The Boeing 727 captain who always got into heated arguments
One of the world’s classic airliners, the Boeing 727 was built to carry on the successful legacy of its forerunner, the 707. With a low-altitude, high-speed cruising capability, it provided economic jet travel on short- and medium-range routes and was able to serve smaller airports. Its production run extended from 1963 to 1984, producing a total of 1,832 units that were flown by more than 100 different airlines. It was the world’s best-selling passenger jet in its time, until it was surpassed by the next generation of airliners, the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
Ron Wagner, former airline pilot, recalls on Quora;
‘I flew with one captain in the 727 days when there were three of us up there and I cannot recall ever flying with him when there was NOT a heated argument.
‘It’s probably not what you’re thinking, though.
‘He was an avid political reader and had lots of controversial positions and he loved to argue about politics and the economy—yelling matches were his favorite pastime.
‘He was always super professional to fly with and arguing never interfered with the flying. We’d show up, he was very nice, we got everything done and off the gate and up in the air and then we’d level off at cruise, he’d turn on the autopilot and then instantly say, “Now. Where were we?” And he had remembered exactly where we were in the conversation—even if we hadn’t flown in days!
Totally out of the mainstream
‘It was weird because he was otherwise fun to fly with, and he wasn’t being really personal about it. I think he was kind of a lonely guy who spent most of his alone time reading and getting agitated—because his views were totally out of the mainstream—and so he needed someone to banter with. And as an airline captain in the three-crew cockpit, he had a ready supply of captive audiences.
‘He was a true pro and never violated the 10,000-foot rule, which means that below 10,000 feet we cannot discuss anything except the flight we are on.
‘He went beyond that and only argued at cruise altitude. Once we started down from cruise he’d say, “Hold that thought.” And, indeed, a couple of hours later, the next time we reached cruise altitude, he’d say, “Now, where were we?” and he remembered.
‘It was an interesting phenomenon because he was simultaneously annoying, and yet intelligent enough that he was interesting. And he was a good listener, too, and would admit when one of us made good points.’
Wagner concludes;
‘If you’re thinking pilots are having heated arguments in the cockpits during flight about flying matters, well, I’ve never seen that and never heard about it with any pilot I know personally.’
Photo by U.S. Air Force