Belgeode presents... STEELER AIR!

VegasFlyer · Chief Captain Joined: Jul 14, 2005 Posts: 2167

Great shots, and excellent comments! Great job Belgeode! Thumbs Up!

SpiderWings · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject:

She's stunning.... the airplane! I don't know about Jessica. Anyway you have every reason to be proud of your new airline, its first few flights, and your presentationl. All great belgeode!

belgeode · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 5:23 pm Post subject:

Jessica's a doll... lol i live with her in rl. she is my other half lol.

Anyways I been slacking folks sorry. Will put in the next two flights before the weekend is out. stay tuned.
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US AIR TALES- Stories of one man's virtual life as a pilot

belgeode · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:38 pm Post subject:

Steeler Air... Sunshine and Oranges-

2:59PM.... Saturday afternoon...

....

....

Where the hell is Fred?

As I sit there doing preflight checks BY MYSELF... I contemplate what manner of vicious and cruel employer to employee torture I can inflict on him when he inevitably makes us late for takeoff... and the subsequent meeting with the Jacksonville crowd. (Well to be honest Jessica did her best to help... after hanging her handbag on the cockpit wall... see picture) As soon as the minute hand hits 12... I hear footsteps running up the airstairs and the cockpit door flies open...

Well well... the prodigal son. Nice of you to make this trip Fred.

I'll bust his chops a lil later... fact is he made it on time. I'll let it slide THIS time... but I cannot wait to hear what was so important in South Beach why he was very nearly late.

As we taxi out to the active runway, Jessica and our other new flight attendant Tiffany finish their securing of the galley... seems like everyone was just running late today. Not a good start on my airline... I'll have to have a meeting later... For now... time to leave Miami behind, and the shadows of my past. They were receptive to having Steeler Air there... but I still want to hit Ft. Lauderdale at a later date... I would rather fly there.

As a pop quiz I ask "South Beach Boy" to take us to cruise altitude from the runway. I could tell he was a little surprised... but hey the kid gotta get his skills...

Nice takeoff... pretty smooth... ATC vectors us out over the Atlantic...

Umm Fred.... is there any reason why we are so low? Are you trying to locate the club you were at or were you trying to wave goodbye to whomever it was you spent the night with?

He lets out this nervous laugh that says to me... I'd rather save the story for another time... so I let him do his thing bringing us up to altitude and changing course to get back over KMIA and back on track for KJAX.

Ok so now we are over the everglades... Umm dude, you planning on turning right to our course by chance, or are we going to land and wrestle gators?

Ok I have embarrassed him enough I think. We are back on course and headed over stunning Lake Okeechobee, at cruise altitude, and on target. I think he has learned his lesson now... A cup of coffee and some stock honey roasted nuts later, we are settled in for the relatively short trip to Jacksonville...

Over Orlando... I always liked the layout of their airport... kinda like lil islands on a sea of asphalt and concrete. Poetic in a way I think... but Mickey Mouse is not on the agenda today, so we continue onward.

Around this time my cell rings. I ask Fred to carry on while I head back to one of the seats to take the call... Now normally I would not allow cell usage but I figure it's just us and the girls. The call is from my buyer back in Pittsburgh... apparently our Dallas Rep was able to secure a deal with Delta to not only share flights, but also planes! Not only that, but they are able to lease us a 777 with low mileage, for our transcontinental flights.

SWEET!!!! A second plane to decorate! I call the firm FSRepaint and get them to schedule the paintjob on the 777 when it arrives in Pittsburgh. Another call to my financial backer to get the ok, and we are set. So the finance guy will meet with the Delta bigwigs in Dallas and seal the deal, as I continue the football town tour... then I need to head back after a couple flights to check out the new plane.

Oh by the way, somewhere down there is Cape Canaveral... home of world famous NASA. One day I hope to go to space... but for now, I'll settle for Jacksonville. I head back to the cockpit.

Ahh Jacksonville... not really huge by any standard, but all the same a football town with a following. Right now USAir and Landmark are the big players there, I hope they don't mind a lil competition...

Ok Fred, you done good so far, bring us in.

I try to resist the urge to correct his glide slope... He mumbles something about a crosswind... but I cannot help but thinking... according to the PFD we have a headwind... Well he knows if he fails to put this thing down safely it will cost him his job, so he sucks it up.

