Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport is a typical regional airport with a notable exception. Tys' boasts two 9,000 foot runways, so it is capable of handling any aircraft

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport opened in 1947 as commercial flights transferred from Boeing Airport. Sea-Tac has 3 parallel runways that run North/South. It has a Central Terminal building with 4 concourses (A,B, C, and D) and 2 satellite terminals (North and South) connected by an underground light rail. Sea-Tac is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters is located near the airport, and its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. It is unusual for being the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. to not having a hub or focus operation by a major or legacy carrier. This is largely due to Alaska and Horizon's dominance of the market which total almost 50%. Southwest, United, and Delta are distant runner-ups but Southwest can never be counted out.

Besides international service provided by Delta and United to Asia and Alaska to Mexico, international airlines include Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, Air France, British Airways, Asiana, EVA, Hainan, Icelandair, Lufthansa, and Korean all serve here. Curiously no Japanese airlines fly to SeaTac though ANA is evaluating it. Other airlines evaluating SeaTac include Virgin, Emirates, and V Australia.

A new control tower was constructed for Sea-Tac beginning in 2001, and brought into service November 2004, at a cost of $26 million.The tower's overall height including antennas is 269 ft. SeaTac's original control tower, built in the 1950s, is now located on top of the airport's passenger terminal and used as a ground control tower.

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport opened in 1947 as commercial flights transferred from Boeing Airport. Sea-Tac has 3 parallel runways that run North/South. It has a Central Terminal building with 4 concourses (A,B, C, and D) and 2 satellite terminals (North and South) connected by an underground light rail. Sea-Tac is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters is located near the airport, and its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. It is unusual for being the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. to not having a hub or focus operation by a major or legacy carrier. This is largely due to Alaska and Horizon's dominance of the market which total almost 50%. Southwest, United, and Delta are distant runner-ups but Southwest can never be counted out.

American, AirTran, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, USAirways, and Virgin Atlantic operate from Concourse A. This concourse has 14 gates.

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport opened in 1947 as commercial flights transferred from Boeing Airport. Sea-Tac has 3 parallel runways that run North/South. It has a Central Terminal building with 4 concourses (A,B, C, and D) and 2 satellite terminals (North and South) connected by an underground light rail. Sea-Tac is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters is located near the airport, and its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. It is unusual for being the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. to not having a hub or focus operation by a major or legacy carrier. This is largely due to Alaska and Horizon's dominance of the market which total almost 50%. Southwest, United, and Delta are distant runner-ups but Southwest can never be counted out.

Concourse has 13 gates occupied by Continental/United and Southwest.

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport opened in 1947 as commercial flights transferred from Boeing Airport. Sea-Tac has 3 parallel runways that run North/South. It has a Central Terminal building with 4 concourses (A,B, C, and D) and 2 satellite terminals (North and South) connected by an underground light rail. Sea-Tac is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters is located near the airport, and its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. It is unusual for being the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. to not having a hub or focus operation by a major or legacy carrier. This is largely due to Alaska and Horizon's dominance of the market which total almost 50%. Southwest, United, and Delta are distant runner-ups but Southwest can never be counted out.

Concourse C has 13 gates and 12 tarmac parking positions. It is exclusively the provence of Seattle's hometown airlines, Alaska and Horizon. Alaska also occupied Concourse D and the North Satellite.

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport opened in 1947 as commercial flights transferred from Boeing Airport. Sea-Tac has 3 parallel runways that run North/South. It has a Central Terminal building with 4 concourses (A,B, C, and D) and 2 satellite terminals (North and South) connected by an underground light rail. Sea-Tac is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters is located near the airport, and its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. It is unusual for being the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. to not having a hub or focus operation by a major or legacy carrier. This is largely due to Alaska and Horizon's dominance of the market which total almost 50%. Southwest, United, and Delta are distant runner-ups but Southwest can never be counted out.

Concourse D's 12 gates are exclusively used by Seattle's hometown carrier, Alaska. Alaska also operates from Concourse C and the North Satellite.

