Friday, July 11, 2003


IAD - MCO All Nippon Airways (USAir codeshare)

First time I've been on a 747 in a long while. First time I've EVER been on a Japanese flagged carrier, this is a Tokyo-Dulles-Orlando flight that I've picked up at Dulles.

Uneventful first half hour, until we get over Fayetteville, NC. All of a sudden I hear excited squawking in Japanese from the cockpit on the public address. I am on the left side of the plane, and virtually EVERYONE on the right side of the plane stands up and rushs over to the left side.

For a fleeting moment I thought there was trouble on the plane...but then I notice almost all these friendly Japanese folks are getting out cameras.

I look out the window... and far below our plane is a large KC-135 tanker plane refueling a pair of military fighter jets.

The cameras are clicking furiously.

Most impressive to look down upon!