Fifi’s Final Flight!
Fifi's Final Flight!
Welcome aboard, folks!
Welcome aboard our FINAL flight with our beloved “Fifi,” the A321-class Airbus that I’ve flown since 1994!
Like the old Grateful Dead song says, What a long, strange trip it’s been!
Well, not too strange, maybe. But long, in any case!
But First…
Fifi's Final Flight!
& Cap'n Dillon's Halloween!
Hot off the press!!
Everyone’s favorite Cap’n, Cap’n Dillon, sent me these awesome pics of his Halloween costume: a pilot adrift in the ocean!
Good job, Cap’n—now, that’s really scary to us piloty types!!!
OK now, for the rest of the blog post, let’s all think dry and airy thoughts!
Fifi's Final Flight!
The Warm Up
My last trip as an Airbus Cap’n was a 3-day trip. A “SNA turn” (out to SNA—Orange County—and back), then to AUS (Austin) for the overnight. All 3 flights went quickly, with nary a hitch!
Day two was a bit of a long one. Another 3 legs: AUS-CLT-IND. What made it challenging was the late check-in. While we were able to stay on time, we still pulled into IND after midnight local time.
To be honest, it made me look forward to the new trips I’ll be flying on the 777: 1 long flight, instead of 3 flights during the same time period! What’s more, I’ll get a bunk in which to power nap!
As I trekked through the country, several Blog Buddies tracked me, as they often like to do. Here’s some screen shots!
Notices to Airmen!
COMING SOON!
You’ve asked for it…and it’s finally arriving soon!
The Last Bush Pilots—Hardcover edition!
Folks, I’m beside myself with excitement to announce that, for the 9th anniversary of my novel, The Last Bush Pilots, it will finally be available in hardcover! Priced only a few bucks more than our traditional paperback edition, it’ll fit perfectly into your aviation collection (or under a Christmas tree, hint hint)!
Anticipated publication date: December 1st, 2021.
Stay Tuned!
Fifi's Final Flight!
The Day Arrives
Finally, it was time to check in for our final flight, one leg home from IND to PHX.
I have to admit…I doddled getting ready, awash in nostalgia, hardly believing that this 27-year odyssey was about to come to a close. Shaking out of the funk, I made it just in time for our crew van from the hotel to the airport!
All in all, the trip and the final flight went as scheduled. No real hiccups or glitches.
Always hoped for but rarely accomplished!
How was the final touchdown? Well, I must say that I kind of set myself up for some serious pressure…
My Final PA
…by making a final PA to the passengers that went something like this:
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for flying with us this evening. And, on a personal note, I would like to inform you that, after flying this type airplane, the Airbus A321, for my company for the past 27 years, this will be my final flight. No, I’m not retiring, but moving on to fly another aircraft, the Boeing 777. So, I am excited to have you along with me tonight, and I certainly hope to give you a worthy landing. But, if I’ve learned anything from flying ‘Fifi’ these past 27 years, I know that She always has the final say!”
Fifi's Final Touchdown
I’m happy to say that, after that speech, ol’ Cap’n Aux was able to put on his Big Pilot britches, and Fifi was kind enough to allow me to nail a nice greaser, for old times’ sake, and for our audience of passengers!
And, thus ends this chapter in our Aviation Adventure...
Blog Buddy Alert!
Blog Buddy Graham B requested that I share with you a fun Christmas sweater that his organization is selling to support a good cause.
Children of the Night helps abused children in need.
A Great Christmas aviation sweatshirt for a great cause!
Stay Tuned for Our Next Post: Drinking From a Firehose!
Till then…
This is Cap'n Aux
Studying Off!
Related Links
- Cap’n Aux Books https://www.amazon.com/Eric-Auxier/e/B00971H8VW
- End of an Aviation Era https://capnaux.com/end-of-an-aviation-era/
- An Airline Pilot Retires https://capnaux.com/an-airline-pilot-retires/
- A Tale of Two Upgrades https://capnaux.com/a-tale-of-two-upgrades/
- Pilots Protest Covid Mandates https://capnaux.com/pilots-protest-covid-mandates/
- Cap’n Aux Vimeo Page https://vimeo.com/capnaux/
- All Word on the Ramp Videos https://vimeo.com/manage/showcases/3162370/info
- Best of Videos https://vimeo.com/manage/showcases/3162373/info
- As the Turbine Turns https://capnaux.com/as-the-turbine-turns/
- The Bid Life of an Airline Pilot https://capnaux.com/the-bid-life-of-an-airline-pilot/
- Pilots of the Caribbean https://capnaux.com/there-i-wuz-pilot-of-the-caribbean/
- Part 2: Stranded in Paradise https://capnaux.com/pilot-of-the-caribbean-part-2/
- The Airline Cockpit in 7 Steps https://capnaux.com/airline-cockpit-7-steps-updated/
- Top 10 Downers of an Airline Pilot Career https://capnaux.com/top-10-downers-of-an-airline-career/
- Top 10 Things to Never Say to a Pilot https://capnaux.com/top-things-never-to-say-to-a-pilot/
- The Post-Covid Future of US Aviation https://capnaux.com/the-post-covid-future-of-u-s-aviation/
- Flying in the Age of Covid https://capnaux.com/flying-during-covid/
- Life of a Test Pilot https://capnaux.com/the-occasionally-exciting-life-of-a-test-pilot/
- WOTR Video: It’s What Pilots Do! https://capnaux.com/word-on-the-ramp-video-its-what-pilots-do/
- Confessions of a Former Airline Pilot https://capnaux.com/confessions-of-a-former-airline-pilot/
- The Making of a European Pilot https://capnaux.com/the-making-of-a-european-airline-pilot/
- Lessons From the Miracle on the Hudson https://capnaux.com/forced-landings-pilot-lessons-from-the-miracle-on-the-hudson-part-1/