Not bad... at the last minute he manages to come down pretty damn close to the centerline... passable... if I were an FAA reviewer I probably would be breaking out the red pen, but as he's being groomed for a captain's chair of this very aircraft... I'll go easy on him. We can discuss it over dinner, the four of us.... after the meeting with the Jax movers and shakers.

Seeing as how Fred has had a pretty eventful last 24 hours, I let him and the girls head out first and freshen up, while I do my logs, schedule regular maintenance, and get my business suit from the closet. As I leave I get a call on my cell... apparently both Atlanta and New York are VERY much interested in having Steeler Air... and want to meet with me ASAP. Hmm I guess I can fit them in this week, before I head back to check out the 777 in Pittsburgh. But right now... I really really want some orange juice...
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US AIR TALES- Stories of one man's virtual life as a pilot

VegasFlyer · Chief Captain Joined: Jul 14, 2005 Posts: 2167

Fantastic shots and a great story. You are really into it, man. Keep it up! Thumbs Up!

Welshflyer · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:17 am Post subject:

Totally agree with VegasFlyer Very Happy

, great commentary and superb screenshots , you seem to have the same luck with non-compliant co-pilots as i had! Very Happy

Keep it coming.

SpiderWings · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:34 am Post subject:

I agree with those guys.. fun to read and the pictures are great.... very sharp and clear. I especially liked the one looking out at the back of the right wing.

belgeode · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys... I got a few more shots like that coming Spider... just gotta catch up on my story. Stay tuned.
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US AIR TALES- Stories of one man's virtual life as a pilot

belgeode · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject:

Steeler Air- Georgia on my mind...

So Fred, Jessica, Tiffany and I had a lovely dinner last night, punctuated by the fact that the company is growing before our eyes and we all need to step up to the plate. I informed Fred that he is gonna need to accelerate his career to Captain really soon, as when we get more planes on board I am going to need to spread myself elsewhere.

Now the girls are guaranteed spots as lead flight attendants, so I figured I would also pile upon them the responsibility for recruiting more flight attendants once we get back to Pittsburgh. No complaints there.... OK so with business settled and a morning of shopping in Jacksonville done, it was off to Atlanta... home of the Falcons.

While getting ready for engine start and taxi my cell goes off again. Our man in Pittsburgh confirming the arrival of the 777. So now the plans have changed slightly. After Atlanta I am to take a private jet back to Pittsburgh with Jessica, and oversee the new plane.

I can hardly contain my excitement... a 777! Wow what fortune! This is going to make transcontinental flights for us a breeze, less mileage on our trusty 737-800. At this moment FSRepaint is gearing up to "steelify" the plane... I cannot wait to see what they come up with!

Meanwhile, back in the cockpit I got a new toy to play with... apparently this 737 comes with a nifty little HUD... hmm kinda takes me back to my days flying Tomcats.

And away we go... Jacksonville in our rear view mirrors, it was time to plan for the next few legs of the trip. I let Fred take over again and get us to cruising altitude while I go back to talk to our two lead flight attendants.

Fred seems to be more and more comfortable at the helm. This is good... He needs all the confidence he can get, not to mention the hours.

I engage in a mid air conference with Jessica and Tiffany. Now that they are signed on and promoted, I need their plans for getting more crew. Tiffany hits on the idea to partner with Fred to drum up ppl in New York, while Jessica agrees to stay in Pittsburgh a couple weeks to get our core staff going.

Good thing we are all Union... this should be easy enough to do... my connections in Pittsburgh will help Jessica get who we need. I hear USAir has a few disgruntled employees looking for a change... hee hee hee.

Not long after, Fred announces our approach into Atlanta. We all go back to our stations, and bring the "Spirit of Heinz Ward" in to one of the busiest airports in the world.

Fred does and awesome job landing her, and not long after retracting the flaps we hear exit runway when able... Oops... we better boogie here. No time to lollygag.

You know I think it is MORE difficult navigating to the terminal than it is actually flying to the destination... ugh. Just the four of us onboard though so I should not complain.

All the same though, I have noticed that Atlanta ATC loves to hold up traffic. Well as soon as we get to the airport I have to meet with Delta execs to sign on the dotted line for the 777, then it's off for a night in Atlanta. There's this little club I wanted to check out.

