tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154371958497635946.post5954497183662797676..comments2024-03-07T23:59:52.893+01:00Comments on Peter's Blog: Onze vliegtuigen (4)Peterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08512412669995490110noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154371958497635946.post-75382353895603733842012-04-08T09:07:52.933+02:002012-04-08T09:07:52.933+02:00Nice story Hans! And very appropriate on this East...Nice story Hans! And very appropriate on this Easter Saturday. Let's hope KLM will remain as flexible as it was then. Thanks & happy Easter.Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08512412669995490110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154371958497635946.post-7263214599241141572012-04-07T22:48:56.597+02:002012-04-07T22:48:56.597+02:00Indeed, in early 1971 KLM did not yet serve the Fa...Indeed, in early 1971 KLM did not yet serve the Far East with 747’s; however the first two planes were already delivered. The one pictured here is the very first, the PH-BUA “Missisippe” delivered in January.<br />The second one, the PH-BUB, delivered in March ’71, should have been named “Rio de la Plata” but shortly before, it turned out that the airport in RIO was not ready and able to handle the aircraft. <br />At that time I was Stationmanager in VIE and one day received from KLM h/o by SITA-telex the short and lapidary question wether VIE-airport was able to handle a 747 and wether we could organize some ceremony to baptise the aircraft “Donau” (Danube). Luckely, VIE-airport already was very busy to get ready for the 747 as Panam (launching carrier) boasted to be the first to land a 747 at VIE. What a chance to steal their show – and we did! Within the few weeks we had, we could win over Robert Stolz (the famous operetta-composer) for the event and organized a three-days program around it. That not only sold ex NL the 747 to the last seat (353) but an additional DC-9 as well. <br />Ex VIE we filled the 747 for the three days to AMS where the Amstelpark had just opened and got our pax in the Alpha-hotel which had just its soft opening.<br />The ceremony at VIE took place 41 years ago on Easter-Saturday the 10th of April 1971 and was a tremendous PR stunt for KLM. The frustrated Panam-Manager, however, was less enthusiastic.Hans from Viennahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04054991464403656665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154371958497635946.post-85969056836166065582012-01-06T17:22:15.991+01:002012-01-06T17:22:15.991+01:00Bert, ik weet dat hij later naar Australië geëmigr...Bert, ik weet dat hij later naar Australië geëmigreerd is. Hij ging daar encyclopedieën verkopen (?!?), ik geloof van Cavendish, zo'n soort naam in ieder geval. Enne, we zijn toen met de Warburtonnetjes de andere dag ook nog naar de pub geweest... Dus dat was 'm zeker :-)Peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08512412669995490110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154371958497635946.post-65602112498056099632012-01-06T16:50:37.587+01:002012-01-06T16:50:37.587+01:00Peter, Bill ben ik later nog een paar keer tegenge...Peter, Bill ben ik later nog een paar keer tegengekomen toen ik in LHR werkte. Kan me alleen herinneren dat het een klein mannetje was met een hoge stem. Wel een gezellige drinkebroer.<br /><br />Groeten BertBelgische Berthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01702774717902715544noreply@blogger.com