Seattle/Tacoma International Airport opened in 1947 as commercial flights transferred from Boeing Airport. Sea-Tac has 3 parallel runways that run North/South. It has a Central Terminal building with 4 concourses (A,B, C, and D) and 2 satellite terminals (North and South) connected by an underground light rail. Sea-Tac is the primary hub for Alaska Airlines, whose headquarters is located near the airport, and its regional subsidiary Horizon Air. It is unusual for being the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. to not having a hub or focus operation by a major or legacy carrier. This is largely due to Alaska and Horizon's dominance of the market which total almost 50%. Southwest, United, and Delta are distant runner-ups but Southwest can never be counted out.

The North Satellite is connected by a train to the Central Terminal. Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, United, United Express, and Alaska operate from here. This Satellite has 14 gates.

By 2010, Alaska had become a highly profitable airline serving destinations from Hawaii to the East Coast to Mexico, with Hawaii responsible for 15% of the airline's revenue after 3 short years since Hawaiian service began in 2007. The airline flies an all Boeing 737-800 ETOPS fleet to 4 destinations in Hawaii from cities such as Anchorage, Seattle, Sacramento, Oakland, Portland, and San Jose. This expansion of service is largely a result of Aloha's bankruptcy and ceasing of service in 2010. Alaska commemorates its Hawaiian flights with a lei wrapped around the neck of its iconic Eskimo.

Braniff operated a sole 747 from 1970 until 1977, for its Hawaii routes. It acquired others as European services were ramped up. Fat Albert otherwise known as "747 Braniff Place" was the pride of the fleet and stayed with Braniff until the 1982 shutdown.

The 1971 Flying Colors II and 1977 Ultra images along with other items are seen in this 1970s demo case of DC-8s, 727s, and an Air France Concorde.

The 1977 Ultra image is seen here. This would be Braniff's final Flying Colors look until the 1982 shutdown.

This was from the Charles Beard era just before Braniff became known to its fashionable Flying Colors look developed by Harding Lawrence and Mary Wells. The space helmet tips off the beginning of that era in 1965.

Artist Alexander Calder was commissioned by Braniff to design 3 aircraft though he only designed 2: The Spirit of South America, a Douglas DC-8, a Boeing 727 (The Bicentennial Aircraft), and a Spirit of Mexico (727) that was never produced at the time of his death. These models have been seen at auction for prices of $150K to $250K. I named my son, Calder, after this artist.

Lamar Muse was the colorful co-founder of Southwest and founder of Muse Air which was later absorbed by Southwest, and called Transtar.

Airchive was on the first 2 South Florida "flightseeing trips" of the Historical Flight Foundation's Douglas DC-7B in August, 2010. The second of which was an exclusive affair where we flew down to Key West for dinner and back with commercial aviation enthusiast John Travolta and we're taking you along on both.

Airchive was very excited to be onboard the first 2 flightseeing flights of the Historical Flight Foundation's immaculately restored Douglas DC-7, the only flying passenger example in the world. Special thanks to Carlos Gomez of Florida Air Transport, Mark Wolff of Legenday Airlines, Roger Jarmen of Atlantic Models, and a stream of volunteers who have spearheaded the project.

South Florida has an unmatched place in the annals of commercial aviation with names like National, Pan Am, Eastern, and Curtis among the prominent ones. There is a major movement underway to create an airline museum with memorabilia and actual flying aircraft at historic Opa Locka Airport near Miami. The first showcase aircraft is Eastern Air Lines DC-7B N836D which is very close to its first flight after an impeccable restoration. A little about the DC-7 from their site: "The first aircraft in our collection is a DC-7B (N836D) serial number 45345/928, originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in January 1958. Operated by EAL and several flying clubs for less than 10 years before being parked at the downtown Minneapolis airport. The aircraft was purchased and ferried to Miami in 2004 by Legendary Airliners. The aircraft first flew on July 4, 2010 and then began an air tour where it was the star of the 2010 Oshkosh Fly In, Thunder Over Michigan, and then a series of sorties during Airliners International over Teterboro. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt personally took the controls and Miracle flight Captain Sully Sullenberger joined him on the flight deck.

On the weekend of August 28-29, 2010 the DC-7 undertook their first 2 flightseeing flights over South Florida. The Saturday flight took volunteers and press on a 1 hour flight which traveled from Boca Raton to Key Largo. The second exclusive Sunday flight traveled to Key West for dinner at Kelly's (where Pan Am was founded). John Travolta and his daughter were onboard with all of us fanatics. Both flights were magical.

