I
moved into a bachelor apartment in Renton in 1968 [it was ‘69] and almost at
the same time concluded that it was time to move on from the 727/737
program. Both airplanes were well along
in airline service. I needed a new
challenge.
An
old friend from Wichita Flight Test days provided that. Howard Montgomery had moved to the Sales and
Marketing Department under Clancy Wilde and was starting a new cargo
development group. It was prompted by
the advent of the huge 747 airplanes that would have considerable cargo
capacity in the lower holds. Also,
freighter versions of the 747 were anticipated.
The world of air cargo needed a shot in the arm.
My
world travels were not to abate, but, indeed, accelerated. It was the overseas airline customers that
needed the most assistance in developing their air cargo markets. My territory was primarily Europe and
Africa. During one year (1970 I believe)
I made nine round trips across the Atlantic and spent just over fifty percent
of the calendar year in Europe, primarily aiding Lufthansa in preparing for the
introduction of the 747 freighters.
One
memorable experience in my association with the 747 occurred just two days
after I had reported to my new assignment.
Coming off the 727/737 program I was as yet totally unfamiliar with the
technical details of the 747. One afternoon
before I even had a secretary my phone rang.
It wa Clancy Wilde who had become Boing Vic-president of Sales and
Marketing so he was now my big boss. The
conversation went something as follows.
“Clancy
here, old silver tonsils. How about
doing the voice of the airplane bit on the fist 747 press flight? Day after tomorrow we are going to fly the domestic
press to New York, do three demo flights for American and Pan American, then fly
the international press back to Seattle.
I want you on that PA system.”
I
knew an order from the commanding officer when I heard one, but I protested, “Wait
a minute, Clancy! I just came on board
the 747 program two days ago—I don’t even know what engines we have on that
big bird yet!”
Wilde
was friendly, but terse, “Hell, you’ve got two days to bone up—see you on board
at seven thirty Thursday.” He hung up.
Bone
up, I did, burning the midnight oil for the two short days over the technical
details of that monster airplane.
Somehow, I got away with it. I
was glib enough that I got a top accolade from the top aviation reporter for
ABC who was aboard to tape a segment for the ABC News. (I had previously met him on the 727-world
tour.) He came around late in the flight
to have a cup of coffee with me at the forward galley and said, “Hey, Con, why
aren’t you in the broadcasting business?”
I
just smiled and said (knowing that he probably made ten tines my modest
salary), “The broadcasting business can’t afford me, boy!”
I
also received what amounted to high praise from my old and critical ex-boss,
Jack Steiner. Jack was aboard for one of
the demo flights. He stopped as he
deplaned and said, “Great work, Con. You
sounded as if you had grown up on the 747 program!” To me that was as good as a Navy “Well done!”
Another
gratifying incident during the demo flights was when our ex-president, Bill
Allen, came aboard to ride back to Seattle.
(He had ridden the 727-world tour with us as far as Tokyo in 1963 and
never forgot a name or a fact about an employee.) At the entry door where I was greeting
people, Mr. Allen paused and threw an arm about my shoulders. “Con,” he said, “they just cold not run a
sales tour without us, now could they?!”
My
apologies for getting diverted by personal reminiscences. I survived the big Boeing layoff that
occurred in 1970 and for several years continued to travel the world for Boing
as a spokesman and air cargo development manager. I developed, installed, and manned a Boeing
747 air freight display at the huge national air show, Transpo ’72, in
Washington, D.C., and represented Boeing at many other trade shows around the
world. I also did the “golden voice” bit
in the cargo section of a 747 “Combi” (half passengers, half freight) airplane
during a sales tour of the Middle East and North Africa. It was during that tour I had occasion to personally
meet King Hussein of Jordan and his lovely queen, Alia, (who was later killed
in a helicopter crash). [Because he was
a licensed pilot, King Hussein was allowed to take over the controls of the 747
in flight and my father later dined with him at his palace, along with other
Boeing dignitaries. My father liked the
king very much.]
[As
a part of my parents’ divorce our family home in Lake Hills was sold. Although my father makes it sound like my
mother came out of the divorce smelling like a rose, she did not, but he did
pay alimony and child support. She and I
moved into a two bedroom apartment for the duration of my senior year in high
school, 1969 and in 1970 she moved back to Vancouver, WA and I into a studio apartment
across the hall from my father’s apartment.]
