ATrude777
09-20-2005, 05:03 AM
After I walked around MCI, I decided I had enough of it. There is not a whole lot you can do in this god damn Airport.
Southwest 737 at the gate, with a Midwest 717 taxing by.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI50.JPG>
I walked back some more snapped a picture of the terminal/concourse at MCI.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI51.JPG>
I went to the Kiosk machine, to re print my boarding pass. This way I have an extra copy of my boarding pass, one to give to the agent, and one to keep I went to the “door” that housed gate 35-42 I think? I was leaving back to STL at gate 38. I showed them my boarding pass. I took off my coat, backpack, and shoes. Walked to the security line, there was no one there but me. Fast, easy and painless. Just the way I like it. I still say the security area is screwed up. It is angled to go from gate to gate, instead of gate to outside of the airport. I feel very cramped in the gate areas. Once I headed off I went to sit down and texted tommy back and forth. He kept insisting now that I was to go to TPA now. Whatever….
Some pictures I took form walking around upstairs near the “food court” area.
Southwest 737-500 at the gate, GATE 38
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI52.JPG>
MCI Airfield.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI53.JPG>
Northwest DC-9.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI54.JPG>
Well enough of that. I walked to my gate as I said, and just sat near the A Line. There was a couple in front of me discussing Southwest Airlines and such. THIS was going to be Interesting.. I planted myself down and sat and listened to see what kind of gossip was going to come out of their mouths…
.”man..southwest doesn’t give you refunds….” (errr no shit, no airline does most of the time) A woman piped up and said Southwest gives you credit however that you can use torwards another flight within a year, no other airline does that! She gets a point. So far so good I can keep my mouth shut :D.
Then this Man says “When we flew southwest to Jackson hole, it was weird because we got downgraded to a smaller plane, southwest had a huge plane, but then the plane broke down….” WTF? And his wife said “Honey no, it was JacksonVILLE, and we had another plane dear, it was the same one actually” (Finally someone who knows what they are talking about)
This old Man said “now southwest is really great out of STL, but boy AA gives them a run for their money. I like how American keeps the cost low and makes southwest scared and gives us cheap flights. Good for AA.” (HAHAHAHAHA, OMFG, YA RIGHT! I believe it was SOUTHWEST that gives AA a run for their money LMAO oh that was good….)
It got to the point where I just stayed quiet and let them bicker and say useless stuff about Southwest, I doubted they’d listen to me. This one dude kept going ON and ON and ON, about Southwest. This guy near me who resembled Jude Law quite a bit actually muttered “Will that man just shut up?! I noticed your hearing impaired young man, I consider you extremely lucky. He doesn’t know Shit about Southwest does he?” I said “No he certainly doesn’t”. He smiled and said “Where are you getting off?” I said “In STL, you?” He said “oh lucky, I am getting off in BHM and so tis this man who wont shut up, long flight wont it?” I said “oh wow yes.”
He was a nice guy, knew his stuff, very professional and business like man.
Finally the -700 landed from SAN, and what pulled up was supposed to be N479WN I was told, but instead it was N704SW, new colors. Not a problem. So long as it is a -700, I will not complain.
My Plane, N704SW at gate 38.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI55.JPG>
We all stood up, and waited for everyone to get off the plane. In the meantime, I and Tommy were still texting about TPA, BWI, etc etc. It never ended. Then he asked for my e-mail which I gave him, turns out he put me under arrest LMAO. I told him the registeration of the plane, N704SW and he says “Oh that’s a bad one, you don’t want that” I said WTF, right ya. And I said “it was supossed to be N479WN” He goes “ya that’s a good reg.” I said “oh really why?” he said “just because”
It was then The agent announced pre-boarding, so I texted him back to say we were boarding and id see him in STL.
