Doug Kerr
Well-known member
September 11, 2011 was the tenth anniversary of the world's worst aviation disaster, although in light of its far greater implications it is rarely characterized as such.
On that anniversary day, Carla and I flew on the largest US airline (in terms of domestic passenger-flights), Southwest Airlines, from Las Vegas to Dallas (Love Field).
Southwest's own story is amazing. For example, early in its life, it became embroiled in a trademark controversy with another small airline over a slogan ("Just Plane Smart"). The two airlines' CEO's decided to settle it out of court with an arm wrestling match, to be held in Dallas' infamous rasslin' arena, The Sportatorium, best two out of three, with the winner of each round donating $5000 to charity.
Herb Kelleher, Southwest's legendary founder and CEO for many years, lost the match, 2-1. His opponent accepted award of the clear rights to the slogan, then gave them to Southwest.
Only in Texas!
On our flight, Carla took the window seat, and shot with her trusty Canon Powershot SX110 IS. Her view was a bit obstructed by the wing, but often an obstruction becomes a great subject.
This shot tells us of the triumph of life, airborne. It is dedicated to the memory of those thousands who lost their lives in a far different, horrifying, perverse exercise of air power.
Carla C. Kerr: A wing for us, a prayer for many others
The aircraft was a Boeing 737-700, part of the "737 New Generation" family ("737 NG"), (from 737-600 onward).
The upturned portion at the end of the wing is a blended winglet. It has many aerodynamic benefits, including:
• It provides a greater potential lift for a given overall physical wingspan.
• It reduces the potency of the vortexes generated at the wingtip, redirecting some of the energy that would normally energize them into thrust, leading to a net reduction in drag, and also makes for reduced aerodynamic noise. (This is especially beneficial with regard to takeoff and landing, of particular importance since Southwest's home base, Dallas Love Field, is today closely surrounded by residential areas.)
Prominent in the shot are the flap track fairings, which on Southwest's 737 NG planes are painted orange. These enclose for aerodynamic reasons (but what a fashion statement they make in orange!) the long curved tracks that support the flaps as they are extended. The 737 NG has an extraordinarily long flap travel - the flaps, fully extended, look as if they have been removed from the aircraft so they can taken to the shop for rework.
The trip was smooth and comfortable. Security was tight at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, but the TSA agents were polite, thoughtful, efficient, and in overall very good humor. To us that was just another example of how the human spirit moves on, as it has for millenniums.
Best regards,
Doug
On that anniversary day, Carla and I flew on the largest US airline (in terms of domestic passenger-flights), Southwest Airlines, from Las Vegas to Dallas (Love Field).
Southwest's own story is amazing. For example, early in its life, it became embroiled in a trademark controversy with another small airline over a slogan ("Just Plane Smart"). The two airlines' CEO's decided to settle it out of court with an arm wrestling match, to be held in Dallas' infamous rasslin' arena, The Sportatorium, best two out of three, with the winner of each round donating $5000 to charity.
Herb Kelleher, Southwest's legendary founder and CEO for many years, lost the match, 2-1. His opponent accepted award of the clear rights to the slogan, then gave them to Southwest.
Only in Texas!
On our flight, Carla took the window seat, and shot with her trusty Canon Powershot SX110 IS. Her view was a bit obstructed by the wing, but often an obstruction becomes a great subject.
This shot tells us of the triumph of life, airborne. It is dedicated to the memory of those thousands who lost their lives in a far different, horrifying, perverse exercise of air power.
Carla C. Kerr: A wing for us, a prayer for many others
full metadata
The shot is full frame, ex camera except for downsampling and attendant sharpening.The aircraft was a Boeing 737-700, part of the "737 New Generation" family ("737 NG"), (from 737-600 onward).
The upturned portion at the end of the wing is a blended winglet. It has many aerodynamic benefits, including:
• It provides a greater potential lift for a given overall physical wingspan.
• It reduces the potency of the vortexes generated at the wingtip, redirecting some of the energy that would normally energize them into thrust, leading to a net reduction in drag, and also makes for reduced aerodynamic noise. (This is especially beneficial with regard to takeoff and landing, of particular importance since Southwest's home base, Dallas Love Field, is today closely surrounded by residential areas.)
Prominent in the shot are the flap track fairings, which on Southwest's 737 NG planes are painted orange. These enclose for aerodynamic reasons (but what a fashion statement they make in orange!) the long curved tracks that support the flaps as they are extended. The 737 NG has an extraordinarily long flap travel - the flaps, fully extended, look as if they have been removed from the aircraft so they can taken to the shop for rework.
The trip was smooth and comfortable. Security was tight at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, but the TSA agents were polite, thoughtful, efficient, and in overall very good humor. To us that was just another example of how the human spirit moves on, as it has for millenniums.
Best regards,
Doug
