Wow, I remember as a kid between 1958 & 1961 flying with my dad to SFO and then to OAK to visit his sister. We always took United and remember so clearly flying in the DC-6 & DC-7. Later we flew the DC-8. Brought back a fun memory looking at this.
Fascinating video and thank-you for posting. Something that really grabbed my attention was how well and orderly the passengers exited the aircraft and filed into the terminal. I recently watched a contemporary flight video in which passengers had to walk from the terminal to the aircraft outside, and they could not even keep within the margins of cones placed on either side of the designated path. How things have changed in 58 years.
I flew a DC-7 from Seattle to Midway Chicago in May 1960. It was thrilling, especially when the engines warmed up, taxiing, and the exceptional exhilarating sensation during takeoff of the throbbing, loud engines lifting us airborne. Takeoffs in modern commercial jets are boring in comparison.
During the Summer of '67, I remember my 'old man' complaining about paying "the jet excursion fee", an upgrade, on a National Airlines flight to Miami. He'd always flown on Eastern "Martin 404's", and would seek out airlines which flew them (to Miami) after Eastern began going 'all jet', in 1962. After that particular flight, he wouldn't even consider the Miami trips in anything except for a jet.