After pre-boarding started A lined up and we commenced to board now. It was 4:30pm when we started boarding. I got on, walked down to the -700 Got on board and walked down to 17F. WTF Someone was already sitting there, crap. So I sat in 18F instead. Ugh dirty window AND the divider was right by my seat. Oh well. I started shooting away at the winglet, it was a SOUTHWEST.COM winglet, my first one I flew winglets before, but my first SOUTHWEST.COM one though. Pretty cool.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI56.JPG>
I waited till everyone else boarded, and this young man and his father or older brother (im guessing father) sat down next to me. They would both get off in STL too. The F/A (all female) started the safety briefing. We backed out and taxied around. It was an extremely quick taxi. We turned onto the runway, and started the take off run. We lifted easily into the sky, gears clunked underneath us and we turned left just a little bit and headed straight to STL.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI57.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI58.JPG>
We leveled off really quickly, and flew through the clouds and stayed just above the tip of the clouds.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI59.JPG>
Service started, and we were all asked what we would like. I asked for a coke again. I got it, but no Can, like any of us would have time. No food was passed out though. The flight was extremely short, 30 minutes from take off to the gate at STL. In no time at all, I recognized the engines go down a bit to slow us down I suppose. Some more pics in flight.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI60.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI61.JPG>
Then as we got near STL, as I said I heard the engine go down quite a bit. I saw the slats were raised up for quite a long time until we took a huge turn.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI62.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI63.JPG>
After that turn we straightened up, and the flaps started to go down. We were still really fast. I have been told by a lot of Pilots for WN, that the -700 just simple wants to stay in the air. With the large wings , the winglets make it worse as well. So the pilot must flight the plane to keep it going down, sometimes literally pushing the nose down (which I have experienced before) to get the plane to go down. So they apply faster power to make the plane go faster. Basically :-P
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI65.JPG>
Finally, I saw the new runway coming up. Gears still not down, strange, we are still going pretty fast. Then out of nowhere the plane went nearly silent. He had cut back on the engine power, and it seemed we were going so slow all of a sudden. I mean it got really quiet. We just floated. It was a nice feeling. Then he dropped the gear. Lowered the rest of the flaps and then he revved the engine back up and we got pushed heavily back into our seats. I loved it :D!!!!!!
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI66.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI67.JPG>
We went over the new bridge. Then right at the end of the runway he seemed to go nose down, power up, then the plane went back up, flared and we SLAMMED into the runway. It was so vibrant, and shocking, I about dropped my camera. I loved it tho. I just love the action and challenge the 737-700 gives the Southwest pilots give!! We slowed down rather quickly, totally depending on the flaps and speedbrakes to stop us. We slowed and we got off Runway 12 R.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI68.JPG>
Whats interesting as we taxied by I saw 2 AA 757 and 2 AA MD80 RON at the intl gates. For a minute I thought it was the real thing hahaha. But no, just RON.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI69.JPG>
Got off the plane, called my mother to let her know I arrived. Texted Tommy again to let him know I was back home safely in STL. Like he cared :-P He just replied saying that was quick. I also saw an A320 from USA3000.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI70.JPG>
That ends my MCI-STL. I got out of the airport, walked to the Metro link and rode the train back to my car. Had a beautiful Harvest Moon to follow on the drive home. It was very nice. Thanks Tommy for keeping me sane and distracted while I flew and drove.
Hope you all enjoyed the pics and leave comments if you want.
Alex
Southwest 737 at the gate, with a Midwest 717 taxing by.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI50.JPG>
I walked back some more snapped a picture of the terminal/concourse at MCI.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI51.JPG>
I went to the Kiosk machine, to re print my boarding pass. This way I have an extra copy of my boarding pass, one to give to the agent, and one to keep I went to the “door” that housed gate 35-42 I think? I was leaving back to STL at gate 38. I showed them my boarding pass. I took off my coat, backpack, and shoes. Walked to the security line, there was no one there but me. Fast, easy and painless. Just the way I like it. I still say the security area is screwed up. It is angled to go from gate to gate, instead of gate to outside of the airport. I feel very cramped in the gate areas. Once I headed off I went to sit down and texted tommy back and forth. He kept insisting now that I was to go to TPA now. Whatever….
Some pictures I took form walking around upstairs near the “food court” area.
Southwest 737-500 at the gate, GATE 38
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI52.JPG>
MCI Airfield.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI53.JPG>
Northwest DC-9.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI54.JPG>
Well enough of that. I walked to my gate as I said, and just sat near the A Line. There was a couple in front of me discussing Southwest Airlines and such. THIS was going to be Interesting.. I planted myself down and sat and listened to see what kind of gossip was going to come out of their mouths…
.”man..southwest doesn’t give you refunds….” (errr no shit, no airline does most of the time) A woman piped up and said Southwest gives you credit however that you can use torwards another flight within a year, no other airline does that! She gets a point. So far so good I can keep my mouth shut :D.
Then this Man says “When we flew southwest to Jackson hole, it was weird because we got downgraded to a smaller plane, southwest had a huge plane, but then the plane broke down….” WTF? And his wife said “Honey no, it was JacksonVILLE, and we had another plane dear, it was the same one actually” (Finally someone who knows what they are talking about)
This old Man said “now southwest is really great out of STL, but boy AA gives them a run for their money. I like how American keeps the cost low and makes southwest scared and gives us cheap flights. Good for AA.” (HAHAHAHAHA, OMFG, YA RIGHT! I believe it was SOUTHWEST that gives AA a run for their money LMAO oh that was good….)
