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PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

William E. Boeing, Jr.

Friday's Fabulous Flyer

William E. Boeing, Jr.

Last night I had the great honor of being part of history, as William Boeing Jr. was honored with the first-ever Red Barn Heritage Award. The Museum of Flight's vision is to be the foremost educational air and space museum in the world, and William E. Boeing Jr. has spent a lifetime committed to furthering this vision through education and preserving aerospace history.

William Boeing Jr. and Karlene

While Boeing's career has been vast and far-reaching, he's never traveled far from the roots his family planted in Seattle. Of his most important achievements was his saving, moving and restoring the Red Barn... Where the first Boeing planes were made and beats as the heart of The Museum of Flight.

Bill Boeing and Joe Sutter

Among the many guests honoring Mr. Boeing tonight was Joe Sutter... Mr. 747 himself. Who happened to be the first person I recognized at the party. We had a nice little chat and he told me a couple things about the Boeing and the Airbus.

Karlene and Joe Sutter

When I told Joe that I was now flying an Airbus he said, "Airplanes are supposed to do what the pilot tells them not the other way around. The difference between Boeing and Airbus is the Airbus tells the pilot what to do. That's wrong! The pilot should tell the plane what to do. And you can tell those Airbus people I said that. What are they going to do to me anyway? I'm ninety years old."

Robbi and Doug DeVries... Thank You both for a wonderful evening. We had a fabulous time, and we're both looking forward to our sculpture/wine release/book signing party. Maybe we could invite Billy Joel for Kathy.

Dick (My hubby) and Karlene


Enjoy the Journey!

~ Karlene

21 comments:

  1. I love Joe already.... can he come to Ghana and talk to our young ladies! Too much emphasis is put on electronics and not enough on people skills.... FLY THE PLANE - FEEL THE PLANE.... Positive feedback from the controls, the ability to control the aircraft at the edge of its envelope in the event of an emergency and without 'counter-confusion' is key. I am so jealous, I want to meet this man (so do our young ladies!)

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  2. How wonderful to get to meet these people and honor the Red Barn! Nice.

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  3. I love old people with attitude. Boeing for the win. :D

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  4. Wow Karlene what an amazing even to attend! I can't imagine what an honor it must have been to meet such distinguished men.

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  5. Sounds like a great evening Karlene - Tat and I read Joe Sutter's book just last year. He is a class act. You and Dick looked great! Robin

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  6. Wow that's really neat! I'm very jealous you got to meet them, what an awesome opportunity!

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  7. Wonderful meeting,Karlene san.
    Thank you for sharing one of great knowledge.I have learned that human's mind and airplane's one connected each other.
    have a great weekend,
    Jun

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  8. Captain Yaw, wouldn't that be spectacular if he could make it down there. He's a fabulous man. Have you read his book on the 747? You'd love it! Fly safe and keep giving back to those ladies and the world!

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  9. Linda, you should go visit the museum sometime. It's incredible.

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  10. It was a great honor Heather. The entire evening was amazing, and I hope to get involved with the museum.

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  11. Robin, I read his book too. He is a man with integrity and made that airplane a success, and Boeing too.

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  12. Thanks for the comment Daniel, I do feel very luck to have met them. Great people of history.

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  13. Thank you Jun, It was a wonderful meeting. Great people of Aviation History! You have a great weekend too!

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  14. I think Mr. 747 doesn't understand the Airbus (or the 787 for that matter) as much as he might think he does.
    For on those planes, we still tell the airplane what to do, we just don't have to tell it how to do it!

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  15. Wow, how exciting! And Joe's rant about the Airbus cracks me up. He's got spunk!

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  16. Tee hee. If Billy had been there, you would have invited me!! :) And I agree with Joe...I want to tell the airplane what to do!! Did you wish Austen a Happy Birthday???

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  17. Oh Flybywire, as the father of the 747, we have to give Joe a little room to talk... he is 90, you know. ;) I actually didn't have the heart to tell him the technology on the 747-800 is just catching up to the A330. But his contribution to the world of aviation is amazing. If you have a chance, read his book. The 747. Thanks for the comment!

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  18. Thanks Julie! He does have spunk. He's lived a long life and a man of integrity. It was his speaking up... and spunk... that made the 747 (and Boeing) what it is today.

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  19. Thanks for the comment Kathy. And, I'm not telling Austin happy birthday until it's his birthday. He just has to wait for a few more days. :)

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  20. Ha, I'm 14 years old. and I have already understood that Boeing has come very far. I very much agree with what was stated about being able to "be the aircraft" boeing has always been about letting pilots do their job.

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    1. Hi Tyler, Thank you so much for your comment. You keep that "be the aircraft" in mind, and always fly your plane... and use the automation to support you... you will go far!
      Hope to meet you in the sky one day.

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