Travelers looking to save costs have long sought out the best time to buy airfare, the best way to maximize points, how to find the best credit cards, use the best apps and even make the most of a hotel stay.
But while hidden fees can derail a trip’s budget, so too can deceptively cheap rates. Travelers who book on a budget airline may be surprised to find the savings can be marginal — even nonexistent.
They’re a bit quirky. They’re an unconventional way to move mass quantities of people from one airport terminal to another. Yet Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) still relies on these “people movers” to shuttle passengers around some parts of the property.
And speaking of people moving, I’d like to take a minute to introduce myself. I’m Jake, one of the editors of both AOL Travel and Gadling — and starting today, I’ll be curating Gadling’s Photo of the Day and Video of the Day posts. Our editorial staff is based in Dulles Airport’s backyard, just a few miles from where this photo was taken.
We’d love to feature your photos and videos on Gadling, so please add them to our Flickr Pool (with Creative Commons licensing!), tag @GadlingTravel on Instagram or email us at OfTheDay@gadling.com.
The Douglas DC-7 made history in 1953 flying the first non-stop coast-to-coast service in the country for American Airlines. But the DC-7’s fame did not last long, as just a few years later, jet aircraft would charge the future of commercial aviation. Gone but not forgotten, the DC-7 is getting new life as an aircraft turned diner Florida attraction.
Chef Tony Perna and brother Danny, who owns a flight school, bought the passenger DC7 and are now converting it into a 40-seat family restaurant. Built in 1956, the aircraft flew 32,856.40 hours hauling both passengers and cargo. Restored as the DC-7 Grille, An Aviation Themed Culinary Experience, dinners will range from $12 to $26 dollars and a kids menu will be included.”To complete the aviation experience each table with have a flight attendant call button, and headsets to listen to air traffic control,” says the DC-7 Grille Facebook page.
Preserving much of the aircraft in its original form, engine parts will be displayed and visitors can tour the preserved aircraft cockpit
Located on Skyline Drive in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the DC-7 Grille is set to take off some time late this year. Props to these guys for preserving a bit of aviation history.
Not familiar with the DC-7 aircraft? Check out this video of one taking off:
If you have been following along on the journey of Solar Impulse, the solar airplane that was set to fly across the United States, we have good news: the journey is over after a successful flight from Washington to New York on Saturday.
The two-month, ground-breaking flight started in California and took 14,000 viewers along for the ride in streaming video. The “Clean Generation” initiative flight of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg successfully landed at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport at 11:09 p.m. EDT. Flying across the United States, Solar Impulse was powered only by energy that came from 12,000 solar cells installed on its wings and horizontal stabilizer.Making aviation history, the team of Solar Impulse has come a long way but has even further to go. In 2015, they plan on flying around the world, totally on solar power of course.
The Solar Impulse team will be available to the public at JFK International Airport on Saturday July 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday July 14 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The MD-80 just might be the Rodney Dangerfield of the airline world. It just can’t seem to get any respect. But for those who really get to know the airplane, it offers some features, and admittedly a number of quirks, that has made it near and dear to many pilots. Against all odds, this Boeing pilot has fallen in love with the Mad Dog.
Passengers either love the airplane or hate it. And much of those feelings depend on where you’re sitting. A perch up in first class offers one of the quietest cabins in the air. Conversely, finding yourself in the back row between the engines and across from the lav would only be appealing to the truest aviation geek who somehow enjoys the noise.
Compared to a Boeing, there are so many sounds, levers and quirky features in the cockpit of an MD-80 that I can only do justice by video. So on my last week of flying the airplane back in February, I decided to document a few of the features that have made me fall in love with the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 or the “Super 80” as we call it.
For all the quirks, as I mention in the video, it has an enviable safety record.
But let’s face it; the reason I’ll miss the MD-80 the most might have more to do with which seat I sat in. Bumping back from captain to co-pilot as these airplanes are retired means that I won’t find myself taxiing around La Guardia or Chicago, or any place for that matter as the captain does all the taxiing.
And the co-pilots I flew with were the hardest working aviators at the company. I will absolutely miss them as some became good friends along the way.
You never know, with the flood of A319s, A321s and new Boeing 737-800 and -900s coming at my company, I could be back in the Super 80 left seat soon, or in one of those shiny new jets. Either way, I’m glad I had the opportunity to fly the airplane before it’s gone.
[Photo credit: Kent Wien]
Related: “Captain on the MD-80? Why?” and “A Captain No More.”
“Cockpit Chronicles” takes you along on some of Kent’s trips as a captain co-pilot on the MD-80 757 and 767 based in New York. Have any questions for Kent? Check out the “Cockpit Chronicles” Facebook page or follow Kent on Twitter @veryjr.