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Up, up and away: Airplane!

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-955531.mp3

Flight has always inspired humans, from the days when Icarus flew his wax and feather contraption too close to the sun. An accident like his could never happen today. We have learned too much about the mechanics of flight, and Strategic Air Command would have vaporized him once he left controlled airspace.

Icarus could never have imagined that his dream of flight would be an inspiration to anyone who has ever tied 75 helium balloons to a lawn chair.

And who among us has not marveled at the wonder and beauty of flying, and the technological advances that have made it as safe as a walk in the park? (Okay, bad example, parks aren’t that safe…safe as taking candy from a baby, a really little baby.)

And once airborne, all the cares of the earthbound world are forgotten—the long lines, the bag check fees, the full body grope. The joys of flight beckon—finding space in the overhead bins, wedging yourself into an ever-shrinking seat, making your connection at O’hare.

 

POP QUIZ

A) Which of the following are principles of aerodynamics?

  1. The Bernoulli Principle
  2. The Peter Principle
  3. The Peter Pan Principle
  4. The Frying Pan Principle

B) Speaking of Peter Pan, how was he able to fly?

  1. Fairy Dust
  2. Happy Thoughts
  3. The Bernoulli Principle
  4. More Fairy Dust

C) Your pilot and copilot have collapsed, and you have been asked to fly the jetliner. What methods should you employ to land safely?

  1. Happy Thoughts and Fairy Dust
  2. Talk gently to the airplane and make it trust you
  3. Send for flying reindeer
  4. More Happy Thought and Fairy Dust

 
Answers below....

 

 

A  -  (1)

B  - (1, 2 & 4)

C  -  (1 & 4)

 

 

John has worked as a professional bassist for 20 years, including a 15 year stint as Musical Director of the Mountain Stage radio program. John has been at KNKX since 1999 where he hosts “All Blues”, is producer of the BirdNote radio program, and co-hosts “Record Bin Roulette”. John is also the recording engineer for KNKX “In-Studio Performances”. Not surprisingly, John's main musical interests are jazz and blues, and he is still performing around Seattle.
John Maynard started working in radio in the seventies as a DJ at Seattle’s KJR AM which at the time was the dominant AM station in the Seattle market. After a brief stint as a restaurateur and night club owner, Maynard returned to radio with Robin Erickson, creating the hugely popular “Robin and Maynard Show.” In the more than 20 years under that marquee, Maynard flew with the Blue Angels, piloted the Goodyear Blimp, sang with Donny Osmond and hung out in a Universal Studios bar with Kojak (Telly Savalas).