For more information on the upcoming museum, the DC-7B, how you can be involved, and how you can fly visit: www.historicalflightfoundation.com

Airchive was very excited to be onboard the first 2 flightseeing flights of the Historical Flight Foundation's immaculately restored Douglas DC-7, the only flying passenger example in the world. Special thanks to Carlos Gomez of Florida Air Transport, Mark Wolff of Legenday Airlines, Roger Jarmen of Atlantic Models, and a stream of volunteers who have spearheaded the project.

On the flight-deck, notice with the exception of the XM Satellite Nav and Radar and radios, it is completely original.

South Florida has an unmatched place in the annals of commercial aviation with names like National, Pan Am, Eastern, and Curtis among the prominent ones. There is a major movement underway to create an airline museum with memorabilia and actual flying aircraft at historic Opa Locka Airport near Miami. The first showcase aircraft is Eastern Air Lines DC-7B N836D which is very close to its first flight after an impeccable restoration. A little about the DC-7 from their site: "The first aircraft in our collection is a DC-7B (N836D) serial number 45345/928, originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in January 1958. Operated by EAL and several flying clubs for less than 10 years before being parked at the downtown Minneapolis airport. The aircraft was purchased and ferried to Miami in 2004 by Legendary Airliners. The aircraft first flew on July 4, 2010 and then began an air tour where it was the star of the 2010 Oshkosh Fly In, Thunder Over Michigan, and then a series of sorties during Airliners International over Teterboro. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt personally took the controls and Miracle flight Captain Sully Sullenberger joined him on the flight deck.

On the weekend of August 28-29, 2010 the DC-7 undertook their first 2 flightseeing flights over South Florida. The Saturday flight took volunteers and press on a 1 hour flight which traveled from Boca Raton to Key Largo. The second exclusive Sunday flight traveled to Key West for dinner at Kelly's (where Pan Am was founded). John Travolta and his daughter were onboard with all of us fanatics. Both flights were magical.

For more information on the upcoming museum, the DC-7B, how you can be involved, and how you can fly visit: www.historicalflightfoundation.com

Airchive was very excited to be onboard the first 2 flightseeing flights of the Historical Flight Foundation's immaculately restored Douglas DC-7, the only flying passenger example in the world. Special thanks to Carlos Gomez of Florida Air Transport, Mark Wolff of Legenday Airlines, Roger Jarmen of Atlantic Models, and a stream of volunteers who have spearheaded the project.

The cabin was originally a 3/2 configuration. This DC-7B was a "Red Falcon" coach flyer. The airliner could accomodate 80 passengers and the 5 passengers in the lounge, but it has been limited to 50 passengers.

South Florida has an unmatched place in the annals of commercial aviation with names like National, Pan Am, Eastern, and Curtis among the prominent ones. There is a major movement underway to create an airline museum with memorabilia and actual flying aircraft at historic Opa Locka Airport near Miami. The first showcase aircraft is Eastern Air Lines DC-7B N836D which is very close to its first flight after an impeccable restoration. A little about the DC-7 from their site: "The first aircraft in our collection is a DC-7B (N836D) serial number 45345/928, originally delivered to Eastern Airlines in January 1958. Operated by EAL and several flying clubs for less than 10 years before being parked at the downtown Minneapolis airport. The aircraft was purchased and ferried to Miami in 2004 by Legendary Airliners. The aircraft first flew on July 4, 2010 and then began an air tour where it was the star of the 2010 Oshkosh Fly In, Thunder Over Michigan, and then a series of sorties during Airliners International over Teterboro. FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt personally took the controls and Miracle flight Captain Sully Sullenberger joined him on the flight deck.

On the weekend of August 28-29, 2010 the DC-7 undertook their first 2 flightseeing flights over South Florida. The Saturday flight took volunteers and press on a 1 hour flight which traveled from Boca Raton to Key Largo. The second exclusive Sunday flight traveled to Key West for dinner at Kelly's (where Pan Am was founded). John Travolta and his daughter were onboard with all of us fanatics. Both flights were magical.

