Well, I delayed the takeoff of a United 737 at Eugene airport yesterday. No, I didn't screw up (not that I haven't).

Had a $100 cup of coffee with my flyin' bud, Tom, at the terminal in Eugene. On leaving, called up Ground with my request and identified myself as "experimental Savannah". Ground told me to follow the United 737 out to rw 16R. Said I would. Then the United pilot comes on and asks ground if he can pull over and let the Savannah take off first, so he could watch. I about fell over. Ground said sure. I was nearing the end of 16R, so I asked Ground if I could take off from the nearest intersection on 34L, instead, so I would be flying my intended direction. Cleared to take off, the Tower warned that I only had 3300 feet left of the runway. I thanked him and said I would be wasting about 3000 feet of that. I was at 500agl by the end of the runway.

The United pilot said he was thinking about getting a Savannah, and his passengers had no idea why the wee, tiny little plane took off first.

tom

Nice not something like that happens every day

Tom, I just had a Shavannah and two Zenair 701's at my place this weekend. Also had some sort of Fesler Storch, thee cubs, plus other stuff. Needless to say, there were some short ground rolls.

As I am typing this, I don't recall any nose wheeled airplanes. I'll have to wait for Patty's photos to verify that.
John

...now that I hit the submit button, I realized that all three of those had nose wheels. They preform so well, that I don't think of them as a nose wheeled plane I guess. John

Well, in my case, it's an ass-dragger flying a nose-dragger.
tom

Tom,

As I read your post....you didn't delay the United flight. Rather the UAL guy gave you his departure slot. Like lots of us airline types; he appreciated your airplane and for the moment would have traded you places. Did you thank him? Or maybe....he was thanking you.

Call me a B-767,757,727,MD-80, DC-9, FH-227 captain. Most of all....Pitts, Skybolt and Maule M-5 owner/pilot. Leaving for the Montana, Idaho and Utah backcountry next week. Two weeks of flying/camping/ backpacking.

You can have all my departure slots for the next two weeks. Enjoy!!

bob

z3skybolt wrote:Tom,

As I read your post....you didn't delay the United flight. Rather the UAL guy gave you his departure slot. Like lots of us airline types; he appreciated your airplane and for the moment would have traded you places. Did you thank him? Or maybe....he was thanking you.

Call me a B-767,757,727,MD-80, DC-9, FH-227 captain. Most of all....Pitts, Skybolt and Maule M-5 owner/pilot. Leaving for the Montana, Idaho and Utah backcountry next week. Two weeks of flying/camping/ backpacking.

You can have all my departure slots for the next two weeks. Enjoy!!

bob

Hey, thanks. I'll remind the controller that you said so.

tom