We're here for a couple days anyway... plenty of time to kick back before our next flight... which promises to be a big one. We get to fly execs to New York.

But first.... we need to find a freaking parking spot!!!
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US AIR TALES- Stories of one man's virtual life as a pilot

belgeode · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject:

Steeler Air- New York, New York, start spreading the news...

So a couple days later, our private jet is ready to take Jessica and I back home to Pittsburgh. I give Fred and Tiffany instructions to take our friendly execs (who arrived last night) to KJFK, and I will meet them there. My flight plan calls for me to take the 777 to LaGuardia for some maintenance, then meet them at JFK after. For once I actually slept on a flight... no responsibilities... just get back to Pittsburgh to see...

THIS! OMG! What a beauty! This will be the largest plane I have ever piloted and boy does she look spectacular. In honor of one of the greatest Steeler running backs she is christened "Spirit of Jerome Bettis".

Without wasting any time, I get on board and taxi this behemoth to the runway. They certainly kept this thing immaculate... I think there is even still the plastic over some of the knobs on the panel. WOW. It's even got that "new airplane" smell.

Once again FSRepaint has done a sterling job on the livery... just a little different to be unique, yet keeping with the theme. Man oh man... I love that company.

Ok, so the moment of truth... will this thing actually fly? A few last minute checks with my new copilot, an ex USAir Captain named Kyle, and it's time to run up the engines.

First thing I realize... this thing needs a LOT of runway!!!!! Ummmm.... I'm starting to see grass here, this is not good. Kyle has a steady hand and a calm mind... he assures me the thing will fly.

He's right... Low and slow we gently lift off from KPIT and fly out on runway heading gaining altitude. The big bird seems to take it all in stride, and gracefully takes us out near West Virginia for the backtrack over Pittsburgh Int'l.

The other thing that amazes me is how deceptive this jet is. One minute we are at 3000 ft, next we are at 13000... almost imperceptibly so...

Can't help but think Jessica is probably down there looking up at this magnificent plane. I can hardly contain my cheshire cat grin!!!

In what is now considered tradition, we do the flyover downtown Pittsburgh and Heinz field so that the money behind Steeler Air can see how we have invested in our airline's future.

It's almost surreal... here we are in this huge plane with steeler colors, flying over ground zero, Heinz Field... I wonder how many people will awe when we fly during football season... provided we are allowed to flyover the city.

Even though Jerome Bettis is now retired, I can't help but think he would be honored to have his name on this albatross... as big as a "bus"... I think he would get it.

We get clearance to 33000 feet and start hustling to KLGA. I am also amazed at how quiet the cockpit is... more than one time I had to check the gauges to see if they were really on, though I knew they were.

Now most airline CEOs would see this big bird and think $$$... not me... I am in this cockpit thinking omg I would fly this till the day I die... if I happen to make money then that is a fringe benefit!

Supposedly one of the upgrades coming for this aircraft will be installed... to make the cockpit a little more intricate... I say you can't improve on perfection.

Ahhh Lady Liberty! After a flawless flight it was time to bring the behemoth down to LaGuardia... I could have sworn I saw the statue of Liberty give me the thumbs up...

Hmm maybe it was the finger... this is after all New York. No worries... Steeler Air will be happy to make this a regular stop... BOTH airports.

I almost don't want the flight to end... and I cannot wait to see Fred's face when he gets to New York and sees this thing! Start spreading the news New York.... Steeler Air is HERE!!!!

After the engines are shut down, all the instruments and lights off... I sit there... for like 15 minutes.... just breathing in the new airplane smell....

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh...
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US AIR TALES- Stories of one man's virtual life as a pilot

belgeode · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject:

(Yes I Know third one of the day... last one for now though)

Steeler Air- Fred's Flight (Story from his point of view)

Atlanta Hartsfield Airport...

It's big... I never really realized how big till I had to find where they moved our plane to, after the two day break Bel gave us. Tiffany and I went asking around for about half hour after Bel and Jessica left this morning for Pittsburgh... we must have looked like idiots.... have you seen our plane? We probably would have found it quicker had we put its picture on a milk carton...

In any event we got to the plane and I met my copilot for this flight Jimmy. Sure enough all the bigwigs were waiting... seemingly impatiently for us to get the flight going, so I pulled out the checklist Bel got for me, and we were airborne into the mid afternoon haze in no time.

