She was due to arrive here in NJ on Monday afternoon from Australia. However, she didn't get in until last night (Tuesday). I didn't find out the whole story until this morning. Apparently, after the flight took off from Australia (or possibly New Zealand - they may have made a stop-over) heading for LA, the plane experienced mechanical problems and had to land in Samoa. That much we found out Monday morning. What we didn't know was that they had to dump all their fuel, they had smoke in the cabin, they were prepped for an emergency landing, and that Samoa doesn't have a runway designed for a 747. They landed safely in Samoa (Pongo-Pongo?, I think), then had to wait for United to get another plane to the island, which was probably a difficult task, re-routing to a small island in the Pacific. She and the other passengers had to sleep on the floor at the airport. Then, when they flew another 747 in, the runway was so small width-wise, the planes were wingtip-to-wingtip. Quite an experience.
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Jim Mac
'98 Silver SS #108
quote:
Originally posted by Jim Mac:
(.....and, no, jimB0, it wasn't finding out I was her son-in-law!)
...man...you took the words right out of my mouth...
...more adventures in the not-so-friendly skies, eh???
...hey...I've had so many harrowing "adventures" in flying that any flight I can talk about after the fact is a good flight in my book...
Besides, getting there is half the fun.
But, driving is not an option for Australia. 
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Cheers,
Steve SSOA F00-1363 CCSD #204
00 Camaro SS Lt. Pewter, neutral leather, M6, Hurst, PEG2, ASR, defogger
SLP chrome rims, D-D exhaust, Bilstein, Castrol, cover, mats, fobs
BMR STB, SLP !CAGS, AAM diff cover, Chrome Hood Insert, Zaino
Dyno's at 312 RWHP, 321 RWT
96 K1500 SWB Silverado 350 5 speed 3.73 axles Z71 G80 etc.
"It riles them to believe that you perceive the web they weave..."
Moody Blues
http://caam.com/ccsd/
[This message has been edited by Steve_Winters (edited 17 January 2001).]
Watta ya mean? they do SO drive in Australia....
OHHHhhh - YOU mean drive TO Australia...
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Gary - KJ6Q
Member - Goodguys Rod & Custom Association
'98 Red SS - #2712 - One of 84 so equipped - T-tops - leather - Monsoon system - SLP/Y2Y - pretty much all SLP options - BMR STB - SLP SFC's - Direct Flow Lid - K&N air filter - more to come... OH, yeah - *I* use Zaino too...