It got to the point where I just stayed quiet and let them bicker and say useless stuff about Southwest, I doubted they’d listen to me. This one dude kept going ON and ON and ON, about Southwest. This guy near me who resembled Jude Law quite a bit actually muttered “Will that man just shut up?! I noticed your hearing impaired young man, I consider you extremely lucky. He doesn’t know Shit about Southwest does he?” I said “No he certainly doesn’t”. He smiled and said “Where are you getting off?” I said “In STL, you?” He said “oh lucky, I am getting off in BHM and so tis this man who wont shut up, long flight wont it?” I said “oh wow yes.”
He was a nice guy, knew his stuff, very professional and business like man.
Finally the -700 landed from SAN, and what pulled up was supposed to be N479WN I was told, but instead it was N704SW, new colors. Not a problem. So long as it is a -700, I will not complain.
My Plane, N704SW at gate 38.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI55.JPG>
We all stood up, and waited for everyone to get off the plane. In the meantime, I and Tommy were still texting about TPA, BWI, etc etc. It never ended. Then he asked for my e-mail which I gave him, turns out he put me under arrest LMAO. I told him the registeration of the plane, N704SW and he says “Oh that’s a bad one, you don’t want that” I said WTF, right ya. And I said “it was supossed to be N479WN” He goes “ya that’s a good reg.” I said “oh really why?” he said “just because”
It was then The agent announced pre-boarding, so I texted him back to say we were boarding and id see him in STL.
After pre-boarding started A lined up and we commenced to board now. It was 4:30pm when we started boarding. I got on, walked down to the -700 Got on board and walked down to 17F. WTF Someone was already sitting there, crap. So I sat in 18F instead. Ugh dirty window AND the divider was right by my seat. Oh well. I started shooting away at the winglet, it was a SOUTHWEST.COM winglet, my first one I flew winglets before, but my first SOUTHWEST.COM one though. Pretty cool.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI56.JPG>
I waited till everyone else boarded, and this young man and his father or older brother (im guessing father) sat down next to me. They would both get off in STL too. The F/A (all female) started the safety briefing. We backed out and taxied around. It was an extremely quick taxi. We turned onto the runway, and started the take off run. We lifted easily into the sky, gears clunked underneath us and we turned left just a little bit and headed straight to STL.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI57.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI58.JPG>
We leveled off really quickly, and flew through the clouds and stayed just above the tip of the clouds.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI59.JPG>
Service started, and we were all asked what we would like. I asked for a coke again. I got it, but no Can, like any of us would have time. No food was passed out though. The flight was extremely short, 30 minutes from take off to the gate at STL. In no time at all, I recognized the engines go down a bit to slow us down I suppose. Some more pics in flight.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI60.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI61.JPG>
Then as we got near STL, as I said I heard the engine go down quite a bit. I saw the slats were raised up for quite a long time until we took a huge turn.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI62.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI63.JPG>
After that turn we straightened up, and the flaps started to go down. We were still really fast. I have been told by a lot of Pilots for WN, that the -700 just simple wants to stay in the air. With the large wings , the winglets make it worse as well. So the pilot must flight the plane to keep it going down, sometimes literally pushing the nose down (which I have experienced before) to get the plane to go down. So they apply faster power to make the plane go faster. Basically :-P
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI65.JPG>
Finally, I saw the new runway coming up. Gears still not down, strange, we are still going pretty fast. Then out of nowhere the plane went nearly silent. He had cut back on the engine power, and it seemed we were going so slow all of a sudden. I mean it got really quiet. We just floated. It was a nice feeling. Then he dropped the gear. Lowered the rest of the flaps and then he revved the engine back up and we got pushed heavily back into our seats. I loved it :D!!!!!!
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI66.JPG>
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI67.JPG>
We went over the new bridge. Then right at the end of the runway he seemed to go nose down, power up, then the plane went back up, flared and we SLAMMED into the runway. It was so vibrant, and shocking, I about dropped my camera. I loved it tho. I just love the action and challenge the 737-700 gives the Southwest pilots give!! We slowed down rather quickly, totally depending on the flaps and speedbrakes to stop us. We slowed and we got off Runway 12 R.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI68.JPG>
Whats interesting as we taxied by I saw 2 AA 757 and 2 AA MD80 RON at the intl gates. For a minute I thought it was the real thing hahaha. But no, just RON.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI69.JPG>
Got off the plane, called my mother to let her know I arrived. Texted Tommy again to let him know I was back home safely in STL. Like he cared :-P He just replied saying that was quick. I also saw an A320 from USA3000.
<IMG SRC=http://www.jetphotos.net/user-uploads/MCI70.JPG>
That ends my MCI-STL. I got out of the airport, walked to the Metro link and rode the train back to my car. Had a beautiful Harvest Moon to follow on the drive home. It was very nice. Thanks Tommy for keeping me sane and distracted while I flew and drove.
Hope you all enjoyed the pics and leave comments if you want.
Alex