Copilot... sounds good... I actually have a copilot now, and the responsibility to get these people safely to New York. I gotta admit Bel has a lot of faith in me. I am certain I won't let him down. I like this left seat... I plan on keeping it.

When we finally reach cruise altitude it is time for Tiffany to do her stuff... luckily Bel arranged for nice hot meals and alcohol to be served for our distinguished guests, anything to impress... I wonder how much he plans on spending on food for regular flights.

Like a true captain I announce our speed, cruise altitude and estimated arrival time at JFK to our passengers, and when I finish my announcement, Tiffany comes in with meals and sodas for Jimmy and I. I dunno if it is nerves or what but I tell Jimmy to eat first and I wait till around sunset.

The skies over Charlotte are busy this evening. Yet another thing to concentrate on, in addition to the workload I have now. I wonder how Bel is getting along with the 777... Can't wait to see it.

One thing I never tire of is sunsets... I love how the world looks at dusk... has a certain romance to it, especially at 28000 feet.

With the sun dipping below the horizon, I get to eating my dinner.... mmm pot roast, green peas, and mashed potatoes... Wow Bel... spare no expense eh... It's actually pretty tasty!

Nightfall over virginia, and time to change course a little in prep for New York. I did not tell Bel, but this will be my first time flying into New York. I did study the airport layout, and learn the approaches, and thankfully we are flying IFR so our passengers won't even know that I kinda have my hand held coming in. Like my mom always said, fake it till you make it.

Can't really see much... seems to be a good amount of clouds over Jersey, but I have faith in ATC to get us all down... I let Tiffany know we are going down to 3000 ft and to let our passengers know the flight is almost over.

Wow, the city that never sleeps they call it.... I thought Atlanta was huge... I dunno how long Bel is gonna have us stay in New York, but I hope I get a chance to see a lil bit of it before we have to leave.

Ok folks, I announce, we are coming in for a landing...

Or not... looks like that Alitalia heavy is loitering on our runway... Ok well not exactly how I planned on finishing this exhibition but the tower wants me to go around... I motion to Jimmy to pull up flaps and gear and here we go. I guess I get some sightseeing after all.

Hey there's LaGuardia.... Bel should already be there by now.

Which reminds me... Jimmy pointed out to me that there appears to be an electrical malfunction with the logo lights... I'll have to mention it to Bel when I see him. For now I explain to our passengers why we are still airborne, and hope to God they don't count that against us... or me.

Ok here we go again... nothing coming in for miles... it's our turn to land. Jimmy does his thing with the gear and flaps, and we get the green light to come on in.

Seems to be some weather coming in... so I may not have many chances at this... I check my approach vectors just to be sure.

Right over the threshold on the centerline... Oh wow, I wish Bel were here to see this lol. He and I have this secret landing rivalry going lol. So far I have made more textbook landings than he has.

I'll be sure to mention this one lol.

At the terminal, our execs and bigwigs are applauding. I guess that means I did well. Now all I have to do is wait for Bel to get here. After the requisite handshakes with our passengers, and the pat on the back for Jimmy and Tiffany, I head to the hotel that Bel arranged for us... in Times Square!

I love this job!

Fred signing out!
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US AIR TALES- Stories of one man's virtual life as a pilot

SpiderWings · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject:

Great great great Belgeode! The story is awesome and the shots are amazing. The new plane looks terrific and its fun to read your joy in flying it. Also enjoy the whit you include in the story.

The shot looking out at the left engine (over Charlotte) with the sunset is stunning. Can even count the threads in the seat cover fabric!

Sheesh... after reading about pot roast, peas, mashed potatoes I'm hungry..... p-nut butter sandwich here...

Beautiful shot of Manhattan from Jersey. I like night shots. Have to put my hand over the top of my eyes to block the light from the window behind the monitor, but it works, and the shots are splendid.

Tell Fred he did good landing in New York. Going around is always fun.... more fly time!

Thanks for the great story Bel. Looking forward to the next.

VegasFlyer · Chief Captain Joined: Jul 14, 2005 Posts: 2167

Shots-

Story-

Welshflyer · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:12 am Post subject:

Oh i agree with Spider and VF here, great screenshots and a brilliant witty commentary to go along with them. Superb job belgeode! Thumbs Up!

E-mage · First Officer Joined: Jun 16, 2006 Posts: 106

i like the livery

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