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Smooth Takeoffs - Rough LandingsThe First 75 Years OfAmerican Commercial Aviation

Harold Haddock and Jeffery Holmes

Wednesdays 9:30-12 Noon
September 24 through November 12, 2003
D.O.C. House
Please note the early start date.

Do you remember when flying on vacation or business trips was exciting and fun? Did you ever dream about flying on the China Clipper from San Francisco to Manila -- and, along the way, landing in Hawaii and the islands of Midway, Wake, and Guam? And have you ever thought how an entire industry immediately became the allies' lifeline during WWII? Or did you ever fly on a DC-3, Martin Flying Boat, Boeing Stratocuriser, Super Connie? And, are you still wondering why the "Glory Days" of American Commercial Aviation are over and will never return?

If the answers are "yes" and you want to relive those marvelous days (plus learn how deregulation changed everything) then 18 lucky passengers will be taking off at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 24, for the first of eight fascinating flights.

Each week there will be a new subject starting with The Aviators; then, followed by The Early Pioneers, The Law Makers, The Routes and Planes, The War - Then The Glory Years. Three sessions of The Hard Landing will complete our eight weeks.

Weekly sessions will commence with a portion of the fascinating video "Chasing the Sun" followed by active group discussions of specific questions and topics relating to important events and/or personalities. Copies of informative reading materials (magazine articles and book passages) will assist in your discussions and will be provided prior to the first week of classes. Throughout this course, group members will be assigned one special topic for a 5-10 minute presentation to the class. Guest speakers are scheduled and a selection of highly informative videos are planned. The background and learning of the overall history of American Commercial Aviation will come mainly from the required reading of Conquest of the Skies . . . and the background and results of deregulation will be highlighted in the reading of selected chapters from the best selling Hard Landing.

Class is limited to 18 passengers.

Harold Haddock is a retired CPA who learned to fly when he was fifty.

Jeffery Holmes is a marketing and communications consultant who has made a hobby of studying and reading about commercial aviation.

Last Updated: 10/22/08