For more information on the upcoming museum, the DC-7B, how you can be involved, and how you can fly visit: www.historicalflightfoundation.com

Boasting a full sized 747 cutaway, 2 Concordes, a Caravelle, and a rare Dassault Mercure, the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace museum at historic Le Bourget Airport is a favorite of Airchive and the world's oldest aviation museum. We visited in July, 2010.

The French Air and Space Museum, Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, is located in the south-eastern edge of Le Bourget Airport and is one of the oldest aviation museums in the world. The museum's collection contains more than 19,595 items, including 150 aircraft, and material from as far back as the 16th Century. From a commercial perspective, it has Air France's first 747, the first prototype Concorde and first to fly, A production Concorde, a Dassault Mercure, A Sud Aviation Caravelle, a Douglas DC-8, and a Boeing 727. This excellent museum is located at the airport where the first Boeing 707 in commercial service landed as well as where Charles Lindbergh landed "The Spirit of St. Louis" in the first transatlantic flight. The airport is located within 30 minutes of central Paris and is highly recommended.

This Concorde, F-BTSD, first flew on June 26, 1978 and was delivered to Air France on September 18, 1978. It last flew on June 14, 2003 after a flight from Paris CDG. It was the last flight of a Concorde in Air France scheduled service, operating as AF001 from New York JFK to Paris CDG. It was retired with 12,974 hours on the clock. It was the 13th production Concorde built. It is noteworthy for other reasons, not least of which it was the first Concorde for Air France to return to service (in 2002) following the 2000 Crash.

F-BTSD holds the world records for fastest flights around the world in both directions:

Westbound RTW: 12-13 October 1992: 32 hours 49 minutes 03 seconds

Lisbon-Santo Domingo-Acapulco-Honolulu-Guam-Bangkok- Bahrain-Lisbon

Eastbound RTW: 15-16 August 1995: 31 hours 27 minutes 49 seconds

New York/JFK-Toulouse-Dubai-Bangkok-Guam (Andersen AFB)- Honolulu-Acapulco-New York/JFK

The Eastbound (1995) record is the current GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS official world record.

In April 1996 F-BTSD was painted in a Special Pespi livery when Pepsi Cola undertook a major $500 million US re-branding project.

It is displayed in the Concorde Hall with the first French prototype Concorde, F-WTSS, which was the first to fly.

F-WTSS, is French built Concorde 001, the first prototype, and the first Concorde to fly back on March 2, 1969. The British built Concorde would fly a over a month later. On November 4, 1970 it was the first Concorde to reach Mach 2. On September 18, 1971 it completed the first transatlantic tour by Concorde. It was retired to the museum after 397 flights on October 19, 1973. It never entered commercial service. would be followed by 2 more pre-production Concordes before the commercial aircraft production began.

It is preserved in the Concorde Hall with Air France F-BTSD.

Boeing 747

Air France Boeing 747-128, F-BPVJ, was delivered in October, 1972 to Air France and flew for the Air France, Sabena, and Air Algerie until Air France donated the Jumbo to the France Museum of Air and Space in 2000. This is a very unique 747 display in that numerous sections of the cabin, seating, and cargo deck have been cutaway revealing the inner workings of the aircraft.

The Dassault Mercure was a French twin-engined jet-powered airliner first flying in 1971. It was only in commercial production from 1972-75 with 10 production airliners and 2 prototypes. French domestic airliner, Air Inter was the only operator. It was designed to be a 150 passenger competitor to the Boeing 737 and Douglas DC-9, though it had a 3 man cockpit which put it at a major disadvantage.The Mercure is considered the biggest failure in terms of orders of any commercial airliner ever sold. This lack of interest was due to poor economic conditions in the early 1970s, late entry into the market, but mainly because of the Mercure's operating range – suitable for domestic European operations but unable to sustain longer routes. The last two Mercures flew on April 29, 1995. with all their 360,000 flight hours, 44 million passengers carried in 440,000 flights, there were no accidents, and a 98% in-service reliability.

This Air Provence, Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle was purchased by Air Provence in August 1991, retiring it to the Museum of Air and Space at Le Bourget in November 1995. The Caravelle entered service in 1959 was the first short/medium haul twin jet.