna 180 and flew a Life magazine photographer all around Atlanta while he hung out the door, taking pictures, for four hours!
Blue Skies and wind at my back and wish that for all!!!