My 40th Birthday in March
On March 4th 2000, my wife and friends had prepared a surprise birthday party for me.
I had no idea where I was going ... I just drove up the motorway ... stopped at La Gruyère for a coffee ... and suddenly realised we were not alone any more ! Gérard and Leila, Anna, Sybille and Paolo showed-up out of nowhere! What a surprise
After a fantastic simulator session on Swissair's B747-300's and a wonderful dinner (and incredible strawberry cake) where my brother Philip and his girlfriend Manou joined us at La Terrasse in Zurich, we spent a few hours at a piano bar not far from the hotel (Walhalla Hotel, Zurich)
The next day after a quick breakfast at my brother's place, we headed back for Geneva ...
This will really be a weekend to remember!
I had no idea where I was going ... I just drove up the motorway ... stopped at La Gruyère for a coffee ... and suddenly realised we were not alone any more ! Gérard and Leila, Anna, Sybille and Paolo showed-up out of nowhere! What a surprise
After a fantastic simulator session on Swissair's B747-300's and a wonderful dinner (and incredible strawberry cake) where my brother Philip and his girlfriend Manou joined us at La Terrasse in Zurich, we spent a few hours at a piano bar not far from the hotel (Walhalla Hotel, Zurich)
The next day after a quick breakfast at my brother's place, we headed back for Geneva ...
This will really be a weekend to remember!
Swissair B-747-300 Flight Simulator Session!
Finally approaching Zurich ... I understood ... we were going to the Swissair Training Center for a session in their B747-300 flight simulator!
Arriving just on time at the Training Centre, Paolo (my mentor) and I were met by Capt H. Jenny, Flight Instructor.
After a short briefing on the B747-300 flight deck and instrument panels we entered the simulator ... Wow! Just like a real 747!
Our first flight was just to familiarise ourselves with the beast. I was in the pilot's seat and Capt Jenny at the assisting-pilot in the right seat. Flaps 10°, and we applied full power to take off on at Zurich Kloten airport (LSZH) on runway 16. V1 was achieved at 125kts, rotation at 136kts and we were off ...
The last flight (after nearly 2 hours in the simulator - which seemed like 20 minutes) was a great landing at Hong Kong International - Kai Tak (HKG) (closed in June 1998)
Thank you dearly Capt. Jenny !!
Arriving just on time at the Training Centre, Paolo (my mentor) and I were met by Capt H. Jenny, Flight Instructor.
After a short briefing on the B747-300 flight deck and instrument panels we entered the simulator ... Wow! Just like a real 747!
Our first flight was just to familiarise ourselves with the beast. I was in the pilot's seat and Capt Jenny at the assisting-pilot in the right seat. Flaps 10°, and we applied full power to take off on at Zurich Kloten airport (LSZH) on runway 16. V1 was achieved at 125kts, rotation at 136kts and we were off ...
The last flight (after nearly 2 hours in the simulator - which seemed like 20 minutes) was a great landing at Hong Kong International - Kai Tak (HKG) (closed in June 1998)
Thank you dearly Capt. Jenny !!