Cblikestofly From United States of America, joined May 2005, 9 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2555 times:
Are there any UA F/A's who worked the Caravelle that remember having to manually lower the landing gear when it wouldn't automatically? My sister was a F/A in the 1960's and she laughingly recalls having to manually crank the gear when it got stuck. I sometimes wonder if she is pulling my leg and if it was possible to do this!!!. I would appreciate any stories from anyone.
FlySSC From France, joined Aug 2003, 7312 posts, RR: 61 Reply 1, posted (8 years 1 week 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2421 times:
Well, I am not a UA F/A but I did flew the Caravelle when I was a young F/A in the late 80's.
You sister is maybe talking about the rear stairs, not the landing gear !
The rear stairs would retarct automatically only if the engines were running, which means that when the a/c needed a pushback, you had to do it manually by "pumping" ... just like when you want to get water out of a fountain or a well.
There was no special procedure concerning the gear on the Caravelle...
FlySSC From France, joined Aug 2003, 7312 posts, RR: 61 Reply 4, posted (8 years 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 2146 times:
When I joined Air France in 1987, AF was not anymore operating the Caravelle, but AF had a Charter subsidiary called Air Charter (actually owned by AF & Air Inter) who was still operating the Caravelle, in a single Y class config.
Air Charter a/c were served by AF's Cabin Crew and Pilots. That's how I was lucky to do some flights on the Caravelle !
DIA From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3273 posts, RR: 30 Reply 6, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1948 times:
Quoting Cblikestofly (Thread starter): My sister was a F/A in the 1960's and she laughingly recalls having to manually crank the gear when it got stuck
Forget that! I want to know if she ever had to re-pack the brake-chute!
More seriously. . .You're very lucky to have someone to talk to who worked aboard the Caravelle. . .what a treat.
I have a question for her, if you dont mind: I own a quite extensive collection of UAL "stuff." Most of it dates back into the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. although, one peice of the collection is a glassware dish from a UAL Caravelle. It looks like a serving dish, but I haven't been able to verify that, let alone find another that exists. It has a picture of the Caravelle in the center of the dish. I don't know much else. . .without looking at it (I'm at work right now). Does she recall the serving glassware? If you decide this is worth researching. . .I'll look at the plate tonight and see if there are any markings on the bottom, then I'll post them here tomorrow (if I have new info).
I appreciate any info she may provide, and thank you for your posting.
DIA
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Cblikestofly From United States of America, joined May 2005, 9 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1936 times:
Give me some more info about the dish and I'll ask her.
She was a F/A for two years, mostly flew the Caravelle and occasionally a DC-8. She got married so.........that was the end of her F/A career! Had to be single then of course. She retired five years ago as a customer service agent, but has also done route planning in SFO. Also opened the Anchorage station when UA started flying there. Just some info about her if you are interested.
DIA From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3273 posts, RR: 30 Reply 8, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1749 times:
Quoting Cblikestofly (Reply 7): Give me some more info about the dish and I'll ask her.
Sounds good. I couldn't check it yet, so I'll give it a dig tonight (May 10th). Anyhow, thanks for the help to a possible answer. . .I'll post my findings on this post probably tomorrow.
Cheers
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FlySSC From France, joined Aug 2003, 7312 posts, RR: 61 Reply 9, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1677 times:
Quoting DIA (Reply 6): It looks like a serving dish, but I haven't been able to verify that, let alone find another that exists. It has a picture of the Caravelle in the center of the dish. I don't know much else. . .without looking at it (I'm at work right now). Does she recall the serving glassware?
DIA, this very possible : United used to fly some Caravelle in a single First Class configuration, between New-York and Chicago ... so they were for sure using "real" plates, glasses etc...
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15720 posts, RR: 48 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1648 times:
I'm sure the less senior flight attendants that are currently flying with UA could answer your questions...
DIA From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3273 posts, RR: 30 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 1606 times:
Quoting FlySSC (Reply 9): DIA, this very possible : United used to fly some Caravelle in a single First Class configuration, between New-York and Chicago ... so they were for sure using "real" plates, glasses etc...
That did cross my mind a few months ago. . .but I didn't think anything of it. Thanks for that reminder. . .may make finding my answer easier.
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 10): I'm sure the less senior flight attendants that are currently flying with UA could answer your questions...
Hey, now....
Anyhow. . .I'll look at my plate tonight. . .I'll try to post tonight with the info as well. Looks like I'm on the road tomorrow (no internet access).
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DIA From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3273 posts, RR: 30 Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1535 times:
Okay, here it is. . .I wish I could upload a pic. . . but anyway:
It is an oval, clear glass dish. On the serving side, it says "The Executive" and then a picture of the Caravelle, then under the a/c it says United Air Lines - the writing and the Caravelle are all in gold leaf color. Nothing is on the back. . .no date, no maker. . .nothing. On both sides of the plane, there are four emblems. . .they look like the French Quarter "forks" as far as I can describe. . .The dish is about a foot long at the sides and 7 inches from top to bottom (looking at it straight on).
Hope that helps. . .maybe it was from a UA 1st Class outfitted Caravelle as mentioned above in another post?
Anyhow,
Cheers and thanks for any help you and your sister can provide.
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Cblikestofly From United States of America, joined May 2005, 9 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1420 times:
I talked to my sister and to the best of her knowledge it was used in First Class as a serving plate for food and then offered to passengers. The description and design of the plate and especially the "Executive" inscription lead her to believe this. She never worked First Class so it's a guess but an educated one.
Sorry, but this is all the info I have. Maybe someone at UA can offer more on this topic. Sure is interesting, though.
DIA From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3273 posts, RR: 30 Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1296 times:
Quoting Lemurs (Reply 13): Do you mean fleur-de-lis? Like these?
Exactly --thanks.
Quoting Cblikestofly (Reply 14): I talked to my sister and to the best of her knowledge it was used in First Class as a serving plate for food and then offered to passengers. The description and design of the plate and especially the "Executive" inscription lead her to believe this. She never worked First Class so it's a guess but an educated one.
Sorry, but this is all the info I have. Maybe someone at UA can offer more on this topic. Sure is interesting, though.
Thanks. . .it actually does help, as to this is more than I knew before. It must just be a rarity to come across one of these.
Thanks again,
DIA
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